You charge into the fray!

Concentrating on holding the shielding Pattern knit together, you wait for the last of the riders to be dragged down and slain before making your move. By then only a dozen highwaymen remain standing, and a couple of javelin-wielding soldiers had made quite a dent in the ranks of their archers, who had thought themselves safe behind the cover of the trees... Just as a couple of bandits climb into the coach and you hear a female cry, you intervene.

You start weaving an Illusion Pattern in the minds of the remaining archers: distracted by their victory, they do not notice that some of their friends' appearance just changed to match that of the riders. Most react instinctively and soon arrowshafts protrude from the chest of several bandits.

Believing foul play, the remaining swordsmen charge their archer fellows, hacking them down to their utter confusion.

That's when you make your entrance: you charge, carefully aiming your Staff as you unleash a focused bolt of lightning that spears through one of the mercenaries, then another bolt, and another... Those that aren't killed outright are maimed beyond recovery as your magic burns limbs to a crisp.

The confusion of their archers' friendly fire, the sudden onslaught by a lone rider shooting thunder at them, is more than even the professional warriors can bear, and they flee for their lives.

One of the two remaining mercenaries gets down the coach, surprised to see you riding closer to the coach; he charges with his handaxe, but does not live to regret his action as you spray acid into his face, melting his head away.

The fight is starting to take its toll on you. Thankfully, your shock-and-awe tactics allowed you to spare a handful of spells that would have taxed you to exhaustion. You dismount and extend your staff into a reliable melee weapon.

Inside the coach, you can see the beheaded body of an old woman, probably the governess of the screaming young girl held by the last mercenary.

"Release the girl, scum," you stay sternly.

The mercenary puts his dagger against the girl's throat. He tries to appear confident and in control, but you perceive his faint trembling. "Dun' think so, mate, I'm takin' her wit' me or I give her a new smile here and now." Tears poured down her cheeks.

Losing patience, you weave a sensory Pattern around you, increasing your apparent size and creating shimmering waves of power, and your voice booms: "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WORM! BE THANKFUL I AM LETTING YOU GO WITH YOUR SOUL! NOW BEGONE!"

Paling instantly, he takes the knife off her throat and climbs down the other side of the coach, running for his life in the woods.

The girl exits the coach containing the beheaded body, sobbing uncontrollably. You can now examine her more closely: dressed in a rich emerald green low-cut robe which displays ample cleavage, slightly younger than you, she has a heart-shaped face, beautiful hazel eyes, soft lips, and long blonde hair.

Deep inside, you feel a strong urge to ravish this young, pert body. But you should be careful with forcing yourself on her - she likely has powerful parents. And you are too exhausted to weave a mind-control Pattern now, though you could still physically overpower her.