[center][h2]The Battle with the Bandits[/h2][/center]
[i]Cave West of Greenwood, Ralda
Featuring: Percival, Johannia, Sir Oswyn, Eclipse.
Collab with [@ZB1996].[/i]


Naught but a few days had passed before a small army of knights, countrymen, and clergy had readily gathered under the banner of the church, unified in their faith and desire to secure peace in their homeland. The Defense Coalition of Ralda had formed impromptu, practically overnight, for their commander had emphasized the need for swiftness. Already some were affectionately calling themselves the Knights of Eclipse as they marched forth from Greenwood toward the unsuspecting enemy hideout in the west. Eclipse himself had tried to correct the term, but the best he could do was to re-direct any and all praise to the Eight who would soon deliver them. For now, the name was circulated only in whispers.

Eclipse called for silence as the battalion closed in on the enemy encampment. A large field of grassland stood between them and the side of a small mountain where a rockslide had buried much of the land below it centuries ago. A small plume of smoke rose up from where a shallow cave remained open to the outside world. Hoofprints and tracks marred the ground below them, confirming the trail to the raiders up ahead.

Eclipse halted his grey steed and looked to Sir Oswyn, Father Mackery, Percival, and Clara beside him. "We have arrived. The plan remains the same. Father Mackery and his men will flank left, Percival and Clara will take their group and flank right. Sir Oswyn is to remain here with our largest division while I ride out and offer terms for surrender. If all goes well, we will surround them and see them bound and marched back to Greenwood for trial as individuals. If they deign to try their fate against us, then there will be bloodshed. We will have no choice but to kill any who refuse to submit to justice." The look in the paladin's eyes was stern, and as fetching as he was, it was clear he had fought before, possibly many times. It was almost hard to believe, but there was blood on those white hands.

The sun was high when the flanking groups departed and Eclipse set off at a trot directly toward the cave. Shouts could be heard as the bandits quickly attempted to muster in response to the knight's approach. The middle army could be seen a charge distance behind the knight as he came bravely forth, a pole-axe held vertical in his right hand and the sparked ring of the eclipse emblazoned over his chest. Eclipse raised his hand and halted his horse. Bows were drawn in his direction but held as if by some unseen force as the knight began to speak.

The white knight of the obscured sun spoke loudly and clearly. "Anjervine raiders!" He addressed them. "I am Eclipse of the holy church! I and my army have come in names of the eight gods in defense of the people of Ralda. I offer you the chance to surrender. Submit yourselves to justice for your crimes, return what you have stolen from the people of Ralda. Do this and receive mercy, or you will die here and now upon this grassland. What say you?"

The enemy was clearly caught with its pants down as they looked back and forth to each other without a clear and immediate answer, yet as the moments ticked on, more and more of their number began to emerge from the darkened hallow of the rock behind them.

A random arrow fired at Eclipse and grazed his shining plate with a clang. "To Hell with justice!" Came the cry as Eclipse slammed down his visor and stirred his mount into a run back to his allies. The bandits seemed compelled to follow suit and haphazardly charged after the galloping knight, not realizing the crucible of death that awaited them.

Eclipse rode up to Sir Oswyn and signaled the attack, turning to cut his own first bloody pass through the foolhardy Anjervines. 
*
Johannia were not far from Sir Eclipse and Sir Oswyn as they began to march up. Johannia and Percival’s chain of command was slightly complicated. Johannia herself never publicly asserted the fact that Percival was her bodyguard, but he still continued to act like it. Even so, Percival gave nominal leadership over the unit that they led, though Johannia relied on him for proper commanding, for she knew nothing of war. As they got closer to the bandits hideout Eclipse had them halt. Following his orders, with Johannia and Percival and their unit flanking right while Sir Oswyn would remain where he was. This was a fact Sir Oswyn appreciated, for it meant that he would be able to charge straight through the enemy at the front.

Then a stray arrow came from the bandit’s side and if Eclipse had not given the signal then Sir Oswyn would have come charging anyway. Sir Oswyn himself instigated the charge among his knights and the fresh recruits which were around them, shouting, “Charge, men! Today glory is ours to take.” Then with himself at the forefront, Sir Oswyn and his knights led the charge as the militia came from slightly behind them, and the arrows of the bandits could not pierce the plate armor of the knights as they came charging ahead. The Signal soon reached Johannia and Percival and their unit as well. They came running up towards the cave as well, and would soon reach the flank of the bandits at their cave.
*
The bandits ran out from cave carrying whatever weapons they could gather quickly to their sides. The cave itself fortunately wasn't very deep, and most of the raiders had been camping around outside of it. There were several horses tied to trees off to Johannia and Percival's side that could possibly be loosed to prevent the bandits from using them during the fight. All in all, there were about 50 raiders in total that had to be dispatched, but odds were good. The enemy may have been stronger and better trained, but they were far less prepared. Some of them certainly were swordsmen, and about a dozen had deadly bows.

As soon as Eclipse hit the line of his forces, he spun his horse and charged together with Sir Oswyn back at the oncoming raiders. It was about at that moment that the enemy realized it had been engaged from the flanks as well. They had been outsmarted!

Eclipse's halberd, already a deadly weapon, was truly awesome when combined with the might of a charging steed. A single swing of its axe-like head bit deep into flesh, crushing chests and limbs with every strike, and the momentum instantly knocked down any unmounted foe. Decapitation was too easy, being only a simple matter of aiming for the crook of the neck. As long as he kept moving, riding out for distance each time before the next charge, Eclipse was immortal. Arrows pinked off his steel armor and off his steed's barding as the bandits made their best effort to take down the most dangerous opponents first. Eclipse did the same, riding straight for the most burly and brutal of the bandits' swordsmen who pressed against the armed farmers of Greenwood.

With a sickening crunch, the halberd landed. Blood began pouring down the chest of a large bandit who's head was now hanging off his shoulders at an odd angle. In an instant, the body toppled ingloriously to the side, not yet aware of its own death. The young man in front of the falling corpse watched in shock and with much relief as his enemy fell before him as if in direct answer to his prayers. He had been saved. He looked up in time to briefly catch the eye of Eclipse as the legend himself rode past. The image of that moment would forever be burned into the young man's memory, faith itself embodied in the shape of a knight, that even in great darkness, there is hope.
*
Percival and Johannia’s unit went charging on the flank of the bandits. They came among the trees where the bandits had tied their horses, and when Percival saw this it was obvious what to do. He thought it was quite a blessing that the bandits had left for him such a weakness that was so easy to exploit. He ordered his soldiers to cut the horses from the trees. They did so, and the horses went running away.

“Let’s try and see ‘em mount now,” Percival said. “Keep moving, boys!”

Sir Oswyn stood next to Eclipse, both of them clad in thick and shining steel plate armor, as they charge on ahead together, smashing against the raiders. It was then that Percival led his soldiers to firmly attack the strength. Percival stood in the vanguard of his unit. He drew his sword forward, and aiming his sword upwards at a bandit who was closing in on him, struck at the bandit’s neck, and it went clean through, and the bandit went down to the ground decapitated. He thought that it was quite a disappointment that he was sober.

“Keep at it, boys,” Percival said. “They are but men!”

The bandits had been caught by surprise, and were not prepared. Further, the militiamen were eager to regain their homes, and to return life to what it had been, and now they had it in their hands to do just that. So with spears and axes in their hands they marched forth, cutting through limbs, sinews, and flesh, not faltering even when some of their own died. 

Elsewhere, at the front of the battle Sir Oswyn saw the great swings of Eclipse’s halberd, and swore to himself that he would not be outdone. So riding upon his stead Sir Oswyn charged ahead with his sword firmly in hand, and as his horse trampled over the bodies of the bandits ahead he slew a bandit who was at his side with his sword, aiming downward and cutting through the bandits throat. And behind him stood his fellow knights who were doing the same, and the militia who were behind them.
*
Bodies littered the field, clustered in parts, staining the mud red beneath them. The air was filled with the sounds of shouting and the clamor of weapons, until a horse's frightened squeal pierced the cacophony. Far from all of this, a pristine white cloud rolled imperceptibly slowly against a vivid blue sky. The heavens above were the very same as had been there for endless thousands of years, soft-looking pure white shapes that inspired the hopeful dreams of young children, ever free from the crucible of life on the world below. The sky was the eternal easel of the divine, captivating and resplendent for those who's eyes lifted upward.

The numbers of the bandits fell sharply, far sharper than the losses on the side of the Raldans, and it wasn't long before the audacity of the enemy began to waiver. The Anjervine bandits noticeably began to thin as those on the outskirts of battle considered their chances for escape. From atop his exhausted steed, Eclipse glimpsed a few of the enemy turning away as he stopped and scanned the field.

Some distance ahead, Eclipse sighted a few of the Anjervine raiders still embroiled in battle in his path. They were being left behind, abandoned by their unscrupulous allies, and the look on their faces spoke of rage, regret, and fear. One of them was not much more than a child, an innocent, a naive being wrapped up in the regrettable conflicts of others all in an effort to prove his worth to his makers. There would be no escape for him now, and he seemed to have accepted that. Eclipse knew simply by looking at him that he was fighting only for his life.

Only the barest rest did Eclipse allow his huffing mount before stirring him on toward those abandoned raiders in a display of merciless and inevitable retribution. The face of the young Anjervine lad went white at the sight of his approach, which was exactly the response Eclipse had been hoping for. As he lifted his halberd, a faint light began to emanate around him like a halo, a magical affect that, when timed right, shook a sinner to the core of his soul. But rather than bring down the righteous arc of death promised by justice, Eclipse broke his steed's charge and called out to the trembling enemies before him. "Run! Flee you foolish Anjervines! Timtos has abandoned you, and yet Leplo has spared you!"

Seeing the opening, the enemy broke with no questions asked. The few old ruffians that would have refused to yield quickly found that they had no choice but to fold as their more cowardly allies gave way around them. The raiders splintered immediately, running for hills and surrounding forest with nothing but the clothing on their backs rather than be captured or killed. Eclipse had single handedly brought the battle to an abrupt end, allowing the escape of at least a dozen Anjervines, but simultaneously sparing twice as many lives.

"Fall on your knees at the next town you arrive, and beg the mercy of the Raldan people you have wronged!" The light around the knight faded as he called after them, his horse flaring its nares with hot breath. Perhaps they would heed his words, perhaps not, but either way, the battle was over and they would not be coming back anytime soon.

A cheer went up, pained and exhausted though it was. Good people had died today and would be mourned. There were wounded to care for and corpses to take back home for burial. The treasures stashed inside the small cave would be reclaimed and redistributed and peace would return. More than that however, was the faith in the gods that had been restored. The church at Greenwood would soon have a great resurgence in believers.

Eclipse dismounted and took stock of his closest allies. He praised the gods to see they were all alive. As they gathered, he looked at each of them in acknowledgement. "This is victory, my friends. The gods are with us, as they always were, and there can never be any end to our thanking them. There will be a celebration, but right now, we must take care of the wounded and the dead. I will send riders ahead to Greenwood to bring back assistance. You fought bravely and with great faith in your hearts. I am greatly blessed to have been given such noble allies."
*
Sir Oswyn was returning to the village of Greenwood with his knights and the militiamen that surrounded them, with Johannia and Percival surrounding them. All were cheering still at their victory, and though they mourned the loss of their men, the loss was tempered by their victory. Sir Oswyn’s mind, however, was not greatly distracted even by the jubulance of his men, and still had on his mind Eclipse. He had fought with greater magnificence and power than he had been expecting, and the sight of the light that had shone around his head had not escaped Sir Oswyn’s notice.

So approaching Eclipse, Sir Oswyn said, “Sir Eclipse, you are truly a holy man! I saw how the light shined above your head. Truly the gods have chosen you as one of their champions. So if I may be so bold, I extend to you an invitation into the Holy Order of Saint Elenor. In fact, I extend the invitation to all those who would wish to join!”

Elsewhere, Johannia was looking over with suspicious looks, and was close enough to overhear the Knight’s words. Lycaon’s army would certainly be getting at least a few recruits today, she thought. Yet for now it was no concern of hers. She soon looked away, and was now thinking of her journey ahead, to

“You hearing this, madam?” Percival said.

“Yes,” Johannia said. “But it is no concern of ours.”

“It surprise me you’d say that,” Percival said. “Considering, well, who these people are.”

“There’s nothing we can do about them,” Johannia said. “Let them go. As for now, I’ve grown more than tired of this place. I’d prefer to be someplace where I can be without have to look over my shoulder every day.”

“Hmm, fair enough,” Percival said. “Shall we leave at once.”

“Yes,” Johannia said.
*
A brief cheer went up behind the knights as Sir Oswyn extended his invitation to the Raldans of Greenwood. Eclipse smiled and bowed his head slightly. "You honor me greatly, dear brother. The holy knights of the capitol are renown for their valor and piety throughout the land. I see no reason for me to hold myself apart from them, seeing as our fealty and mission are one in the same. If you feel I exemplify the order's precepts and am worthy, I would be honored to join you." Eclipse placed a hand over his heart and offered a bow on horseback. An official indoctrination would undoubtedly follow, but in the spur of the present moment, it was at least an informal gesture of the gratitude and humility he knew was due.

The people listening within earshot behind them seemed to be happy with this.

Eclipse carried on the conversation, explaining his concerns. "The will of the gods has called me to Nyhem, Sir Oswyn, since even before you and I had met. News of the disorder caused by the heretic Johannia has crossed borders and reached great distances. It is my mission to investigate this woman as well as her claims against the church." The blond knight lowered his voice an octave to reflect the seriousness of his next words. "Woe be unto those for whom I may find any of Johannia's accusations are true, for the wrath of the gods is certain, and I have given myself to be one of their many swords." The implication was clear, that Eclipse moved with intent to root out any evil before him even if it meant confronting established authority. It was dangerous.

The darkness left his voice quickly, like water evaporating off a hot rock in the sun, and he spoke matter-of-factly. "The innocent must be protected, brother, whether they be mages or not, and it is our duty as the capable vassals of the noble gods to see to it."

Within a few days, a surprising 20 or so of the Raldan Defense Coalition, informally calling themselves the Knights of Eclipse, elected to follow their inspiring new leader to Nyhem to join the Holy Order of Saint Elenor as he did. Father Mackery stayed behind and took charge of the remaining forces in Greenwood to lead them spiritually and expand their organization as a holy order to the other poorly-defended towns of western Ralda. The church was building a grass-roots army.