I have added the above information about combat in the rules post at the start of the thread. Keep it in mind, it's rather important
This is what won:
Go kill the Centipede Overlords, since they're the biggest threat, and then assist Kalz's position if he's alive. He's the commander here, and he is the one who has the most experience in fighting and leading, hence the men will listen to him. If he's dead though, take out the enemies on the outlying parts of the camp, and surround the enemy, trapping them in a circle.
54 – Screeches and screams
You decide to attack the small group of enemies. If one of them is truly a tattooed man, maybe killing him would be beneficial against the centipedes. You think the risk is well worth the possible rewards. But there is no time to explain all this to the soldiers, so you just tell them that you think those are commanding officers of some sort, and that killing them would hurt the enemy's morale. You also tell them that you should try to avoid giving them much time to prepare, so you start to run towards them as silently as you can. You hope that the sound of the battle will cover your approach.
The plan is partly successful, you manage to be within ten meters of them without them noticing, Then the centipedes screech, and the enemies know you're here. They seem hesitant to engage, and two of them immediately cover for the third, while the centipedes stay still where they are. Your small group reaches them, and you try to be cautious as the battle begins, providing support without taking too many risks. You have no illusion of what would happen if you were to face off against a professional soldier.
The fight is violent, with you darting here and there, hoping to distract the enemies, maybe scoring a hit against an opportunity target. A centipede dies rather quickly, they are not all that dangerous if they are this size. The key is to avoid the poisonous bite, but it can be done. It's a completely different matter than the huge monster you saw back then. Considering the soldier facing off against the other centipedes, each one of the enemies is now facing two of you, so the odds are good. The third man stays behind, and now you are sure that he has tattoos on his face.
As you look at him you are gripped by a strange sensation though. He opens his mouth and starts screeching like the other man did a Qoor. An unnatural, horrible sound. You are looking at him while he does so, and suddenly you feel afraid.
Looking in his eyes, somehow you know. You know he's about to do something. You know you have to stop him. Everything else disappears from your mind, you know that if he completes whatever he's doing things will be very bad for you. Your instincts scream, you heart hammers in your chest. You have to stop him, you have to stop him NOW.
There is no time to think about consequences, you suddenly dart forward trying to stay low. The enemy facing off against you and the other soldier is taken by surprise and tries to kill you as you pass him, but he's out of balance and only manages to hit your left arm. You clench your teeth as pain shoots through you, but you are focused, determined. Another quick step and you're right before the tattooed man. You're only looking him in the eyes, nothing else exists right now. As your sword arm cuts through the air, your instincts are urging you to move faster, there is no time!
Your sword plunges into the chest of the man as you look him in the eyes. He dies instantly, and falls to the side. You stumble, as a cacophony of noises hits you, and find yourself on the ground, your head spinning. Your arm is bleeding badly, it seems a deep, rather large wound. You turn and look around you, trying to understand the source of all these screams and noises.
The centipedes all around the encampment are trashing, screeching, seemingly in agony. They seem to be completely unable to defend themselves, to move, to do anything. You see a merchant – a merchant! - killing one with a sword. Is it because the tattooed man is dead maybe? Equally surprising is the reaction of the enemy soldiers. They are screaming, seemingly enraged, and attacking wildly everything that comes into their range. They seem completely berserk, attacking with no regard for their own lives. Your soldiers are taken by surprise by this, but as soon as they recover they start using their superior numbers to overwhelm the enemies who now fight ignoring their defense. Your allies are thinning the enemy's ranks very quickly. But your head is spinning so much, the blood loss from your wound is rather heavy. Soon you know no more and fall into the darkness....
You wake to the sound of moving carts, and look around confused. Kalz is quickly by your side, asking you how you feel. Your arms hurts a lot, and you feel weak as a baby. But you want to know what happened, and so you ask Kalz, trying to keep the pain at bay.
Kalz tells you that the battle has been won, and praises you for the kill of the tattooed man. Apparently his death immediately shocked the centipedes, making them easy prey. The enemies were instead enraged by his death, so much that they went completely berserk. As soon as your soldiers recovered from the surprise, the enraged enemies were quickly dispatched. All in all, there were 19 enemies plus the tattooed man. And 11 centipedes, about as long as an arm. Luckily no huge centipede was with them. You lost six men, and another four are seriously injured. But considering the fact you were ambushed, the night attack and the surprise, Kalz thinks it was a very good result.
You slept for an entire day, as the caravan got ready once again, and people were treated by a merchant who knows a bit of healing. The corpses of the enemies were also inspected, but mostly left there. Someone else can come from Bitak later to search for more clues if they want, but right now Kalz wants to get to safety as soon as possible because some of the men require a professional healer. Your wound does not seem anything serious. It's rather big and deep, but it's not in a critical place so it should heal well.
Kalz tells you to rest if you feel the need, and to prepare for the report you will have to give. But if you want you can also try to do something.
What will you do in this couple of days, Kyoss?
- You should rest. You are tired, injured, and shaken. It's time to recover now, to rest, and to think about the report
- You are a healer, though not very good. But maybe you could help other people. As far as your energies allow, you should try to treat the injured men.
- You could always study. You are weak, but you can use the travel time to study some more.
- Other. Make a proposal, number it.
Also, should you tamper with your wound?
A) Yes, try to treat it
B) No, but take a look at it
C) No, leave it alone
That's it, not a bad result for a first serious combat experience.