By the Sword (PM me if interested to join)

[Saber-Five]

 Battle cries and screams of the dying could be heard though a devastated wheat field. A company of forty mercenaries flying the Grand Duke's banner were battling over twenty mages. These magic users were escapees from one of the mage camps that Duke of Turgall forces liberated here in the Duchy of Ajhfeld. Yet unlike many of their fellow survivors that went into hiding, this embittered group choose to attack and kill non-mages they find in this chaotic region. As for the soldiers for hire they been busy hunting down mages and harassing the locals for food and valuables in the name of the war effort.

The mercs had been shaking down a large group of refugees on the road in middle of this wheat field when the rogue mage band ambushed them all. Many unarmed citizens were killed in the crossfire men, women, and children. The others fled into the nearby woods or took cover along the road, pretending to be dead. Meanwhile the fighting spread into much of the field as it grew worse each second. Lighting bolts, fire, and rocks flew into the midst of the mercs, killing and wounding several of them but the rest of the brutal warriors got in close with the mages and returning blood for blood.

At the farther end of the field, young mage girl in torn prison robes blocked a mace attack by armored man with ice-make shield. She struck back, forming an ice like blade and attempted to stab the merc's stomach. Instead the warrior dodged the blow and was about to counter attack when an arrow struck him into the back of his neck.

Coughing out blood, he collapsed to the ground dead. Stunned, the ice mage looked into the direction where the surprise attack came from. A moment later another arrow flew this time, striking for the magic user, right in the head and she fell sideways lifeless as her foe.

Theme: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jBIdsnsP8Kw

Then a mysterious figure stroll pass the corpses. The new combatant wore a sliver mask that looked similar to a knight's helmet and a combination of peasant clothing and leather armor over his body, with a torn emerald cape in the back. He held a small crossbow in one hand and put it up. The masked fighter then drew his rapier from a sheath as he made his way toward the battle, intending to fight both sides.

[Saber-Five]

Soon many rogue mages found themselves unable to use their powers for some mysterious reason. This quickly turned the fight into a slaughter, as the mercs pressed their advantage. One of soldiers after cutting down another magic user saw a pretty peasant woman with a small child laying on road, faking death. Not buying it and wanting to have his way with the lady, the thug walked toward the two figures when he suddenly heard something coming up from behind him. Reacting on instinct, the warrior turned around and slashed his axe toward the masked man.

The vigilante dodged it and swiftly countered by cutting off the merc's head with his sword. It dropped, and the rest of body followed suit. Looking up the mother and her daughter with widen eyes recognized the man who saved them.

"Nemesis!" The lady exclaimed and soon dozens of refuges pretending to be dead looked toward the vigilante. They had heard of his exploits in the region, and so admired and feared him. Looking into their general direction Nemesis spoke.

"Flee to the woods while you can, I am going to dealt with those men over there."

Nemesis pointed toward the murderous combatants yards away from them. A seventeen year youth shocked, replied.

"All by yourself?! You can't win!"

"The blood of innocent, your kin must be avenged and I intend to do so regardless of the odds. Now go before it's too late."

Nemesis sprinted away, aiming for the mass of mercs and mages battling it out. The surviving refuges still in the field, began to run away as Nemesis advised. Yet a dozen young and old men stood were they were, watching Nemesis go forth with amazement. The youth, named Jacob Walkins that spoke earlier up squeezed his fists, thinking about what the vigilante had said to him and then looked to others with a fire in his eyes as he grabbed a mace to the side.

"I'm going to join Nemesis, those monsters slaughter our friends and families and must pay for it. Who with me?"

The group nodded in silent fury and proceeded pick up the weapons of the dead mercs nearby and even farming tools like pinch forks and from the abandoned wagons. While they were citizens these men had been trained to be fighters like any Connlaothian men should. Once they were done, the band charged to join Nemesis in the struggle.