The Battle Of Sezemitze 

4 OKTOBER 3460

It is 9.00 before they are all awake after a late night and reduced sleeping hours by having two of them on watch. They are still feeling somewhat tired as they emerge from their tents. Faewen'il stays a little longer in her tent so as to learn her spells for the day. Yaz, as on every other day that he is in Prirodna's realm, wanders off in search of a tree to kneel in front of so as to say his morning devotions. Viirin accompanies him.

As soon as they see the party start to stir, the four Slovenes wander over to speak to them as they were up before them.

'Go we must' Miklosh says. 'Many miles we have to travel today.'

Winnacer nods in agreement, knowing that any delay would endanger reaching Holitze before dusk.

Camp is broken and the tents stowed upon the two asses, along with the rest of the equipment. Then, they all mount their horses, or wolf in Yaz's case, and head southwards, continuing on their journey.

With no need for secrecy any longer, Miklosh and Hrust sit at the front of the wagon with the lad and bodyguard sleeping within. As the journey continues, Hrust continues to talk, with Miklosh translating. He tries to convince Winnacer of the wisdom of allowing the Slovenes to aid them on their mission of defeating the Nyemetz. Winnacer remains silent as he listens to Miklosh's pleas, politely refusing the Slovenes' requests while being careful not to anger them.

They carry on their journey through the morning. Just after noon, they dismount and stop to rub their aching backs and to take lunch. After half an hour, however, Winnacer tells the rest of them that they must continue on their journey. They carry on with their journey through the afternoon. By now the shaman and Miklosh are quiet, realizing that they are not going to turn the party round to working with them.

The journey lasts for another four hours. Those of them who are not used to riding are in total agony by this time, desperate to stop to relieve their aching backs and backsides, but Winnacer urges the rest of them onwards, wanting to be clear of the Slovenes early enough so that they will not ask to make camp with them again.

At around 5.00p.m., Winnacer realizes that they are just half a mile from Sezemitze, the closest of the Twin Villages. He stops the column and speaks to Miklosh:

'This is where are paths must diverge. In order to go onwards to Trebova, you must continue south. As I said, we are bound for the Jeseniky Mountains, and so we must go eastwards from here.'

Miklosh translates for Hrust and the bugbear replies:

'Shame think Shaman Hrust that not work together can we. Hope much he that think over it can you. If want Slovene help for you still, then arrange can we. Plan we to talk much with Padre Kochi of Temple of Radegast. If speak with us more want you, then can you meet with he.'

Shaman Hrust offers a large furry paw in Winnacer's direction and starts to growl again:

'Despite problem in night before talk we did, glad that met you we did. Although not want you us help we fight same fight, so wish luck you to fight Nyemetz.'

Winnacer is just about to open his mouth to reply when Viirin lets out a mighty howl.

Yaz is just about to find out why, when the answer becomes apparent. Coming over the brow of a slight hill to the east of them, from the direction of Sezemitze, they can see worgs approaching. Lots of worgs, about 30 of them to be precise, each of which is ridden by a goblin. They cannot have failed to notice the party, as the area is exposed of cover and the wagon stands out like a sore thumb. The worgs are coming towards them at a walking pace. They are not running yet.

Miklosh starts to panic, gibbering crazily in Pannon. Shaman Hrust growls at him fiercely and the merchant falls silent, although he is obviously quaking with fear still. Calmly, the shaman starts to growl. Miklosh nervously translates:

'Sh-shaman Hrust say that know he that flee from they can we not as too slow is wagon so we shall not run. W-we shall d-die here for sure but take many to meet their g-gods with us. O-our god will welcome us with arms open for to die death of hero. Slovenes fear death do not.'

The Shaman is continuing to growl calmly:

'B-but need to die you need not' stutters Miklosh. 'You horses more fast than worgs be. G-go now away quick. Stop them to kill you shall we. Please to keep with fight of Nyemetz to avenge death of we.'

Will looks hesitantly toward Winnacer and the others for clues as to a plan of action. After but a moment, he leaps from his steed, snatches Bekkah, who is riding with Winnacer and helps them into his own saddle to accompany Heimlin, who is already there.

Handing the reins to Heimlin, he tells him:

"Wait until they have their attention on us and then circle around to the east, away from the sun, until you reach the town, wait for us there."

Jihan and Faewen'il do the same, leaving the real Darry and Tharnald on their horses. Robert picks up Granny off Bennett's horse and puts them onto his.

"I reckons that I should guide them to the town, if that's alright with you" Robert says. "I've seen you in action and I think that I'll be more of a burden to you than a help. And someone needs to look after them, in case we run into more of them on our way to the town."

They all nod in agreement with Robert's thoughts.

Then, looking again to Winnacer for guidance, Will speaks again:

"If you flee, then avenge me as well. I will not leave these men to die at the hands of Nyemetz."

"If you stand and fight," he turns to speak to Winnacer in particular," I have the illusion spell which may be used in any manner you judge best. Whether it be in subversion to avoid combat or to aid in battle."

Winnacer hears the Shaman's words, but cannot keep his eyes off the worgs. While the chance for escape has been offered, Winnacer can't help but keep the thought of the worgs tearing at the throats of the villagers of Sezemitze. The large numbers of worgs starts to make him wonder if Boris was wrong about Lord Malek's trip:

'Thirty fucking worgs,' Winnacer thinks to himself, 'We'll be slaughtered. But if we do not fight them, who will.....?'

Winnacer glances at the others trying to get a feel for their moods.

"Yaz, is there any way you or Viirin can get the worgs to revolt? How are we doing with our magical spells? What do we have?"

Yaz shakes his head a little nervously:

'I wasn't expecting that we would face such a tough battle today, so I'm not as well-stocked up on combat spells as I would have been had I expected something like this. I've got the usual healing spells, three of them, and I've got an entanglement spell, but sadly only one. I wish that I had more. I've also got a couple of spells for charming either worgs or their riders, but two are not going to go very far. As for the help that Viirin can give us, I'll have to ask him.'

Yaz starts to cast a spell. As he is casting, Faewen'il responds to the same question:

'I nae be havin the webbin spell. I be tellin ye afore, though it seems like ye don't heed me, but the web spell be needin walls or a ceilin to hold it together. If'n I was to be castin it here, then it would just disappear into the wind afore it be takin hold. Instead I be havin the spell that be sendin some o them to sleep, the spell that be causin the cloud that be makin them to cough an vomit an also the spell that be dazzlin some o them with colors. If'n things be lookin in a bad way, then I be havin scrolls with another of the sleepin spells an another of the dazzlin color spells.'

Yaz has finished casting the spell which allows him to speak with Viirin:

'Viirin' he starts. 'It looks as if we're going to be in for quite a fight with those worgs. Is there anything that you could do to help us? Could you…um…talk to them, and make them go away or ignore us, or something? After all, they must respect you.'

'Master Charaz' replies Viirin. 'I'm not sure that I could say that they respect me. Worgs don't really have any concept of respect. It's only really fear that they are guided by. It works on the pack system. The way that the goblins manage to control the worgs is by showing them that they are the masters. Brutal little buggers they are, always prodding us with their spears whenever we do anything that they don't like. After a while, the worg comes to consider his rider as his master and will obey them implicitly, unless they are not well fed enough, in which case the need to eat overrides even the fear of their riders. Unfortunately, this means that it is not a question of my just having a cozy chat with them and telling them to go and do something else. I wish that it was not so, as I would love to tell thirty worgs what to do, but I doubt very much that they would listen to me.'

With the worgriders approaching, Winnacer speaks to you all:

'If we decide to stay and fight, then this will be the toughest battle that we have faced to date. I would not demand that any of you stay here. You are all free to make your own choices. So those of you who want to leave, then do so now.'

Winnacer looks at each member of the party to see if any of them show signs of wanting to leave. Only grim looks of determination greet him though. All are in favor of staying. Seeing that the party will stay together, Winnacer turns to Hrust:

"No living thing deserves to be sacrificed" Winnacer says to Hrust. "Let us show you on how Bohavia shall make itself independent."

"Aye my lord!" agrees Will. "I was hoping to hear such words from you! I should have never doubted. Indeed! Let us fight as true warriors, and may the gods grant us victory!"

A firm gritty smile is on Will's face as he replies to Winnacer's words.

Xavier bellows:

"Rodengast be praised. Slovenes I like not, but any who show bravery such as these are worthy of respect. I shall stand here with them. Come Herr Willheim, let us show these Slovenes the true worth of Bohavian and Saxony blood!!"

Miklosh translates to Hrust and the bugbear holds out a large paw to Winnacer. It's hard to tell from Hrust's ursine features, but it looks as if he's almost smiling. He growls a little and Miklosh translates:

'Hope for Bohavia see Shaman Hrust there be.'

"It may be wise for all of those who are not mounted, Shaman Hrust and any other spellcasters to refuge in or under the wagon whilst casting spells. Permission to come aboard in preparation for skirmishes mi kapitan?"

Miklosh agrees and Will runs to the wagon and, grasping the top edge, does a flip up to land in a crouch upon the wagon top. Pulling his bow off his shoulder, he lays at his feet, then grasping his lasso and rope, he ties the end of the rope to something sturdy, then coils the rest at his feet so that it may be easily grasped.

Jihan follows him up. The knowledge of a tough battle ahead has seemed to waken him a little from the reverie. He takes up a position next to Will and starts to coat arrowheads with sleeping poison.

Faewen'il also climbs into the wagon as does Miklosh and the bodyguard. Hrust climbs into the wagon and takes a torch, which he lights using flint and steel. He barks to the lad and he takes the flaming torch and runs ahead of the wagon towards the worgs. Once he is a fair distance towards the worgs, he plants the torch in the ground and runs back to join the party.

Hrust growls at the party and Miklosh translates once more:

'Shaman Hrust say, when start to cast he. All close eyes and look away. Blind many for while will he.'

The worgs are still coming closer. It is obvious to them that something is not right with this wagon. They are starting to gallop towards the party. As they see the worgriders come closer, they can see that they are armed with spears, shortswords and shortbows. They can see the flag of Hradetz Karlovye flying among their ranks and hear the drums of a standard bearer pounding. Two of the wolves they see are larger than the others. They see that they are dire wolves, both ridden by orcish sargeants leading their troops.

In the wagon, the bodyguard and Miklosh slash away at the canvas with their swords so as to give them a proper field of fire. Winnacer, Bennett and Xavier line up their horses in front of the wagon. Yaz joins them mounted on Viirin's back.

The rest of them are inside the wagon, all with either bows at the ready or spells ready to cast.

Will begins speaking words of such stirring nature, that all who hear are mentally prepared for the battle. A quote or two from Teutonic war hymns are scattered throughout the oration. Hearing the familiar words, Xavier joins in with him:

"Men of Gorlitz shall stand and fight

Defending the land from the Fey's spite

Glory shall be found in the hearts of the Brave

and Victory be found before the falling of night."

They watch the worgriders approach, preparing themselves to meet their destinies.

Winnacer readies his bow and then gives Juggernaut a pat on the head, and whispers to his horse to get his mighty hooves ready. He thanks himself for the foresight to attach the barding to all three of the warhorses.

Xavier flexes the reins of his mount Barbarossa between the remaining three fingers of his left hand. He turns to Winnacer and, as he draws from his scabbard the gleaming blade of teutonic steel, he says:

"To glorious battle do we donate our lives to Rodengast’s might. Fear not what lays ahead, my young lord. Our bravery shall be recalled forever as the Nyemetz flag is struck down from every tower and keep in Bohavia. Before our eyes or not, it shall happen. Rodengast turns not his back to those who fight with honor, no matter what the odds."

Seeing the worgs heading straight towards them, Bennett dismounts from his horse, Maire, and ties her to the side of the wagon:

‘You’re too fine a steed to be simply worg fodder’ he says as he unslings his bow from his shoulder and walks forwards to the front rank.

Winnacer gives him a look of some surprise that Bennett had decided to fight on foot after Bennett caused so much damage to the drunken orcs and orogs while mounted, but guesses that Bennett must have his own reasons.

Seeing Bennett dismount and walk towards the front of the wagon once more, the Pannon bodyguard quietly climbs down from the wagon. Without saying a word, he stands next to Bennett holding his heavy crossbow in his hands.

Shaman Hrust is starting to growl and goes around sprinkling some liquid around the others. He also touches each of them on the forehead with the liquid. Seeing that some of them are rather nervous at the shaman’s intentions, Miklosh calms them:

‘Fear not, Shaman Hrust he give you blessing of Blesk. Blesk guide your hands in battle for to smite Nyemetz.’

They look up and see the Nyemetz before them, 300 yards and closing. The worgs have formed into three platoons of ten, led by the two orc sargeants and the goblin standard bearer respectively, with the standard bearer’s platoon in the center. The three leaders lead their platoons, with the nine troopers behind them forming a square formation.

Winnacer is somewhat impressed at the Nyemetz formation, having seen only an undisciplined rabble in the past. The spell casters are glad at seeing the formation. The tighter that the Nyemetz are packed together, the more effective they know their spells will be.

The worgs charge forwards, their howls filling the air. All those with bows raise them and get ready for the worgs to get within range.

The Pannon bodyguard fires the first shot of the battle, as his heavy crossbow has the longest range. He draws a bead on one of the sargeants and pulls the trigger. The quarrel flies straight through the air and hits the sargeant in the shoulder, an impressive feat considering the extreme range, although the sargeant does not fall.

As the worgs close, Xavier raises his crossbow and tries to mimic the Pannon’s success. It is not to be, however, as the bolt flies short. Jihan nocks one of his sleep-poisoned arrows into Weitbeissen and aims at the other sargeant’s dire wolf. His shot is far short, however.

As the first quarrels and arrows fall among them, the worgriders dig their spurs into the worgs’ flanks and charge towards them. All of those with shortbows fire at the leaders. Although both Miklosh and Will’s shots are on target, the orcs’ armor saves them from damage.

The worgs retaliate by firing a volley towards the party. With the goblins bouncing up and down in the saddle and firing at extreme range, they fire indiscriminately, with most of the shots landing a far away from your position. However, with so many arrows heading in your direction, it is inevitable that some will find their mark. Winnacer’s arm is grazed from one arrow and Jihan is hit quite badly in the leg.

Shaman Hrust starts to growl and gesticulates towards the lit torch which is now just before the oncoming worgriders.

‘LOOK NOT!’ cries Miklosh, as he hits the deck of the wagon.

Heeding the merchant’s advice, the others screw their eyes shut and look away briefly. Through their closed lids, they see a tremendously bright light in front of them and hear a terrible boom. As the light subsides, they look to see the reaction of the bugbear’s spell.

Terrible howls from the worgs and screams from the goblins fill the air as they are blinded by the light from the bugbear’s spell. Most of the worgs halt as they try to regain their sight and almost all of the riders. Yet nine worgs continue to charge forwards, spurred on by the smell of the horses.

Yaz and Faewen’il wonder whether to use any of their precious spells at this point, knowing that they are so scarce. They decide to hold off, realizing that the effects of the shaman’s pells are not going to last forever.

As the nine worgs pounce forwards, those with shortbows fire at them. Miklosh and Jihan’s shots both connect, while Winnacer and Will’s do not.

Winnacer and Xavier throw their bows over their shoulders and kick into their steeds’ side as they ready their weapons and charge towards the approaching worgs.

‘Onwards for Bohavia!’ cries Winnacer as he charges forth, with Xavier right behind him.

Bennett and the Pannon both drop their bows and draw their bastard swords ready to take them on.

Miklosh, Will and Jihan all fire again at the worgs, but their shots are off target. Jihan has even worse luck, snapping the bowstring of Weitbeissen.

Winnacer sees that the goblin standard bearer is leading the charge of the worgs and targets the worg beneath it. He lowers his lance and charges into it. The lance connects with the worg, spearing it and killing it instantly. The goblin falls from the beast’s back and Juggernaut tramples the unfortunate standard bearer under its massive hooves.

Two more worgs charge towards Winnacer. The goblin on the first was not affected by the pyrotechnics and lowers its spear as it aims at the young lord. Winnacer ducks and avoids the spear, but the worg bites Juggernaut badly in the leg. The second worg snaps at Winnacer and bites him in the thigh, causing some pain to the young lord.

Xavier charges into the worg wielding his bastard sword. His first swipe misses, but his second cuts deeply into the worg, causing it severe damage. Two worgs snap back at him and one bites into Barbarossa’s flesh.

Four of the worgs carry on past the mounted riders towards the wagon. Miklosh and Will both fire at them again. Miklosh hits another of the worgs, although does little damage. Will fails to hit.

Four shots fire out from two of the goblins who are sat upon worgs incapacitated by the pyrotechnics. One of the shots bounces off Miklosh’s brigandine armor.

The Pannon bodyguard hacks into one of the worgs bounding towards him and Bennett. He swings at it twice, but the worg avoids his blows. The worg bites into the Pannon’s leg causing him to cry out in pain. Bennett has even less luck, seeing Sorrow fly out of his hand as the other worg approaches. The worg leaps at him, but his armor protects him from damage.

Viirin charges into another of the worgs, despite Yaz’s attempts to stop him. As he comes to approach the worg, he breathes upon it, letting out a blast of freezing cold air. The worg bounds onwards, however and so Viirin bites into it, causing more damage. Yaz, on Viirin’s back, lashes out at it with his scimitar, but misses. The worg snaps at Yaz, but fails to get through Yaz’s armor.

One lone worg comes towards the wagon. Jihan has a shortsword and Langzhan ready and lashes out at the worg. The shortsword hits the worg injuring it. The Pannon lad also tries to hit the worg, but fails to hit it. The worg bites into the Pannon lad, easily biting through his padded armor, leading the boy to cry out.

Miklosh and Will nock new arrows into their bows. All of the close worgs are in melee and so the two of them target the two goblins on the incapacitated worgs. Will manages to hit one of them, a remarkable achievement at such long range and is rewarded by seeing the goblin fall from its saddle. The other goblin fires back, but its shots fall far wide.

Winnacer wheels the bleeding Juggernaut around and targets another of the worgs. Once again, his lance is true and another worg is skewered. The goblin on its back is again trampled under Juggernaut’s mighty hooves. The other worg attacks and manages to bite into Winnacer, causing the young lord more damage. He remembers why he hates the lupine beasts so much as he feels the beasts teeth bite into his hip. Juggernaut kicks the worg in its flanks in retaliation.

Xavier lashes out again at the worg that he damaged previously, but misses. Barbarossa is more lucky and kicks in the head of the already injured beast. The other worg lunges at Barbarossa, but misses.

The bodyguard slashes at the worg once more, but misses again. The worg has similar luck. Bennett pulls Regret from over his back and swipes at the worg, but he fails to hit as well. The worg bites into Bennett’s leg causing him to cry out with the pain.

Viirin once more bites into the worg he is fighting. Still the beast will not fall. Yaz fails to hit it with his scimitar, but avoids the jaws of the worg.

Jihan frantically hacks into worg attacking the wagon. Langzhan finds its mark and the weakened worg falls to the ground. Faewen’il, seeing the state of the Pannon lad’s injuries takes out her bag of herbs and starts to bind his wounds.

Miklosh and Will fire again at the distant goblins. Will is again lucky and hits one of the goblins. More arrows fly out from the goblins. Another arrow is deflected by Miklosh armor while another grazes Faewen’il, causing her more shock than damage.

Winnacer once more wheels Juggernaut in an attempt to despatch the worg snapping at Juggernaut. Winnacer’s lance is once more on target and he inflicts terrific wounds upon the worg, although not quite enough to kill it. Juggernaut finishes the worg, however, by crushing the worg’s skull with its hooves.

Xavier lashes out at the last worg facing him. He hacks into it causing a tremendous amount of damage, but still not enough to finish it. The worg snaps at Barbarossa but does not connect with the horse.

The Pannon bodyguard is furious at not hitting the worg yet and attacks it with renewed fury. His blows connect this time and he carves up the worg with ease. Bennett also manages to strike his worg, but it is a huge beast and so does not go down.

Viirin and Yaz continue to attack the worg in front of them, but neither of them can land a blow on the creature, and nor can the creature damage them.

From the wagon, they look towards the mass of worgs and goblins that were incapacitated by the pyrotechnics and see that they are starting to regain their sight and are starting to reform. The spellcasters realize that their spells are now needed in order to stop their position being engulfed by the bulk of the worgriders.

As the worgriders surge forwards, the bugbear starts to cast again and gesture towards the oncoming horde. The first sargeant goes rigid in the saddle, but Hrust shouts out a cry of disappointment. As they come closer, Yaz ignores the worg snapping at him and looks for the closest grouping of worgs in order that his spell be the most effective. He sees the biggest grouping on the left flank and gesticulates towards them The grass around some of the worgriders takes on a life of its own and binds the paws of six of the worgriders. Three of the worgriders, and the sargeant on the dire wolf, are only slowed, much to Yaz’s disappointment. Faewen’il also adds her spell to the mix and a cloud of purple vapors rises amongst the riders. Three of the worgs and their riders stop choking as a result of the vapors.

The defenders look on nervously as they see eleven of the worgs and most of their riders escape the barrage of spells advancing quickly towards them.

The bowmen fire again into the oncoming horde. Miklosh’ shots fall wide, but Jihan hits the dire wolf ridden by the held sargeant with one of the sleep poisoned arrows. He looks on in delight as the wolf goes down from the poison, taking its held rider with it. Will manages to graze one of them, but then snaps his bowstring.

Trying to finish off the three remaining worgs before the new assault reaches them, Winnacer charges backwards to where Viirin is struggling with one of the wolves. Leveling his lance once more, he hits the worg full square and finishes the injured beast easily.

‘Heal me, Yaz’ he says as he wheels back round to take on the new deluge.

Xavier tries to finish off the injured worg that he is fighting so as to join the battleline with Yaz and Winnacer. He misses the worg with his sword, but Barbarossa finishes the worg off with a well placed kick. Xavier wheels round and comes to Winnacer’s side.

The bodyguard attacks the worg still fighting with Bennett and gives it a mighty blow from his bastard sword. Bennett fails to hit with his battleaxe, however.

As the worgs are almost upon ythem again, Yaz casts a healing spell upon Winnacer, who is bleeding heavily from his wounds. In the confused state of the battle, however, the effect of the magic is weak. The bugbear shaman casts again, and a blazing ray of red-hot fire emerges from his hand. He leaps from the wagon to take up a position next to the bodyguard. Faewen’il waits for the worgs to come closer before using her next spell.

Will frantically tries to change his bowstring as quickly as possible, while Miklosh and Jihan fire new volleys into the horde. Both of Miklosh’s shots are true, injuring two worgs. Jihan hits another of the worgs with a poisoned arrow and the worg falls to the ground asleep.

The goblins atop the entangled worgs fire a volley back in response, although the shots are mainly wide. One arrow bounce harmlessly off Winnacer’s armor, while another grazes Barbarossa.

The worgs are upon the party. Winnacer sees the remaining sargeant coming forwards and targets the dire wolf with his lance. As he charges towards it, however, the dire wolf turns and the lance misses. Juggernaut has more success, however, and kicks the creature with its hooves. Cruelly, the sargeant hacks its broadsword into Juggernaut’s side in retaliation. The horse whinnies and almost stumbles as it feels the damage. The dire wolf sinks its teeth into the noble mount and rips out its throat. Juggernaut buckles to the ground, dead. Winnacer instantly realizes that his mount is finished and leaps off the saddle so as not to be pinned by the unfortunate beast. He drops the lance and draws 'Old Bohavia' to defend himself. Another worg and a goblin tries to take advantage of Winnacer’s position, but the young lord dodges the jaws and spear.

Xavier charges into the battle. He hacks all around him and one of the worgs tastes his steel. Barbarossa also manages to get a kick upon the creature. One of the goblins’ spears cuts through Xavier’s mail although the damage is little more than a scratch. However, distracted by the blow, Xavier fails to see two worgs rearing up at him. One bites into his head, inflicting terrible damage, while the other savages the Saxon’s arm. Xavier cries out in pain, knowing that he cannot stand much more of this damage.

Viirin charges into another of the worgs, but snaps only at air. The riderless worg is similarly unsuccessful.

Four of the worgs ignore the riders and close in towards the wagon. Faewen’il immediately starts chanting the words of the familiar sleep ensorcellment and casts sand towards the approaching beasts. To her delight, two of the worgs fall and their riders decide to make a quick exit.

The bodyguard slashes into one of the worgs that was unaffected by Faewen’il’s spell. The Pannon is seemingly a whirl of steel as he hacks the worg to pieces. The goblin on its back tries to retaliate, but fails to get through the bodyguard’s heavy mail.

Bennett tries to rid himself of the stubborn worg that has been facing him for a while. He finally fells it, but misses the goblin on its back that slashes him with its shortsword.

Another worg and rider attacks Shaman Hrust. The worg fails to bite the bugbear, but the rider sinks its shortsword into the shaman, resulting in a great growl of anger from the beast.

Another wave of arrows comes from the entangled goblins. The goblins have found their range now and the volley is far more accurate than the first. Will gets hit in the leg, and another arrow grazes Faewen’il. The Pannon lad, however, is the most unfortunate, however, as an arrow hits him in the head, killing him instantly.

Furious at the volley, the bowmen in the wagon strike back. Miklosh hits one of them, but he fails to go down. Jihan breaks another string on Weitbeissen, while both of Will’s shots are off target.

Seeing Xavier in a critical state, Yaz maneuvers Viirin through the mass of his lupine brethren to where he could get to Xavier. As he reaches him, he casts another healing spell upon him, but the effect upon the Saxon is weak.

Standing amongst the worgs, Winnacer lashes out at the dire wolf with Old Bohavia, desperately trying to rid himself of the creature. He manages to hack into the wolf and the large beast falls to the ground, taking the sargeant with him. Before Winnacer has a chance to finish the sargeant, another worg and its rider are upon him. The worg stumbles but the rider pierces Winnacer again with his spear, although the damage is not severe.

Xavier knows that he his fighting for his life now, but he is weak from pain and fails to strike a blow on the worg. One of the riders facing him again gets to pierce Xavier, and the Saxon is once more forced to hang on to his life.

Viirin continues to dance around the worgs and bites deeply into the side of one of them. Yelping with the pain, the worg retaliates and nips at Viirin, although the damage is slight.

In front of the wagon, the bodyguard fights with the goblin toppled from the worg, but does not strike him. The goblin also fails to connect with the Pannon.

Bennett also tries to finish off the goblin in front of him in retaliation for the wound it gave him and manages to kill him.

Shaman Hrust wields the fiery blade and attempts to take out the worg before him, but his blow is wide. Neither the worg nor the rider can manage a shot upon the shaman however.

Faewen’il rubs the graze from the arrow. She has been waiting for the worgs to get closer to use her color spray spell, as she knows that it only works when enemies are almost upon her. As she sees that Xavier and Barbarossa are both in mortal danger from the two worgs and their riders hounding him, she realizes that she must act in order to save him. She reaches down to her bandoleer and pulls out a scroll. She mouths the words to another of the sleep ensorcellments and casts towards the worgs. She looks on in relief as both of the worgs fall unconscious, leaving only the riders for Xavier to deal with.

Another volley of arrows comes from the entangled goblins. Once again, the volley causes considerable damage, slightly injuring Will, Miklosh and also hitting Jihan in the neck, causing him terrific pain. Will and Miklosh fire back, while Jihan hurries to change the string on Weitbeissen yet again. Miklosh wounds another of them, while both of Will’s arrows fail to find targets.

Seeing Xavier still in the critical stage, Yaz again casts his final healing spell upon him, trying to keep the Saxon alive. This time the spell is more successful.

Winnacer sets upon the sargeant who has now pulled himself up from the ground besides his dead dire wolf. With two mighty blows from 'Old Bohavia', he hacks the sargeant to pieces. Before he gets a chance to shout for the remaining worgriders to surrender, the worg next to him pounces upon him, but the young lord avoids both the jaws of the worg and the rider’s spear.

‘SURRENDER’ he shouts as he avoids the worg and its rider, but in the chaos of the battle, it seems as if his cry has gone unheard.

With the worgs that caused him so much pain now unconscious, Xavier tries to finish the two riders that are still attacking him with their spears. He hacks one of them to pieces, while Barbarossa kicks at the other, although does not finish it.

Viirin tries to finish off the worg that has been pestering him, but his jaws fail to connect. The worg snaps up at Yaz on his back and bites into his shoulder.

The bodyguard manages to rid himself of the goblin that had been bothering him. Bennett gives the shaman a hand, and kills the worg facing him. The shaman tries to take out the goblin on its back, but fails to connect with it.

With only two worgs and four goblins facing them in combat now, it looks as if a respite may be possible. Looking up, however, they see that the three worgs and riders incapacitated by Faewen’il’s stinking cloud are now recovering and are starting to gallop into the fray.

Another volley of arrows flies towards the wagon with yet more devastating results. Miklosh is hit by three arrows, which skewer him and kill him instantly. Faewen’il is hit by two. One of them just grazes her again, but another one hits her in the stomach. She grasps at her stomach where the arrow hit her and falls to the ground, unconscious.

As Jihan sees Faewen’il fall to the ground, his reverie is broken and he lets out a cry. He drops Weitbeissen and rushes over to her, picking Darry’s body in his arms. Jihan’s cry alerts Hrust, who takes his attention from the goblin he is facing and rushes onto the wagon. Letting the energy of his flaming bow subside, he lays his hand upon Faewen’il’s stomach and pulls out the arrow while chanting. He pulls out the arrow, but Faewen’il’s lids remain closed.

Will tries to take out some of the goblins in retaliation for their last volley, but both of his shots go wide.

Winnacer tries desperately to take out the worg and rider that he is still in combat with before the newly freed three worgriders can close. It is not to be, however, and Winnacer's strikes go wide. The worg bites into young lord, damaging him a little more, although the goblin rider fails to pierce him again with his spear.

Xavier strikes out at the goblin facing him and manages to kill him. Barbarossa strikes out at the worg next to him that is still in combat with Viirin, but fails to connect with the wolf. Viirin has more success, however, and manages to bite another lump out of the worg’s side. The worg tries to strike back, but does not connect.

Yaz is more concerned about the three fresh worgs and their riders that are about to enter the battle. He starts to cast at one of the three riders, and allows himself a smile as one of the three worgs halts a little and then starts to attack the worg next to him. The worg’s rider tries to hang on for dear life, having no idea as to why the worg has started to attack its brother. Just one more worg and its rider bound towards you.

Bennett and the bodyguard are now facing just one lone goblin. The bodyguard is about to take him out, when he loses his grip on the bastard sword and it flies from his hand, thus giving the satisfaction of killing the goblin to Bennett.

On the horizon, the party suddenly sees a sight that lifts their sagging spirits. In a line, they see twenty horsemen, each wearing chainmail and orange colored robes. Each of them is holding a hammer. They then see that the horses are also dyed an orange color. Above them flies a large orange banner, upon which is the symbol of a sword with scales hanging from the handle.

They look on in delight as the twenty horsemen gallop towards them, with cries of ‘SPRAVEDELNA!’ ringing in the air.

The cries alert the attention of the goblins, who were already starting to think that the tide of battle was turning against them, even though many of them still remain. Seeing twenty fresh horsemen coming to intervene in the combat makes them immediately realize that they are doomed. The goblins try to rein in their mounts and throw their weapons down to the ground, squealing in terror in their native tongue.

The one lone wolf still fighting with Viirin and Xavier doesn’t realize that the rest of his side has surrendered and so continues to fight on. Xavier, however, soon puts a stop to that, as he hacks the beast in two.

Shaman Hrust casts another spell upon Faewen’il. This one has more effect and her eyes start to flutter a little and then she wakes. She lies groaning with the pain, bearly conscious.

The Holy Hammerers of Spravedelna continue to charge down the hill, shouting the name of their god and holding their hammers. As they see that the remaining worgriders are surrendering, they do not engage, but gallop around to form a ring around the goblins so that they may not escape.

As they come closer, the party recognizes the familiar form of Kesryk at their head, with Honza the blacksmith acting as their standard bearer. Kesryk, accompanied by Honza. gallops up to them and survey the strange array of indivduals before him, recognizing none of you. He looks particularly oddly towards the bugbear, Xavier the orc and the toddler riding on a dire wolf.

‘Greetings to you all’ he says officiously. ‘I am Kesryk of Holitze, leader of the Holy Hammerers of Spravedelna. She has truly given us Her blessing for sending you to smite the unholy Nyemetz that sought to pillage out villages and enslave Her people.’

Before they respond, they look around them. All of them are injured to a greater or lesser extent and the pain from their injuries is great. However, the field is theirs.