WAR!!! Blood upon the Battlefield

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Kendil looked in awe at the elf walking up the crest of the hill, calling to him as he did. His master scowled at the apprenice's clear break in the work, but payed him no heed. Hoping the ranger to be a friend, Kendil spoke slowly as if fearing the elf might not understand;
"We are allies of Feirhanith, come to help fight the orcs?", he made some grunting noises and imitated waving an axe, "you know? the ORCS?". As if re-enforcing this fact he pointed to the nearby orc camp in the forest.
His eyes darted toward his master, who was casually walking toward him, and hastily introduced him; near forgetting his manners.
"This is my master, the Archmage Lorand, he brought me so I may train to be a Mage myself".

Lorand chuckled to himself, seeing his apprentices clear discomfort at talking to an elf, even one as young as that.
"Easy boy, the ranger's a friend. You should have payed him more heed as he was massacring the orcs below us." He turned to Lailyn; "You should be proud young elf, your skill with Bows is astounding, but are you not a bit young to be here?"

Kendil looked in pure horror at his master's disrespect, this was an elf! A beatiful young elf, who seemed to have more than once proved himself in combat; judging by his ragged appearance, and strange alien features. He estimated the elf looked about 18, more than old enough to fight.
Seeing his master's look, Kendil wisely went back to the cauldroun.

 

Khazar, wanting to avert the attention of the splintered group come to find the body sent a small magic missile towards a tree nearby them.
The smallish red globe hit the tree and sparked bright red, the orcs saw the sparks and changed their course to find out its source.
Khazar slipped into the shadows of a nearby tree and drew his blades, even the light of his fire katana 'The Angel of Light' could not peirce his magical cloak.
Khazar slowly moved closer and closer to the orcs till he was directly in front of them as they where about to find the body behind a small gallsberry bush.
The orcs by now where so close he could almost taste their pungent smell, they moved through the bush and saw the body and were about to hollar to the rest of the camp, when they heard a shrill whistle emit from that way.
Khazar noticed it perfectly as Feirhanith's battle call, and as the orcs wheere about to turn to alert the camp Khazar scliced the air either side of their necks.
At that point his magical shadow started to dissipate and the last thing that they saw before both their jugulars were severed was Khazar's grinning face.
Khazar made no noise as the pair fell to the ground, he did not bother to run them through as orcs have nothing that anybody wants anyway, plus they smelt too bad for even him to handle.
Khazar without sheathing his swords took off throught the undergrowth and within minutes was up to the outskirts of the camp.

*Hmm bloody nice party Feirhanith's put on around here*
Khazar thought to himself as he witnessed Feirhanith's honour guard ripping the orcs to pieces.
He turned to his left and saw a madnificent sight Imperial Lancers upon their warhorses charging through the undergrowth towards a large bulk of the orc group.
Khazar not waiting to see their outcome charged headlong into the fray murdering orc after orc.
They must have misscaculated the ammount at the camp because there were far more than three hundered of them.
Khazar made his way up to fight next to his favourite adventuring pal, "Sorry bout alerting the sentry but orcs make a bigger sound than I remembered when they hit the ground".
Khazar saw Feirhanith break a smile as he lunged his Katanas into a six foot warhammer wielding orc.

 

OoC: He's a half-elf by the way.

IC: Lailyn laughed at the strange apprentice as he explained what an orc was. "No not that young." He said to Lorand. "I guess I realy should go help down there, though with all the horses, I'm amazed no ones been squashed yet."

 

Kendil was startled by the Elven Ranger's comments, he could speak our language! He quickly pointed this out to his master; who's only reply was a great big grin.
"Why of course he can boy, did you not know Elves are one of the most literate races?" Lorand replied, still staring at Lailyn's stranger features "Well, half-elves anyway". This must explain why he's here, the Forest Elves nearby wouldn't dare send an elven child at 18! But by even Half-Elven standards he was no more than 14-15, and those eyes, they scared even him!

"I must readily disagree with you there my friend" he told Lailyn, "the orcs are re-grouping even now, even an Archmage as powerful as I cannot hold all that horde" he pointed out, indicating the large orc mob starting to climb the hill; "and i'm not so sure Lord Feirhanith would enjoy his main magical support to be taken out".

Kendil couldnt hear their hushed voices, but could easily tell what was happening; the orcs were climbing the hill, and his suspicions were proved true when Lailyn crouched and notched an arrow in his mighty bow: "maybe now i can get a chance to prove myself to the master!" he said excitedly, preparing a magic missile even as the first orc entered the small camp.

 

"These guys are either verry stupid, or they have us surrounded and don't care if they lose some of there troops as there exposed on the hill," remarked Lailyn as he began firing at the exposed orcs and dropping more than a few of them. Many orcs charged at the three of them. "Do something quick," He said to the mage. "Or we'll be overrun with the scum."

 

A bright magical missile streaked across the camp and went straight into an Orc's head, sending him tumbling backward into the oncoming masse. "Got him!" Kendil shouted, even as he was preparing another.

On the other side of the camp, Lorand's spell contingency had kicked in, and rendered completely immune to the orcs' simple weaponry, he drew his magical Longsword; Arayundil, and charged into the fray, sending off fireballs as he went.

 

Drazhar looked on at the slaughter that was taking place between the few humans and orcs from the safety of the undergrowth.
He only slightly startled as a thunder of hooves came crashing down from the tree line.
Drazhar made a shrill whistle and several of his squad came at the command,
several more came in the after a few minutes had gone by.
Drazhar confered, quietly, to his squad,
"The imperial lancers are here, theres going to be no more resistance from this group of orcs, Londell," He points to one of the elves crouching low to the ground, keeping watch on the proceedings of the fighting,
"You will lead the group on, keep in mind the main objective, and kill only if necesary."
At the Elf's curt nod Drazhar looks at the group, only a few of which were splattered with the black of orcish blood.
"I will attempt to talk with Feirhanith, to see if the plan is still in action, until then you are assume that it is so."
Drazhar waved his arm in an onward arc and the small group of assasins and cutthroats melded with the bush, and disapeered from sight.
Drazhar turned to the small battle and made his out through the underbush, to stride through the battle unseen.


[This message has been edited by theholygit (edited May 18, 2002).]

 

Feirhanith realising his small group was coming under even heavier attack and they were still seperated from most of the mercinary forces decided to take desperate measures. "Khazar take lead and cover me, i have to try something!" not waiting for a reply he fell back behind the backs of his men, sliding the tip of his sword into the ground in front of himself he knelt before it and began a prayer. Immediately after completing the prayer he began another spell placing his hands upon the blade of his mighty longsword. The blade of the sword began to intwine with a mystic coil of light as Feirhanith embodied it with the 'greater magic weapon' spell.
not knowing how long he had been casting the spells he got to his feet and rojoined combat as fast as he possibly could. The first thing he noticed upon arriving there was the increase in critical blows his allies were causing on the orcs and the sudden clumsiness in most of the orc attacks. He swung with his enchanted sword, reaving havoc among the orc lines. Now a few moments after the spells had been cast the tides had turned on this side of the encampment, a huge swath was being cut towards the centre of the clearing by these twenty warriors.

 

With the Ranger's help, the orc unit lay in a bloody puddle at Kendil's feet. His gaze was averted to Feirhanith cutting a bloody wake in the orc line, but did not have much time to rejoice the near-victory...

Kendil's eyes opened wide, he tried casting a Hold spell, or some for of protection over the Commander, but found words would not come out of his mouth..apart from the scream of:
"Look out my Lord! There's a Giant..."
And with that the Storm Giant chrashed through the trees behind Feirhanith, raising it's club for a massive stroke...

 

Lailyn fired two arrows hurridly at the monsters elbow, one of them missing but the other sinking in, delaying the huge monster and giving Feirhanith more time to respond. He fired arrow after arrow from his bow, moving forward as he went.
OoC: If Feirhanith attacks it in meelee then he runs forward and draws his two tankana's (taken from the netbook of half-elves with some of my own adjustments) and attacks.

 

An almighty bellow receded through the small encampment as a mighty storm giant crashed through the trees to advance on Feirhanith.
Drazhar muttered a few choice curses and crashed though the undergrowth, any sense of stealth discarded.
He tried desperately to circle the mighty creature and come up behind it, but he was too slow to help him. The giant was already raising it mighty weapon to strike the paladin commander down.
Several twangs reached Drazhar's ears, and a half elf fired off two arrows at the giant.
Drazhar rejoicing at seeing his old friend calls out his name, "Khazar!"
The half elf turns but reveals the face of another person unknown to Drazhar.
The half elf waves away at Drazhar in frustration as he fires off a few more arrows.

Drazhar slaps his forhead several times whilst running towards to the giant, sending out a few curses at his folly.
He looks up at the giant and notices a well placed arrow sticking out from its elbow.
Drazhar taking his chance runs past the giant to come up behind it, and drawing his sword, attempts to hamstring the mighty beast.

 

The apprentice was awe-struck by the Giants apperance, Lorand knew, but a seasoned war-veteran like himself was not so stupid, almost as quickly as the giant had appeared, Lorand was uttering arcane words, and flicking an Ornamental Leather Glove in the air as he did so.

Kendil quickly got his wits about him, and let off a quick invisiblity spell, hiding himself, and half of Feirhanith's Personal Guard, though Feirhanith himself was too far out of range.
Suddenly his eyes drifted upon an unusualy sight, a massive semi-invisible hand had come out of nowhere and had grabbed the Giant's Club in mid-air..what could this be?

Lorand allowed himself to smile; Bigby's Grasping Hand would allow Feirhanith's Company, and the large amount of Ranger's nearby, to finish of the monster before the enemy got their wits about. Soon they would know that this distraction would be to their disadvantage, and Lorand hoped it wouldnt be too soon...

 

Khazar now more than fully aware of the towering beast let fly an arrow that pierced the giants hand between his middle fingers forcing it to drop the club which just hovered as iff being held by a magical force. The giant now reeling in pain was obviously very annoyed and holding his hurt hand to his chest in his ragged pelt shirt thrashed about with the other.

Khazar shouldered his bow, drew his katanas, and notioned to Feirhanith and the pair both centred their swords at the beasts ankles.

 

Lailyn fires two more arrows at the beasts eyes, blinding it. Deciding that there was enough people over there and continued firing for vital area's on the giants body.

 

Drazhar looked up in surprise, as the mighty giants club lifted just out of reach from its hands.
Without thought Drazhar spins with his sword and slashes along the back of the giants legs, hamstringing the mighty storm giant.
Blood spurts high into the air from the wound and the giant tries to turn on it's attacker, but stumbles and lets out a scream before falling to its knees.

Drazhar jumps back from the giant, covered in hot sticky blood, and silently disapeers into the shadows.

 

overcoming the shockwave that passed through the earth as the giant's knees hit the ground. he charged it his sword drawn high and plunged it into the giant hand placed upon the ground to support the giant's fall. The mighty blade willed by the incantation of magical energy that Feirhanith hadd placed on it, sliced through the outer layers of muscles in the outside of the hand. Vast amounts of blood gushed out at high pressure like an eruption from a volcano. He drove it deeper, feeling it hit a solid barrier. he enforced all his strength and drove into the hand with all his strength and body weight again feeling the blade slide smoothly until the entire blade was out of sight, and only the hilt could be seen. Releasing the hilt of his sword Feirhanith stepped back out of reach of the skwirming hand and drew his second blade, a short sword, his training blade all those years ago! The giant now pinned to the compact earth could not raise his hand to fight, taking his opertunity to strike Feirhanith charged attempting to climb his now inert arm to get to it's neck....

 

Lorand was exhausted; the Hand had taken it's toll on his old frame. He would be out for a moment he told himelf, the boy needed to carry on for a while.

"Apprentice, im going to rest. I need time to greater aid our cause, you will take over from here. Go and find Drazhar, the commander of the ranger's i think." Lorand paused for the boy to take this in.
"Do not stay here, go find him, or any of the other elves around! GO!"

Kendil did not know why he had to go, bu as fast as his leges could carry him he ran, and ran until he was off the hill. And into the forest he went.

Only as Lorand finally saw the boy creep into the trees, did he start to concentrate on the arrow sticking out of his right thigh, even as he saw the Orc Archers creeping out of the woods on the other side of the hill... at least the boy would be safe he told himself.

OoC: ive got some info on the Archmage and Apprentice. Lorand is roughly 60-70 years old, and a level 15 mage. Kendil is 16 years old, and an Adept/Mage, both level 2. Both are humans.

STORY: While most of the army is concentrated in and around the clearing (where the giant is). The hill is south-west of the clearing and near to the forest, and Orc Scouts have come through. Shot Lorand and watched Kendil escape. Apart from some of his low level wizard students situated around the battle, the heavy magical support is wiped out.

 

Lailyn, seeing the giant been taken down, decided that he was no longer needed. He saw Kendil attempt to hide in the trees but he was easy to see with his keen eyes. He went over to him but was stopped short when arrows were fires at him, one only been stoped by his sheath belted on his hip. Seeing the orcs emerge from the trees he turned and ran, not seeing the injured Lorand.

 

Drazhar turned from his route to stare back at the opening.
His eyes went wide almost immediately, as he looked down from the forested hill onto the clearing to see orcs swarming through the undergrowth and into the small area.
Drazhar cursed his stupidity and turned towards to the clearing.
His ears pricked as he caught the sound of someone crashing through the bush aimed in his general direction.
Drazhar slowly faded into a shadow created by a mighty oak tree. Slowly a form, covered in shadow came tumbling out of the undergrowth to trip and fall at the foot of the tree.
Drazhar looked down onto the small man panting. Slowly the figure stood and looked around himself. He was about to take off again as a few orcsish calls pierced the woods.
As the shadowy figure ran past Drazhar, he reached out his hand took hold of the mans arm in a firm grip and pulled him into the shadow of the oak. Drazhar put his hand over mans mouth and waited for the orcs to pass their tree.
When the shrill screams of the orcs had passed, Drazhar released the man and let him stumble away from him.
"You know you realy should, at least, try to be a bit more quiet when you're going through the woods, seeming that the orcs do patrol through here."
As the man turned to face Drazhar he noticed that is was no man, but a simple teenager, of no more than 15 at least.
"Oh my god, what is a boy like you doing running through these woods?"

 

Kendil stared into the eyes of his captor, too scared to think of what he was saying, he could only stare into his eyes.

After a few seconds he realised the it wasnt an orc who had captured him, it was an elf.
"Drazhar?" he spoke in elvish, (having learned the basic language from Lorand a few years ago, panting he tried again; "are you Drazhar?".

Seeing the ranger pull back in shock, Kendil wasnt going to stay to figure out what effect it would have, muttering a quick Blur, Kendil slipped out of his grasp and ran onwards. "I must find someone who can help!"

Even as he ran through the copse, he could could hear his Master's screams of rage, and even worse was the heavy panting of orcs on his tail..