These guys are a serious pain in the butt; I can't take on more than one at a time. I lost track of how much health they have, but it's a lot. Takes forever to take one down. I use a mixture of spells and weapon skills. A fight with a mage is thrown in after for comparison.

>
A decaying Taladorian knight just arrived.
>look
[Deadfall Forest]
Standing in the middle of the desolate meadow, a lone blackened tree hints of a land of darkness and woe. Little grows here as the dark forest to the south seems to loom over the area with a mercenary grip on life. You also see a decaying Taladorian knight, a leather knotwork harness, a small dirty sack, a wickedly curved palache, a leather knotwork harness, a small dirty sack, a wickedly curved palache, a gnarled oily black tree, a gnarled oily black tree and a gnarled oily black tree.
Obvious paths: north, southeast, southwest
>incant 110
You utter a light chant and raise your hands, beckoning the lesser spirits to aid you with the Unbalance spell...
Your spell is ready.
You gesture at a decaying Taladorian knight.
CS: +446 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +6 == +50
Warded off!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>
A decaying Taladorian knight swings a claidhmore at you!
AS: +485 vs DS: +619 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +8 = -94
A clean miss.
>incant 110
You utter a light chant and raise your hands, beckoning the lesser spirits to aid you with the Unbalance spell...
Your spell is ready.
You gesture at a decaying Taladorian knight.
CS: +446 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +80 == +124
Warding failed!
... 10 points of damage!
Side strike shoves the Taladorian knight several feet sideways.
It is knocked to the ground!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>stance offen
> cman feint
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[Roll result: 172 (open d100: 91) Bonus: 13]
You feint high, the Taladorian knight buys the ruse and twists awkwardly to block the blow that never came!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>
A gnarled branch from an oily black tree suddenly lashes out, slashing you!
... 3 points of damage!
Quick slash to your upper left arm!
Just a nick.
R>stance offen
> cman disarm
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[Roll result: 102 (open d100: 38) Bonus: 6]
You swing your mithril flail at a decaying Taladorian knight's claidhmore and connect!
A decaying Taladorian knight's claidhmore is knocked to the ground!
Roundtime: 5 sec.
R>stance offen
> mstrike target
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
You concentrate intently, focusing all your energies.
You explode into a fury of strikes and ripostes, moving with a singular purpose and will!
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decaying Taladorian knight!
AS: +447 vs DS: +294 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +37 = +226
... and hit for 43 points of damage!
Mighty blow cracks several ribs.
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decaying Taladorian knight!
AS: +447 vs DS: +294 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +54 = +243
... and hit for 45 points of damage!
Large gash to the left arm, several muscles torn.

Your series of strikes and ripostes leaves you winded and out of position.
Roundtime: 8 sec.
R>
The cuts on your left arm close and the bruises fade.
R>
The oily black trees stretch their branches to the sky, as if clawing to escape.
R>
A decaying Taladorian knight stands up with a grunt.
R>incant 1115
You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Wither...
Your spell is ready.
You channel at a decaying Taladorian knight.
Your mental command surges outward, echoing your need to the stray spirits nearby...
CS: +492 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +21 == +111
Warding failed!
A nebulous haze shimmers into view around a decaying Taladorian knight, plunging inward to envelop its abdomen!
... 12 points of damage!
Flesh removed, forming a long gash across abdomen!
... 12 points of damage!
Flesh removed, forming a long gash across abdomen!
... 25 points of damage!
Unlucky strike removes muscles from abdomen, but misses vital organs.
Cloudy tendrils writhe throughout the knight's form, ravaging it for 19 points of damage!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>
You feel more refreshed.
>stance defen
You are now in a defensive stance.
>
A decaying Taladorian knight snatches up a claidhmore!
A decaying Taladorian knight swings a claidhmore at you!
AS: +485 vs DS: +655 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +20 = -118
A clean miss.
>incant 1115
You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Wither...
Your spell is ready.
You channel at a decaying Taladorian knight.
Your mental command surges outward, echoing your need to the stray spirits nearby...
CS: +492 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +82 == +172
Warding failed!
A nebulous haze shimmers into view around a decaying Taladorian knight, plunging inward to envelop its neck!
... 2 points of damage!
A small, but painful slice of neck vanishes!
... 20 points of damage!
Raking blast eliminates portions of neck and head!
Cloudy tendrils creep outward from a decaying Taladorian knight's neck before vanishing into its right eye.
... 40 points of damage!
Blast disintegrates right eye and portions of the skull behind!
Cloudy tendrils writhe throughout the knight's form, ravaging it for 53 points of damage!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
(Forcing stance down to guarded)
>
You feel recovered from your whirlwind flurry of strikes.
>
A decaying Taladorian knight swings a claidhmore at you!
AS: +475 vs DS: +619 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +59 = -53
A clean miss.
>incant 1106
You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Bone Shatter...
Your spell is ready.
You channel at a decaying Taladorian knight.
You concentrate intently on a decaying Taladorian knight, and a pulse of pearlescent energy ripples toward it!
CS: +492 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +85 == +175
Warding failed!
The Taladorian knight shudders with sporadic convulsions as pearlescent ripples envelop its body.
The Taladorian knight is crushed for 50 points of damage!
... 25 points of damage!
Strong blow to right arm breaks it!
... 20 points of damage!
Good blow to left arm!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>incant 110
You utter a light chant and raise your hands, beckoning the lesser spirits to aid you with the Unbalance spell...
Your spell is ready.
You gesture at a decaying Taladorian knight.
CS: +446 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +99 == +143
Warding failed!
... 25 points of damage!
Vision blurred. The Taladorian knight staggers around blindly.
It is knocked to the ground!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>stance offen
> cman feint
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[Roll result: 121 (open d100: 40) Bonus: 13]
You feint low, the Taladorian knight buys the ruse and moves to block the blow that never came!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>stance offen
> cman disarm
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[Roll result: 117 (open d100: 50) Bonus: 13]
You swing your mithril flail at a decaying Taladorian knight's claidhmore and connect!
A decaying Taladorian knight's claidhmore is knocked to the ground!
Roundtime: 5 sec.
R>stance offen
> mstrike target
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
You concentrate intently, focusing all your energies.
You explode into a fury of strikes and ripostes, moving with a singular purpose and will!
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decaying Taladorian knight!
AS: +447 vs DS: +240 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +22 = +265
... and hit for 63 points of damage!
Whoosh! Several ribs driven into lungs.
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decaying Taladorian knight!
AS: +447 vs DS: +240 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +40 = +283
... and hit for 68 points of damage!
Whoosh! Several ribs driven into lungs.

Your series of strikes and ripostes leaves you winded and out of position.
Roundtime: 8 sec.
R>
A decaying Taladorian knight stands up with a grunt.
R>
A decaying Taladorian knight snatches up a claidhmore!
A decaying Taladorian knight swings a claidhmore at you!
AS: +465 vs DS: +479 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +42 = +60
A clean miss.
>stance defen
You are now in a defensive stance.
>incant 1115
You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Wither...
Your spell is ready.
You channel at a decaying Taladorian knight.
Your mental command surges outward, echoing your need to the stray spirits nearby...
CS: +492 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +45 == +135
Warding failed!
A nebulous haze shimmers into view around a decaying Taladorian knight, plunging inward to envelop its right leg!
... 4 points of damage!
Surface of right leg etched to little effect.
... 15 points of damage!
Chunks of flesh vaporized on right leg!
... 15 points of damage!
Chunks of flesh vaporized on right leg!
Cloudy tendrils writhe throughout the knight's form, ravaging it for 26 points of damage!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
(Forcing stance down to guarded)
R>
A decaying Taladorian knight shifts its weight, stepping back a bit.

R>incant 118
You feel fully energetic again.
>
You utter a light chant and raise your hands, beckoning the lesser spirits to aid you with the Web spell...
Your spell is ready.
You gesture at a decaying Taladorian knight.
Cloudy wisps swirl about a decaying Taladorian knight.
CS: +446 - TD: +364 + CvA: -13 + d100: +6 == +75
Warded off!
The wisps dissipate harmlessly into the air.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>
You feel recovered from your whirlwind flurry of strikes.
>
A decaying Taladorian knight swings a claidhmore at you!
AS: +465 vs DS: +619 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +33 = -89
A clean miss.
>incant 1115
You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Wither...
Your spell is ready.
You channel at a decaying Taladorian knight.
Your mental command surges outward, echoing your need to the stray spirits nearby...
CS: +492 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +62 == +152
Warding failed!
A nebulous haze shimmers into view around a decaying Taladorian knight, plunging inward to envelop its left eye!
... 10 points of damage!
Left eyelid turns to dust, causing the Taladorian knight to blink rapidly, or try to.
... 10 points of damage!
Left eyelid turns to dust, causing the Taladorian knight to blink rapidly, or try to.
... 20 points of damage!
Blast removes sections of eye socket.
Cloudy tendrils writhe throughout the knight's form, ravaging it for 50 points of damage!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>
You feel more refreshed.
R>
A decaying Taladorian knight swings a claidhmore at you!
AS: +455 vs DS: +619 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +47 = -85
A clean miss.
>incant 1115
You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Wither...
Your spell is ready.
You channel at a decaying Taladorian knight.
Your mental command surges outward, echoing your need to the stray spirits nearby...
CS: +492 - TD: +389 + CvA: -13 + d100: +98 == +188
Warding failed!
A nebulous haze shimmers into view around a decaying Taladorian knight, plunging inward to envelop its back!
... 20 points of damage!
Blast tears across back leaving a nasty disintegration slash.
... 25 points of damage!
Scattered vaporization leaves back covered with bleeding wounds.
... 50 points of damage!
Vicious blast turns huge portions of back into red mist! Now lacking spinal support, the Taladorian knight crumples into a heap.
It is knocked to the ground!
Cloudy tendrils writhe throughout the knight's form, ravaging it for 71 points of damage!
You hear a sound like a weeping child as a white glow separates itself from the Taladorian knight's body as it rises, disappearing into the heavens.
The Taladorian knight rolls over and dies.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>loot
You search the Taladorian knight.
You discard the knight's useless equipment.
It didn't carry any silver.
Interesting, it carried a piece of iron on it.
It had nothing else of value.
A decaying Taladorian knight decays into compost.<<

By comparison, mages are much more fragile. I suspect lighter armor plays a significant factor here. They are, however, significantly more dangerous due to their spells; weaponfire is particularly nasty, but they can ward me with immolation also. The trick therefore is not to give them a chance to cast.

>>
A decomposing Taladorian mage just arrived.
>stance offen
> cman feint
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[Roll result: 205 (open d100: 95) Bonus: 13]
You feint to the right, the Taladorian mage buys the ruse and twists awkwardly to block the blow that never came!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>stance offen
> cman disarm
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[Roll result: 225 (open d100: 125) Bonus: 13]
You swing your mithril flail at a decomposing Taladorian mage's rune staff and connect!
A decomposing Taladorian mage's rune staff is knocked to the ground!
Roundtime: 5 sec.
R>at
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decomposing Taladorian mage!
AS: +447 vs DS: +427 with AvD: +44 + d100 roll: +78 = +142
A layer of shifting stone absorbs 8 points of damage!
... and hit for 26 points of damage!
You ripped a chunk out of the Taladorian mage's right leg with that one.
The Taladorian mage is stunned!
Roundtime: 5 sec.
R>
You feel fully energetic again.
>at
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decomposing Taladorian mage!
AS: +447 vs DS: +425 with AvD: +44 + d100 roll: +41 = +107
A layer of shifting stone absorbs 2 points of damage!
... and hit for 1 point of damage!
Glancing blow to the Taladorian mage's right leg!
Roundtime: 5 sec.
R>incant 1115
You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Wither...
Your spell is ready.
You channel at a decomposing Taladorian mage.
Your mental command surges outward, echoing your need to the stray spirits nearby...
CS: +492 - TD: +433 + CvA: +17 + d100: +42 == +118
Warding failed!
A nebulous haze shimmers into view around a decomposing Taladorian mage, plunging inward to envelop its chest!
... 5 points of damage!
Flesh painfully vaporized from side!
... 35 points of damage!
Deep, penetrating wound etched into chest, exposing ribs and lung tissue!
The Taladorian mage is stunned!
... 35 points of damage!
Deep, penetrating wound etched into chest, exposing ribs and lung tissue!
Cloudy tendrils writhe throughout the mage's form, ravaging it for 29 points of damage!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>
The translucent sphere fades from around a decomposing Taladorian mage.
R>stance offen
> cman feint
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[Roll result: 213 (open d100: 93) Bonus: 23]
You feint high, the Taladorian mage buys the ruse and twists awkwardly to block the blow that never came!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>stance offen
> mstrike
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
You concentrate intently, focusing all your energies.
With instinctive motions, you weave to and fro striking with deliberate and unrelenting fury!
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decomposing Taladorian mage!
AS: +447 vs DS: +353 with AvD: +44 + d100 roll: +81 = +219
A layer of shifting stone shatters!
... and hit for 68 points of damage!
Weapon arm mangled horribly.

Your flurry of strikes leaves you off-balance and out of position.
Roundtime: 8 sec.
R>
The forest grows eerily still and a deep crimson glow bathes the entire area in its blood red aura. The black trees seem to come alive, their branches thrashing around wildly. A moment passes, and the red light fades.
R>stance offen
> attack
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decomposing Taladorian mage!
AS: +447 vs DS: +350 with AvD: +44 + d100 roll: +13 = +154
... and hit for 44 points of damage!
Whoosh! Several ribs driven into lungs.
Roundtime: 5 sec.
R>
You feel more refreshed.
R>stance offen
> attack
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
You swing a superior mithril flail at a decomposing Taladorian mage!
AS: +447 vs DS: +348 with AvD: +44 + d100 roll: +75 = +218
... and hit for 92 points of damage!
Neck removed, head falls to the ground.
You hear a sound like a weeping child as a white glow separates itself from the Taladorian mage's body as it rises, disappearing into the heavens.
The Taladorian mage falls to the ground and lies still.
The glowing specks of energy surrounding a decomposing Taladorian mage suddenly shoot off in all directions, then quickly fade away.
The brilliant luminescence fades from around a decomposing Taladorian mage.
A decomposing Taladorian mage appears somehow different.
A decomposing Taladorian mage becomes solid again.
The tingling sensation and sense of security leaves a decomposing Taladorian mage.
The Taladorian mage falls to the ground and dies.
Roundtime: 5 sec.<<


The Bells of Hell
go ding-a-ling-a-ling
for you but not for me