Choke Points

Kyner moved among the rushing dwarves and barbarians as he navigated the maze of monolithic stone buildings. Settlestone had become a hive of activity, ever-hastening as the inevitable battle drew closer. Finally Kyner was able to maneuver his way to the southern side of the Ruin.

There was less activity here, save for a few dwarves checking the palisades to ensure they would hold for as long as possible. A large group of armored and stone-faced dwarves stood about the palisades. Few of them talked but all looked ready for the fight. Ciara was standing apart from the main group, leaning against the wall of one of the towering monolithic buildings.

Kyner looked up at the tall building. If it comes to it, we should be able to hold out for several hours in those buildings. Kyner turned his gaze back to Ciara, who saw him at about the same moment. Hells, I wish I could stay here so I could keep my eyes on her.

"Hello Kyner," said Ciara as she and Kyner embraced.

Kyner appraised Ciara's armor as he drew back, "Good dwarven armor," said Kyner. The armor was a dark gray and the cuirass was damascened with copper inlay. Rerebraces were integrated into the cuirass and elbow gauntlets protected the rest of Ciara's arms. A mail fauld hung to her knees and met the tops of Ciara's greaves. "This is a very good suit of armor," Kyner said, "it would catch a fortune in the realms, especially damascened such as it is. It's not too heavy is it?"

"No," Ciara said, "not nearly as heavy as that hauberk you made me wear during your training sessions."

"You're still angry at me over that are you?"

"I wasn't even twelve!"

"You survived, didn't you?" Ciara glared at Kyner, who couldn't help but chuckle, remembering how ridiculous the girl had looked when he first made her don the old hauberk. "I'll have you know that hauberk saved my life many times in my youth."

"I think it had long outlived its usefulness by the time it got to me," Ciara muttered, although she was smiling now. Kyner laughed, but when he looked out past the palisades and to the fog that hid the Surbin River, his expression became somber again.

"How long do you think we have?" Ciara asked.

"I estimate four or five more hours before they break through the Moonwood, we can't be sure though. Scouts have reported that they're moving along the spine of the world as well. So the pass we came down through will have to be guarded as well. I wish I had more men," Kyner paused, and his brow creased with worry, "is he here?"

"The Bhaalspawn?" Ciara asked. Kyner nodded. "He is. But, I don't think he's moving forward, not yet."

"Do you think he can be stopped if he decides to intervene personally?"

"I don't know," Ciara replied.

Kyner grunted, "This battle is fraught with uncertainties." The warrior looked out at the fog again, "The company I'm with will be going to the bridge soon."

"I can't go with you?"

"No," Kyner grimaced, "the fight on the bridge will be a frenzied one. Stay behind the palisades. It will be much safer here."

"Then why even try to hold the bridge?"

"Like the pass, it's a choke point, we can grind down their numbers with minimal losses to ourselves. It's too bad the bridge is so well built, otherwise we could have just destroyed it."

"Dwarves build things to last don't they?" Ciara observed.

Kyner smiled grimly, "They certainly do." Kyner saw the spear leaning against the building where Ciara had been standing. "The dwarves gave you that?" asked Kyner as he took up the weapon and inspected it.

"They did," Ciara responded.

"It's good craftsmanship. The orcs we've observed are mostly wearing leather jerkins and scale mail corselets. A spear of this quality will easily pierce both. I'd say this spear will fell a great number of orcs before breaking. The tip is also broad so it will make an effective slashing–"

"Kyner," Ciara interrupted.

Kyner seemed to snap out of a reverie as he looked up to face Ciara, "Yes?"

"I've already considered all of that."

"Well," Kyner said, flustered, "I'm talking to myself then." Kyner handed Ciara her spear. "I've taught you everything I know about martial combat."

"And drilled it into my head and muscles since before I was twelve," Ciara commented.

"I just wanted you to be ready," Kyner laughed bitterly, "would you believe that I thought you would never have to use what I taught you? I truly believed that you would never have to kill," Kyner shook his head, "It's a rare moment when events turn out how I expect. And now I'm ranting when I need to be moving."

"I'll see you at the battle's end Ciara, I know you will do well. Just don't try to be a hero."

A thick mist hung over the land and the river foaming with deadly rapids. That should make the job easier for Selinde's raiding party. Then again, it could just as easily get her killed. Kyner tried to push the thought away, knowing that it could accomplish nothing, and concentrated on leading the column of dwarves in his charge to the bridge.

The bridge was nearly an hour's march from Settlestone and it was difficult for Kyner to know whether or not he was going in the right direction through the fog. But the stone-faced dwarven hundredman, Kovar, had not questioned Kyner so far. Although most of the stone bridge was obscured by mists, Kyner knew, from seeing it before, that the bridge was roughly forty feet across and spanned nearly three hundred feet across the violent Surbin River. Each end of the bridge had a massive gate with accompanying guard towers.

A handful of dwarves standing on the bridge's edge beneath the gate parapets became clear through the mist. Kyner could see the relief on their faces as they saw the column and examined the dwarves as he drew closer. Each dwarf held a crossbow, and their bolt quivers were all nearly empty.

"It's good to see some more of our own," said the dwarf who, by his armor and tone, seemed to be in charge, "we've been harried by orcish skirmishers for some time now."

"Are any of you hurt or wounded?" Kyner asked.

"Nay," the dwarf responded. Our armor is too thick for all but a well placed arrow and, shooting from the gate parapets and towers, it's difficult for the orcs to hit us."

"That's good to hear," Kyner said, "the gates are closed correct?"

"They are, but unbarred, we were going to wait until the raiders got back before we barred them. Unless ye have new instructions?"

"No, no new instructions. Are you willing to stay or do you want to return to Settlestone?"

"We could use a resupply on bolts but me and my men are more'n willing to stay and lend you a hand when the horde comes."

"Thank you, good dwarf, what is your name?"

"Moricz."

"Moricz, I will not forget," Kyner turned to the column of dwarves he had led, over a hundred of them, and raised his voice in a manner he had not done for nearly thirty years, "Crossbowmen, mount the parapets. Squads one through three will guard the outer gate while squads four and five will guard the inner gate. All melee combatants will assume mass formation before the outer gate. Squad leaders, take charge of your squads and execute."

Kyner was impressed by the speed and order with which the dwarves followed through on his orders. While Kyner had expected insubordination to be a problem–he was, after all, an outsider–he had not yet encountered any difficulties. Kovar also helped to expedite the process. A hundredman of his talents was essential for the success of any officer.

Kyner made his way to the parapet of the outer gate and looked out across what little he could see of the landscape. A fair amount of the land between the Moonwood and the bridge was visible but edge of the wood was hidden beneath the fog.

"Kovar!" Kyner shouted.

"Aye?" the hundredman responded.

Kyner looked down to where Kovar was, on the floor of the bridge, "We can't see the Moonwood from this vantage. Send your fastest runners out as lookouts."

"Consider it done," Kovar responded with his booming voice as he wandered off to select his runners.

Kyner looked back over the setup of the bridge. We should be able to hold this point for some time. When we lose the outer gate we can retreat to the inner gate. Solid dwarven stonework like this should be able to withstand most forms of attack, including those based on magic and alchemy. The gate doors are several inches thick each and have been blessed with protection spells. Unless if the protections are dispelled, the buffs should last for several hours. But the priests are coming soon. Perhaps they can reinforce the buffs. Then Kyner remembered the pass to the northeast of Settlestone. If that pass is lost then this bridge will become a death trap.

The heavy gate doors grated noisily on the stone bridge as they opened slightly in order to let the runners out. Kyner could plainly hear Kovar urging them to move faster and couldn't help but smile somewhat. Kovar was not at all dissimilar from Diream Latrator, a warrior Kyner had once fought beside. Diream had been one of the best hundredmen Kyner had known, until the man was awarded nobility because of his success during the Battle of Escalant.

Shouting from the runners brought Kyner out of his reverie. The crossbowmen on the parapet put their weapons to full cock. Kyner leaned forward on the battlement to get a better view but failed to even see one of the runners. Then a hoarse shout from a runner indicated the all-clear and the crossbowmen relaxed.

Seconds later the raiding party came into view, a column of Uthgardt warriors with bows and axes flanked by a cloaked elven woman. "Thank the gods," Kyner said as he descended the parapet.

The gate doors swung open to admit the tired raiders. Kyner was worried to see that there were fewer of them than he had expected, all of them looked to have seen thick combat.

"How many men did you lose?" Kyner asked, as Selinde and the barbarians neared.

"Eleven," said one of the barbarians, "including our sub-chieftain, Ulrich."

Selinde drew back her hood as she approached. Her hair was matted with blood that had splattered on her torn cloak and elven chain mail as well. Her bow was slung across her back and her quiver was spent. Selinde clung to her long sword with a white-knuckled grip.

"Everything was going smoothly until we stumbled between two companies of orcs in the mist," Selinde said.

Kyner stepped forward and Selinde continued more quietly, "Hells, they were counting on me, my elven senses to lead them out of the wood, not into a blunder! We were on our way out of the woods and I got careless."

One of the Uthgardt overheard, "Do not blame yourself Selinde, had you not been there we would have stumbled into many more orcs and none of us would have come back alive."

Selinde only grimaced.

"You should listen to him," Kyner said, "warfare, particularly in conditions like this, is unpredictable at best. Raids are perhaps the most unpredictable element within warfare. To return alive from one is an accomplishment. Learn from your mistakes and do not let them burden you with guilt." Selinde nodded slightly but did not seem wholly consoled. Only time can do that, Kyner thought as he addressed the rest of the Uthgardt, "Priests will be arriving soon. You may wait for them at the end of the bridge. If anyone is critically injured, I do have healing potions."

"They won't be needed," said one of the barbarians, "the ones who were injured most didn't make it."

Kyner nodded solemnly, "How close do you estimate the orcs are?"

"It's hard to say," Selinde replied, "maybe an hour or two, they move slowly. But I expect their pace will increase when they know they are close to the battle."

Kyner nodded, "As I said, the priests will be here soon, have them tend your wounds, but I don't advise staying here long. You should all return to Settlestone as soon as you can."

Kyner spent the next hour and a half inspecting and reinspecting the bridge defenses. During that time the priests came and treated the Uthgardt's wounds, who subsequently returned to Settlestone. Kyner ensured that there were plenty of rocks and stones on the parapets to drop on the orcs. After an hour Kyner stayed constantly on the parapet. The old warrior was beginning to remember how oppressively boring battle could be. After what seemed an eternity, the lookouts started running back to the gate giving the 'they're here' signal. The outer gate opened narrowly to allow the lookouts in while other dwarves prepared to bar the gate as soon as the lookouts were safely behind the gate. Soon after the priests to begin casting their blessings on the dwarves and curses on the orcs.

Kyner watched raptly as the orcs came into view and didn't wait to give the order to fire at will. The dozens of bolts that flew from the gates seemed like little more than a joke against the approaching storm of orcs. Then, as the orcs came closer, they began hitting the triggered exploding potions that had been lain in the ground, scattering orcs, and parts of orcs, into the air and across the ground. While the explosions were impressive, and brought cheers from the dwarves, Kyner knew that they were doing little more than making dents.

When the orcs came up against the gates they could do little more than beat at it with their weapons while bolts, stones and rocks rained down on them. After losing many trying to take the gate, several orcs tried to run only to be turned back by their taskmasters.

Kyner hurriedly donned his helm when an orcish arrow flew overhead, silently cursing himself for not doing so earlier. As time wore on and the orcs still failed to bring the gate down they began throwing their weapons at those on the parapets, spears, darts, axes, and even swords. Most of the weapons simply clattered off the parapet. The few that made it over the parapet were easily avoided and fell harmlessly. At Kovar's insistence they were usually thrown back down. The arrows had the potential to be far more deadly but those were few and far between. Despite the lack of progress the orcs had been able to make, Kyner was worried.

If I don't do this right, numbers will tell the tale. I need to think of a way to tip the scales. These gates won't last forever.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" the tall barbarian asked Selinde as she approached.

"My name is Selinde, I just returned with a raiding party. The rest of the party returned to Settlestone but I had hoped to join your ranks here at the pass."

The tall barbarian appraised Selinde, noting her empty quiver and the bow on her back.

"If you wish to fight from afar, my bowmen have no arrows to spare."

"My blade still cuts well enough," Selinde replied, unsheathing her gleaming sword.

"A fine weapon," the barbarian commented, "you may join us, but stay at the rear of the formation, at least until opportunity presents itself."

"I will," Selinde said, and proceeded further down the pass.

She could plainly see the Uthgardt longbowmen on the ridges that rose above the pass and there was a thick press of barbarians within the pass. They were eagerly waiting for the orcs. Many of them regarded Selinde with suspicious eyes.

The number of people staring only increased when Selinde began meditating in order to regain some of the energy she had lost during the raid. But Selinde filtered the staring eyes out of her perception and focused her mind inward. The outside world was reduced to a shadow and a dull throb. Selinde soaked in the calm at the void's edge. Until the dull throb increased to a more rapid, pulsating throb. Selinde snapped out of her trance and jumped to her feet.

The sounds of clashing steel echoed throughout the pass and the snaps of bowstrings from the ridges over the pass could be dimly heard. Judging from the light, Selinde guessed that less than an hour had passed. Selinde drew her sword and started toward the chaos, swearing a silent oath to Corellon Larethian, elven god of war, that a hundred orcs would pay for the death of her father.

The Uthgardt yelled savage battlecries as they clashed with the orcs in the narrow pass. "Save some for the rest of us!" several of the barbarians in the rear of the formation yelled. Selinde wove her way through the thick press of barbarians and managed to maneuver to the front.

It was clear that the Uthgardt had the advantage. The tall barbarians carved their way forward with axe and sword while the orcs were constantly being whipped back to the battle. Selinde saw an orc run forward to backstab an Uthgardt and quickly stepped up to deliver a strike that deftly beheaded the orc then parried with the flat of her blade as another orc attempted to halve her with its great axe. The orc's axe was too ungainly to effectively maneuver and Selinde easily finished the orc. Her next swing was parried by an orc but the same orc fell victim to an Uthgardt's axe.

Selinde waded deeper into the orcish horde. Elven steel rung with every strike and cut through orc-mail like paper. Many Orcs tried to back away from the elven swordswoman but only found themselves backing into those trying to escape the barbarian's blades. More barbarians rushed forward to fill the widening gap that Selinde had created. Soon, the whips were not enough and the orcs began to flee.

Selinde led the charge as the barbarians gave chase, her face a mask of impassiveness covering the hatred that lay beneath.