(1865-10-16) A Bloody Rescue
A Bloody Rescue
Summary: Nathaniel and Dacian see to leading a small band of Templars to rescue Viola and Efraim from bandits. This time the bandits loss out, but no one comes away unscathed.
Date: 1865-10-16
Related: Queen's Road
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Dacian  Efraim  Nathaniel  Viola  

Galenthia Countryside
See Scene Set
Thursday the 16th of Octobre, 1865 IE

The bandits had struck quickly and effectively, splitting their forces three ways to draw distractions to better land them with baubles of the trade. Unfortunately, the man who had drawn them together as a group had his life ended on the field as he became too greedy and went for a pretty noble woman. It did prove to work at least, for they had secured two hostages that … apparently were badly injured in the initial attack. Those bandits who were left, were a little frustrated by their injuries, doing little to provide them comfort and instead putting them ass over tea kettle on the back of horses. The pace they had thus set for those two long days, unbearable perhaps for the captives, was steady and swift. They were heading toward the west, where the ports would take on prisoners to ship up to White Hall for the trafficking exchange, as it became apparent early on, they hadn't landed nobility and that there was to be no ransoming with individuals such as Letholdus.

They're south of Rikton now, a day ride perhaps, looking for the cheap ports of Galenthia that were controlled by the syndicate families of the South. They had stopped as the horses were showing signs of fatigue, one already having to be killed from a broken leg.. The ruthless were cruel to their animals. It was just the way it was. Ride fast, sell their baubles and human prizes, and scatter to the wind. The camp was roughshod piecework, no organization to it, a tent or two, the rest sprawled out on their bed rolls in open air. The prisoners were tied back to back and a grizzled man sat near the pair, eating dried meat, with a rude lecherous eye turned to Viola.

Efraim certainly looks a little paler than normal, bound as he is, he shifts only slightly lest he cause any discomfort to his chest and arm and indeed the poor woman he is bound to. Nothing more than a ragged gasp escapes him at first as he comes round slowly and perhaps moves a little too much all things considered. Looking about as best he can, Efraim mutters something about helping others and gazes heavenwards for a brief moment to no doubt send a prayer to the One. The grizzled man however is fixed with his gaze, the archer just staring at the man. Brow furrowed, eyes narrowed and the unrelenting stare of an annoyed archer. Annoyed mostly with himself however. And so he stares, perhaps having caught that look, but mostly to accuse.

Being stung out over a horse did little for Viola's injuries, though only good thing abou tit all was with the extent of her injuries, Violia spent most of her time out cold. Wakeful time wasn't pleasant with the unending pain. With the grueling pace set, there was certainly no way to actually tend to her injuries, not that she was left with much to do so if she even could. And rightly, even if she grasped where they were going, well there was to much pain swarming her body and thoughts to have any right panic or to much concern about it. Making it through the day seemed enough of a concern. The priestess certainly looked like death warmed over with how pale she was and the vast amount of blood lost, the internal bleeding. There is a bit of a pained moan with Efraim moving about, doubtful to cause much notice…there'd been plenty of them along that hard paced ride.

The grizzled man watches with an uplifted brow as their captives wake up. He spits to the side and shoves the dried meat into his food pouch, before rising up and bearing over toward them a water canteen. He'll jam it first toward Viola's mouth, "Open yer hole," he tells her and if she doesn't, a rough hand will clasp her chin and help her open it. Then the canteen poured to allow her a sip of water. The same process is repeated for Efraim. "Names?" He asks in a harsh raspy voice.

Efraim grunts at the rough treatment and his voice barely finds itself but for a ragged bark and yet who is he to deny a gift of water, the sip accepted and swirled about his dry mouth before being swallowed. A few moments pass and Efraim glances back to the man who demands their names, "Why don't you…" His voice slightly more fluid now, but there's a pained rasp as he feels the ropes dig into his punctured arm, "…ask your mother?" A gravelly laugh bubbles past his lips and by the One that hurts. But the archer can't help it. At the very least he draws attention from the poor person bound behind him and against whom he leans.

Hazel eyes give a bit of a blink to find the canteen jamed at her mouth, Viola being a bit in pain and feverish, it takes her mind a few moments to focus. His hand is likely to her chin before it registers to open her mouth. Half by choice, half force, she ends up with a mouthful of water all the same. How a simple thing like a sip of water seems so much like a blessed luxury. Viola was dressed in robes, well unless they'd been taken, and with the supplies in the bag that had been on her, well her conneciton, small as it might be could have been guessed. Not fine enough to be a noble of the faith. There is still some attempt to focus through the pain. Questions were being asked,"No…no..not your mother….Mother Viola."

The bandit crouches down next to Efraim's bound form, looking with his beady dark eyes at the laughter of the archer, "Where yer going, yer going ta wish ya answered sooner. Yer going ta learn fast the proper way ta answer questions." He reaches over and grabs the man's hair, wrenching his head back, "Lest if they don't put ya into a fightin ring first." His hand smacks the archer's head forward, turning toward the woman who is better in answering, "This one be knowing how to answer. Viola eh?" He moves to her now, for yes she was still in her robes but everything else they had taken, same with the archer's supplies. The horses and anything upon their saddle bags had been distributed and looted. "I say, a good poke will prepare ya well missy fer the lifetime of service to the White Hall," he closes the cap of the canteen, but does nothing to actually follow through with his threat. Not yet it seems.

<FS3> Nathaniel rolls Stealth: Good Success.

One of their own had been taken… It didn't take long for the church to send one of their dogs to follow the trail. It helped too that Nathaniel and his party had been sniffing up around near Kentaire and thus had been in the area of Rikton afterward to receive the news. Nathaniel's worldly knowledge had done the group well, paired with his investigative knowledge and the retinue's combind skills of tracking… they picked up on the trail of the wily bandits. Although, they were coming in quietly now, surrounding the ragtag camp.

<FS3> Efraim rolls Perception: Good Success.

<FS3> Viola rolls Perception: Good Success.

You might be able to sense the quietness surrounding the camp… you may glimpse some white…

Dacian rides alongside Nathaniel's party. Not much of a tracker, but he's keeping his eyes peeled and an arrow nocked, guiding his horse easily with his knees along the woodland trails in concert with the group.

Silent prayers were given to the One to give her strength, perhaps some mumble flitting out, or just a minor groan of pain. Viola was certainly not in good shape, entirely possible she'd die yet before he had chance to sell her along. Her robes were certainly blood soaked through. Not entirely in shape or quite attractive for bedding, but then that hadn't seemed to bother the one she'd dispatched. There is a minor look towards the archer, that laugher..and then on to the bandit with his particular threat voiced. It wasn't actually something that seemed to exactly phase her.

Efraim grunts at the sudden jerk of his hair, the sharp pain in his scalp merely distracting from the pain in his chest and arm for a brief and glorious second. The smack of his head merely has Efraim rasping for breath for a moment or two, the sharpness in his chest no doubt signalling a cracked or bruised rib. Not that Efraim makes any attempt to answer till the bandit begins to threaten Viola, "Efraim Forester." The words hoarse to say the least, "Happy?" A pained spasm of muscle gives the wounded archer cause to fall silent, yeah, that horse ride while unconscious really was the best thing about this whole predicament, "Fighting ring? Me? Oh that would be a poor showing." The archer falls silent for a moment, head tilted to the side slightly as he gazes out towards the edge of the camp before looking back to his scuffed feet, "So how much will my scrawny hide be worth?"

Nathaniel has his great sword unsheathed and out, having commanded his group to fan out, to ensure that the heathens had no route of escape given to them. The one Templar was moving to cut the horse lines. Nathaniel found Dacian on the trail and was keeping the Lord close by, muttering to him now, "Justice shall be swift for those who anger the One. Waste no energy otherwise." He's hedging forward with Dacian, crouching in the bush, noting the positioning of the bandits. Two were around a cook fire, the grizzled man by the prisoners, a fourth was by the horses, and another in a tent.

Dacian leans aside to peer from Nathaniel's vantage point, scoping out the layout and then taking his time to angle a shot from their as yet unseen position toward the man nearest to the prisoners.

The grizzled man snorts at Efraim, "Damn commoners." He gives a bit of a grunt as he grouses about the condition they're in, "Should've just robbed yer courses than take ya with us. But, a good purse of coin fer yer hides will be worth it."

The surrounding air seems to take on an eerie sense of calm and quiet. The bandit notices, lifting his head up and searching the treeline around their vacinity. "Where the birds.." he says to himself, mumbling with the disquiet that the ebbing silence has caused him.

<FS3> Dacian rolls Stealth: Good Success.

<COMBAT> Dacian attacks Bandit1 with Hunting Bow and MISSES!

<FS3> Viola rolls Reaction+Reaction: Good Success.

<FS3> Efraim rolls Reaction+reaction: Success.

<FS3> Viola rolls Body+Body: Success.

<FS3> Efraim rolls Body+body: Good Success.

Viola ended up staring off into the forest for a moment, blinking her eyes then giving shake of her head, another blink. Definitly seeing things. Pain did funny things to the mind. Wait? Worth? That had her eyes turning back towards Efraim and then the grizzled one. Ok, she was oddly curious, in some feverish way. "Damaged goods, not as good of a purse," murmuring that out,"more likely dead after a good poke." Then again, the one hadn't cared if she were dead or alive. These bandits were certainly going to be judged harshly by the One! She knew she was in a bad way, in having to fight pain and fever alike. Thinking straight was not a strong point right now. Then there is an arrow flying in and she manages to roll a bit and not get hit. Another blink at the shaft as it quavers right there, between she and Efraim. Some movement made, to least make for it, but he was the archer and…in better shape!

The arrow… as it thunks in the ground behind the grizzled bandit, alerts his attention. His eyes narrow on it and he hollars loudly, bellowing, "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" The others in the group launch up to their feet, the man in the tent comes out, snarling, sword drawn, "What's all this—" and before he can finish his question, the White Tabards of the One crash through the bush and attack. Three Templars and an Inquisitor with a Lordling Romante break cover and charge in, the area erupting in quick sounds of combat as the bandits try to react to the fully armed gallantry of the Church.

Efraim wasn't sure what was out there, but he knew whatever it was was good for them. The silence of the birds, the lack of any fauna skittering about. The huntsman's instinct's just knew it. He was just in too much pain to really be all that cheered. The arrow, more so the thud of the shaft into the earth than its near silent flight certainly startled the archer back into the present. His mind a whirl with aches and pain. And there the arrow, moving as one or as best as the two can manage, he manages to shift about and alleviate the tension on the ropes enough by pressing against Viola a little as he moves with her, his hand stretching out against the bindings and fingers scrabbling through dirt. Outstretched and…. got it! A ragged sigh of pain and relief escapes the archer as he seeks to twist the head towards the ropes, angling to guide the sharp point against the bindings and saw as all hell breaks loose, "Looks like we're saved, but even so… you ready?" He asks in a hoarse whisper of Viola.

Welp. So much for getting the jump on these bastards. Dacien purses his lips as his shaft falls short onto the forest floor, then will hook his bow onto the quiver at his back, twist his shield down from shoulder to elbow, then draw his blade to join in the charge, heading striaght for the man guarding the captives, the better to get them out of the range of the fight.

<FS3> Efraim rolls Reaction+reaction: Success.

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword but Bandit2 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Right Leg stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Bandit4 attacks Templar1 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield but Templar2 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Dacian with Polearm but Dacian DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit1 attacks Templar3 with Broadsword but Templar3 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Templar1 attacks Bandit5 with Broadsword but Bandit5 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Leader attacks Nathaniel with Bastard Sword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Nathaniel attacks Leader with Greatsword - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Dacian attacks Bandit1 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!

The noise of struggle starts to fill the silence of the forest. The sounds of blades being drawn, of blades clashing up against one another, of men grunting in pain and others hollaring in encouragement. The white tabards of the Church squaring off with the hard faces of the criminals, who are mostly trying to survive now the encounter. Their escape routes are blocked, each bandit being held by the swift blades of the Inquisitor's retinue.

Nathaniel himself is not necessarily a fighter, as he proves when coming up against the leader of the group, taking a neat slice of blade across the chest and staggering for it. The Inquisitor grumbles as considers the tear in his tabard, right down the cross.

Chaos! It was blessed chaos, praise the One! Least if Viola was to perish, she'd perish in the hands of those of the Faith, not being bedded by some flea bitten bandit who'd not bathed for three months. She moved as best she could to help Efraim get that arrow, it was painful that process. And there was a groan being fought. There were attempt to breathe through it, but frnakly that hurt. Likely one of those arrows had knicked a lung. To the hoarse whisper, Viola nods,"Ready as I'm gonna be," comes her response. When he takes to working on the ropes, she does try to help keep them taunt enough for them to be cut through. Though the effort of moving and this, there is new blood seeping into her robes. Hardly noticable with the mess they are in. Mumbling in her pain and feverishness,"The One himself, come ta save us. Guide his sword!"

Efraim grits his teeth as he focuses solely on his one task, sawing that sharp arrowhead against the ropes, constantly dragging it back and forth while the battle rages about them, bringing hope to Efraim and from her words, Viola. The archer does nothing but saw, the ropes fraying steadily while Efraim's eyes flit about the fray, from bandit to templar and from templar to bandit, "That's good, just keep them like that… perfect, we're almost free… almost."

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Right Leg stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Leader attacks Nathaniel with Bastard Sword - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Bandit4 with Broadsword and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Templar1 attacks Bandit5 with Broadsword but Bandit5 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Dacian with Polearm and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Bandit1 attacks Templar3 with Broadsword but Templar3 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Nathaniel attacks Leader with Greatsword - ARMOR on Left Hand stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Dacian attacks Bandit1 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Bandit4 attacks Templar1 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!

Viola's eyes do bounce a little about the chaotic action, though the pain of holding the ropes taught and that movement brought by the sawing of the arrow upon them does have her closing her eyes and focusing on just holding the ropes. A little slack comes here and there before being pulled taunt againt, namely when the pain tries to become all consuming. Some prayer or another being murmured over and over, in a rote fashion. More so, two or three getting mixed up in the process. But surely the One will forgive her!

Dacian rides down the man guarding the prisoners, battering his helmet and then finding a joint in the armor in which to thrust down from his mounted position into the man's chest, all the while fending off the oncoming spearthrusts with his upraised shield, the visage of the chained lion on Galenthian green. He eases back on his horse, making sure not to trample the prisoners, rearing up and aiming a firm blow down onto their guard.

Nathaniel is squaring off with the leader. Mayhaps that was a mistake. The Inquisitor rarely has to get into pitched combat and when it happens, he usually takes the backrow seat and lets the Templar's do it for him. Caught again by the bastard sword of the lead man, he finds his own blade unable to touch the man. The leader smirks at him and growls to Nathan, "I'll drive my blade through your heart, Templar." Mistaken for a Templar, this gives Nathaniel a moment to answer in a cold easy tone, "I'm no Templar heathen, I'm the bloody Reaper, I've come to give your soul to the One." The name well known if only because it was infamous.

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Bandit4 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword but Bandit2 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Leader attacks Nathaniel with Bastard Sword - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Templar1 attacks Bandit5 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Templar3 with Polearm but Templar3 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit1 attacks Dacian with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Left Hand.

<COMBAT> Bandit4 attacks Templar1 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Nathaniel attacks Leader with Greatsword but Leader DODGES!

<COMBAT> Dacian attacks Bandit1 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Left Arm stops the attack!

Efraim hisses sharply as the arrowhead slices against his own wrist, more so due to his own haste than anything else and yet still he saws, resting now and again as his wrists tire and ache and sieze up, only to resume mere seconds after. The clash of blades and the words thrown back and forth give the hunter reason to look up towards Nathaniel and the bandit leader, not that it impedes his attempts to free both him and Viola. For the first time in a long time, Efraim begins to mutter a soft litany beneath his breath. A plaintive plea to the One for the arrowhead to hold and for his legs to be steady.

The old Inquisitor takes another serious injury, forced to stagger backwards. One of his retinue spots his position and the fact that the bandit leader looked to have him nearly down. The Templar abandons his own prey and goes to aid the Inquisitor, pushing him back and getting in the way of the bandit Leader's blade.

Dacian finds in the grizzled old guard a lion of a man, roused when wounded, who returns wound for wound with a blow which crushes Dacian's off-hand against the rim of his shield, bending a few fingers backward in a way they simply shouldn't bend, leaving him briefly dizzied with the pain, but working through it as he can.

<COMBAT> Templar1 attacks Leader with Broadsword but Leader DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Templar3 with Polearm - ARMOR on Right Arm stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Bandit1 attacks Dacian with Broadsword but Dacian DODGES!

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Bandit4 with Broadsword and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Leader attacks Templar1 with Bastard Sword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Bandit4 attacks Templar1 with Broadsword and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Nathaniel attacks Leader with Greatsword but Leader DODGES!

<COMBAT> Dacian attacks Bandit1 with Broadsword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<FS3> Viola rolls Body+Body: Good Success.

<FS3> Efraim rolls Body+body: Success.

There is a gasp from Viola when a particular tug on the rope causes an added jolt of shapr pain, cause really there is just endless pain for her. It was surely just a test by the One. She had purpose left upon this lands, if He had not had her perish before. Even if it'll just be the purpose to trip up some of the bandits, once that rope was gone through. Murmuring a "Nearly there," to encourage Efraim's work. Whether or not she can actually see his progress might be in question. But there is still that mumbled encouragement. Which when that rope does finally get broken through there is a bit of a blink, a turn of relief as the preassure is released from her wounds. And with that dance going on with the grizzled man, tripped hazard is what Viola goes for, rolling a bit to try and knock the man off balance and allow Dacian to give the vitch the right poking he deserves!

Nathaniel staggers back toward the side, catching his breath as he is doing no good against the bandit leader, leaving the dirty work to the Templar's. It was much easier to kill a man when he was bound than when he's moving about sticking a sword at you. For now, the Inquisitor will try to do what he can to staunch the flow of his own wounds, letting the Templars battle it out with the bandits. His eyes swivel toward the prisoners, noting that they've gotten themselves undone. Good. One less thing to do.

Dacian would have seen to them, surely, but now he's just glad the prisoners are taking it upon themselves to join in the fight, as he's being sorely pressed by this big lion of a man. Sure, he's giving as good as he's getting, but he's getting his share, too, and from horseback, where he has the advantage of ground. Still, making the fight fair is the last thing on his mind, and he's just going to keep focused on the task at hand.

Efraim feels that tension release about his wrists and there's a pained hiss as he shifts his arm, the wound having sat in much the wrong position for much too long and now the damned thing resumes bleeding as he forces himself to his feet. Hunched slightly from the pain in his chest and side, his arm having taken an arrow is perhaps stiffer than he'd like. But he's up and not exactly in fine fettle, but knowing all too well their survival depends upon these fine men, the archer throws himself at the bandit leader, seeking to try and help keep the man off guard. Albeit with a cough and a ragged and hoarse gasp for breath, "Over here… damn you, your gold walking away."

<COMBAT> Bandit1 attacks Dacian with Broadsword - Serious wound to Chest.

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Bandit4 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Templar1 attacks Leader with Broadsword and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield but Templar2 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit4 attacks Templar1 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword but Bandit2 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Leader attacks Templar1 with Bastard Sword but Templar1 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Templar3 with Polearm but Templar3 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Viola attacks Bandit1 with Unarmed and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Nathaniel treats Nathaniel:

<COMBAT> Efraim tries to subdue Leader but fails.

<COMBAT> Dacian attacks Bandit1 with Broadsword but Bandit1 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit4 has been KO'd!

<FS3> Dacian rolls Horsemanship: Success.

Efraim seeks to put that arrowshaft to good use, hoping to try and grapple that bandit leader and jam the thing snug enough against his throat that he might well drop that weapon and stand down. But the archer, fit and nimble and in his prime, isn't exactly in the greatest of shape. But he's determined given the effort these men have gone to save Viola and by default his common self. The sharp arrow head glints as Efraim tries to just make something go right this journey home.

This expendature of energy is weak at best by Viola, that she missed in attempting to trip up the gizzly bandit, unsurprising. But she still tries to take another swipe at him, especially in seeing the hit he gets in on Dacian. Without supplies and the Lord being way up there on the horse, there is little she can do to aid him. Other than trying to help knock the bandit about!

Dacian felt that one, and hard, up through one of the less solid patches in his makeshift armor, the blow scaring his breath away until the pain is soothed by the soft warm caress of blood down his flank. Oh. That's not good. That's not good, at all. He's well and truly on the defensive, now, but seems to be born on the saddle, not even such a staggering blow swaying him from his spot there.

One of the bandits finally goes down under the blade of a Templar. There's a dramatic slash and rending of flesh, as blood spews forth from a giant gash in the man's chest, before the lifeless form crashes to the ground. The Templar turns to rush the leader, since it seems that the bastard won't go down.

Nathaniel clots what he can of his wounds on the spot, rising gingerly as he takes a suck of breath. His eyes are hard as iron as he marches forward with his great sword lifting again, muttering, "Swift justice flies from the maker's touch, the One's own anger descends upon my soul to strike down his enemies, and all devils must die." And then he's attacking again.

<COMBAT> Leader attacks Templar1 with Bastard Sword - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Leader with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Templar1 attacks Leader with Broadsword but Leader DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Templar3 with Polearm but Templar3 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Bandit1 attacks Dacian with Broadsword but Dacian DODGES!

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword - ARMOR on Right Arm stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Viola attacks Bandit1 with Unarmed and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Nathaniel attempts to treat Nathaniel but NATHANIEL has no treatable wounds.

<COMBAT> Efraim tries to subdue Leader but fails.

<COMBAT> Dacian attacks Bandit1 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Bandit1 has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Templar1 has been KO'd!

Efraim gives up trying to grapple the leader, there's little opening and for want of seeking to end this swiftly and so he resorts to clenching his fist and seeking to land a blow. His arm aches its entire length, if anything he just wants to slump back to the ground and lay still till it all ends. But escape, freedom, not dying at the hands of stinking bandits pushes him on and so he changes tack and seeks to rail against the man who dared threaten to sell him.

Viola is still fairly pointless, though maybe she least causes the bandit some sort of distraction even if she doesn't actually manage to get any swings in at him. Not that there would be much weight behind them. And finally he goes down, praise the One! A breathe is drawn and she tries to take in the rest of the chaos. She wasn't in fighting shape, or well any shape. So there is an attempt to do what little she can, crawling along to gather up some of the meidcal supplies and see about some of the wounds of the men. Her own even, least to stop some of the bleeding.

A Templar falls to the might of the bandits, a blade sliding up between his maile and sinking deep into his abdomen. There is nothing to do for it, the man simply falls aside, blood spewing out from where his hand tries to hold his guts in, and the One recalls him to the great halls of glory.

Nathaniel sees his man go down, glaring ahead at the Leader now, wearing the face of the Reaper, a cold determination that scowls with nothing but a judgement already given.

The bandit leader gives a laugh as he hews down one of the Templars, dodging Efraim's efforts, trying to back hand the man for a minute before he warns to the remaining Templars, "If you give your blades over, you might stand a chance in living!"

Dacian manages to muster his strength for one more blow down into the brigand's chest, but then, he's wobbling, short of breath from the hard wound in his chest, and he dismounts briskly to stand before Viola, eyes silently scouring her over and asking her whether she's alright, even though he himself is patentedly not.

<COMBAT> Leader attacks Templar3 with Bastard Sword but Templar3 DODGES!

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Leader with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword - Critical wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Templar3 with Polearm and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Viola treats Dacian:

<COMBAT> Nathaniel attacks Leader with Greatsword - Serious wound to Chest.

<COMBAT> Efraim attacks Leader with Unarmed - Moderate Stun wound to Right Arm.

<COMBAT> Leader has been KO'd!

Viola gives a nod of her head,"I'll live." That might be debateable really. The woman was death walking, pale and her robes were blood soaked, from her own blood. But with the supplies nabed up she did attempt to see to some of Dacian's wounds. "Least ta get the blood stopped fer now." He had better hope of helping stop the remaining bandits then she did! There might be a few bleary blinks, and th ebandaging not her best, by far. But she manages to least get thingsin place to help keep Dacian from bleeding out.

Efraim slams his fist hard against the bandit leader's right arm, helping to knock his attack asunder and severely jarring his own wounded arm in the process. It felt good to punch him, it felt really good. More so as more blows rain down upon him from the other attackers, far deadlier blows than his. To watch the leader crumple brings a choked laugh to Efraim's throat and then the pain, that warrants a sharp intake of breath as he flinches away, his left hand reaching across to grasp and squeeze about the wound. The pale archer gritting his teeth as he scans the camp, watching Viola tend to the injured warrior while the bandits fall alongside their saviours.

Dacian takes to a knee, gritting his teeth into the pain of having his wound packed. But the sharp pain drives away that drowsy, floaty feeling of losing all ones lifeblood out of a hole in your side, so there's that to be said for it: it wakes him up! He's a good patient, otherwise, remaining still and not squirming, then standing up with a bit more vigor than he'd wobbled down from his mount with.

Dacian breathes hard, turning to eye the field, then tossing himself at one of the last bandits standing, for a tackle.

Nathaniel seems to walk over with a determination that is strictly divine righteousness, for his blade is drawn back and then in a fluid motion, sent forward and driving through the other's body, slamming the weight of the great sword through the man. There is no remorse. An arm flings back and he lets gravity pull the deadman off his blade, eyes turning to note the remaining Templars, nodding instructions to them to take out the remaining bandits. That's when Nat's eyes turn to Efraim, "Sit down if you want to live." A suggestion, then he's turning to pursue the remaining men.

<COMBAT> Bandit2 attacks Templar3 with Polearm and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Templar3 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Templar2 attacks Bandit2 with Broadsword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Bandit5 attacks Templar2 with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Right Leg stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Viola attempts to treat Dacian but DACIAN has no treatable wounds.

<COMBAT> Nathaniel attacks Bandit5 with Greatsword - Critical wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Dacian subdues Bandit5!

<COMBAT> Bandit2 has been KO'd!

<COMBAT> Bandit5 has been KO'd!

Efraim just nods at Nathaniel and sitting down seems like a great idea. But getting there seems a decidedly painful prospect. But then Efraim's body takes over and he just slumps to his knees and sags. He has no fight left in him and quite frankly sitting down is all he is good for. Then once sitting it isn't all that far to go to slumping on the cool earth and Efraim just slowly sags forward and hits the earth contentedly. He's in pain, but laying still, that's just his little slice of heaven.

Dacian tackles the bandit to the ground, wrestling with him briefly, turning end over end with him until he's pinned the man down on his back, sitting on the man's thighs and holding down his upper arms with force. And he's got him fairly well on the edge of surrender, too, not much the man can do, thus pinned.

After seeing to Dacian, Viola does end up flopping a bit to the ground, sort of sitting there a bit dazed for a moment. Watching those last moments of the battle, the last of the bandits being taken out. There is a blink before a wave of pain moves through her and she just flumps backwards as her eyes roll back. No energy left to fight it. And she had not the focus to tend to the injuries she'd taken herself. There is a pained moan before blackness takes her again, exhaustion and pain claiming the priestess.

Nathaniel watches from the corner of his eyes as the Templar's gang up on the remaining bandits, snuffing out their lives with the glory of their training and the One fully backing them. He continues to walk, the Reaper's face stern. He watches as Dacian subdues a man and steps over toward the Romante. He puts away his greatsword, slips out his dagger, leans down and without blinking an eye, slices the man's throat wide open.

One second there's a man about to surrender under Dacian's firm but fair hands. The next second there's a spray from a jugular vein right across his face, and the world flips upside down, he's on his back, squinting up through the spurts of blood to the half-decapitated head of his brother's body as it flails on horseback, riding by him. Outwardly he doesn't move. Almost can't move. Just keeps getting spattered by jets of gore in decreasing degrees of violence, his eyes wide and glassy, distant.

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