They rode in on war-horses. Horses that were far larger and more aggressive than the average horse. Hulking dark mares to contrast the noblemen of opulent white and blue armoring. On their left breast, they wore the crest of Riverrule. The city of Islands. The land split by a thousand rivers and riddled with Nymphs all commanded by their shapeshifting Siren Queen. The people were both blessed and cursed. Made rich with mined rare river minerals. Made terrified by those same rivers for the beasts it birthed.
They rode to the edge of town to hunt more beasts. Following word of cat-eyed monsters wearing mans skin and men whispering words of poison fire to wild women howling at the moon. They were also following report of the Siren Queen found in a dilapidated inn. Likely conspiring to steal man's seed and birth another savage nymph-beast.
"RIDE NOBLE, MEN! We approach creatures of no honor and full savagery! Don't let their tricks deter you from doing what's right for your kind and Riverrule beyond!" The leading Knight yelled as he raised his sword.
His brigade of men flanking him roared in agreement, radicalized by his powerful words and tangible conviction.
"Sir Savoir! You will go down in history as this city's greatest hope!" One of the Knights yelled.
Sir Savoir grinned and put on his helm, "As we all wil--"
As they rode through the marshed forestry, "A green noxious fireball rocketed down from above and hit the path ahead of them, setting the lands ablaze with foul poisonous hot-gas.
The warhorses neighed and skidded to a halt. The suddenness of it combined with their numbers caused a small collision of massive bodies. Horses broke limbs and kicked holes in fallen Knights alike all in a matter of seconds.
When the chaos settled, twenty knights and horses had fallen, leaving thirty remaining. Terrified, but swords drawn.
"Sir! Perhaps a dragon?!" One of the knights asked.
"No. The dragons occupy The Drakenrach Mountains. This is too far south. Plus, this blast came from within the marsh. Dragons are too big to fit in here. And theres no damage done to the canopy above. That's where the blast came from."
The knights all began to look up at the trees blotting out the sun. Some drew crossbows, other lifted wands with single-use runes written on them.
"THERE!" Someone yelled, pointing up at a shape in the shadows with reptilian eyes.
They all fired, the shape slithered along the branches, avoiding the volley of ranged attacks.
Down on the ground, Lejan crouched behind the wall of poisonous fires. Eyes locked on the target. Sir Savoir. At the center of the mass of knights in a panic.
As he prepared to attack, his predatory impulses gripped him. He twisted his hips and dug his heels into the earth like a feline preparing to pounce. His nails darkened and elongated into curled sharp claws. The skin around his eyes began to turn a bluish-purple color flecked with jaguar spotting.
He saw the opening. He charged, sprinting through the fire in a blur.
The horses smelled him and screamed.
One tried to kick him. He rolled out of the way and dipped low before rising up underneath the giant horse and flipping it over.
As it kicked and flailed on the ground, He jumped while the other nearby horses and knights fell by their own.
While in the air, he tackled Sir Savoir and dragged him screaming into the dark.
When the commotion died down, the remaining Knights got to their feet and looked among themselves.
"Sir Savoir's been abducted!"
"Should we alert the King?"
Before the Knights could solidify a plan, a wolf's howl split the silence. Nearby. Like their reports told of the howling woman.
"No! He'd want us to fight on-- be dependable men. We'll retrieve him when we chase down this wolf-woman! She's the witch that stole him. Now that we know of their traps, we'll operate smarter than before. Let's go, men!"
The knights took off after the howling woman.
In the opposite direction of the way Sir Savior was dragged.