A rapid surprise Attack to take another's Belongings

"Your stupid cloaks are W A Y too hot! I am practically melting over here."

That would be Eleanor complaining about the sweltering heat we currently endure. I agree fully, but there isn't much I can do now to alleviate our suffering.

We have to do our raid during the day, when most of the able-bodied are trapped in the mines. Though I hadn’t considered at all just how unbearably hot it'd be to wear these cloaks in the merciless midday sun. It's practically killing me.

As far as I know, covering oneself from head to toe in a desert isn't actually that bad of an idea. As long as the robes are loose-fitting and breathable, they actually help to keep you cool.

These shoddily stitched-together scraps are certainly loose enough, but not breathable in the slightest. Nonetheless, we have to wear them to hide our identities. I'll have to power through the discomfort.

I take a look across at my fellow robed elves, who are handling the heat no better than I am.

Together we number ten: Eleanor and I as the distraction and Loren and seven of his choosing as the looting party. Furthermore, hidden across the length of the boundary, there are people waiting to transport everything we seize.

The large robed figure I know to be Loren saunters over to me. He hands me a rather large brown pouch and one of the familiar daggers.

"Here. I got you what you asked for. I take it that'll be your distraction?"

I nod. If I want every guard’s eyes on me, I’ll need what’s inside.

"I briefed my men on the locations you marked on that map. Great work on that, by the way! I'm amazed you managed to sneak in there to get this info."

Well, I didn’t. But if that’s what he assumes, I’ll just go along with it. Don't want to explain to the big guy that I can see a certain ghost...

Before we start, however, there's still one thing we need to decide on.

"We should almost be ready. We still need to set a signal for retreat, though. Something subtle that only those in the know will even notice.”

He stops to think for a second. Then he points upward.

"How many birds do you see?"

Right now, none at all. They are a rare sight around here anyway.

"I can imitate the voice of a certain bird, one that'd never find his way into this barren wasteland."

He proves his claim with a sharp whistle. Impressive, but it won't work.

"We need something both teams can do, and I most certainly can't do that."

"Then you'll find no issue there; your companion is more than capable in that regard. I taught her how to after all."

He chirps at Eleanor. She in turn chirps right back at him. When did he find the time to teach her that? They've gotten closer than I thought.

"Fair enough, we'll signal you if we can't lock them down any longer. You'll signal us when you've hit all your spots."

"Any sign when we should start?"

"You'll notice the commotion, trust me."

"If you say so, 'captain'."

He throws me a sarcastic little salute and returns to his men. He sure trusts me an awful lot, doesn't he? Not too long ago, he wouldn't even look at me. Now he's fine putting his life in my hand. It feels kind of nice, to be honest, to know he values me that much now.

I turn to look across the boundary.

"Isha, any luck?"

"Just as we suspected, the barricade is especially poorly built over there. We should be able to create an entryway without much issue."

I love you, my convenient ghastly friend; without you I'd be royally screwed.

"I appreciate the sentiment, but focus, please. This is serious."

True enough. I gesture to Eleanor. It's time we get going.

After a little tugging and shoving, we manage to force a gap in the barricade and slip right on through. Thus we begin sneaking through this familiar place once more.

Accounting for all points of interest and the routes back towards the boundary from them, I’ve already chosen the perfect place for my distraction. If I can hold their attention there, Loren’s team won’t so much as catch a glimpse of a guard.

But how can I lure them all there and keep them occupied as well? Preferably without endangering ourselves too much. After mulling it over the last few days, I found my answer. Fire.

I chose a cluster of tents near my designated spot, slightly set apart from the others. If I start a controlled fire there, it shouldn’t cause too much harm, so long as they focus their efforts on putting it out.

Dodging around any patrolling humans, we press on until said cluster comes into view.

"Keep an eye out for them while I get this started."

Eleanor nods solemnly and starts checking the perimeter.

"You too, please, Isha."

"But of course."

With these two lovely ladies standing guard for me, there's no chance at all I'll be caught unprepared.

Opening my brown bag, I produce a large bottle of clear liquid. I asked Loren if anyone around here has attempted to brew some spirits for themselves, and sure enough, he found some moonshine for me. Can't have been easy to separate the brewer from this brew. Judging based on how this stuff reeks, it must be pretty damn pure.

I enter each tent, splashing a bit of the stuff on everything that looks flammable to me. I need the fire to take quickly after all.

But that isn’t the only reason I enter each one. I could just as easily have poured the spirits from the outside. It's all just cloth and tarp after all.

I feel compelled to make sure no one’s still inside. The mere thought that someone ill like Mother could still be lying in here while I set their tent ablaze makes me nauseous. Thank god, no one's here though.

But what would I even have done if there was? Reveal myself and carry them out? I couldn't. Half measures like that would only endanger the other elves. I must steel my resolve; I cannot hesitate.

Once all of my moonshine is spent, I step back outside. Now to light this whole thing. Using a flint and my dagger, I light the soaked cloth with a few sparks. Sure enough, the fire catches quickly and begins to spread.

While we could just wait for them to notice and panic on their own, I think we should expedite that process a little. I turn to my partner-in-crime.

“Would you be so kind as to loudly announce what you see before you right now?”

She understands immediately what I want from her. I imagine she must be grinning from ear to ear right now, under that shawl covering her face. Taking a deep breath, she readies her voice.

"FIRE!"

That impressive scream of hers might actually be audible all the way over at the manor. It takes only a moment until we hear the approaching footsteps of the first guards. We hide close by, watching them all arrive one by one.

Within minutes a good two dozen of them find themselves here, all of them scrambling to contain the fire. They try their hardest to extinguish it with sand; water's way too valuable after all. But on a fire of such scale, it proves to be pointless.

Now they have no choice but to let it burn out by itself, focusing only on stopping the fire from spreading any further. I couldn't ask for anything better, really. By the time they are done here, Loren will have plundered everything that's not nailed down.

"We can't contain it!"

That's concerning. For more reasons than just one. Giving a quick gesture to Eleanor, I reposition myself to be between the guards and where I assume Loren should be right about now.

"We have to use some of our water!"

"Are you insane?"

The one that has assumed leadership in this dire situation starts barking orders.

"We can't let it spread! Ruben and Sebastian, quickly fetch some water from our stores! The rest try to keep it contained!"

One bald human and another with long hair both tense up at the mention of the names. I have to assume the 'stores' they are talking about are one of our targets, if not multiple. Should we give the signal now, or trust Loren to handle these two by himself?

"We need to intercept them! Quickly, Isayah!"

By the time I turn to face her, Eleanor has already started sprinting ahead. Alright then, I suppose we'll take care of this ourselves. I follow suit. It's best to get a head start while they are still confused by their new orders; if we confront them too close to here, the others might be drawn in by the noise.

They'll catch up with us sooner or later; their legs are longer, and they’re in a hurry. Where best to confront them?

"I think I know where they are headed; that small courtyard should be on the way. Do you know which one I mean?"

I do Isha. Okay, I can work with that; at least I think I can.

"Eleanor, go left next; we'll await them there."

Without any further acknowledgement of them, she follows my instructions and takes a sharp left turn. I follow after her.

Entering that courtyard, we barely get a moment to steady ourselves before they arrive as well.

Spotting us, they unfasten their weapons from their belts, a club of middling quality each.

"Did you start that fire?"

The long-haired one asks, clearly surprised to find anyone here at all.

"Of course we did! How are you enjoying our little present? I sure hope that the fire spreads across all your homes, burning everything here to ash! Dirty human ᕮᘯᒋᗜᑊᖇᕮ! Go die!"

Eleanor… I know we’re supposed to sell this as a hate-fuelled act of spite, but that seems like a little much. The bald one’s veins are visible on his head now, practically bursting.

“This bitch is pissing me off. I’ll handle her. You deal with the mute.”

"I'll gut him like a pig!"

Eleanor seems fine with taking him on, so I'll take on long hair. I unsheathe my blade.

"Long hair. Which one are you, Ruben or Sebastian?"

He spits at the ground.

"A dead man doesn't need to know."

Then don't expect me to pray for your soul if you happen to die here.