Ten days remained on the countdown in Max's menu when five adventurers killed the wrong ridgebacks in Croathen.
The creatures had attacked from the brush beside the northern road. They were broad, low animals with plated backs and jaws capable of breaking a wagon wheel. The Copper Hounds reacted like an experienced party. Their shield bearer stopped the first charge. Their mage drove the second creature away from the horses. The remaining three focused on the largest ridgeback until it fell.
The fight lasted less than a minute.
By the time the second ridgeback died, the party had already begun discussing the value of its plates.
Ridgeback armor was not rare in Corathen. Every market from Redbrook to the capital carried pieces of the dark shell. Sanctuary craftsmen had only recently discovered how well the material accepted reinforcement runes. That discovery raised the price enough for merchants to begin posting purchase offers in the Grand Map Room.
