The cobbled road led out of the forest and into low rolling hills. By midday Banli, Razrim and Tadek had come upon the outskirts of the small village of Westerly. Posted town guards greeted them kindly and advised them that any actions unbecoming of law abiding citizens and visitors would be dealt with immediately and harshly. Both Tadek and Banli nodded as the guards ran through the villages expectations of visitor conduct. The guards also advised should the town bell sound multiple times to take cover as the town would be under attack or something of great concern was threatening the town. Both Tadek and Banli nodded in understanding and continued through the gates towards "The Boar's Snout".

The Boar's Snout was a tavern that was run by one mister Figlar Adentare. He was known to many in these parts as somewhat of a legend. It was rumored that he had returned from an expedition having slayed a feared Wolfowl. These were amazingly large predatory birds that ran fast, attacked with razor sharp talons and were generally extremely difficult to deal with due to their size speed and aggression. He had mounted the head of the wolfowl in his tavern, upon which many visiting bard's sang songs about. This of course extending his status as legendary most likely well beyond what had actually happened. He didn't mind though as it was great for his business, and the village in general.

Banli, Razrim and Tadek settled into the tavern after securing the carriage outside and ordered a large meal and some local brew to enjoy. Some local residents gave Razrim a good long stare not used to seeing a badger in these parts that often. After a few moments of intense looking they went back to their business paying no more concern to the gnome, dwarf or badger. An hour in, the tavern which was now very busy with locals and visitors alike was buzzing with excitement as Mr. Figlar was due back any moment from one of his ongoing adventures.

Before anyone could get a glimpse of him through the myriad of individuals paying homage to his establishment, the town bell started ringing consecutively, sounding the alarm that something was not right. As if on queue everyone stopped what they were doing, paid any outstanding bills, and went outside weapons at the ready to determine what was going on.

One of the town guards ran by shouting,

" Incoming attack, make way for Mr. Figlar and get ready to fight.",

through the gate arches to the village everyone could see Mr. Figlar riding what appeared to be some sort of massively large saddled war pig. Behind him were a pack of wereowls. These were like the bigger brothers to wolfowls only far meaner and more impulsive. Dealing with one was bad news, never mind more than half a dozen. Two of the town guards, bows in hand, climbed Tadek's carriage, placing two quivers each at their feet and started preparing for combat. The rest of the town guard formed a shield wall in front of the arches that welcomed people through the gate into the village. Their captain was young and of a sturdy build with bright red hair sticking out from under his helmet. This was unusual as all military types traditionally had very short hair. This captain spoke with authority and unlike many other towns, where there defenders were usually retired farmers or bully's in general, these guards were well trained and snapped into position effortlessly and with a well practiced skill. Each guard holding a shield in their left hand and a spear in their right hand which they then planted in the ground by their side and then pulled out their swords creating a very effective line of defense.

Banli and Tadek stood side by side with Razrim crouched to the right of Banli. Banli muttered some magic incantation,

"Alavorsi Indidui Fallimoso",

with a twirl of his finger, little plates of hardened metal snapped into place over Razrim effectively covering his entire body in solid armour. Tadek had pulled his short sword out and had a buckler in his left hand. Banli held his walking stick out in front of him and had planted it firmly in place in the ground. Once again he muttered some magical words,

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"Eldoatu Emfiri Escrollum Shinosi"

From the top of his walking stick a magical light shot into the sky and then slowly descended in an outward cascade of a multitude of bright colours. This effectively created a magical barrier around the thirty or so people standing ready to fight. It would not last long but would be useful, or so he thought.

Figlar came in hot on his war pig and moments before you would think he would crash into the prepared shield wall the captain yelled out a command to his guards.

" Sentro Medicium Collapse",

The middle section of the wall gave way to a path of safety as it literally fell back and to the sides of the others guards in the shield wall. Figlar seamlessly passed through both Banli's barrier and the shield wall's opening. The guards snapped back into place at another command yelled by the young red haired captain. It was at this time the howling wereowls hit the barrier hard that Banli had thrown up for defense. Screams of pain and agony could be heard as the creatures started smashing at the barrier with massive claws. Literally hurling their bodies into the fortified barrier. Each strike sending them in to a frenzy that was doubling their efforts. Their drool hitting the ground and smoking momentarily before subsiding. One wereowl at the back of the eight that were attacking looked to be the leader as he was definitely the largest and his fur was purple, a huge contrast to all the others that were brown mixed with grey. He circled around the back of his pack issuing guttural commands that seemed to spur the attackers on even more. Where the wereowls were now attacking the barrier and you could see color fluctuations and tears starting to form in the magical shield. Then altogether it collapsed and the wereowls launched onto the villagers with frenzied determination.

Immediately at the barrier dropping the archers let loose a volley of arrows. As there were only a small handful of archers the initial volley seemed to do absolutely nothing to the attackers. They either bounced off harmlessly or momentarily stuck only seemingly to further frustrate and enrage the wereowls. The Captain yelled out another command to his guards,

"Incinerate",

The archers lit their arrows with a pitch and mud residue supplied to them by villagers holding pails of the prepared pitch. A new volley of arrows descended onto the enemy, this time being much more effective. However the attackers had already smashed into the main body of the shield wall guard. Completely obliterating the first most centered four guards, whom fell almost instantly. Their only saving grace being the spears they had lodged into the ground making it difficult for the wereowls to advance. From the back of the guard Figlar yelled out above the captain,

|"Coming through, Give me room",

with that he forayed right into the thick of the shield wall on his great war pig with what looked like some sort of hand cannon nestled on to his left shoulder, As the wereowls saw him, their frenzy pitched increased and they hurled themselves at him with renewed vigor, only to meet a massive explosion that instantly levelled them and a number of guards all at once.

Banli rushed to the middle of where the guards shield wall centre was with Tadek by his side. With his walking stick Banli pointed to the leader of the enemy force and through the smoke of Figlar's blast Banli loudly yelled out,

"infernum, Incendarium, Ignitius"

A large fireball came out of his walking stick and with a speed becoming of something that only magic could invoke, slammed into the leader setting him on fire instantly. HIs howling rage apparent in the seconds that followed, he turned and quickly ran away issuing some sort of guttural command to what was left of his forces and the remaining wereowls retreated back into the hilly landscape, with their injured leader. The sight of this brought cheers from the remaining forces defending the village. The tattered remaining guards and Tadek dispatching any injured enemy that remained. The rest of the villagers and guards tending to their own that were injured or dead.

Mr. Figlar dismounted from his smoked blackened war pig. Giving his pig a hearty hand slap and words of encouragement. He then turned to Banli and offered a hand in thanks and appreciation. As this was happening the red haired captain also appeared thanking both Banli and Mr. Figlar for their assistance and said the next round at the tavern was on him. A raucous cheer was heard by everyone around Banli and Mr. Figlar as they all chanted teh captains name, "

"Huzzah for Hadus",

then they all made their way back to the tavern. That was for the exception of Razrim which was nowhere to be found.