Artie smirked underneath his mask. He knew that voice even if the form had changed. And it had belonged to a certain Gilnean warrior. Now that human was a Worgen.
"It's been a while, hasn't it Rex," said Artie as he made a stabbing motion towards Blackhound. The Corporal dodged it and tried to counter only to have Artie block it.
"Don't call me that you traitorous rogue," growled Blackhound. "The last time I saw your filthy hide was when I was kicking it out of Gilneas from on top of the wall!" He turned to force Artie back but the rogue sighed as he jumped backwards, causing the Worgen to stumble. The Forsaken used that moment to nick the Worgen's side with his blade which was laced with crippling poison. Blackhound soon found himself slowing down. "Coward," he growled.
"I'm a rogue," said Artie with a sigh. "It's how I fight." He then made a slashing motion across Blackhound's chest. The warrior tried to avoid it but was too slow. Luckily it was a light wound, but he got another douse of the poison. "And you are the traitor. You and your people left the Alliance and hid behind your wall. You left us to the Scourge! You have no right to accuse me of anything!" Blackhound growled at the Forsaken before he charged at him, swords pointed forward. When he got close enough he tried a scissor move to chop the rogue in half, but Artie saw it coming a mile away. He jumped in the air, did a back flip, and when he landed he blocked the follow up attack.
Blackhound moved back to get some distance as he and the undead began to circle each other. Damn, thought Blackhound, he's just as good as I remembered. I know I'm stronger and faster than I was back then, but he's just as skilled and agile as ever. And it doesn't help that his poison will only help him. Then, Blackhound got an idea. It was a low blow and he knew it. But he still had to try it.
"At least I would have protected her," said Blackhound coldly. As soon as he said that, an image appeared in Artie's head. It was of a female High Elf paladin. She was clad in bright silver armor but her helm was removed so that her long red hair flowed down her back. Her bright blue eye's shined brightly as she smiled. A growl escaped the rogue's throat as he charged at the Worgen. Blackhound, however, dodged the attack and managed to counter attack hitting Artie on his side.
"Damn you," cursed Artie as he turned around and narrowed his eyes.
-x-
"We have to hurry!" yelled Mequinnix as he and Shaudaria ran towards the Armadillo. Behind them, panting and wheezing, was Bush. The paladin and the hunter jumped into the siege engine and moved into their proper places. Since she had better aim, Shaudaria got into the gunners position while Mequinnix took control of the wheel. Not wanting to wait five more minutes for the fat mage to finally get there, Mequinnix turned on the Armadillo. The machine came to life and Mequinnix stepped on the gas so it could move towards the battle field. But instead the machine moved backwards towards the base!
Mequinnix blinked in confusion. He was sure that he had the thing in drive. Thinking that perhaps the gears were off he shifted it into reverse hoping to fix the problem. Sadly the Armadillo would only move backwards. Getting frustrated the paladin turned the wheel so that he could turn the siege engine around. It would move more slowly, but at least he could get it into the battle field. Probably before Bush.
Meanwhile, said fat mage had given up on trying to catch up with the siege engine and had decided to just mount up. After chanting for a moment his mount, a blue flying carpet that his daddy bought for him, appeared before him. Stepping onto it, Bush ordered the enchanted rug to follow after the Armadillo. Sadly his weight was far too great and his mount could not hover at all. Instead it began to drag itself after its target, helpless to do anything else.
-x-
"We have to hurry!" yelled Nugget as he began to warm up the catapult. "Artie needs us!"
"Who the fel left him in charge!" yelled Chogar as he stormed out for the base. "And how could you all let the Alliance walk into our base and out with the flag? You are all incompetent fools!" As soon as he said that the Orc felt two pairs of eyes glaring at him angrily.
"So ya still want to act like da big mon," Renjaz growled. "Ya were da only one in da flag room. Ya let da flag be stolen and didn't even know. So don't ya be pointing a green finger at us." Chogar opened his mouth to shout back, but Renjaz had transformed into her cat form and had begun to race towards the battlefield. Stomping his feet like a child Chogar turned to face Nugget.
"She has a point," said Nugget, hoping that no one would find out he had really sold the Horde flag.
Chogar just grunted as he raised a hand to the sky as a purple cube appeared above him. If you want something done right you have to do it yourself, thought Chogar. I'll show them why I am in charge here and the true power of the Orcs. As Chogar finished his spell his mount appeared, a Felsteed. It looked like a dark horse but its hooves were on fire. As Chogar prepared to mount it, it turned to glare at him. It then did what all his other summons did, it chased him in an attempt to kill him. Screaming like a little girl, Chogar ran for his life in the direction of the battlefield.
Nugget sighed in relief as he continued to work on the catapult. Looks like no one would figure out the truth. That was good for him. It meant he would stay alive and have more chances to make more money. Also, Artie wouldn't hate him.
-x-
The battle between the rogue and warrior continued to look like a stalemate. Both were skilled fighters and neither would give an inch. Artie rained blow after blow of poisoned strikes, but Blackhound's armor protected him for the most part. The Worgen, in turn, barely hit the Forsaken with his powerful blows. But when he did the damage was great since Artie's leather armor didn't put up much of a defense. But then, without warning, the ground next to them erupted due to a cannon ball. The two looked over in the direction of Silverwing Outpost and saw both the siege engine as well as Bush on his flying carpet.
"Quickly, fire again," yelled Shaudaria as she jumped out of her riding compartment. Mequinnix jumped out of the firing compartment, shaking his head as he landed and pulled out his copper mace.
"Can't," he said as the Light slowly filled him. "The Corporal is too close. We can't use the Armadillo until he's clear." His hand tightened on his weapon. "At least we can help him defeat that rogue."
"Sounds like a good plan to me," said Bush as he stepped off his mount. The poor carpet looked like it had been cut is several places due to the dragging. "Let's kill him quickly and get back to the base for an early lunch."
Before anyone could say anything a bluish tiger, a Goblin riding a catapult, and an Orc being chased by his own mount came charging towards them. When they got there the Orc finally blasted his own mount, causing it to vanish. Also the Goblin got out of his vehicle.
"What are (gasp) you doing worm," demanded Chogar as he caught his breath. Luckily for him this didn't take long due to all of the running he had done from all of his other summons. "Use that toy of yours to kill them all! Starting with that flea bitten Worgen!"
"Can't do that with Artie so close," said Nugget as he shook his head. "I have no idea what kind of gas the Forsaken gave us. Besides, the wind is blowing towards us right now. If I fire it now then we'll also be gassed."
"Then we be takin dem down da old fashioned way," said Renjaz as she returned to her Troll form so she could blast them at a distance. As she took her staff in hand she looked over at Artie for a moment. He had been decent to her since her arrival and very laid back. Personally she didn't mind him being undead and was found of him. Well not as found as Nugget, but she liked him none the less. Plus, he was a comrade and she had been taught never to leave a comrade to fight alone. Finally she had heard the paladin say they were going to gang up on Artie and defeat him with no honor. To a member of the Horde, honor meant everything and she would not let the rogue die by the hands of these honor less Alliance scum.
"Pah," spat Chogar. "You worry about the stupidest things coward. Just run back to the lumber mill while I take care of these fools!" He then raised a hand to the sky and a purple cube appeared in the air. Both Nugget and Renjaz felt the need to warn him against it, knowing what happened every time he tried to summon anything. However, after being insulted by him again, they felt he deserved this.
As Chogar finished his spell the cube vanished and a new demon appeared: a succubus that as soon as she appeared smacked her own ass. In a way she looked like a pink Draenei with wings as well as a set of horns. Yet one could feel the fel energies around her. She wore a sexy leather corset that barely covered her large breasts and a leather bikini. In one hand she carried a whip making her look like some kind of dominatrix.
"You've been a naughty boy," she said in a sexy voice as she turned to face her summoner. Before Chogar could say anything the succubus let her whip fly in his direction, striking his hand. Chogar cried out in pain as his black blood hit the ground. "I told you last time what would happen if you ever summoned me again, you pitiful excuse of a warlock. Now I think I'll make sure you never forget this little lesson."
"We don't have time for this!" yelled Nugget as he ran over to the succubus. "Artie needs our help!" It was true. While both side were arriving the Forsaken and Worgen had started their fight anew.
The succubus looked down at the Goblin for a moment and they stared into each other's eyes for a second. Then the demons cold blue eyes turned into beating hearts as she picked up the goblin and began to hold him close to her bosom.
"He's so cute," she cried out. "I just love those big green floppy ears and the smell of greed on him!" She was about to say more when an arrow passed by her forehead. The succubus turned her head and glared at the Night Elf huntress who had grown tired of waiting. "So the nasty Night Elf wants to pick a fight with Shellava of the succubus? Very well then, I'll have you calling me queen in no time!" With that Shellava ran towards her opponent who continued to shot arrows in her direction. However, Shellava seemed to be very skilled with the whip knocking many of the arrows down with it. Soon it became a close quarters fight.
Meanwhile, Mequinnix had moved closer to his commanding officer to help assist him. His mace began to glow brightly as he neared the undead rogue and swung it with all his might from behind. Yet this attacked failed as Artie blocked it with one of his blades and destroying it in the process. Shocked, Mequinnix stumbled backwards and stared at the remains of his mace. Artie then kicked Blackhound back and then turned to deliver the finishing blow on Mequinnix. He would have succeeded had Blackhound not recovered and moved to block Artie's attack with both blades.
"Get back in the Armadillo," shouted Blackhound as he pushed Artie back.
"But sir," began Mequinnix but Blackhound let out a growl.
"That's an order!" Mequinnix tossed the remains of his weapon to the ground and ran back towards the siege engine.
Meanwhile, Bush was running for his life. Both Nugget and Renjaz were blasting at him from a distance. The mage tried his best to use some kind of attack spell, but they all ended up becoming cupcakes flying towards the two Horde casters. While this confused them at first, it did zero damage. Racking his brains, Bush decided to try something else. I know the basics behind the Polymorph spell, he thought as he raised a hand towards Renjaz. If I can turn one of them into a sheep I might be able to shock the other so that I can make a run for it. He quickly chanted the spell and it took effect immediately. Renjaz's body began to distort and turn white. Then, shockingly it began to grow and become more scaly. After a moments Renjaz had become a white Devilsaur. The large, ancient reptile looked down at its body, obviously surprised, before it looked at Bush and grinned. Deciding that it was best that he make a run for it, Bush ran. Well, tried to at least. Renjaz quickly caught up to him, picked him up with her large teeth, and flung him towards Silverwing Hold.
Whatever victory the Horde was having was short lived. By this time Mequinnix had gotten back into the Armadillo and had aimed the cannon at the rogue and warrior. Saying a quick prayer, he fired on the two. Blackhound, whose sense of hearing was far greater than anyone else in the Gulch, heard it coming the second Mequinnix pressed the button and was able to jump away before the blast landed. As a cloud of smoke covered the area, Blackhound heard another sound. It was a victory horn. Sprinkles had brought the flag to the base and they had succeeded in capturing the first flag.
Blackhound's sense of victory continued as the smoke cleared. Artie was still alive, well still undead, but his left leg had been blown off completely. It lay several dozen yards from its owner for the most part intact. Without it, Artie couldn't use his speed and agility in battle making him, for the most part, helpless. Yet Blackhound knew that this would be only temporary. Sooner or later he would get it reattached and he would be a problem again. He would have to finish the rogue off here and now.
As he took a step towards the rogue, sword raised ready to strike, his sense of warning flared up. Suddenly he heard a bang and green gas began to cover the land. The Worgen turned towards the Forsaken catapult that was being operated by the forgotten Orc.
"Ignore the greatest warlock ever will you," bellowed the Orc whose name Blackhound had no idea what it was. "I hope this sends you all to meet your ancestors!" With that, he launched another canister, not caring that it was also hitting his allies.
"Retreat!" yelled Blackhound as the green gas covered him as well. He had no idea how much time they had left before the exposure to the gas killed them but he knew it wasn't long. Then, without warning, he began to laugh. In fact, everyone the gas had hit began to laugh. Realization hit him as he realized that it was laughing gas! He turned around to see that the Horde was in full retreat. The druid had turned back to normal and had brought Artie back to his bike while the Goblin and gotten the missing leg. The Forsaken and Goblin took the Hog and made their way back to their base despite the orders of the Orc who demanded them to continue fighting. He was also ignored by him summon as well as the druid who took off in her cat form.
The battle was not over yet.