Borqk, leader of fifty orcish warriors could sense that time was running
out. At least, he used to be the leader of fifty warriors; his command was
down to sixteen. They had been attacked by a lesser demon, and had pursued
and nearly killed it, when of a sudden they were sprung upon by an ambush.
Three other monstrosities of hell descended upon them as they finished the
first demon. He realized that they had been lucky to get this far.
The remaining orcs had fled from the ambush, and had been running non stop to this point. The gods only knew why they had not been finished off yet. A cry and one of his warriors fell on his face to dodge the fateful flight of an arrow. Abruptly the orcs ceased their retreat. The way was blocked by a knight and his contingent of footmen, accompanied by several archers, and two elven rangers. Borqk stepped forward to confront the patrol, and gestured angrily to behind him. "Flee you fools," he growled.
The knight lifted his visor and glared. "Whither shall we flee, and why praytell?" The orcs muttered uneasily betwixt themselves, and Borqk grunted. "Flee whithersoever you like, but let us pass on our way. The demons pursue us."
The footmen stirred uneasily until they were quelled by their leader. "Silence!" he roared. "There will be no flying, whate'er pursues. We will stand and face them." Turning to Borqk, he regarded him coolly. "I know you not, orcmaster, but form your men up behind mine. If there be needs to flee, thou shall go firstly."
Borqk nodded grimly. Gesturing to his men, he led them to the rear of the group. Glancing again at the humans, he saw one of the rangers proceeding with some sort of ritual. All of the footmen raised their weapons, which were bathed in a holy glow. The archers likewise held up their quivers, and they received the same treatment. Bowing for a moment, the ranger made his way towards the group of orcs, supported by his companion. Most of them eyed the two warily.
"Hold up your blades, and I will give you a holy aura on your weapon. It will improve your attack against the demons." Slowly, the leader nodded to his warriors, and each of them held up his weapon, as the ranger chanted some words. Almost unnervingly, the weapons began to glow. The ranger had been standing on his own whilst this was going on, but he now almost collapsed and was caught by his companion. She supported him back to their lines, unaware of the scrutiny poured upon them from their uneasy allies.
Borqk noted the elven blood taled upon the features of the rangers. The female was fair and slender of frame, with piercing grey eyes. Her visage was of one who's days were spent in sobriety, without cheer or merrymaking. Her femininity showed through her bearing, and her clothes, though they were of somber hue. The male of the same quiet calm as his companion, seemed almost wise beyond his years. A stern visage he had, and fair of face, though dark of hair and eyes. Darkest blue they flashed, and matched the grey for piercing.
"Thallien, you overstrain yourself. Pull back! I care not to be the one returning telling the council that you have expired from overuse." Wearily her companion stood more to his feet, replying to her concerns. "Nay, I shall not overwork, but this task of hunting demons tries me sorely when I am the only one with the skills of a paladin among this grouping. It is necessary for our survival in this case, so I shall extend myself. Methinks it would be more fitting were a paladin riding with the company, but at present, they are all occupied elsewhere, so we must bear with it." Finally with these last words, he shifted his remaining weight to his own feet, allowing his companion to walk without supporting him.
Slight concern still etched upon her brow, but she refrained from saying more upon the subject. He was right. The knight looked up at their approach. "Riversong, Thallien, are you prepared?" His gaze took in the wearied state of his scouts. His brow lowered in remembrance of the trials of the day. Already they had flushed out two demons, and dispatched of them, although losing three men in the process. The rangers were of immeasurable help, especially with the powers that they possessed; but the strain was beginning to tell, and he could not be sure that they would last the day out. Demons had the tendency to pick on the weakest members of a party first, thereby weakening the party.
"Yea Sir Danil, indeed, though I will confess to hoping that this be the last foray of the even." The male ranger spoke seriously, his gaze upon the knight's steely eyes. The other fidgeted slightly in the saddle of his horse. "Well, make haste then, we await the completion of the line."
The rangers hurried to the front of the waiting group of men, and began to forge their course through the meanderings of the trees. Above all others, rangers have a link to nature that allows them to sense things unordinary that would be bypassed by a commoner. Waving his hand, the knight bid his men follow along, keeping a steady line, slightly staggered to allow better deployment to either flank. Then he gestured to Borqk, who reluctantly ordered his warriors to follow the van.
Riversong motioned for the party to stop half an hour after the meeting of the forces. An unnatural stillness hung over the valley which they had entered, and both rangers felt that the demon forces were in the locale. It did not take them long to strike. Shrieking a hellish scream, the first demon bore down from the sky straight at the group of footmen, who's faces belied their fear. Though panicked, they held place under the stern eye of the knight, and the archers loosed a flight of arrows at the creature.
Several struck and pierced into the beast, and wounded, its flight path wavered, taking it down behind the lines. Several footmen stepped forward to finish it off, and were joined by two of the orcish warriors. It was at this juncture that the other demons struck, criss-crossing the field. Riversong faced the one that swooped down upon her, hand steady upon the bow that had been the bane of many an adversary. Her arrow flew true, but the demon dodged, and so was only wounded from the attack. It's flaming sword, full of evil magics, grazed her side. She was flung to the ground and lay unmoving.
The arrows of the archers had pierced the wing of the other demon, and as it had been wounded in the encounter with the orcs, it fell to the ground and was now engaged in combat with both the warriors and footmen. The archers continued to pour flights of arrows into it until it could barely stand. Borqk finished it off with one blow through the chest, that pierced through the heart; if such creatures possessed such an organ.
Turning, he noted the battle had come to a standstill, and the second ranger standing over the body of the first, sword drawn. The knight backed him, but had ever an eye out for any ambuscade; demons were notorious for such things. The demon seemed to grin before plunging down to finish it's bloody work. The elf stood true, parrying the blade with his own, then thrusting quick as lightning into the creature's wing joint, bringing it down to the earth where it met fate at the same blade.
Dropping to his knees, Thallien laid hands upon his companion and bluish light shown around the wounded area whilst it closed up. Riversong opened her eyes not long after. A long gaze was shared between them, and Borqk concluded that there was some kind of understanding between them. Then supporting the female, they limped back to the main group. "Are we finished my lord?"
The knight nodded. "Indeed." Turning his gaze back to Borqk, he spoke almost sternly to the orcs. "We detain you no longer. Take your journey whithersoever thou will; even if it be to the very heart of our town. Only behave yourself with the utmost honor, or I shall hunt you down, as in the early days." Borqk bowed solemnly. "As it is with you, with us also." Turning, he and his warriors headed into the forest.
Turning to his men, Sir Danil bid them make stretchers for the wounded, and that being done, the whole returned on their path to the town.
The remaining orcs had fled from the ambush, and had been running non stop to this point. The gods only knew why they had not been finished off yet. A cry and one of his warriors fell on his face to dodge the fateful flight of an arrow. Abruptly the orcs ceased their retreat. The way was blocked by a knight and his contingent of footmen, accompanied by several archers, and two elven rangers. Borqk stepped forward to confront the patrol, and gestured angrily to behind him. "Flee you fools," he growled.
The knight lifted his visor and glared. "Whither shall we flee, and why praytell?" The orcs muttered uneasily betwixt themselves, and Borqk grunted. "Flee whithersoever you like, but let us pass on our way. The demons pursue us."
The footmen stirred uneasily until they were quelled by their leader. "Silence!" he roared. "There will be no flying, whate'er pursues. We will stand and face them." Turning to Borqk, he regarded him coolly. "I know you not, orcmaster, but form your men up behind mine. If there be needs to flee, thou shall go firstly."
Borqk nodded grimly. Gesturing to his men, he led them to the rear of the group. Glancing again at the humans, he saw one of the rangers proceeding with some sort of ritual. All of the footmen raised their weapons, which were bathed in a holy glow. The archers likewise held up their quivers, and they received the same treatment. Bowing for a moment, the ranger made his way towards the group of orcs, supported by his companion. Most of them eyed the two warily.
"Hold up your blades, and I will give you a holy aura on your weapon. It will improve your attack against the demons." Slowly, the leader nodded to his warriors, and each of them held up his weapon, as the ranger chanted some words. Almost unnervingly, the weapons began to glow. The ranger had been standing on his own whilst this was going on, but he now almost collapsed and was caught by his companion. She supported him back to their lines, unaware of the scrutiny poured upon them from their uneasy allies.
Borqk noted the elven blood taled upon the features of the rangers. The female was fair and slender of frame, with piercing grey eyes. Her visage was of one who's days were spent in sobriety, without cheer or merrymaking. Her femininity showed through her bearing, and her clothes, though they were of somber hue. The male of the same quiet calm as his companion, seemed almost wise beyond his years. A stern visage he had, and fair of face, though dark of hair and eyes. Darkest blue they flashed, and matched the grey for piercing.
"Thallien, you overstrain yourself. Pull back! I care not to be the one returning telling the council that you have expired from overuse." Wearily her companion stood more to his feet, replying to her concerns. "Nay, I shall not overwork, but this task of hunting demons tries me sorely when I am the only one with the skills of a paladin among this grouping. It is necessary for our survival in this case, so I shall extend myself. Methinks it would be more fitting were a paladin riding with the company, but at present, they are all occupied elsewhere, so we must bear with it." Finally with these last words, he shifted his remaining weight to his own feet, allowing his companion to walk without supporting him.
Slight concern still etched upon her brow, but she refrained from saying more upon the subject. He was right. The knight looked up at their approach. "Riversong, Thallien, are you prepared?" His gaze took in the wearied state of his scouts. His brow lowered in remembrance of the trials of the day. Already they had flushed out two demons, and dispatched of them, although losing three men in the process. The rangers were of immeasurable help, especially with the powers that they possessed; but the strain was beginning to tell, and he could not be sure that they would last the day out. Demons had the tendency to pick on the weakest members of a party first, thereby weakening the party.
"Yea Sir Danil, indeed, though I will confess to hoping that this be the last foray of the even." The male ranger spoke seriously, his gaze upon the knight's steely eyes. The other fidgeted slightly in the saddle of his horse. "Well, make haste then, we await the completion of the line."
The rangers hurried to the front of the waiting group of men, and began to forge their course through the meanderings of the trees. Above all others, rangers have a link to nature that allows them to sense things unordinary that would be bypassed by a commoner. Waving his hand, the knight bid his men follow along, keeping a steady line, slightly staggered to allow better deployment to either flank. Then he gestured to Borqk, who reluctantly ordered his warriors to follow the van.
Riversong motioned for the party to stop half an hour after the meeting of the forces. An unnatural stillness hung over the valley which they had entered, and both rangers felt that the demon forces were in the locale. It did not take them long to strike. Shrieking a hellish scream, the first demon bore down from the sky straight at the group of footmen, who's faces belied their fear. Though panicked, they held place under the stern eye of the knight, and the archers loosed a flight of arrows at the creature.
Several struck and pierced into the beast, and wounded, its flight path wavered, taking it down behind the lines. Several footmen stepped forward to finish it off, and were joined by two of the orcish warriors. It was at this juncture that the other demons struck, criss-crossing the field. Riversong faced the one that swooped down upon her, hand steady upon the bow that had been the bane of many an adversary. Her arrow flew true, but the demon dodged, and so was only wounded from the attack. It's flaming sword, full of evil magics, grazed her side. She was flung to the ground and lay unmoving.
The arrows of the archers had pierced the wing of the other demon, and as it had been wounded in the encounter with the orcs, it fell to the ground and was now engaged in combat with both the warriors and footmen. The archers continued to pour flights of arrows into it until it could barely stand. Borqk finished it off with one blow through the chest, that pierced through the heart; if such creatures possessed such an organ.
Turning, he noted the battle had come to a standstill, and the second ranger standing over the body of the first, sword drawn. The knight backed him, but had ever an eye out for any ambuscade; demons were notorious for such things. The demon seemed to grin before plunging down to finish it's bloody work. The elf stood true, parrying the blade with his own, then thrusting quick as lightning into the creature's wing joint, bringing it down to the earth where it met fate at the same blade.
Dropping to his knees, Thallien laid hands upon his companion and bluish light shown around the wounded area whilst it closed up. Riversong opened her eyes not long after. A long gaze was shared between them, and Borqk concluded that there was some kind of understanding between them. Then supporting the female, they limped back to the main group. "Are we finished my lord?"
The knight nodded. "Indeed." Turning his gaze back to Borqk, he spoke almost sternly to the orcs. "We detain you no longer. Take your journey whithersoever thou will; even if it be to the very heart of our town. Only behave yourself with the utmost honor, or I shall hunt you down, as in the early days." Borqk bowed solemnly. "As it is with you, with us also." Turning, he and his warriors headed into the forest.
Turning to his men, Sir Danil bid them make stretchers for the wounded, and that being done, the whole returned on their path to the town.
