After the gargoyle hit the ground, it still slid more than ten meters across the soft riverbank before coming to a stop. An impact of this magnitude was no more than a few scrapes to these stone-skinned monsters, but it left Brando and his wizard retainer thoroughly dazed.
The moment they landed, the surrounding Noble Private Soldiers grew excited and charged toward the riverbank en masse. Though they were nothing but a rabble, the momentum of a massed cavalry charge was still astonishing. Charles shook his head and crawled out of the dirt, startled by the sight. He immediately asked, "My lord, what do we do?"
Brando pulled his leg free from the mud, drew his sword, and shouted, "What do you think? Make a wall!"
This was the oldest and most classic tactic the wizards of Eluin used against cavalry. The players' later tactics had grown from this foundation, because it was especially effective against poorly trained cavalry.
The young wizard understood at once. He pointed forward with his ruby. "Block, reaction, construction of wall—" Countless lines radiated outward in every direction from the gem's center, forming the shape of a wall. Then all the lines vanished, leaving behind a solid wall of air.
The charging Noble Private Soldiers had no idea what it was. Only a few mercenaries with experience fighting wizards veered around it. Though their leader Makalu shouted for his men to turn, no one could hear him over the thunder of hooves—
The first row of riders slammed into the air wall. The horses collapsed to their knees, while the riders were thrown forward into the wall. Then the second row crashed into the first, and the tremendous momentum crushed them together. The third row followed close behind. This time, the air wall could not