Another Excerpt from Group 1, Session 1

Lauson's Militia

Ramsey bellowed at the Easterners, “We are free men and not answerable to you. You, on the other hand, are intruders. What is your business here?”

The leader of the group stepped forward, saying, “I am Lauson, Leftenant of the 14th company at Broadhed. You are bandits and murderers. You will drop your weapons immediately and submit to Finley's justice!”

Millicent muttered a spell and felt Lauson's mind on the edge of her consciousness. She was chilled by experiencing the thoughts of a ruthless killer. She thought, “He will slay us without a second thought.”

Drawing his sword, Ramsey roared, “The hell I will!” Arantxe let fly with an arrow and missed, while Nephon took a stone from his pocket and hurled it at Lauson. To the amazement of all, the rock struck Lauson squarely in the middle of his forehead, opening a sizeable gash.

Khiyra didn't like the prospect of a frontal assault, so he turned and fled, breaking a window at the back of the castle and leaping through it.

Acting quickly, Millicent channeled her arcane power into an incantation that felled three of Lauson's men; the men were asleep before they hit the ground.

Taken by surprise, Lauson's men were slow to the ready. Ramsey and Girt capitalized on their opponents' slow reactions and attacked. Ramsey had difficulty with his man, but Girt slew her opponent with a shattering blow.

Lauson regained his focus and dealt an injury to Ramsey. Millicent was then struck by a tremendous strike that nearly ended her. She hobbled away from themelee. Nephon withrew to attend his injured companion.

Arantxe found her mark with an arrow, while Girt struck down another opponent.

Lauson felt the battle turning against him and withrew through the front door of the castle. Lauson's remaining man, injured and seeing his captain retreat, also turned tail.

At that moment, Khiyra rounded the northeast corner of the castle, making his way to the front door. He stopped in his tracks and hid in the bushes when he saw the approach of six more Easterners.

Ramsey and Girt burst through the doorway in pursuit of Lauson and his man, slaying Lauson's henchman from behind. Lauson's reinforcements arrived and delt injuries to Ramsey and Girt, but Ramsey and Girt were not to be vanquished, slaying another two men.

Khiyra, sensing the party's impending victory, emerged from the bushes and rushed one of Lauson's men from the rear. His feeling of exhilaration was cut short when his blade glanced off the other man's chainmail.

After healing the injured Millicent, Nephon returned to the fray, accompanied by the reinvigorated Millicent. They struck blows, while Ramsey and Girt again charged Lauson's line.

Lauson felt he had seen enough of this party and departed on horseback. One of his men escaped also, while the others were cut down.

Filled with fury at the death of Thet, Arantxe, in a fit of paroxysm, slew the sleeping Easterners.