The sun was blazing high in the sky over the jungles of Stranglethorn as the lone human fought his way through the web of vines and underbrush. A wandering sellsword, the man named Alpheric had been hired by the locals in Booty Bay to put down a few pirates sighted in the nearby beaches. Not one to pass the offer of gold in exchange for a little blood spilt, he had taken the offer without a second thought, that was until he experienced the oppresive heat and natural dangers that Stanglethorn had to offer.
"Light help me, if I make it out of this, my next job will be in Northrend," Alpheric grunted to himself, as he chopped at the vines impeding his way with his shortsword. With a sigh of relief the sea of green suddenly gave way and before him stood a wide streach of beach, with the churning waters of the sea lapping at its shores.
The hot sand crunching under his hardened leather boots as he stepped out from the shade of the trees, Alpheric gazed to either side of the long streach of beach. With no other living being in sight save for a few Crawlers skuttling along the waters edge, he took the opportunity to sheath his sword, and after a quick adjustment to the straps on his forearm that attached his well worn iron shield, took his waterskin from his belt and drank deeply.
Wiping his the sweat from his brow and brushing the bangs from his dark brown hair away from his eyes, he stood with waterskin in hand wondering what his next move should be. He was sent to kill off some pirates, but the only sign of them anywhere was a few dark sails far off on the horizon. He couldn't stand on the beach all day, slowly cooking in his layers of leather and chain, but he could not go back empty handed either. A man didn't last long in the mercenary game if they couldn't keep a reputation.
As Alpheric stood lost in thought, a loud movements from behind him in the jungle snapped him out of his thoughts. Dropping his half full skin to the ground, he whirled around, hand on his hilt. He was in no mood to fight one of the many panthers he had encountered along the way to the beach, or Light forbid one of the insanely strong apes, but perhaps their pelts would be worth something in town.
What he wasn't expecting to come from that jungle hell was a female Orc. Her jade skin the same vibrant color as the sorrounding jungle at her back, her long black hair tied in a braid swining halfway down her back. Alpheric noted her tight fitting leather gear, boots and trousers as well as a short leather tunic that left her arms and her lower stomach exposed; before he his eyes were drawn to the real issue. Drawn before him being supported by both of the Orc's hands, was a rather large and wicked looking battle axe.
Lifting his hand slowly from his sword hilt Alpheric tried to speak calmly and slowly, "Evening miss, I was just passing along there is no need to..." Is all he managed to get out before the Orc charged, bellowing a mighty "Lok'tar" in a husky voice.
Alpheric raised his shield as the Orc swong her axe in a rough over hand blow. Sparks flew as the axe glanced off the iron, and Alpheric twisted his shield arm bringing both himself and the Orc to the side following the axe's strong momentum. Taking this moment as the Orc recoverd from the hard swing, Alpheric drew his own blade and swong wildly out at female, the blade biting across her exposed side.
Hissing in pain the Orc charged forward, and instead of swinging her axe fully she slammed the butt of the weapon hard into the human's chin, sending him reeling onto his back in the hot sand.
Alpheric blinked the away the stars that were threatening to black out his vision looked up, explecting the final blow. Instead the Orc was pacing overhead, waiting for her opponent to stand once more. If it wasn't for the fact that every movement made his head feel like it was going to split in pain, he might have laughed at her Light-forsaken honor. Instead the got up on one knee and spat blood down into the sand. "You are good Orc, but not very smart," he growled. Scooping up sand with the edge of his shield, he rose up swiftly and flung the stinging particles right at her face. Spitting and roaring in rage the Orc swung blindly in the direction, forcing Alpheric to raise his shield and staggering him back.
Eyes red and teary, the Orc circled the human growling and lunging. Alpheric, too danced in a their slow circle of death, battering aside blows and attempting to strike home with his own weapon. Human and Orc clashed then separated, again and again, for what seemed like an eternity for the pair, each gradually slowing as heat, their minor wounds, and the fatigue of extended battle wore them down.
Alpheric's shield arm was numb, the shield itself feeling as if a boulder was strapped to him, and he could feel blood running down his fist where he grasped his sword, if it was his own or the Orc's he did not want to know. He was bracing himself for another assault when from the waters edge their came loud and sinister laugh "Haha, very good, don't cha' think boys?" turning to the source of the noise, he turned to see a Goblin in the red attire of the Bloodsail Pirates standing atop the prow of a rowboat, a rather large looking gun pointed in the humans direction. Flanked on either side by a Troll holding a dagger and a Tauren with a rather large mace, the trio chuckled. The Goblins face turned serious, "You two will make us a fortune at the slave market, now drop yer weapons, or you we will turn you to chum!"