The Plainsweepers, Elite joint company of the Sohlnert Alliance
Jóv kept the whole situation in sight, it was something he had survived countless encounters because of. But not every encounter turned out as he'd like, not even with trained men and women.
The first one who moved was a Magia, walking out of the tavern and stopping cold when he saw the crossbows, then the Drow-elf on the roof got ideas, jumping down on the ground after spewing random nonsense about how they should fear her. Sadly the bowmen with him at the moment were the less experienced, so instead of making a stick-doll out of her once she touched the ground the arrows went harmlessly into the forest. And when the few bowmen had reloaded and were about to shoot her again, she was simply standing by a tree, saying she would go without a fight, so they didn't fill her with arrows as they should have done.
"Shoot her, now." Jóv said, hoping to correct the mistake, but a bloody lizard had followed the Magia out and screamed a challenge at them making all attention shift to him. They didn't even notice the girl hiding behind the Magia.
Half of the crossbows were instantly aimed at the lizard, and would have nailed him to the wall if an Escarian battle-mage hadn't appeared on a horse to their right, where crossbows of course were diverted for the newcomer. And because he was obviously a mage, the soldiers instantly got passive, awaiting a first move or a new order.
Jóv was assessing the new problem when the mage did what mages, wizards and sorcerers do best. Trick others. Calling attention to his little pet, who responded in a shrill voice made even some of their own mages lose focus, and that was precisely when the Escarian struck, a light spell covering the area for a second. Leaving more than half of the troops blinded, and Jóv could feel his hold on the situation crumble into dust. The most veteran soldiers with him were however unfazed, even when the mage jumped over the disoriented soldiers of which some had fired their crossbows, slamming into the tree by the elf, through the windows and unluckily not hitting anything. The smoke-bombs that then filled the area in front of the tavern becoming a perfect cover for Jóv and the better soldiers. They lunged ahead to close in on the criminals, the arrogance of the Escarian working in their favor.
"KILL THEM ALL!" Jóv was only feet away from the Escarians horse, and he saw one of his men jump at it in the same moment the horse started galloping away, keeping hold of the saddle with one hand. The Plainsweepers leader hadn't finished bellowing his order before he made a full right-swing with his sword at the lizard together with two others, another three going for the Magia, with just as many following behind them to overwhelm them further once they moved out in the open.
Most of their mages had shielded themselves against the Escarian, in some cases even covering nearby soldiers, and those having thought enough to close their eyes were already readying destructive spells as well as getting rid of the smoke. Most crossbowmen were already taking new aim, their arrows moments from flying. Then would follow the melee soldiers, seeking to help their leader. In minutes it would be over. And whoever fled by the road would be met with almost 50 men at both ends of the town, leaving 20 of the 200 men strong company in the forest waiting for any escaping guests. The situation had changed, but it was still in the soldiers favor.
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Dohemd
He had not even finished eating before everything went to hell, soldiers appearing outside in search of enemies of their alliance. And of course it had to be one of the better companies, the former soldier had tracked for the Plainsweepers. Which meant that when the others went outside he instead ran to the back of the tavern, looking out a window on that side into the forest. He counted 10 men, and there were probably more. The others would have to survive on their own for a while, he would secure an escape.
When Tiger blinded most of those in front of the tavern, Dohemd was crashing through one of the back-windows, both swords ready by his sides when he hit the ground and charged for the men in the forest. He would have needed that blessing now.