Episode 2: The horde


day7: I woke up covering my eyes, for the sun shining bright in the high noon. Then suddenly I remembered what had happened. The orcs had sent me closer to death than I'd ever have wanted to go. Terror filled me… Had I been captured? Would I suffer the same fate as my parents? Removing the hand from my eyes I found comfort in the fact that I was surrounded by my fellow human rangers from Jalanthar. I felt enormous pain from my ankle, seeing that it was heavily bandaged and felt like it was hanging by a thin string rather than being attached properly.

Leo came to my side, and explained to me what had happened; the orc attack had been held back in the end, and a druid was on his way from down south. I should get some rest, for I had sustained a very serious injury and was lucky to be alive. The camp had been moved to a different place, to avoid the patrols of orcs.

End of day 7


day8: The druid arrived in the evening, and examined the wound. Following a few chanting words I suddenly felt my leg healing. I was relieved to be back on my feet, for staring up into the sky had started to become boring. All I had to do was look after Black-heart and rest… Not exactly what I had planed. I immediately offered myself up for scout-duty, but Leo held me back explaining that a mission was being prepared, and I was supposed to pay attention.

End of day 8


day9: The scouts came back to us bearing anything but good news. A large force of orcs, ~1500 had been spotted in a valley nearby. And we were only ten rangers (counting me in) and a single druid. Our plan had expected around 50-100 orcs, but this was just too much!

Leo immediately sent a small animal messenger bearing these news to Jalanthar. Obviously we had to change our plans…

So far we hadn't found any obvious solution, but luring the orcs into the great forest was on top of our list, for if we were lucky the forest ents would assist us then. But it was still very risky. If the ents wouldn't show up then we'd have to kill about 137 orcs each. And hell, I died on only three orcs! No great prayer would save me from this one.

End of day 9


day10: Ok, so we set off as dawn broke. Seeming as I had no bow, I was supposed to be a lookout, front liner even. As soon as the orcs would approach we were to run back into the cover of the woods. It didn't sound too good for me, but I wasn't really the leader or anything.

Devari… the plan didn't work. We ambushed them, and fell a few of them at a range of half a click, but when retreating to the forest, one of their commanders ordered them not to enter the forest. Instead they sent a volley of arrows towards us. At that point the arrows were hurling in, and I was dodging them like raindrops. A few stroke me, but I was reminded by my fellows that they were only cheap flesh wounds. So far, this was going terribly and I was predicting destruction and mayhem for whoever would meet this force. Sadly I knew that Jalanthar, my home, was likely the target. And however sturdy the homelanders were, they couldn't repel such a great and large force.

End of day 10


day11: Seeing how hopeless our situation was, we were forced to take drastic measures. The current plan was to head into the orc campment under the cover of darkness and assassinate a few of the leaders. This was of course no easy task for if a few of the orcs would spot us, then we'd have to fight off the entire invading army.

The clouds are thickening, and the druid has predicted a storm coming. Whether this was good or not, I wasn't sure.

Sweet SOMETHING!!! I don't know if I can even explain what happened just now. Lemme start from the beginning:

The rain was getting heavier and the winds stronger. The clouds filled the sky and not a single star was visible. We were split into 5 groups. Each group consisting of 2 rangers, except for the fact that my group had me, Leo and the druid. We approached the camp. I know it must've been around midnight by now.

End of day 11


day12: So there we were. The campment was made from a few tents housing between 4-10 orcs each. A few fireplaces were scattered in this badly organized front. A few carts and worgs lay scattered here and there, and the patrols were anything but organized. We slowly approached. We could make out the markings of a few tribes, notably 2 strong from the north-eastern tundra. This didn't look like it was going to end well. We three approached from the west, heading right for the center tent where we suspected the leaders to be.

Most of the orcs were asleep, arguing or drunk. I reminded myself how I was NOT going to freak out, or rage. Now was a time for the most serious mind, and I was not going to fail. Entry was relatively simple. We made our way past a few tents when suddenly two orcs came barging out of a tent, obviously fighting each other. We hid, and remained completely still when suddenly one of the orcs knocked the other down and looked in our direction. The small fire close to him lighted up his face and I saw my own reflection in his eyes. He was about ten, maybe fifteen feet away… And I knew he could see us as clearly as we saw him. That's when my training kicked in and within the blink of an eye I had immediately seized one of my four remaining throwing axes and slung it with my left hand. The axe surprisingly flew true in the harsh winds and separated the foul creature's head from its body. I grinned briefly, noticing that the other orc was knocked out stone cold. We moved on…

So we passed a few other tents, when suddenly I heard *crack!* The druid had stepped on a twig, snapping it loudly in two parts. Leo immediately drew us in between two tents, but it was too late. Two armed orcs spotted us, and rushed towards us. I drew another of my fine axes. When they came past the corner, I tossed my axe. Sadly I wasn't as lucky this time and the axe only scratched the orc's arm. The second orc shouted in his filthy orc language: “HUMANS.” But he was a bit too late for the druid was finishing a marvelous chant. A second later I saw the heavens come down on us as a bright lightning struck the two orcs, sending them straight to their devoted god. The pulse from the lighting was enormous and set two tents on fire.

Snapping out of the shock, I followed Leo's lead behind a large tree. Our luck wasn't as good this time. I leaped towards a large round tent, seeing an orc step out just after I landed. He seemed shocked to see Leo, but he was luckily facing his back towards me, so without hesitating I smote him instantly down with my two swords. Ohh how they glimmered beautifully before slashing his spine into two parts and sending his dark-red blood up into the heavens.

We neared our goal, seeing the large tent up ahead. Hopefully we'd be able to assassinate the leader without much more difficulties. But as always we weren't that lucky. Ahead of us we saw, or rather heard a snoring ogre in front of the tent. Ordering us to stay back, Leo approached him without a sound, and performed a deadly move. He raised his stance, and thrusted one of his short swords into the creature's heart and the other into its neck. But surprisingly the ogre managed to gasp one last loud scream before departing to the afterlife. Pulling Leo and the Druid near a medium sized tent I immediately entered with Leo. What we saw, was not what we had expected. Two goblins were in the room, apparently wide awake from the scream. I hurled one of my axes at a weirdly dressed goblin, perhaps even a shaman. But the axe missed by an inch, flying just above the small creature's head. I drew up my swords.

Then the goblin shaman seemed too suddenly to wave his hands in some weird manner, and spoke a few words in some foreign language when suddenly he seemed to become bigger… MUCH bigger! Raising too triple his height. Fear filled my heart, but I was determined not to run. I had sworn not to. Glancing to my left I saw my dear brother flee, and felt sorry for him. The second goblin seemed still a bit asleep and hardly reacted to his fellow increasing in height. Reflecting upon my lessons, I knew that he who acted first often acted last and won the fight. So I didn't hesitate for a moment and jumped the large fellow. Both my swords hit true, my left one hitting truer, chopping one of his hands off whilst my right blade knocked him off his feet. Paralyzed in pain the shaman simply bled to death. The other goblin now woke up surely. The fear in his eyes was enormous as he tried to flee out of the tent via the hole I had torn in the tent with my axe. Surely I wouldn't let this little bugger get away that easily, so I tore a hole in his back as he attempted to flee. He fell out of the hole squealing obscenities. I stepped out and picked him up, only to see a very large and muscular orc step out of his tent (conveniently the one thought to be the boss's tent) holding a throwing axe in his right arm, and screaming “WHO THREW THIS!” And so I saw a large wound on his left arm, apparently from my axe. Grinning at him, I pulled myself and the goblin into the tent, delivering my final blow to him and ending his misery.

A split second later I heard a desperate calling from my brother. Stepping out of the tent, I witnessed Leo fending off seven orcs simultaneously. I came to his aid. Without hesitation I grapped another of my fine axes, discovering it to be my last one. As I threw it, I could feel the harsh winds and watched it drift from the target deeper into the group. Barely missing Leo it landed right between the eyes of a miserable orc just behind Leo.

Drawing my swords soon after I put small space between me and Leo, allowing us to flank two of them. The orcs were though faster then the two of us and cut Leo deep. Leo saw this coming, and countered soon after; cutting the two flanked ones into pieces with a swift motion. I followed up by slashing an orc of my own, leaving his feet crumbled. Then suddenly glancing to my right I saw the druid completing a spell of his own.

Seeing the grass twisting, twitching and extending, I immediately tumbled back seeing the grass grow to full five feet. Confusion caught the group of orcs and I was separated from my companions. I decided I had to finish our mission now, or the force of orcs might mobilize and that would surely be the end of us.

I approached the main tent, peaking only occasionally up out of the large growth to make sure I was heading in the right direction. Then I cut my way under the tent, and entered. Sadly I couldn't sense nor see anyone inside the tent so I started improvising. I searched the large tent finding only a bed, a suit of large orcish armor and a greataxe. I wrecked the bed, sabotaged the armor and took slung the axe onto my back. Damn it was heavy.

Exiting the tent I saw Leo 30 feet ahead of me. Then I saw the largest orc I had ever seen in my life. He stepped out carrying one of my axes. Everything went silent. He looked at me hatefully and drew up his greatsword. I grapped for one of my axes, noticing that I was unfortunately out of them! Having no time to reach for my swords, I had to dodge the first blow. Ducking low, he just about missed. I followed up with a roll back, but he hardly seemed off target and took another swing. His strikes were getting closer. I managed to draw up one of my swords just in time to deflect a blow. He didn't seem to stop with the blows, and I wasn't able to land a single solid strike on him. After a flurry of blows one came too suddenly for me, and I lost my balance, crashing to the ground.

I was now paralyzed with fear! He looked at me grimly, laughed and raised his large blade. I could see my pending doom before me, when suddenly I heard a familiar voice screaming “NO!” T'was Leo and I witnessed him saving me for the second time. He clinged onto the large orc, locking the greatsword behind the fierce creature.

Seeing this affection, I rose up to my feet and drew the orc greataxe I had found earlier. My initial attack swinged far from the orc, nearer to the ground then the huge creature. At this moment Leo was still clinging on, and trusted one of his short swords through the orc's chest. All around us I could see fellow ranger's fending off the horde of orcs. I took comfort in that and learned from my mistakes, striking yet again. This time the attack hit true, smashing the orc's pelvis and sinking deep into his stomach.

Victory was at hand for me at least. The orc dropped down to his knees, where Leo finished him off. I slowly picked up my throwing axe that the orc had dropped earlier when he seized his sword. I was about to thank Leo for his help when he shouted: “Get down!” Following his order, I ducked low only to witness Leo hurl one of his hidden daggers with the flick of his wrist at an orc that was about to ambush me. The dagger landed right in the critter's throat, sending him gasping down to his own pool of blood. I told Leo that he had to teach me that trick sometime and pulled the dagger out of the dead creature's neck.

Having killed undoubtedly one of the leaders we decided we needed to run away while we still could. But for some reason the druid was nowhere to be seen. Because the grass was still at a five feet height, we found escape to be quite easy. When we came out of the end of the tall grass we witnessed something unbelievable.

A few orcs were pointing up towards one of the nearby mountains' roots when suddenly appeared the shape of a gigantic dragon. From the distance it looked like it had dark-red scales (several missing) and was approaching rapidly the camp. Then it all clinged together… It was the great Red-dragon Klauth! I had heard about him before, but the descriptions didn't mention him to be half the size!

He swooped down on the camp spewing fire from his mouth, taking several passes around the camp, and then finally setting down on top of the actual camp. Orcs and orc likes could be seen in flames running for their lives, only to find sudden doom pend them. Sadly enough a few rangers were also seen squashed by the dragon. Then as swiftly as he had approached, he suddenly disappeared into the broken sky.

We came to the camp, slaying the remaining orcs and finding most of them just squashed. We found four dead rangers amongst the wreckage and buried the remainder or their bodies with honor. We found 4 other living rangers, some more injured than others but the druid was nowhere to be found. Later that day we set up camp in a cave only to see the weather get worse. Despite the loss of lives, we had managed to halt the army in their tracks (thanks to some unexpected help) and were on our way to Jalanthar.

Now I feel like a true ranger!

End of day 12.



Hérmeð endaði seinna sessionið mitt með Davis.
Fyrir áhugasama er hægt að lesa um Klauth í FR bls 167 (undir “The North”)
Einnig komst hann loksins á level 2! Happy days ahead :)<br><br>Hellicat
-Make me Bad!