A keen eye was kept on the ridgeline in vigilance just in case the dark forces had a moment of inspiration and had changed their archers’ placement. Throughout the remainder of the trek not one bowman was spotted on the heights. As the dwarven warriors closed the gap, the command was given by Captain Rherger in his determined voice and again echoed through the ranks. “MODIFIED TURTLE FORMATION, HOOO!”. In unison, the dwarven vanguard commenced the maneuver. The clerics finished, then held their prayer, waiting for the right moment. In the near distance, in front of the orc lines, emerged ten figures, all shrouded in black cloaks. It began. Red bolts of vile energy leapt forth from their hands towards the dwarven front. Orc arrows were let loose from the midpoint of the cut on their precarious debris-formed ledges. A crisp energetic blast issued from the captain’s horn as one of the brothers let loose his prayer. Instantaneously, divine blue light flashed in front of the column absorbing all but four of the red bolts as four dwarves fell. They were quickly replaced by the ranks. Another cleric released God’s pent up energy. Brilliant, bright yellow lightning, streaking down from heaven incinerated all but two of the dark emissaries. It continued ripping through the ranks of the orcs with blinding fury, sending some twenty odd more to their deserved fate. Another course of arrows streamed outwards from the beasts and a few more dwarves fell; much less than if the body had not been protected by the turtle. Another shrill blast left the captain’s horn. The dwarves now advanced at a run with their archers releasing their volley into the ever increasingly panicked orcs. The orc missile battery was just about to release another volley as their leader heard the dwarven anvil’s war cry at his rear, “For the blood of the Lamb!” The opposition’s head archer’s hesitation and indecision allowed the dwarven archers to accurately begin counter battery engagement into the orcs. The dwarven arrows cut their rivals down with exact precision. The clergy focused on their dark opponents as the wretches attempted to scurry back into the center mass of the orcish formation. One brother directed his prayer at the abyssal cowards and the remainder of black-cloaked figures stood unmoving, frozen amidst their swarm. The sound of melee raged everywhere, splashes of red and black blood flew about, with the crushing of bones and the shredding of flesh coursing through the field. Pressing the attack, the soldiers of Iron encircled the orcs, never allowing them a retreat. The greenish gray creatures, lacking any unit cohesion and being cowards at heart, turned to run as individuals, then small groups, and finally as a whole. Dwarven battle axes continued to hack into the despicable creatures. The beasts realized their error too late. A few of the dark forces had grouped together amid the catastrophe and the remaining leader cried, “kwoorters, kwoorters whe bheg kwoorters,” in its foul guttural attempt at the common tongue. There would be no quarters today! Captain Rherger ordered, “to the last, to the last, to the last!” The orcs’ eyes opened to the light in a panicked frenzy. With a final desperate attempt, the orcs met their end while the sturdy warriors of light dispatched them with ruthless determination. The dwarves followed their captain’s orders, “to the last.” The result of the conflict amounted to the loss of nearly a full dwarven platoon and a young female cleric. The complete desolation of the villainous forces was achieved. The battle finished, the sergeants had the men search the corpses for objects of significance. Weapons were also gathered and destroyed to prohibit the enemy from reacquiring them in the future. Weasel Fur’s pilfering had produced a letter. Vrogul, You are my most trusted commander. I send you to complete what others have failed. I suspect the dark clergy should help but do not give them much slack in their tasks. They are a devious lot, almost worse than the dwarves and elves. I care not how many of our numbers die, only that you complete the task. It would suite me to see you return; although, if you return defeated you know she will feed on you. --Din Cleave After he finished reading the letter, Captain Rherger showed it to his lieutenants and then threw it into the pyre of burning flesh. “It seems Din Cleave sent his best against us to no avail.” The dwarven congregation cheered profoundly at the statement. “Perhaps he will gather the fortitude to meet us on the field of battle, instead of cowardly hiding behind his troops,” declared the dwarven commander.
|