Chapter 12: War

Palkor showed them the way to a nice inn. They all had rooms up stairs. Down stairs was a bar where always someone was present. The walls were decorated by carpets and on the floor lay a multitude of animal hides. Tal'grush told them to stay inside so nobody would see them. So they did.

Two days had past without incident and without any indication that Thrall was doing anything. Two days past before a party entered the bar where the group was currently residing. Jack was sitting in a corner, reading his book. Warrick sitting next to him, pointing a piece of wood. Nell was sitting next to Jack on the other side, inspecting a scroll of sorts. Palkor was sitting at the bar, drinking some beer. The raptor was lying at Jack's feet, being patted by Jack's on free hand. Tal'grush had gone out to tell his second in command that he would be away a bit longer and that second would be in command during that time.

They were forced to leave their weapons on their rooms when there was no reason to keep them. Warrick didn't think that was such a good idea since the party that entered seemed to have a good time and might not take kindly to strangers. He poked Jack and directed Jack's eyes to the newcomers. "Just pretend they are not here and they might overlook us." Jack told him.

Grisha entered the room and walked straight to the corner and sat down next to Warrick. One of the orcs that had just entered followed her with his eyes and before Grisha could say why she come to join them the orc walked their way. "What are you doing with these humans? pretty one."

The orc had evidently been drinking already judging from the smell that assailed Warrick's nose. Grisha answered as polite as she could. "I was just going to show him something." She indicated Warrick.

"What were you going to show him?"

"That is none of your concern."

"What are humans doing here anyway, especially ones with clothing like that." Every time the orc spoke the word human he did so with contempt. "Humans should be hiding back in their precious stormwind keep."

"What is that?" Warrick could help but saying.

"Mighty Warchiefs! A human who has never heard of Stormwind? Guys come over here. Humans who have never heard of Stormwind."

The party approached. "Aah Heln, leaf 'em be. They have done nothing." A massive tauren said pulling on Heln's shoulder.

Nell looked up from his scroll and discovered a sign drawn on their chests. "Palkor! Friends of yours?"

Palkor looked up from his drink and looked at the newcomers. His face lightened, and darkened when looking at Heln. "Aren't you dead yet Heln?"

Heln looked his way, then pointed at Palkor. "You! You have always been the one with more luck then me! When will you luck run out Palkor?"

"opposing to you I don't rely on luck, instead I rely on SKILL." Palkor sneered.

"Now can please keep this without escalating?" Grisha asked. Heln snorted and then, walked to the bar and sat down.

"Good to see you again Palkor." The tauren said. His other companions, except Heln, nodded their agreement. "Whem is he going to learn it also requires skill and not just dumb luck."

"Probably the moment his attitude proves fatal." Another said.

"So what are you guys doing here and in such great numbers?" Palkor asked.

"We went on that assignment without you when you left for your little family visit. We, off coarse, succeeded and brought back the cash." The tauren answered again. "And why are you here. With these. . . Well. . . Humans."

"I think there will soon be some trouble disturbing the peace in the lands."

"Peace and trouble are very relative terms, Palkor. How bad is it?"

"I don't want to sound pessimistic here, but I think it may be the biggest problem since the invasion of the Burning Legion."

"Greater than Admiral Proudmore's fleet?" The tauren revered to a fleet of warships that arrived after the admiral heard his daughter was still alive in Kalimdor. He send his fleet and took over his daughter's island stronghold and began an invasion against the horde. The horde eventually ended as the victor and let daughter Proudmore's men go back to the island stronghold. Unfortunately Admiral Proudmore was killed in the final battle.

"That may well be possible. Enough of this pessimistic talk. Want to join me and my friends at our table?"

They left Heln sitting at the bar and sat down around the table. It was made clear to Warrick that the order to which Palkor and the others belonged wasn't a order opposed to The Alliance. Better even, there were a few dwarfs and humans among their ranks, which off course could never enter Orgrimmar. They were only dedicated to what they did best. Even Heln joined at their table at one point, but only to be able to talk to his companions.

The door to the inn again opened and now revealed the form Tal'grush. "Crossroads has been attacked!" He left again and was followed by every one present, even the bartender. When outside they were pushed along with an enormous crowd that was streaming to the main gates.

At the gates was an even greater commotion. The guards present could do fairly little to keep their kinsman and fellow soldiers away from the dozen survivors that were entering the city. Many of the survivors bore injuries and some weren't able to stand on their own. The crowd pushed on to them and demanded if it was true that Crossroads had been attacked.

One of the survivors, an undead in relatively good shape , stepped forward and in an unnaturally loud voice shouted, "We need to speak with Thrall immediately. Clear us a path!"

The only thing he succeeded in was increase the amount of demands coming from the crowd. Jack forced his way through the endless mass of orcs, tauren, trolls and undead to reack Palkor. He grabbed Palkor by the arm and pulled himself forward the last few feet. "Magmaradon! Call Magmaradon. He can clear them a path!"

Palkor nodded and put the horn to his mouth. He never went anywhere without the horn. The crowd barely responded to the sound of the horn. But the approaching black dragon did have the desired effect. As the dragon landed the crowd quickly pulled back as fast as they could. Palkor quickly mounted up and urged Magmaradon to the group of survivors. The group sood as transfixed, staring at the approaching black. Grisha, Warrick, Nell, the raptor and Tal'grush swarmed to the dragon and walked along it. Tal'grush ran ahead and convinced the guards that the dragon wasn't going to attack anyone and only served to keep people away.

A silence as never before spread over the normally loud city of Orgrimmar. Every person among the crowd was silent, barely anyone dared to move. But as the survivors were escorted to the keep every single orc and otherwise respectfully got out of the way. In this way it didn't take them very long to reach the keep. The survivors were handed to the care of the guards guarding the keep, who had not left their posts.

As the group moved back to the inn, escorted by the dragon, the crowd began shouting and pushing again, but they made sure to stay away from Magmaradon. "Almost like a damn rock concert." Jack remarked.

"Rock?" Nell asked.

"Never mind."

The next day Thrall send word that every able bodied warrior had to join outside of the main gates. Again the crowds swarmed to the location, this time in full armament. Everybody waited patiently until their honoured leader showed himself. Jack and his friends were at the back the crowd, not wanting to be pushed around. Magmaradon was waiting patiently along side them. There had to be more than fifty thousand soldiers gathered there.

"Do you still want to stay through all this?" Jack asked the raptor.

The raptor made an failed attempt at a nod and then moved a bit closer to Jack. Jack ran his finger along the horn on top of the raptor's snout and then patted the head.

"My fellow soldiers!" A voice resounded across the field. Thrall stepped up on a podium so everyone present could see him. "A new enemy to The Horde has made itself known! They have already tried to strike at ThunderBluff, the tauren capitol, but failed! They have completely eradicated an army three thousand! There latest act was to take over the important city of Crossroads. Only a dozen made it here! That means that thousands have died or been captured!"

Angry voices resounded along side Thrall's, but none could match the loudness of Thrall's. "We can not let them get away with this! We will not let them get away with this! WE MUST STRIKE BACK! And take back Crossroads! We will make those vile Burning Blade suffer for their ignorance! And we let their demon masters suffer alongside them!" Every single man and woman cheered at him.

"I have already send word to the trolls, undead and tauren for reinforcements! But we shall not wait this long! We will send out the First Horde Army tomorrow to TAKE BACK CROSSROADS! The First Horde Army will be lead by the warlord Kor'el! He will send messengers to everyone chosen for The First Horde Army. If you are not chosen today! Don't worry! Your day for vengeance will COME!" Everyone present nearly screamed out their throats in their cheers for him.

"Now go back and rest! For we will need our rest! FOR DOOMHAMMER!" The cheers continued as everybody began filtering back through the gates.

"Who?" Jack asked of Nell.

"Doomhammer?"

"Yes."

"ooh, some epical hero for the orcs, and Thrall's predecessor."

"Just some epical hero!" Tal'grush shouted. "Pah! You humans evidently don't know real courage and honour!"

That night was more a party than resting in the bar. Already some of the dragonslayers lay drunk in their seats. Palkor and Warrick were having a drinking game of who could drink the most and still be able to walk a distance without falling. Nell had nothing to drink and Grisha choose to actually conserve her strength. Jack just sat at his table, drinking the strongest thing the bartender had to offer and reading his book about the inner working of guns. While reading he sometimes traced his finger over the shotgun he had sneaked in the room to the point where he believed to be part he had just read about.

"Guys." Grisha said with a mild version of contempt in her voice to the raptor. The raptor made a slight laughing sound in return.

"What did you say?" Jack looked up from his book. "Got a problem with men?"

"Let me chance my sentence. Drunk men." She said as a substitute While looking at Warrick who fell down in his face.

"You have a point there." Jack said. He took another sip from his drink and then traced his finger along the shotgun once more.

The raptor laughed some more at his remark.

At that moment a messenger entered the inn. He walked right to the bartender and spoke a few words, then left a message. The bartender also functioned as owner of the inn and so began and picked a empty bottle. He threw it at the ground and as the glass shattered everybody fell quiet. Every pair of eyes was suddenly directed at the bartender, even the raptor's.

"I have here the names of those residing in my inn at the moment and those among them that have been chosen for The First Horde Army." Nobody urged him to continue but he knew he had to. He began calling of names and as a name was heard cheers went up for that person. When he was done some had been left unnamed. Those had sad looks on them. Among those not chosen were Jack, Warrick and Nell. Palkor, Tal'grush and Grisha had been chosen. "tomorrow, those that I just named will have to report outside the gates where the army will be massing."

"Why not us?" Asked Nell. "We would make a great addition to their force. They will need everything they can get their hands on if they are going to defeat them."

"Maybe they just didn't know we are here. We aren't horde citizens, remember. We will get our explanation tomorrow." Jack said.

The next day they did just that. Palkor, Grisha and Tal'grush reported at the army, while the rest searched for warlord Kor'el's tent. They found it easily. It was much larger than the usual tents and was made of better fabric. Above all that a great skull of some ancient animal decorated the top of the entrance.

Before they could enter they were stopped by Kor'el's twin guards. Everyone knew by this time that the humans were not to be harmed and most respected that notion, but that didn't mean that had unlimited access. "What do you want? Humans." Again contempt filled the voice of the guard.

Warrick barely looked up at the comment, to far in his hangover to really notice anything. Jack on the other hand did notice. "Got a problem with us? We wish to see Kor'el."

The other guard went inside to inform Kor'el. A moment later the guard came back out, and following the guard was an aged orc. Not a single coloured hair graced his head. His eyes had deep lines about them, but the eyes themselves were still sharp and seemed to say that this aged orc still knew how to bring down an opponent one third of his age, and anything from that age till his. He wore elaborate armor with spike jutting from the grey shoulder pads. He wore full grey chest armor of high quality. "What do you want?" He asked politely.

The polite tone caught Jack of guard and in his stead Nell answered. "We wish to talk to talk to you for a few moments. . ." He glanced at the guards, then back to Kor'el. "Without any intrusion."

"Alright." He waved them in his tent. "But keep it short, I have things to attend to."

Inside the tent was a table, upon which lay an elaborately decorated helmet. Plumes of feather jutting out of the back of the helmet signified Kor'el's rank. Leaning against the table was an axe so big it was hard to imagine Kor'el could even lift it although Kor'el was still well muscled for his age, even for an orc. Kor'el pointed at a few chairs standing around and they all sat down.

"We want to know why we haven't been chosen for The First Horde Army." Jack explained.

"You haven't been chosen? I am sure I told those guys to put you on the list as well. Do you really think I actually chose all twenty thousand soldiers myself? I have men to take care of that part. Only in the more odd cases like you or higher officers I personally do it. Except I really thought I Had told them to put you on the list as well. Anyway, consider yourselves in. I am afraid you will have to travel along the very edge of the army or else you might get into trouble. I am sure you will understand that. The army wont be going very fast since we are dragging catapults with us as well." He waved them out again.

They obeyed his silent command and walked away to where they had left there gear, backpacks and weapons. "That went well." Was the first thing Warrick could utter.

"Kor'el doesn't seem to be one of those orcs who have problems with humans." Nell said.

"You know what this world is full of? Racism. Just like where we come from, only different. And among Racism there are the extremists, which would in this case be the Burning Blade." Jack explained.

The army was moving out and squadrons had been formed. The First Horde Army had multiple divisions:

First was the ground division, which consisted mainly of melee fighters and ranged units such as archers and a few who had the early version of the gun. A few supportive spell casters had been mixed in with the division to keep the fighters healthy and in fighting condition. Grisha, Tal'grush, Warrick and Jack all stayed at the front line with these fighters. The raptor as always would never venture to far away from Jack.

There was mounted division which consisted of melee fighters and, in rare occasions, Archers. They would fill up any gaps should they appear during combat and would make the first line when assaulting an enemy position. The fact that they were mounted would help them in cutting through the enemies ranks in the latter application. Orcs rode gigantic wolves while tauren rode kodos. Trolls rode on top of immense raptors and undead upon decaying dead horses.

The Spell caster division was what it's name indicated, it consisted solely out of spell casters and those appointed to protect the spell casters. Among their ranks were mages, Warlocks, priests, shamans and druids. Where druids and shamans would venture closer to the fray to deal out some melee damage and use their magic there, the mages and priests would stay back. Mages and Warlocks in this division would concentrate their efforts together in creating massive and destructive spells, while priests sought to heal as many fellow soldiers as they could. Nell had explained he would stay around them.

The artillery division had dozens of catapults. Foot soldiers where also present here to protect the catapults if any enemy would get behind the lines. The catapults would be used to blast at fixed defences, other artillery and within the enemies ranks.

Above all other divisions soared the wyverns with their riders. Every rider carried several spears and also had a different form of ranged weaponry like bows. Among their ranks would be Palkor on top of Magmaradon as second in command of the division.

Commanding them all was off course the command division, with Kor'el as their leader. Every division commander reported to this small but important one.

But now they first had to make the journey to the Crossroads. The supply wagons and catapults slowed them down but they still went as fast as the wheels that carried the weaponry would allow. The wyverns rested on top of massive carts made specifically for this purpose. Magmaradon of course would never fit on one cart, even if he had it all to himself. So Magmaradon walked along side Palkor while he walked next to Jack and his friends.

It would take them three long days of walking on 'top' speed until they would be within range of Crossroads. Then they would rest one more day so they had all of their strength. Since Jack, Warrick and Nell were not actually a part of the horde they fell outside of the rank system. They only reported the highest officers and the division commanders. But they had not been given the ability to give orders.

It was mid-day break of the second day. Warrick was taking a short nap and Nell was studying a scroll again. Jack had unfolded his chair and was again reading the book with the shotgun by his side. Palkor had gone out with Magmaradon to find some food for the dragon and Grisha was sitting on a rock, bored. Tal'grush was taking a stroll, anything he could do to stay away from the humans when he had the chance. It was growing impossible to separate the raptor from Jack's presence and so she was lying by his feet again.

They had made sure they were at the edge of the camp and had settled down on top of a hill. Walking up this hill was an young orc, he was heading straight for them. He waled up to Jack and pointed at him. "You! You dare follow is in our quest!"

Jack looked up from his reading and studied the orc. The orc was very young indeed and did not seem to hold a very high rank as well. "It is a common quest." He answered dryly.

"Pah! Filthy human scum!"

Jack had enough of the arrogant behaviour some of the orcs were showing. He stood up and looked down at the much smaller orc. He was just as wide as the orc and on top of that he was taller. He knew he made quite a sight like this, extremely large, white hair, well muscled and red instead of white surrounding his pupils. "If you are going to do something then I suggest you do it, but otherwise, leaf!"

The young orc's companions were racing up the hill to stop their friend from getting into trouble. Just before the young orc lunged forward they grabbed his arms and held him back. They dragged him away and one gave Jack an apologetic look.

Jack sat back down and sighed. Another chance lost to show the orcs he was not to be messed with.

"I am sure you would have been able to take him on." Grisha said as if she could read his mind.

Fourth day, night before they would advance upon Crossroads that lay only five miles away. They had passed over the river that divided The Barrens and Durotar.

"Tomorrow we will fight! Tomorrow we will engage in honourable combat with the vile Burning Blade! Tomorrow we will take back Crossroads! Tomorrow we will win!" Kor'el shouted his encouragements. Cheers arose among the men. "Yes! Tomorrow! We will stand victorious on top of the bloody heap that was our enemy! But to do that we will need our strength, so go to sleep now and have the strength to fight tomorrow."

The army quickly settled for the night. Temporary tents were erected for shelter and guards were chosen to keep the fires burning and to keep an eye out for any enemies or rampaging wildlife.

None of any happened and the night passed without incident.