High noon.
After a thorough rest, the mercenary contingent began to assemble, their gruff commands breaking the silence of the swamp.
They swiftly formed a standard expeditionary formation: Warriors with tower shields and greatswords on the perimeter, and the heavily protected Mages at the core.
Assassins and Rangers fanned out like ghosts around the formation and along its flanks, vigilantly scanning their surroundings for any suspicious movement.
At the head of the company, Calvin was perched atop a bizarre-looking mount.
It was a Swamp Salamander, an amphibious magical beast. Its stout limbs and broad, webbed feet allowed it to traverse muddy swamps and other damp environments with ease. Furthermore, its gentle temperament made it an ideal mount.
