Rian, Amiesia, Klaus and the other men who accompanied them left the forest and into the open countryside. The bleeding sky painted the meadows a tint of orange with shadows flying above them if not for the objective, many would have stayed and enjoyed the view. The nearest town to them was the merchant town of 'Brockgrove' a place where all merchants were welcome, from slaves to simple cabbage all was sold here. The merchant towns and cities were run by the big three merchant guilds: The Hares Foot Guild, the Sommer-rise guild and the Black Boar guild. These guilds were often full of all sorts of people, not many trustworthy folks were found. The black market was always found to be full of these so-called 'trustworthy' merchants constantly buying and selling illegal products or just to avoid paying the tax on commodities. But what was most valuable was information especially on higher standing members of society, many would pay high prices so they could get some information on these nobles. Assassins are the best buyers and sellers of this, and would often lurk in these merchant towns.
To Rian and the others, this was a place to be avoided. Amiesia was close to royalty she was a high-value target to many and so would be targeted by assassins from a variety of skill. Even regular thugs would try and have a go but unfortunately for them, she was completely surrounded by highly trained guards, guards extremely loyal to the Duke and his household. Rian was also a problem, a very large, hairy and noticeable problem. He was a large beast coated with a black fur, so dark light seems to disappear into it. His monstrous height, when stood on two feet, gave him away from miles away. If a person were to spot them they would at first think it was nothing but a bear but as they got closer would soon realise that it was no bear and ran in fear. To prevent this they had Rian hide as possible to avoid detection and when travelling with nearly no hiding places he would try to be passed for a bear at the very least.
Rian spent his entire time focusing on trying to change back into his original form. He was desperate to prove he could control his form, Klaus had been staring daggers at him the entire time. Nobody except Amiesia trusted him and he couldn't blame them, who would trust a 12ft wolfman it anything happened where his trustworthiness was tested nobody would bat an eye. He tried and failed over and over again, whatever happened to him he knew that the only way for them to realise that he wasn't a danger was to prove that he really was a human underneath all this is fur.
As the group moved to their destination, Duke Fireborns castle, they came to across a caravan of traders, Rian had already moved into the forest to prevent a scene.
"Well shit."
The caravan had been attacked by bandits, the scumbags had killed all the traders and started looking when the group came across them.
"Jon, Brock and Richard I want you three to be the vanguard, Slab and Nik I want you two to take-up the read, make sure nobody comes at us from behind... Gideon, you're with me... Remember boys were to protect Amiesia, do not allow anything to happen to her!"
Each man immediately went into their respective position. They were fully trained and equipped these scum couldn't compete with them.
In the forest, Rian noticed that there was a lot of movement, he heard that it was bandits and what Klaus told his men, but the 7 of them could not handle this many, there had to be at least a 50! No matter how much you train, how much you prepare nobody can handle that many with so few men. Rian was about to run out to warn them but an arrow flew directly towards Rians head it hit him but bounced straight of
"What the fuck!" the man who shot Rian yelled, Rian slowly stood up on his hind legs and turned towards the man, Rian had been too deep in thought that he failed to notice that the 10 men had snuck up onto him thinking it was a bear. Upon seeing the large beast turn towards them one pissed himself. "We outnumber or we can get it if we show the boss I'm sure he'll promote us!" one of the men yelled, he was clearly one who in charge of this ragtag group. immediately they surrounded him preparing to attack."Get'em"
they lunged at Rian, desperate to wound him,
On the road, the bandits readied themselves to attack "just like that...come on...keep coming" the bandits muttered, they were waiting for them to come closer so the lads in the forest could encircle them. It was a perfect day for the first a caravan came on their territory now, a noblewoman and a few guards, they thought they were going to be rich. Just before Klaus and his men entered the area where they could be surrounded by the bandits they stop, staring at the caravan.
"Come on you cowards, come get us, or are you too afraid?" they tried insulting the guards to break formation and charge falling into their trap but it didn't work, the guards stood there, standing still waiting for the bandits to push them.
"This is taking too long, we outnumber them so let's just get'em"
"Fuck it... yeah let's go!"
The bandits rushed Klaus and his men. They wanted to make the guards panic making it easier to crush them. Obviously, the last thing they expected was that these men were fully professional and willing to give their lives in order to protect Amiesia.
"Brace!" Jon, Brock and Richard prepared to clash with the bandits. No matter the cost they would hold, the three of them had trained endlessly to be able to hold out against multiple attackers. Though they could only handle four at most, it is impossible for them to fight off more than that unless they are were blessed by the gods.
The first bandit clashed with Jon... then another... and another. the sound of steel clashing together could be heard for miles around.
"Your gonna have to do more than that" Jon was ready for anything the bandits threw at him. He would stand regardless.
"I'm going to get ya, boy" The bandit around 50 had scars all over him and runic tattoos all over his nude torso. It is safe to say that bandits don't fear much, and would do anything if it meant that earned coin or took put a few city officials and nobles.
At this point, almost all the bandits that were originally looting had run to the guards standing there ground. Jon, Brock and Richard blocking attacks from left and right, occasionally bringing down a dreadful slash that chopped a man's head in half. Blood painted the cold steel crimson. The clanging of steel on steel sent sparks flying, the roaring of bandits charging towards the guards drowned out the screaming from the depths of the forest. Bloodied corpses littered the road. Intense combat between vicious, wicked men and loyal guardians continued for nearly two hours as bandit dropped after receiving a fatal blow, Klaus moved forward and slit one man's throat as he tried to crawl away" you aren't so lucky as to escape without punishment, killing innocents and attacking noblewomen requires nothing less than death, so as a self-appointed filth cleaner I should remove some starting with you." Klaus pressed his cold blade into the man's throat spewing blood everywhere. Amiesia has closed her eyes and covered her ears to avoid witnessing fighting. She had always hated fighting but still understood why it must take place at times. Still, it was too much for her to see all this blood in a span of two days.
"Is it almost over?" she asked Gideon who was surprised by her question as he was focusing on his surroundings and making sure no harm came to Amiesia
"Yes, my lady, almost Captain Stoneheart has finished one of the last few marauders. I do not think that my lady should open your eyes."
"Okay good, was anyone hurt?"
"Apart from a few scratches, nobody was injured"
"Good" Amiesia was relieved that everyone protecting her was uninjured. The last thing she wanted was more dead people on her hands, she could not handle it.
In the forest, bandits continued to go attack a monster that towered over them, each strike seemingly dealing no damage. No matter how much they stabbed, slashed or swung... nothing. Rian felt every attack but at a tolerable level, Rian grabbed one man by the head with his gigantic paws and squeezed as this one had made him feel the most pain. At this point, the bandit panic, kicking and screaming swing wildly hoping he hit Rian and somehow struck him down, but instead, all he felt was the pressure increasing slowly, each second he was trapped his skull squeezed. Until a scream broke out of his mouth and them nothing, a splash could be heard as a headless corpse collapsed on the floor followed by brain matter and skull fragments discarded onto the floor by the monster that caused the damage.
Rian wanted to be sick inside after obliterating the man's skull but the form he was in now refused, instead, he went down on all fours and killing intent flashed through his eyes as he pounced onto another unfortunate soul. Clamping his powerful jaws into the man's throat, with his last breath he let out a gurgled scream that resonated throughout the entire forest. A massacre had begun and an endless bloodlust was born.