[color=1a7b30][h2]Rezello[/h2][/color]
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Nearly two weeks had passed since the party had left Dragon's Maw behind and continued on their way into Tretagor. Plains eventualy gave way to forest, and though the rain that came with the change in scenery made Rezello wish that his armor's cape had included a hood, a bit of water was ultimately preferable to more of the vast emptiness that had surrounded them for most of their journey.

Within the last few days, the signs of the conflict in the region became apparent; blighted forest, buildings abandoned and left in ruin. The path they took brought them to a particularly unsightly scene; the remnants of a makeshift gallows, skeleton still hanging from a rudimentary crosspiece. Perhaps abandoned like the rest of the ruins they had passed by, or left there intentionally as some kind of warning. Whatever the case, as the party passed the hanging bones, smoke and a cry for help became visible and audible in the distance, and with Carmen leading the charge the group quickly made their way to the source.

A group of five soldiers and a prisoner they had taken, some of the former preparing to put the latter into another makeshift gallows. When the party arrived, the soldiers paused what they were doing and assumed defensive stances, clearly not expecting any visitors. While Carmen initially tried to reason with the men, it quickly became clear that wasn't going to work, especially when they started hanging their captive in the middle of their conversation.

Mirielle was the first to make a move, though Carnatia tried to stop her and insist upon diplomacy; a nice thought, perhaps, though given the predicament of the now suffocating man, they didn't exactly have the time to parley. While Rezello was thinking of what move to make next, Ludvig had already set upon a course of action; one moment he had set his hand upon Rezello, and in the next Rezello felt the world around him shift as he was suddenly moved in an instant to the other side of the sergeant, now on his feet.

As his mind caught up with his body, he heard Ludvig speak, realizing as he glanced at the man that he had already cut the prisoner loose. Turning to face the sergeant, whose focus was on attempting - and failing - to strike Carnatia, Rezello summoned his bec de corbin, swinging the hammer-head in a low sweeping motion at the man's legs as he stumbled backwards from Carnatia's counterattack.