The Orcish Wars Part 2
By
Justin Asselstine aka Gawyn
The character Gawyn Trakand is copyright of Robert Jordan, creator of The Wheel of Time. Places used in this belong to Verant Interactive.
Gawyn ducked as a ball of flame flew over his head and engulfed an orc.
"Jeez Dzax, watch it," Gawyn said as he swung his sword at another of the orcs.
"Sorry about that," the high elf replied as he threw another ball of flame at the orcs.
Another orc was downed by Gawyn's blade, but the orcs just kept coming. For every orc that the Lordknights had killed five more had replaced it. The battle had been going on for nearly a half an hour and the Lordknights were beginning to tire.
Another orc found itself impaled on Gawyn's blade. Gawyn tried to withdraw his blade, but it was lodged in the orcs abdomen. Another orc seeing Gawyn's predicament turned towards him brandishing it's wicked looking scimitar. It raised its sword as it prepared to kill Gawyn, but it never got the chance. There was a flash of silver and the orcs head fell to the ground. Gawyn shoved the orc's decapitated body out of the way and behind it was Gawyn's good friend Phawn.
Phawn was a beautiful wood elf ranger. They had met when Gawyn had helped her defeat a man eating giant spider had attacked her on the way to Qeynos. Gawyn had helped her dispatch the evil creature and the two had become great friends. Now she had joined the Lordknights fight against the evil orcs of Crushbone.
"Now we're even," Phawn said with a smile as she walked past Gawyn towards where Myrik, Kaylar, Stepwolf and the rest of the Lordknights were still battling the last of the orcs.
When Gawyn, Phawn and Dzax rejoined the battle the orcs quickly realized the were outnumbered and began to flee.
"Let them go. Our mission here is accomplished," Myrik shouted to the rest of his team.
The Lordknights quickly went about there usually duties of searching the orc base for supplies and other things that could be used in their ongoing war. This was becoming a normal routine. In the two weeks since Gawyn's first successful attack on an orc band that had attacked a Freeport caravan Myrik had led the Lordknights across Antonica attacking orc bands, camps and bases. Once they had ridden Antonica of the orcish threat they would head to Fawyder to attack Crushbone.
After an hour of searching for supplies Myrik called a meeting to discuss their future plans.
"We did a great job today and now we have a base to launch our future operations from. I have some good news and bad news. The bad news first. We have learned that an orcish army numbering about three hundred is on it's way from Crushbone here. It will arrive in about two days. The good news is it was going to launch it's attack from here and does not know that we hold this base. We can set an ambush for it. Even if the ambush is successful we will still have many orcs to deal with. I want every to spend the night resting and tomorrow we begin setting up the ambush. Have a good sleep we have a big battle ahead of us."
As everyone began going to rooms to sleep, Gawyn stopped Phawn.
"Earlier when you saved me from that orc you said we were even, but I'm pretty sure I still owe you something if memory serves."
"What?" Phawn asked.
Gawyn grabbed her and kissed her on the lips.
"That", Gawyn replied as he walked away.
Phawn stood there stunned for a minute before she gathered her senses and went to her room, but anyone walking by her could see that she was smiling.
The next morning as the sun began it's slow ascent into the sky, the captured orcish base was already abustle with people setting traps.
Gawyn was checking the tripwire he had just set when Myrik walked over.
"Hello Gawyn. I need to ask a favour of you."
"Sure, Myrik. What do you need," Gawyn replied.
" I want to have two battle groups fighting separately. I'm gonna lead one of them and because of the great job you did attacking that orc band, I want you to lead the other one."
"Ok, but only on one condition," Gawyn answered.
"Sure, anything."
"I want Phawn as my second in command. No two people we have work better together than the two of us."
"I know. I was going to suggest that anyway. Well, if you have no more questions than I have to go help Woodcox with the catapult we set up," Myrik said as he turned to go.
"Mithaniel Marr protect you, Myrik," Gawyn said as Myrik walked away. "May he protect us all."
The rest of the day went by quickly and soon the Lordknights were ready to make their stand and hopefully destroy the orc army. As the sun sank beneath the mountains, Myrik's scouts returned bearing news. The orcish army would arrive shortly after dawn the next day. After positions were assigned the Lordknights went to sleep awaiting the battle to come.
As the morning came the Lordknights went to their assigned position. It was up to Gawyn's group to wait until the orcs started into the traps then to attack any orcs that made it through. Myrik's group would fire of the catapults then they too would come out to join the battle. Myrik expected the traps to take out at least one and a half hundred orcs and hopefully more. Even if it did take out more than expected the orcs would still greatly outnumber the Lordknight's forty members.
Gawyn stood behind the huge gate as he waited for the command to attack. Suddenly there was the sound of orcs screaming as they blundered into the traps. As wires were tripped arrows flew from hidden crossbows. A patch of grass gave way as a group of Orcs fell into a pit.
There was carnage all over and then, with a cry to Mithaniel Marr and Rodcet Nife, Gawyn led his group in a charge through the gates at a group of orcs, who had made it past the traps. Swords flashed as Gawyn's group smashed into the orcs. Gawyn decapitated one orc, as Phawn slashed into another. There were orc corpses littering the ground, but still Gawyn kept hacking and slashing. Finally the last of the group of orcs fell to the ground lifeless.
Gawyn and the other paladins in his group used their innate magical abilities to heal their wounded. Once the wounded were alright Gawyn led his group out into the surrounding forest to look for more orcs.
The orc had just snuck around the pit when an arrow blasted into his chest sending him flying into the hole. Phawn dropped down from the tree she had been hiding in and continued on.
By this time the remaining orcs had figured out what was going on and were beginning to make plans. Several groups of orcs each made their way carefully towards the base looking every where for possible traps. Little did they know that all the traps had already been sprung. All that stood between the orcs and the base was Gawyn's group.
Gawyn slowly walked around a tree in the path. Suddenly he bumped into something. Looking up he saw that is was an orc. The orc began screaming in it's language. Gawyn knew enough orcish to determine that the orc was calling for it's friends to come help him, and Gawyn could now hear the sound of orcs running towards him.
"Lordknights to me," Gawyn shouted and the rest of his group ran to join him.
A couple of seconds later a group of thirty orcs and Gawyn's group of twenty Lordknights stood face to face.
"Lordknights, charge!" Gawyn yelled as he conjured a globe of darkness over some of the nearest orcs heads.
The Lordknights ran into the globes of darkness. Having trained in fighting in the dark the Lordknights had a huge advantage and after only seconds the sounds of battle faded. The globe of darkness faded and Gawyn looked around. The corpses of thirty orcs littered the ground.
Suddenly there was a sound in the trees to the left of Gawyn. He quickly drew his sword and spun, but was relieved to see it was only his friend Kaene.
Kaene Talonreaver was the only drow to ever join the Lordknights. He had become disgusted with his dark kin's ways and had left Neriak. He had met Gawyn and after almost attacking each other the two had become friends.
"Gawyn, we need your help," Kaene said quickly. " A large group of orcs has stormed the base and Myrik needs your group to return."
"Alright, let's go," Gawyn replied.
The group of Lordknights started back towards the base. Gawyn was about to follow when he spotted something shining underneath one of the orc's bodies. Reaching down Gawyn picked it up. It was a beautiful sword. As soon as Gawyn touched it, it flared a brilliant red. Gawyn looked on the blade. There was a word engraved on it. ALTASHERE. Not wanting to leave such a beautiful sword with the rotting orc corpses Gawyn sheathed it and hurried to catch up with the rest of his group.
Gawyn's group was almost back to the base when something terrible happened. Forty orcs appeared from behind trees and drew their weapons. One grabbed Phawn by the throat.
"We have come for the drow," the orc said in it's language.
"What would they want with Kaene," Gawyn thought to himself.
"We will not let you have Kaene," Gawyn replied in shaky orcish.
"If you don't give us the drow, we will kill this elf," the orc threatened.
Gawyn was about to say something when Kaene spoke up.
"I will go with you only if you let the girl go."
"Very well," the orc agreed.
Kaene walked over to the orcs and one of them grabbed him. Then orc leader spoke up.
"I think we shall keep the girl anyway. There is much fun we can have with one of her beauty," the orc said with a wicked smile. "Now kill the rest."
"No," Gawyn screamed as he drew his sword.
Gawyn slashed left and right with Altashere and each time the sword slashed into an orc the blade flared red. Gawyn didn't care about the odds. All he could think about was saving Phawn. Suddenly he felt a burning pain in his chest. He looked down to see an orc's blade sticking out from his chest. Ignoring the pain, Gawyn swung Altashere at the unarmed orc, decapitating it. Finally the pain hit him and he passed mercifully into darkness. The last thing he thought of was how he had failed Phawn.
A couple hours later Gawyn awoke to find himself on his bed in the base. He looked down at his chest. There was no wound.
"It must have been a dream," Gawyn thought to himself.
"So your finally awake. That wound was a nasty one," said a voice from across the room.
Gawyn looked over and saw that it was Myrik.
"If that was real why am I not dead," Gawyn asked.
"Stepwolf carried you back and I healed you," Myrik replied. "With the help of your team we finally managed to defeat the orc army."
Suddenly Gawyn remembered Phawn and Kaene.
"What happened to Kaene and Phawn?"
"I'm sorry the orcs took them. We couldn't stop them," Myrik replied.
"Myrik, I know you need me here, but I have to go after them. Kaene is one of my best friends and I really care for Phawn. I think I may even be falling in love with her.
"I know how much you care for your friends, so I arranged for Menlynus to be saddled and I have provisions stocked for you. Go save your friends."
"Thanks so much, Myrik," Gawyn said as he headed for the door.
Within twenty minutes Gawyn was on his horse and following the trail of the orcs who had taken his two best friends.
By
Justin Asselstine aka Gawyn
The character Gawyn Trakand is copyright of Robert Jordan, creator of The Wheel of Time. Places used in this belong to Verant Interactive.
Gawyn ducked as a ball of flame flew over his head and engulfed an orc.
"Jeez Dzax, watch it," Gawyn said as he swung his sword at another of the orcs.
"Sorry about that," the high elf replied as he threw another ball of flame at the orcs.
Another orc was downed by Gawyn's blade, but the orcs just kept coming. For every orc that the Lordknights had killed five more had replaced it. The battle had been going on for nearly a half an hour and the Lordknights were beginning to tire.
Another orc found itself impaled on Gawyn's blade. Gawyn tried to withdraw his blade, but it was lodged in the orcs abdomen. Another orc seeing Gawyn's predicament turned towards him brandishing it's wicked looking scimitar. It raised its sword as it prepared to kill Gawyn, but it never got the chance. There was a flash of silver and the orcs head fell to the ground. Gawyn shoved the orc's decapitated body out of the way and behind it was Gawyn's good friend Phawn.
Phawn was a beautiful wood elf ranger. They had met when Gawyn had helped her defeat a man eating giant spider had attacked her on the way to Qeynos. Gawyn had helped her dispatch the evil creature and the two had become great friends. Now she had joined the Lordknights fight against the evil orcs of Crushbone.
"Now we're even," Phawn said with a smile as she walked past Gawyn towards where Myrik, Kaylar, Stepwolf and the rest of the Lordknights were still battling the last of the orcs.
When Gawyn, Phawn and Dzax rejoined the battle the orcs quickly realized the were outnumbered and began to flee.
"Let them go. Our mission here is accomplished," Myrik shouted to the rest of his team.
The Lordknights quickly went about there usually duties of searching the orc base for supplies and other things that could be used in their ongoing war. This was becoming a normal routine. In the two weeks since Gawyn's first successful attack on an orc band that had attacked a Freeport caravan Myrik had led the Lordknights across Antonica attacking orc bands, camps and bases. Once they had ridden Antonica of the orcish threat they would head to Fawyder to attack Crushbone.
After an hour of searching for supplies Myrik called a meeting to discuss their future plans.
"We did a great job today and now we have a base to launch our future operations from. I have some good news and bad news. The bad news first. We have learned that an orcish army numbering about three hundred is on it's way from Crushbone here. It will arrive in about two days. The good news is it was going to launch it's attack from here and does not know that we hold this base. We can set an ambush for it. Even if the ambush is successful we will still have many orcs to deal with. I want every to spend the night resting and tomorrow we begin setting up the ambush. Have a good sleep we have a big battle ahead of us."
As everyone began going to rooms to sleep, Gawyn stopped Phawn.
"Earlier when you saved me from that orc you said we were even, but I'm pretty sure I still owe you something if memory serves."
"What?" Phawn asked.
Gawyn grabbed her and kissed her on the lips.
"That", Gawyn replied as he walked away.
Phawn stood there stunned for a minute before she gathered her senses and went to her room, but anyone walking by her could see that she was smiling.
The next morning as the sun began it's slow ascent into the sky, the captured orcish base was already abustle with people setting traps.
Gawyn was checking the tripwire he had just set when Myrik walked over.
"Hello Gawyn. I need to ask a favour of you."
"Sure, Myrik. What do you need," Gawyn replied.
" I want to have two battle groups fighting separately. I'm gonna lead one of them and because of the great job you did attacking that orc band, I want you to lead the other one."
"Ok, but only on one condition," Gawyn answered.
"Sure, anything."
"I want Phawn as my second in command. No two people we have work better together than the two of us."
"I know. I was going to suggest that anyway. Well, if you have no more questions than I have to go help Woodcox with the catapult we set up," Myrik said as he turned to go.
"Mithaniel Marr protect you, Myrik," Gawyn said as Myrik walked away. "May he protect us all."
The rest of the day went by quickly and soon the Lordknights were ready to make their stand and hopefully destroy the orc army. As the sun sank beneath the mountains, Myrik's scouts returned bearing news. The orcish army would arrive shortly after dawn the next day. After positions were assigned the Lordknights went to sleep awaiting the battle to come.
As the morning came the Lordknights went to their assigned position. It was up to Gawyn's group to wait until the orcs started into the traps then to attack any orcs that made it through. Myrik's group would fire of the catapults then they too would come out to join the battle. Myrik expected the traps to take out at least one and a half hundred orcs and hopefully more. Even if it did take out more than expected the orcs would still greatly outnumber the Lordknight's forty members.
Gawyn stood behind the huge gate as he waited for the command to attack. Suddenly there was the sound of orcs screaming as they blundered into the traps. As wires were tripped arrows flew from hidden crossbows. A patch of grass gave way as a group of Orcs fell into a pit.
There was carnage all over and then, with a cry to Mithaniel Marr and Rodcet Nife, Gawyn led his group in a charge through the gates at a group of orcs, who had made it past the traps. Swords flashed as Gawyn's group smashed into the orcs. Gawyn decapitated one orc, as Phawn slashed into another. There were orc corpses littering the ground, but still Gawyn kept hacking and slashing. Finally the last of the group of orcs fell to the ground lifeless.
Gawyn and the other paladins in his group used their innate magical abilities to heal their wounded. Once the wounded were alright Gawyn led his group out into the surrounding forest to look for more orcs.
The orc had just snuck around the pit when an arrow blasted into his chest sending him flying into the hole. Phawn dropped down from the tree she had been hiding in and continued on.
By this time the remaining orcs had figured out what was going on and were beginning to make plans. Several groups of orcs each made their way carefully towards the base looking every where for possible traps. Little did they know that all the traps had already been sprung. All that stood between the orcs and the base was Gawyn's group.
Gawyn slowly walked around a tree in the path. Suddenly he bumped into something. Looking up he saw that is was an orc. The orc began screaming in it's language. Gawyn knew enough orcish to determine that the orc was calling for it's friends to come help him, and Gawyn could now hear the sound of orcs running towards him.
"Lordknights to me," Gawyn shouted and the rest of his group ran to join him.
A couple of seconds later a group of thirty orcs and Gawyn's group of twenty Lordknights stood face to face.
"Lordknights, charge!" Gawyn yelled as he conjured a globe of darkness over some of the nearest orcs heads.
The Lordknights ran into the globes of darkness. Having trained in fighting in the dark the Lordknights had a huge advantage and after only seconds the sounds of battle faded. The globe of darkness faded and Gawyn looked around. The corpses of thirty orcs littered the ground.
Suddenly there was a sound in the trees to the left of Gawyn. He quickly drew his sword and spun, but was relieved to see it was only his friend Kaene.
Kaene Talonreaver was the only drow to ever join the Lordknights. He had become disgusted with his dark kin's ways and had left Neriak. He had met Gawyn and after almost attacking each other the two had become friends.
"Gawyn, we need your help," Kaene said quickly. " A large group of orcs has stormed the base and Myrik needs your group to return."
"Alright, let's go," Gawyn replied.
The group of Lordknights started back towards the base. Gawyn was about to follow when he spotted something shining underneath one of the orc's bodies. Reaching down Gawyn picked it up. It was a beautiful sword. As soon as Gawyn touched it, it flared a brilliant red. Gawyn looked on the blade. There was a word engraved on it. ALTASHERE. Not wanting to leave such a beautiful sword with the rotting orc corpses Gawyn sheathed it and hurried to catch up with the rest of his group.
Gawyn's group was almost back to the base when something terrible happened. Forty orcs appeared from behind trees and drew their weapons. One grabbed Phawn by the throat.
"We have come for the drow," the orc said in it's language.
"What would they want with Kaene," Gawyn thought to himself.
"We will not let you have Kaene," Gawyn replied in shaky orcish.
"If you don't give us the drow, we will kill this elf," the orc threatened.
Gawyn was about to say something when Kaene spoke up.
"I will go with you only if you let the girl go."
"Very well," the orc agreed.
Kaene walked over to the orcs and one of them grabbed him. Then orc leader spoke up.
"I think we shall keep the girl anyway. There is much fun we can have with one of her beauty," the orc said with a wicked smile. "Now kill the rest."
"No," Gawyn screamed as he drew his sword.
Gawyn slashed left and right with Altashere and each time the sword slashed into an orc the blade flared red. Gawyn didn't care about the odds. All he could think about was saving Phawn. Suddenly he felt a burning pain in his chest. He looked down to see an orc's blade sticking out from his chest. Ignoring the pain, Gawyn swung Altashere at the unarmed orc, decapitating it. Finally the pain hit him and he passed mercifully into darkness. The last thing he thought of was how he had failed Phawn.
A couple hours later Gawyn awoke to find himself on his bed in the base. He looked down at his chest. There was no wound.
"It must have been a dream," Gawyn thought to himself.
"So your finally awake. That wound was a nasty one," said a voice from across the room.
Gawyn looked over and saw that it was Myrik.
"If that was real why am I not dead," Gawyn asked.
"Stepwolf carried you back and I healed you," Myrik replied. "With the help of your team we finally managed to defeat the orc army."
Suddenly Gawyn remembered Phawn and Kaene.
"What happened to Kaene and Phawn?"
"I'm sorry the orcs took them. We couldn't stop them," Myrik replied.
"Myrik, I know you need me here, but I have to go after them. Kaene is one of my best friends and I really care for Phawn. I think I may even be falling in love with her.
"I know how much you care for your friends, so I arranged for Menlynus to be saddled and I have provisions stocked for you. Go save your friends."
"Thanks so much, Myrik," Gawyn said as he headed for the door.
Within twenty minutes Gawyn was on his horse and following the trail of the orcs who had taken his two best friends.