The town of Aynderil

Esca accepts the gift

"I am ready" Esca says already sitting in the carriage. "We were going to show Shockwave how to cook them if I recall."

 

"That also works, because I happen to have some eggplants at my cottage." Dessa picks up the reins of the carriage, to drive them to her cottage. She clicks her tongue at the horses, and guides them for the east exist of town. "Thank you again for all the help Esca and Shockwave. This carriage will cut about half of our travel time to my place."

 

"Not a problem, Dessa." He climbs into the carriage and it gives significantly, the only hint to his hefty weight despite his slender build. He settles on the seat and crosses his hands on his lap, his visor glowing a bright violet hue. "I'm ready for this adventure!"

 

"You also brought some eggplants Dessa" Esca reminds her.
Esca happily kicks her feet back and forth as they make their way down the trail to her cottage.

 

"Oh, thanks for reminding me Esca, because I totally forgot." She blushes with embarrassment and clears her throat. "So Shockwave what things to ya'll have on your planet?

 

"It happens to the best of us." He replies with a grin, reaching out a hand to brace against the side of the carriage. "I would probably forget too if I weren't carrying them. Easy to forget what you can't see."

 

"Yeah, I would love to know for myself I mean it's not everyday you meet someone from a different planet." Esca says in excitement.

----

A bit further a head on the trail a group of bandits awaits. One of them is what appears to be a male in his mid to late 30's he has short braided brown hair, and a noticeable piercing above his left eye. His clothing is dirty and ragged he along with the others are hiding behind some bushes.
"we have someone coming close, they will be in range soon"

 

Dessa cries in shock when a group of bandits jump into the middle of the path. She fights with all her might to control the spooked horses, and bring the carriage to a stop. "Where the hell did they come from?" Dessa shouts over the neighing of the horses.

 

"What was that?" Shockwave cries out as the wagon lurches to a halt, climbing out to find a group of bandits in the path of them. "What do you lot want?"

 

The one with piercing. He looks at the carriage as it stops. "Now now I mean yall no harm, I just need a bit of help with something. You see my friend here needs a bit of assistance to put it lightly you see their kind of lame." He says to them "And I just can't carry him to town myself he is a bit heavy for me to walk all that way with him burdening my shoulders" he says his voice course and dry. His eyes looking behind them waiting for his group to come up from behind them.

Esca looks outside of the carriage seeing the bandits. Esca looks at the bandits and smiles.

 

"Is it just me or do ya'll not trust them either?" Dessa whispers to Esca and Shockwave. She slowly starts to gather energy into her left hand behind her back. Which is in the shape of a glowing green orb.

 

"No, I smell villainous intentions." Shockwave agrees, beginning to grow in size and turning to metal until he resembles his true transformer self, his sole eye glowing purple. "I suggest you leave now."

 

"Shame you can't find good people these days any more isn't it buddy" the man says turning to his "friend", Dessa has her left hand grabbed and held away by a woman who also holds a knife at Dessa's throat. She is in similar style of clothing as the two men infront of the group, she is a bit taller than Dessa with deep black hair that curls around her right side of her neck like a scarf, the left side is shaven. "Sure is a shame boss, they could have just agreed to help you and be seen as good fine folks" she says in a sly manner her eyes piercing as she holds Dessa in place.

An extremely large man holds a hooked sword to Shockwave's neck area having to adjust a bit as the cloaked man begins to grow and change. He uses his left arm to bear hug Shockwave. He has a large pot belly and stands well above the others there, the little bit of hair on his head is pulled into a tuft on the top back of his scalp.
"This guy's a... a... a weird one boss!" The big brute says trying to hold Shockwave still the man is quite strong physically however.

Esca watching from the carriage thinks to herself "Metal? hmm would explain quite a bit about him. Though I doubt this carriage can carry him if he got any bigger" She thinks watching shockwave. She looks at the man on the floor the one is supposedly lame and her eyes widen as the door to the carriage opens up and she turns around to see that very same man entering the carriage he holds a crossbow right at her head "Simply handover all your goods and exit the carriage nice and politely and we will let you on your merry way." He says Esca's eyes shifting a bit looking around decides to play a long for now she walks out of the carriage with the man behind her his crossbow held on the back of her skull. A grin on her face peaks through as she and him both step down. The illusion of the man still visible for all to see.
"Alright we got the three of them" he says in regards to all three of the group at least for the moment being held up in someway.

"Very good, you all could have gotten away from here, we would have just taken your stuff and left you stranded but I am afraid we must teach you a bit of courtesy" the man in front of the group says walking towards them. He holds out his hand and a Scimitar appears he holds it out pointing at each of them "No funny moves and maybe we will change our minds, think of it as sort of a second chance" he says to them making his way to the carriage he opens the door and sees Esca sitting in her seat kicking her feet in excitement.
"You idiot!" he says turning to the man with the crossbow behind Esca's head as that image of herself vanishes causing the man holding the crossbow to lose his balance a bit from the sudden shift of perspective.
The man in the Carriage holds the Scimitar out towards Esca. "Get out and hand over your valuables" he demands to Esca who just shakes her head.

 

"You would do well to let me go, human." Shockwave rumbles, his voice becoming metallic and cold as his form continues to shift and grow. "I have warned you, now it appears I must use force."

He could feel the man's arm curled around his throat; but, as his throat was metal, it merely served to annoy him than cause him physical discomfort. Having completed his alteration back to his true form, he stood nearly ten feet tall, towering over the group. His humanoid shaped appendages were now shiny and metallic. He curled his metal fingers into a large fist and wrapped it around the man who was still bear hugging him, prying him off before holding him like a bug, his purple visor pulsing in small, slowly quickening waves. He cocked his arm back, leaned back on his rear leg and then stepped forward, hurling the man like a cannonball into the nearest body of water.

There was a resounding splash as the man disappeared beneath the surface. "Who's next?"

 

As Shockwave continues his sudden growth spurt, the brute tries to move the hook of his sword into the neck of growing metal man, he soon feels the hook of his blade moving away and eventually breaking as he can no longer hold the grip on the metal man, now the big brute who once stood about even larger than Shockwave was but a pintsized runt. His once impressive 248cm body now struggled to hold the bear hug of his much larger adversary.
"Uhm uh we can talk about this right" he says as he is lifted up. He is sent flying through the air. A scream can be heard as he flies into the distance before a splash. He manages to swim his way to the edge of the river and pull himself out he spits out the water.
"I need to find boss" he says to himself as he gathers himself mostly unharmed he had dropped his weapon on the flight there and he is beyond soaked. "Though I have no idea where he threw me... Follow the river Barry" he tells himself.

---

In side the Carriage the man with the Scimitar threatens Esca. "Give me your money I know you have some since you have this expensive carriage" He says to her. "May I know who to give it to your name I mean" Esca asks pretending to go through her bag for the money. "Harris Athens" the bandit responds in kind as he sees her take out the gold bar Shockwave had given her. He smiles a wide grin he is has a canine tooth on the left side that is chipped halfway. "This all seems fine and dandy Harris but can you do me a favour first and part ways with your belongings on you everything but your clothing" she says to him as the spell Geas comes over the bandit. Harris proceed to take out his own money, his own goods, and his weapon. "Good bandit that is a very good bandit. Now step out of the carriage" she tells him he turns around and steps out of the carriage Esca standing inside behind him. Esca looks around and sees the situation the brute had just gone flying. "I feel my friends can use some entertainment... Dance for us." She demands doing a shanty of her own. He at first resist but when he takes massive mental damage he begins to dance much to the shock of his comrades.

The man holding the crossbow shifts between Shockwave and Esca. He fires one at each of them the crossbow bolts have a flame ignite on them. Esca uses a wave of thunder to block the arrow coming at her. The man is quick and agile as he moves around firing at them he knows he cannot take a hit from Shockwave.