[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Matthiassen[/color][/h2][/center]
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With some small measure of peace returned to his world after the conversation Izayoi had forced him into—peace, in this case, being less of a feeling of constantly having eyes on him from the aforementioned samurai—Esben was, perhaps, not as appreciative of the ease they had crossing the border as he should have been. Given what Kayliss had said to the Kirins, it was simply his expectation that they would get into Skael without trouble. Continue on their journey south, start to work themselves into the plans to free Solitude and restore the rightful government...

Blightbeasts besieging a village was decidedly not among the things he'd been expecting to see. That the only defenses present were the villagers themselves was worse, trying to beat the creatures back with whatever weaponry they could scrounge, intended or improvised, without even a token force from whichever lord governed them to coordinate. Izayoi dashed ahead, Rudolf hot on her heels as Galahad leapt away and Miina began firing off into the monstrous tide. [color=#b3ccff]"I need to figure out who is in charge of this place,"[/color] he grumbled at Éliane. [color=#b3ccff]"This is a [i]shameful[/i] display."[/color]

Unlike the others, he didn't dismount his chocobo and send it running along with Goug; given the motley crew they were witnessing, one of the nobility riding in like a knight come to their rescue could be enough to turn their demeanour from despair to fervor, especially when backed up with as many of the rest of them as were present. [color=#b3ccff]"I'll get them in place, then we can start herding these beasts where [i]we[/i] want them, [i]ja?"[/i][/color]

His chocobo took off at a run, first towards the group that were staring in disbelief as Rudolf and Izayoi interposed themselves between the village and the beasts. [color=#b3ccff]"Eos, Selene, go to the group at the southern road, make sure they stay on their feet,"[/color] he commanded the fairies that were riding along on his shoulders. They each nodded, letting go and fluttering off to the beleaguered militia. In a moment more he pulled the bird to a stop before the surprised spearmen that had yet to really do anything after what Rudolf had commanded them.

[color=#b3ccff]"You heard him, no standing around!"[/color] he barked at the group, drawing his sword and pointing. [color=#b3ccff]"Quit milling around and form up! About-face, double time, march!"[/color] Surprised as they were, they'd at least had [i]some[/i] training—even if their facsimile of a pike square was a shoddy one, the shaken villagers came back together at his orders, turning unevenly and starting to jog to join their fellows at the southern thoroughfare. He watched them go for a moment, before calling back to Rudolf and Izayoi: [color=#b3ccff]"Yell if you need me or Galahad, but try to herd them all towards the southern group!"[/color]

No different than dealing with many other groups of wild animals, really; force them into one group and then start culling the herd. Confident that Chisato and Galahad would pick up the idea themselves, he turned his chocobo, following the group he'd sent running to the south.