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Balian scanned the bazaar, in the dark the torchlight and moonlight was a blessing, it may not have been ideal fighting conditions. He spotted a cloaked individual, the ranger couldn't remember if he'd seen him in the bar, the rush of combat leading him. He noted his good shot with the crossbow and even in the disarray found himself appreciating the marksmanship. He held his sword tightly as another of the band approached him, axe held high roaring something incomprehensible to his ears but it did not matter much. Readying himself, he lifted his sword to parry but found his weapon brought down while he may have still had a grip on it. The beast was certainly strong, the ranger had noticed it a common trait among their kin. Very few of the beast were not strong physically and Balian had never met one who lacked incredible strength.

Right now he wished he had brought his dagger, instead of leaving it behind at the inn. He cursed himself in silence and butted the beast with his shoulder, it did not budge. He rammed himself into the creature again, with more might but it did not do much good. Almost as if insulted, or as if it had lost all sense, the beast lifted his axe in a rage before bringing it down for another chop, aiming straight for Balian's head. The ranger had been quick on his feet, but had a close encounter with death as he noticed the axe coming down above his head. The force the beast had used, and missed thanks to Balian's quick reflex, had sent him forward a little. He had no hesitation in bringing up his sword and plunging it deep into the beasts back, applying more force the tip came out his chest and then a little more before being ripped from the body. He brought the sword up again, in a fluent movement and struck the head of the beast, cleaving a gaping chasm rendering it dead.

His attention turned to the collapsed companion, he had recognized her earlier as the barmaid and he made his way to her, sheathing his sword. The larger male with a strong frame distracted Balian as such, bow drawn he did not fire - not for fear of missing but rather because he was almost mesmerized in some way by the brutality and ferocity the barbarian put into his fighting. It was admirable, even to one who preferred avoiding a conflict. The ranger had been a second away from loosing the notched arrow straight for the beast as he watched Bjorn get hit by the mace, but watched him fight on. A roar came from behind, a tone filled with hatred and malice, Balian turned and hesitated only a moments notice while he took aim as he came to a halt. The missile ripped through the air, almost gracefully as it plunged into the beasts head, it collapsed not short of him and Evaline, a guard came to a running stop as he watched the beast dead, having been at the ready to attack, bringing the fight to the it. The guard looked to the ranger and then to Bjorn before returning to where more combat was taking place.

When the barmaid, Evaline was approached by the barbarian he looked onward, notching another arrow and making his way to some crates not too far from them. 

[hr]

The combat had lasted longer than anticipated, one thing you had to give to the beasts was, they could fight. Balian looked around, catching his breath from having just prevailed over another of the band, he held onto his sword, hand shaking adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He looked around for the others and the dead, while twenty something beasts lay dead nearly the same in guards was present, they were being checked by their comrades seeing if they had fallen or been wounded, the former being correct. With his free hand he wiped the sweat from his brow and then brought his hand down his face, skin running across the stubble. Making his way through the market by the small walls the light of the torches flickered reflected on the surfaces, dancing like some sort of faerie. Now that he'd had a few moments to analyse it all, he was astonished, the rumors had been true. Even if they were just a raider war band, or a scouting party. The news was grim but he could not help but imagine that in some way this might convince the nobles, and the King to move North and maybe even come to some sort of treaty between those who have differences. That however was wishful thinking, most likely.

The combat was still fresh in their minds and it was almost as if nobody knew quite what to do now. Someone was waiting for somebody to give in order, it took the men a while to get in order and begin checking their dead. They'd be buried or cremated and the beasts disposed of somewhere out of town, this would be the most likely scenario to Balian's thinking.