WOT Adv 64

--- The Wheel Turns ---
In the early morning light you can now see more than just shadows. A very tangible calvary charge is taking place, being lead by a large man with a long moustache, he's shouting like a maniac, wheeling his sword above his head. But you can see he's a skilled rider and he moves his sword in a fluid manner as one very well trained in the art of battle. You can see that about half of the charge breaks off of the road. These are carrying torches, they torch the outlying houses. You know that even though most of the houses are made of stone, there's enough flammable inside the homes to cause serious harm. A torch lands inside of the Three Crowns Inn, as well as the Wisdom's Home, and the two homes west of the wisdom. You can see small tendrils of smoke start to form inside their windows.

Then the large warrior and two of his companions charging down the center of the road catch your attention. The large man bears down on Thenlir. Arrows leap out of the inn, one striking his armor and the other piercing his left shoulder. He curses in pain, but remains in his saddle and continue his charge. The two villagers in front of Thenlir begin to quail as the horse bears down on them. One other rider breaks off and charges a nearby spearman, slicing the villager's shoulder as he drives past. A third somehow gets knocked out of his saddle by some unseen force and falls dazedly onto his face. He picks himself up only to be shot by two arrows. He screams in pain and tries to regain his feet, but a villager spears him.

In the distance, heading east towards the smithy you see another Taraboner with a burning torch galloping to torch yet another building. But the familiar sound of arrows piercing the sky suddenly lay the man low and he slump in the saddle, dead with three arrows protruding from his body.

Keb leaps off of the cart her, shortbow in hand and runs a few paces toward the porch of the inn. Some soldiers slow to a trot, pull out bows, and take shots at some of the spearmen in the road, hitting one of them. Keb crouches on one knee, and sends an arrow in their direction, but misses.

Through all this the large warrior drives on.

"Hold your ground!" Thenlir shouts, "Let them come!"

But the large warrior skillfully avoids the the villager's spear, and ignoring the villager completely, moves on in a controlled charge, seeking out the only armored foe he can see-- Thenlir. He leans low in his saddle and swings at Thenlir cutting a large gash in the broad warrior's chest as he thunders past. Thenlir reels back and gasps in pain, but he grips his axe. The man finally wheels his horse up just past the cart and start to turn it around. You're close enough to see the man. He is large, and has a snarl on his face. You can clearly see the large mustache on his face. You recognize him as one of the officers.

With a silent sprint you veil your face and then attack the man from the side, sending your sharp spear through his armor, deep into his side. He reels back in pain and his horse's hooves paw the air, but he stays in his saddle and curses. Blood flows from his wound. To your left, the spearman and Hobbs rush up to attack the other remaining Taraboner.

"Earwin, there are too many of them!" he shouts to his leader, defending against, Hobbs, and two other spearmen.

(--- Round 2)

"Keep fighting!" Earwin snarls, "Kill them! Kill them all!" and he skillfully impales Thenlir through his chain shirt, easily guiding his horse in the combat. Thenlir cries out in pain, blood coming from both wounds.

The other Taraboner tries to fight off Hobbs and the two spearmen, but they get around him, and Hobbs buries his axe in a flanking maneuver and the soldier gurgles in pain and then lies still. His horse neighs in frustration and then bounds by.

"There! Archers, on second floor! You two, root them out!" an officer, presumably Wuan, shouts and directs two soldiers. He himself then assists another soldier.

"Yes Sir!" They gallop towards the Inn. One of them hits the invisible barrier and crashes to the ground in pain. He picks himself up and runs a nearby spearman through. The first friendly casualty in the Battle for Arturo's Village. The second makes it into the inn and with drawn sword disappears from sight.

Across the field, you see a force of three riders charge the line of archers hidden in the trees and bushes. One of the Taraboners slumps in his saddle as he charges the line of archers and becomes a pin cushion. His horse continues charging by, and without direction from his non-responsive rider, neighs and simply meanders about. The other two reach the line and hand to hand combat ensues.

Circling Earwin's prancing horse, you try to get a good thrust with your spear, but Earwin moves quickly and easily parries you blow.

"Bah! You will have to do better than that!".

Maeslyn concentrates and looks at Earwin. His eyes go wide when his left arm gets caught in one of her weaves of the one power. His horse continues its forward motion, but Earwin stays put his left arm hanging in the air. His feet however do touch the ground and he is able to move, at least somewhat.

--- Round 3 ---

"Die, Tar Valon witch! You will pay dearly!" Earwin cries in anger and brings his sword arm crashing down towards Maeslyn. She leaps back out of sword reach and struggles to maintain her concentration.

Thenlir gets in his guard and slams the axe into his chest. Earwin gurgles, and blood rushes out his mouth. Seeing your opening, you attack from the rear and send the spear all the way through the officer. He gurgles some more and then goes limp. But he still hangs morosely in the air, held by the unnatural powers of the Wise One.

"Good work!" Maeslyn calls out. Seeing the man go limp, she releases the weave, letting him fall unceremoniously to the ground. As soon as he drops, you see Hobbs and two spear men rush forward to engage Wuan and two soldiers near by.

"With me, men!" Hobbs shouts and with a swinging whoosh from his axe he nicks Wuan's thigh.

"To me! To me!" you hear Wuan call out, a few paces in front of you, apparently attempting to rally his troops. He impales a spearman, easily felling him, and then turns his attention to Hobbs.

"I've got him!" you hear an Arturo's archer exclaim from the second story of the Three Crowns Inn, he aims a shot into the melee combat below, but in the heat of the battle, a friend takes the arrow in the throat instead, and dies instantly, leaving Hobbs alone to confront Wuan and his two guards.

Keb off to your right drops her bow, draws her rapier and rushes into into the inn. Billows of black smoke are now beginning to come out off the south west corner of the inn's commons area.

You can still hear fighting from across the field to your left but you can't tell what is going on due to the darkness and the foliage.

---- Round 4 ---
Thenlir and another spearmen advance and aid Hobbs in front of you. Blades turn on spears and grunts and shouts are mingled with the moans of the wounded being crushed under foot. You rush up to assist. Thenlir is on your right wielding his large axe bringing a crashing blow down towards Wuan who parries it with his sword. He returns the favor, but Thenlir blocks it with his axe.

A spearman is on your left jabbing at a Taraboner soldier. You whirl your spear and catch a Taraboner by surprise giving him a large gaping wound. He gasps in pain, but remains standing.

--Round 5--
The fighting continues. A whirl of blades and spears along with the crunching sound of an axe when it hits. Hobbs manages to give Wuan a wound on his arm!

And you send your spear clean through the neck of your opponent. He drops his sword and clutches at it with both hands. But he is dead. You pull the spear free and watch him fall.

"Burn you! Taraboners! Taraboners, to me! Retreat!" Wuan calls out and blows a horn. Then he wheels his horse hoping to break free, but when his back is exposed, Thenlir ends his life, slamming the axe head into his spine, toppling him from the horse.

After that the fighting dies down and soon ends.

One Taraboner soldier surrenders, and in the distance two others flee as fast as the hoofs of their horses can carry them. They are soon lost in the half light of dawn.

It is over.

"We did it," you say grimly, leaning on your spear, suddenly weary from the long night before and then this morning's fight.

But, you are victorious! You survey the scene. Bodies lie everywhere and several buildings are on fire. You help put out the flames from the Inn and the Wisdom's home. But the other three homes have burned beyond saving.

You then sort wounded from the dead. Nine Taraboner soldiers and their two officers lie dead. And five brave villagers gave their lives to save their village.

As you examine the bodies you see something curious. A white tabard is in the saddle bags of each Taraboner soldier. The tabard has a design you immediately recognize. A white tabard with a golden sunburst on it. Then it hits you. There weren't Taraboners at all, but the vaunted "Children of the Light".

You interrogate the sole captured Whitecloak for several hours while the townsfolk tend to the wounded and bury their dead. You learn that the Children of Light have been active all over the Almoth Plain. Nearly all are acting in disguise as this unit was. The soldier doesn't know why he was acting in disguise, he was merely following orders. You find out that the commanding officer's name is Jaichim Carridin and that his unit left for Tanchico early in the morning.