Folker Bentham
Race: Azeroth Human ( Closet D equivalent - Goliath)
Class:unknown
Strength - 18, Dexterity - 8, Constitution - 14, Intelligence - 10, Wisdom - 12, Charisma - 14
Feats: Crusher
Proficiencies: Diplomacy, Intimidation, Religion, Athletics, Insight
It was not a decision that I could be proud of. Compromises. It's always about compromises. Weighing things like honor, morals, and strategic interests against each other. I've been doing it for a long time. Thinking about it rationally, this was the best option. The one option that would give us better chances of survival on this void-cursed island. What bothers me is not the fact I made this choice but the ease with which I made it. Am I not neglecting the virtues of the Holy Light in favor of my current needs once more? Am I not giving up on looking for another path too early?
Those doubts. Those questions. I'll have to answer them later. I've taken the command and I've made a choice. All that's left is making sure that others won't have to suffer for it.
"What's happened? Have you spat out all your guts because of a few murlocs?" An orc with a grizzled long beard and brown skin was displaying the confidence of one in charge. Everyone on this deck had their lives in his hands and he did not bother to hide his enjoyment of that fact. "Who's your leader?"
"I am Lieutenant Folker Bentham." I stood forward wanting to go through the formalities as soon as possible.
"I'm Kank Oaktusk, the Centurion and the one who commands this ship." Orc's response was delayed on purpose. "Not every day you can see your kind swallowing their pride and begging for a rescue."
"You're in the same position as us. The only reason they haven't attacked us yet is that they are planning something." I made a few steps forward putting my face a few inches from his tasks and started glaring into his eyes.
This is a test. Showing weakness now would mean becoming their pawns. In that case, they'll just use us as cannon fodder.
"I came here to discuss our battle plan. I'm not interested in wasting time on childish games."
Horde's commander stood silent for a few heartbeats assessing me.
"Right to the business then! You just won't let an old man have his fun, will you?" His expression still showed amusement but for a different reason. "You've got any ideas?"
XXX
The plan we agreed upon was pretty simple. The area around was mostly empty of a sandy beach. The only place that provided cover for a potential attacker was a cluster of rocks near the cliff from which we escaped earlier. It is easy for someone with the right tools to make a hole in the vessel and get inside. Being enveloped this way would be a catastrophe. So we decided to put barricades to the left of the ship and around its rear to guard against attackers coming from the direction of the cliffs and the sea. Most of the melee fighters were positioned below to guard our improvised fortress. In some places the waters were too deep to stand comfortably so Kank proposed freezing the water around the ship. Not only did that trick give our men and women a stable platform to stand on, it also denied our foes the opportunity to hide underwater.
Everyone with ranged weapons, offensive magic, and supporting abilities stood on the ship's deck. Me and Kank were among a relatively small squad of melee fighters dedicated to guarding them. It was also estimated that we will be able to jump off the ship to reinforce the defenders below us or to fend off attackers coming from other directions.
All things considered, it was the best we could manage on such short notice. The only thing left was to wait for the enemy to come to us.
XXX
As we expected the bulk of naga forces positioned themselves among the rocks. Smaller groups of murlocs each having one naga commander in charge were spread out across the beach in order to catch anyone who might try to escape. The main group, in contrast, had one third of them consisting of serpentine archers, sorcerers, and warriors.
"They are approaching! Fire on my command!" Kank roared his order.
The first to charge us were murloc warriors. Not surprising, considering that naga have always liked to use them as living shields. Behind them there were their naga overlords as well as what appeared to be murloc mages preparing water spells. The third group situated behind them all seemed rather odd since I couldn't discern their purpose.
Roughly a half of all snake men and women stood in the backline. Their spell casters began to prepare something.
I suddenly had a very bad feeling about whatever the hell they were doing.
Then before the first enemy entered our firing range the battlefield was covered in a thick fog.