Routing of the foreguard

East Road - Barren Lands
A weary road lies beneath your feet and the lack of sounds of life make it even more so. No trees guard you from the wind and weather though thick brush and thicket make the road sides less than pleasing. To the south, low hills with little but clumps of brush and a rare stunted pine do little to ease your spirit.
Contents:   
Naalg
Squee
Sluzgek
Monty
Thranduil
Thari
Rhifaroth
Nauthcel
Dwarven Camp
Obvious exits:
West and East


Halbarad has connected.

[Frarin] The barren lands are eerily quiet this night, or this morning as it were, for the dawn is only a few hours off. Only a lonely wind blows across the scrubland, rattling low bushes and waving shadowy fingers of grass. But the silence is broken by a far off rumble of a sudden, and the sound grows, beaten away the silence of night as it nears.

And then there it is. A company of shadowy mounted figures rides upon the weary road, though a closer look reveals that they are in fact quite short. Short figures and short steeds. Indeed, this is a company of dwarves and they ride hard to the west with only the pale light of the moon to guide them.

[Naalg(#30358)] 
      Amongst the advancing Orcs is Naalg. The wee little Snaga-Slave wheezes as he trundles along, carrying a rather large sack of something. What with the wagons being scavenged and burned for firewood, the Orcs have forced their slaves to carry what little remains of their supplies. Poor little Naalg dosen't look too happy, and he becomes even less so when his large toe crunches against a stone in the ground, "YEEEOOOOOWWW!!" he howls, dropping the sack. Something must've been heavy in the sack, as it lands on his stubbed toe, causing the Snaga to roll over onto his side, clutching at his throbbing toe, rolling about in the dirt and grass.

Thari rides in the middle of the group, head nodding over the pony's neck, beard still too short to touch the beast. Suddenly a howl is heard to the east. Thari's head jerks up. "What was that?"

[Nauthcel(#19666)]
    Alongside the dwarves there walks a shadowed figure whose height appears to match that of the Khazadhrim. As the question is proposed by the one dwarf, an answer is given in an ominous tone. "The sound of darkness approaching. No native creatures of this land make such cruel sounds." Nauthcel turns his head and glances back down the road for a moment before facing forward again to keep pace with the steeds.

[Monty(#27697)]
Thud. Silence. A louder thud. The overwhelming darkness provides sanctuary for many a beast in these times, and of these Monty is one. The titanic troll presses himself along the spear-head of this small goblin army, chest expanding and contracting rhytmically, his heavy heart pounding with exhaustion. "E's been... too... long... far. We need's a break!" And so, at the very front of the group, the olog falls on his rear, arms crossed defiantly across his torso in blatant protest.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Another, larger, meaner looking uruk growls at Naalg. Sluzgek hisses at him, bearing nasty, foul smelling teeth, "Shaddup, wromy scum! Pick that up 'r I'll give ya someth'n to scream about!"

    Is it the Morian host, or just a poorly organized forward group? Surely warg riders would be scouting out the road ahead instead of this mottly lot. Nonetheless, a mixed lot they are, making too much noise and bickering among themselves.

    The small group travels along the road but... are there more coming up close behind?

[Frarin] Not far from Thari rides the silver merchant Frarin, both hands upon the reins of his grey pony as dark eyes prod the darkness of the road to keep on course. But with the twisted scream to the east he too comes to attention and the whole company of dwarves slows to listen more intently. "It came from the east," mutters the dwarf, drawing forth the war hammer at his side. "And too close. That cannot be the main host, the Stranger we encountered -" but he breaks off, letting the comment hang.

[Halbarad(#30370)]
There's little cover beside the road -- nothing but barren fields to one side, and to the other, low hills with stunted pines.

But in the darkness, shadows are shadows, even on the plains and one is still, quiet, still, kneeling in the darkness some distance to the south of the road.

[Naalg(#30358)]       Naalg rolls over a little more, squeezing his poor toe as he sort of hobbles to his feet, muttering as he reaches for his sack of provisions. He looks at it carefully, wiggling his toe a few times to test it out, wincing as he bends it the wrong way once or twice. After a moment he seems able to deal with the pain, glaring at the other Snaga, "You wanna carry dis?" he snorts, slinging the sack over his shoulder as he peers to the west.

[Thari(#31038)] "And more. I think I heard something else! Did you hear something else?" Thari demands of the rest of the group. The pony is reined in and dwarves go streaming past the healer halted alone.

[Monty(#27697)]
Monty's protest goes unnoticed by the majority of the orcs. "FINE!" Groaning strenously, the olog gets on his feet and marches on, one hand supporting the weight of his mace against his shoulder, the other carressing it's badly-beaten head. "But 'ey'd better 'ave a basket full o' conies for me, 'oo promised!" he whines, eyes directed at Sluzgek.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    The troll's complaint... well, it can't exactly be ignored. Sluzgek almost walks right into the back of Monty as the huge thing decides unexpectedly to sit down right in the middle of the road!

    The urk scrabbles back, gasping out a curse and thankful not to be the object sat upon. "What are ya's doing?!" it rasps in barely understandable Westron, much slaughtered with the creature's mother-tongue accent.

    Coming around the huge troll boldly, Sluzgek eyes the stony heap, "Rest a bit, then... gots to get your hole dug - fore th' light comes." As if he were authorized to give orders, or something. Sluzgek ignores Naalg's whining for the moment.

    Monty suddenly getting up and Sluzgek squawks.

[Frarin] Frarin is grim and silent for a moment longer, chin jutting out as he peers hard to the east, even as he rides. What little light the moon offers shows a troubled face, lips pursed and deep lines upon the brow. Finally he pulls his pony to a halt and motions for the others around him to follow suit. "If we can hear whatever approaches, then it is too close. We cannot hope to make it to the hills in time."

The dwarf pulls on the reins of his mount, turning the sturdy beast to face the east. "We cannot see a repeat of the ambush a month ago." He turns, sudden light in his eyes as he looks to the man in the company's midst. "Your people were meant to meet us at the Weather Hills, but we will not make it there before we are overtaken. We must get off the road, and off these ponies. Whatever approaches, we dwarves are better equipped to meet it on foot."

[Nauthcel(#19666)]
    As the ground groans beneath the feet of the troll, the Ranger speaks once again while his hood shifts as he scans the nearby area. "If I am not mistaken, something a tad larger than an orc is nigh at hand," says Nauthcel in response to the inquiry. As the the comment from the dwarf, he replies, "They shall know when battle is near and come to assist. Always closer then further away from danger we are." The Man then goes silent in awaiting the movement of the dwarves.

[Halbarad(#30370)]
Always closer than further away from danger, indeed: the shadow lingers still, moving slowly, moving quietly, moving just ahead of the orcs.

Thari wheels the pony and kicks it to a gallop off the side of the road. The shorter dwarf rounds a hill, followed by others. "Then what shall we do? To the top of the hills?"

[Naalg(#30358)]  Naalg glances at the big trollie, looking a little cowed as the blubbering behemoth speaks. The Snaga remains silent, shuffling to the rear of the group, not wanting to single himself out for a clubbin.

[Frarin] "Yes, the hills," says Frarin gruffly, "that will give us at least a small advantage." He spurs his own pony after Thari and soon the entire company is off the road and around the small rise of the hill. Frarin swings himself off of his mount and takes his hammer in both hands. He advances slightly up the hill, just enough to scour the darkness of the road to the east for signs of the approaching foes.

[Monty(#27697)]
At the mere mention of light, the olog twitches and quickens his pace. "No... no... no 'ole... le's get d'ese conies and get back b'fore 'at light comes. Yeees, back..." Ignorantly, the troll marches on, snout raised and scouting for food, mace lowered the ground, grazing through the dirt.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Sluzgek growls, bearing his nasty teeth - though ineffectually at the troll, "Back?!" The urk stops and scratches it's oily head, looking at the darkness around them... there's a small hill up just a bit further, "Plains... far from ya's caves. Dig ya's a good hole in dat hill there!"

    Then it looks about for Naalg, lowering his voice to a hiss, "Why'd they send us to watch this thing?"

[Nauthcel(#19666)]
    While the dwarf chooses to wield his hammer, Nauthcel removes his longbow from his back and draws a unique arrow from his quiver. Kneeling to the ground, the Ranger reaches beneath his cloak, and, suddenly, a flash of light appears. The end of the arrow begin to glow red as embers consume the cloth wrapped around it. Standing back up, yet keeping the fire in the shadow of the foliage, the Constant prepares himself for what approaches.

Naalg shrugs in response, "I jus carryin dis here sack... no matters..... maybe for feedy trollie?" he inquires, blinking a bit, shying away from a larger Uruk that stands nearby, "I just carry sack!"

Kwar is arriving from the west.
Kwar has arrived.

[Thari(#31038)] "Why night?" Thari says in a tight and low voice, coming up the hill from behind Frarin. "Why is it always night with no torches? Their blood is so black that you need torches to make it gleam." Thari's silver eyes are narrowed and peering into the shadow, eastward.

[Frarin] An incredulous look is spared for the man as the bow is withdrawn, but Frarin says nothing, not even as the tip of the arrow is suddenly alight with flame. Instead the dwarf simply shakes his head and creeps farther up the hill, now crouching as he searches the East Road. "There!" he whispers suddenly, pointing. "Do you see it, Thari? Dark figures to the east, I can barely make them out."

[Monty(#27697)]
"'ole's no far away," Monty begins, turning his back to the road ahead and back at Sluzgek. "'ey's just beyon' at'-- hey!" Once more the troll halts, though this time in panic. Gaze fixed on the now-distant river, the troll gulps, unwarily having walked too far into the barren lands. "I... no, light! Can't... no!" Overloaded with angst, the troll snarls and steps off to the side, glancing both east and west for a solution to this dilemma.

Thari's eyes are drawn aside at the flamelight, then back to the distance. "No? I don't see--" the shorter dwarf answers Frarin in a whisper, walking higher, "--yes! Look, look! That one is taller than the rest! That one can't be an orc!" The simple camp-axe is pulled from Thari' side.

[Combat(#13388)] Thari wields Axe.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    The trick having worked, Sluzgek is overjoyed - but also very nervous, "Yes! Too far! Must dig hole here! Hides from sun... waits for Host! No go back. Turn to stone, ya's will!"

    Almost the uruk smarls the last, hissing and spitting. Then it adds, hand to his blade's hilt, "Ya's want eats coonies! Lump o' rock, ya's kin eats Dorfs! Can ya no smell 'em? Ponies too, pass this way. Not long..." And a clawed hand gestures to hoof prints in the mud along the road, even in the darkness.

[Halbarad(#30370)]
A flash of light in the darkness, and there's a soft curse from the shadows not far from the hill that now plays host to dwarves and Nauthcel.

"It's a troll," comes Halbarad's voice, words quiet on the breeze, and accompanied by the sound of an arrow whisked from a quiver. "A hungry troll, from the sound of it."

[Kwar(#32022)] 

    The susurration of the wind through the grass is largely overcome by the noises coming from the hastily built orc camp. In one quarter, a number of the camp's inhabitants are deep into their cups around a very small fire. To the right of this is the healer's tent where the silence is only punctuated now and then by snores and low moans. It is from this wretched tent, that Kwar the elder army healer emerges. His pants are covered with black blood, as is his jerking. He stretches and begins to wander away from camp to answer a call of nature, by chance stumbling on Sluzgek and - troll. Having a healthy respect for the large ones, he is preparing to leave when he hears the word 'dorfs' and his nostrils begin to quiver as he bends his head to sample the air closest to the ground.

    "Have ya seen em?" he ventures.

Naalg keeps to the rear of the wee patrol, clutching his little sack of provisions. The Snaga dosen't intrude into the conversation, trying to hide his face behind the canvas material, hoping the Troll would eat the contents of the sack before the Snaga himself.

[Monty(#27697)]
A puzzled grimace spreads across the trolls face as he searches east and west for an answer. Teeth clattering followed by jaws clasping, Monty finally makes his decision, ignoring the lesser orc. "Noooooo, I's 'eard at one before. Killed Robert, 'at did! Noooo... s'going back. 'xcuse me!" With that he sets off against the small host, legs quavering under the vast mass of his body as he sprints off into the darkness, hopefully in time to avoid light of day and pain of death.

Orc has arrived.

Monty has disconnected.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Sluzgek is eager to keep the troll around, for their own use. He backs up towards Naalg, "Offer it th' food -" But then, Monty wails and begins to thunder on past them and past also the camps already setting up behind them, further east.

    Angry, it hisses, "Filthy stone lump!" There is little the snagas can do but get out of the way of the beastly thing!

    Only then is Kwar noticed and Sluzgek hisses and spits something unintelligiable.

[Frarin] Gradually the distant shadows grow more definite and indeed, one seems to be significantly larger than the rest. Frarin opens his mouth to respond to Thari just as a new voice carries through the dwarves' ranks. The silver merchant jerks his head around before eyes find the second cloaked shadow. "Perhaps our cloaked friend was right, his kind seem to find trouble wherever it lurks," he mutters to Thari.

The tortured howl of the troll brings Frarin's grim face back to the road. "Here they are, almost close enough." The word passes back through the waiting company.

Naalg blinks as the Troll thunders past. The Snaga raises his sack to Monty in an attempt to offer it to the Troll, but is ignored. Sniffling, he sets the snack down, "Well.. guess I gots me dinner for the next week..." he giggles, licking his lips. He opens the sack to look inside and see what is inside, groaning, "Awwwww.. bread?... It's all maggoty an stuff....."

[Nauthcel(#19666)]
    For the orcs, in the distance appears a golden ember surrounded by shadow. Moment later, the fire takes flight and lauches towards one of the large sacks being carried by one of the orcs. As the arrow is released, Nauthcel turns to his kinsman as he recognizes the voice and replies, "So I had thought. Is any other information known, Fletcher?" The words are whispered yet reveal a hint of relief.

[Orc(#28992)] As flaming arrows signal the onset of foes, snaga scatter. Some more organized Morian troops form hasty defensive positions, but even these ranks are a bit disheveled. One orc snaga, with a twisted body but formidable arms hanging before him, snatches at a scimitar crudely lashed to his leg and moves in a crouch in the direction from whence the arrows have come.

[Halbarad(#30370)]
"If you like," Fletcher answers words never addressed to him -- but, impolite as it may be, he replies all the same, "We can bring them closer."

Can? The arrow is set to his bow, but this one is not lit. Eyes narrow on the orc party, and he speaks once more before he looses it. "Advance party," he offers Nauthcel and the dwarves near enough to hear it. "The main host his yet behind."

[Halbarad(#30370)]
And then the arrow flies.

[Combat(#13388)] Halbarad wields Longbow.
[Combat(#13388)] Halbarad tugs his cowl over his head.
[Combat(#13388)] Halbarad puts on Studded Leather Armor.

Halbarad launches an arrow...
Halbarad's bowshot hits Sluzgek, moderately wounding him.

[Kwar(#32022)] 

    Kwar blinks as the Olog runs off and then turns his gaze on Sluzgek. "You shouldn't be makin so much noise close to the camp," he growls. "We are too exposed here and..., Did you see that!" he points to the sky as a fire laden arrow descends on camp. "Sound the alarm!" he shouts, then spins around on the spot, not sure of where to run.

    Finally, picking a direction that will lead him to camp, he tries to escape whatever is coming from behind as he pulls out his war hammer.

[Combat(#13388)] Kwar pulls a knobbly war hammer from a sling on his back

[Thari(#31038)] %r
"Come closer, come closer!" Thari steps from foot to foot. "Augh! How I wish that the red-cloaked one were not yet dead!" Fire reflects in little streaks in this one's grey eyes.

[+LIGHT:#19666] Nauthcel lights burning goods.

Naalg blinks a bit as the arrow strikes a fellow Snaga. Naalg's own Fight or Flight mindset takes over immediately. Seeing Kwar turn and run, and being without even a stick to defend himself, the Snaga drops his sack, "RUN AWAY!" he cries, yelping as he turns, fleeing eastwards towards the Morian host, food bedamned, no use if you're dead!

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    The other uruk edges over to see what Naalg indeed has in the sack and Sluzgek growls, "Whassit?" The news dashes any hope for taking the meal from Naalg. He bears his teeth, "Wants meat!" It kicks the sack even as a flaming arrow comes out of the night to intrude itself into Naalg's burden!

    Sluzgek leaps back, drawing his knicked and rusted scimitar from its sheath with a jerk, yelling aloud "Light lovers!"

    Even as the warning is shouted aloud, the alarm already being raised... a second arrow comes from the darkness in t he direction of the low hill. It strikes Sluzgek in the left shoulder and the creature gives a yowl of pain! Teeth bared, it glares into the darkness but grabs at Naalg with his free clawed hand, "Sound the alarm!" Sluzgek himself looks as though he would fall back rather than charge.

[Combat(#13388)] Sluzgek wields Scimitar.

[Orc(#28992)] As snaga fall all around him or flee into the night, the long-armed snaga holds his scimitar befor him as if it were a shield, crouching low and seeking recourse against the surprise assault. As Naalg works to flee and Sluzgek clambers behind him, the thrird snaga waves his blade and calls out to them. "Together! The army will repel the force if it stays together."

[Frarin] Frarin says nothing to the two men behind him, still staring hard at the approaching orcs. But the dwarf glances up as the streaking flame of a lit arrow soars overhead and a sudden fire of burning goods lights the group upon the road. "That's our cue, Thari," he growls low, standing now. "I'll be damned if I sit here and wait for a few arrows to be thrown at these foul beasts. Wreck you revenge on all orcs, Thari!" And with that the dwarf leaps forward, hammer in hand, pounding down the hill towards the scattering uruks. The company of dwarves soon begin to follow with shouts of "Baruk Khazad!" and "Khazad ai menu!"

Thari stamps the ground, huffing into the dark beard, before barrelling down the dark hill soon after Frarin goes, axe in hand. "BARUK KHAZAAAAAD!!!" the little dwarf bellows, blindly heading straight in the third snaga's direction.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Seeing even one snaga not fleeing, Sluzgek skids to a stop by the other Orc and hesitates. He sure is hungry... but arrows hurt! The captain of the unmentionables looks back over his shoulder to see if anyone is coming up to help them. Even as he does so, there is a sound of something yelling and charging - a Dwarf!

    Almost Sluzgek drools upon himself with sudden saliva, "Ooohh..." Their camp's supplies are low, too low now for many of the snagas to have fed recently. It is too much.

    Even though he's lightly wounded, the uruk with the rusty, knicked scimitar goes back forward to meet Frarin, eager to face this foe - rather than the wrath of its own!

[Kwar(#32022)] 

    Kwar dodges the body of a snaga with a flickering arrow protruding from its back and finally stops behind a tree about halfway back to camp- his breath coming in agonized gasps. Once he regains his breath he nervously peers around the trunk , raising his war hammer in readiness.

    "Wargs are too far away," he mutters to himself, knowing that trying to run that far could get him killed by an officer. Though his eyes are used to the darkness he can only make out the streak of arrows as they descend on the camp.

[Orc(#28992)] The snaga who tried to rally Naalg and Sluzgek now has business of his own to handle. As the dwarf Thari bears down on him, the snaga grips his blade in both labor-hardened hands. He snarls and awaits the burlier foe, muttering, "The Morian army will defeat its enemies," aloud as he awaits the swing of Thari's weapon.

[Halbarad(#30370)]
Another arrow flies from the direction of the dwarves and men -- from the hillocks to the south -- and joins its brethren in and around the orcs. And then Halbarad lowers his bow. "I'm back to tend to the main column," says he, "And see they don't surprise you here. I'll send what aid I can."

And then his shadow is gone from this place.

Halbarad launches an arrow...
Halbarad's bowshot hits Orc, badly wounding him.

Naalg howls with fear as he flees wildly, ignoring the grunts of Orcs struck by arrows as he bravely runs away away. The Snaga retreats to the east as fast as his gangly little legs will carry him, disappearing to the east as he joins the rest of the Morian army.

Halbarad has disconnected.

[Frarin] Frarin descends the hill quickly, joining as he does so the chorus of battlecries now breaking from the dwarven ranks. Soon the shape of a charging uruk defines itself and the dwarf makes straight for it. No intelligible cry comes from his lips as he bears down upon Sluzgek, only a shout of pent up anger and frustration. The blue tinted war hammer he carries soars up and down, the mallet cutting a course for the orc's left shoulder.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Sluzgek dodges your attack.

Thari's charge is somewhat checked as an arrow goes flying overshoulder to strike the figure in front. Thump, thump! go the dwarf's feet while trying to halt, and haphazardly the axe is swung toward the twisted orc.

Thari attacks Orc with its Axe and badly wounds him!

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Oih! The already wounded left shoulder, too! Sluzgek hisses and evades Frarin's blow, ducking low to the right of the Dwarf. The flickering light may aid the light lovers, but there is also much darkness and dancing shadow. The uruk dances in mimic of that flickering light and its rusty, knicked blade licks out for Frarin's belly!

    "I'll sup of your flesh, and crack ya's bones for marrow!" Hunger drives the thing as much as any else.


Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You've been injured for 3 hp's by Sluzgek's attack...
...you have 94 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

[Kwar(#32022)] 

    "Maybe if I just stay here," Kwar murmurs. "No one can see me." He glances apprehensively towards the mayhem going on in the camp and attempts to flatten himself against the rough bark of the tree.

    "Stupid to camp there. I told them," he shakes his head. "But would the maggots listen? No...who is old Kwar anyways...I'm nuthin to em." The sound of hand to hand fighting is drawing uncomfortably close to his hidey hole. "Perhaps it is time to move before someone actually comes?" he says to himself. "After all... I'm no fighter," he reasons. The war hammer head drops until it brushes the ferns at his feet.

[Frarin] The scimitar's curved blade licks in towards Frarin's stomach and the dwarf skips back a step. Past the mid-section the blade flies, but it manages to bite into Frarin's right arm, tearing the red tunic sleeve there and leaving a small, dark gash. Hardly a second's pause is allowed to consider the hit though, for the dwarf lunges forward again. "You'll sup on dirt and maggots and nothing more!" he shouts, bringing the mallet of his hammer around and towards Sluzgek's left hip.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Sluzgek dodges your attack.

[Orc(#28992)] Even as the nameless orc readies to face Thari, a quicker antagonist strikes. Outpacing the dwarf's attack by several orders of magnitude, the shaft of an arrow buries itself in the flesh of the snaga's left shoulder and stays there. Hissing in pain, the snaga lets his arm hang limp, now holding his scimitar in but one hand to defend against Thari. Again, the snaga speaks calmly despite his new wound: "Snaga may die, but the army will win."

The strange snaga's comment is punctuated by the approach of Thari's axe. Although the snaga tries to move away from the blade and jab at the dwarf with his own weapon, the move fails. Encumbered by the arrow in his shoulder, the snaga moves too slowly. His own attack is weak, and the dwarves axe stroke is true. The snaga fends at the axe handle with his free hand, and is lucky enough to turn it away a bit, but a grievous gash is still opened up in his side. Collapsing to his knees, he snaga waves his scimitar at Thari awkwardly in an effort to defend against the imminent killing blow. "One snaga is nothing," he grunts through pain. "The army will defeat you."

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Sluzgek is quick at least! Like a bow the uruk bends its body in an arc to yet again dodge and avoid Frarin's blow, going to the right of it. Even as he does so, the foul smelling Sluzgek bears his yellowed, partly decayed teeth and lunges forward at the Dwarf!

    Leaping out like a hungry tongue, the rusty scimitar swings for Frarin's head even as the beast launches itself at the Dwarf. Those gaping teeth intend to start tasting of the other's flesh even now!

Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he misses!

[Thari(#31038)] "One orc," Thari grunts while swinging axe at the kneeling orc in a beheading motion, "at a time!"

Thari attacks Orc with its Axe and terribly wounds him!

[Frarin] Down goes Frarin, ducking low to avoid the swinging blade and, perhaps more importantly, the foul odour of Sluzgek's opened mouth. The taste of flesh is denied and the dwarf twists his hammer in his hands, bringing the wicked spiked end to point forward. He straightens and charges simultaneously, aiming the spike at the uruk's left thigh.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Sluzgek parries your attack with his Scimitar!

[Kwar(#32022)] 

    It seems as if the wiry little elder healer is going to escap this little fracas with his life. The tree he's hiding behind is broad and the fighting seems to be moving away from him. He hesitantly peers around the tree and then decides to chance a move to another one close by. He scuffles quickly through the bracken, dragging his war hammer behing him on the ground. "Fools," he mutters, "Stupid maggoty officers! Just a little way more and I should be safe." A fangy grin begins to form on his mottled face.
[Orc(#28992)] The scimitar-bearing snaga holds his weapon aloft to deflect Thari's blow, but he succeeds only in part. The dwarven axe is slowed and knocked from its path, but it still carves a groove in the side of the orc's head. Black blood streams. The snaga snarls and rolls with the force of the blow. Wobbling, he tries to half-crawl, half-run to safety amid the battle.

[Combat(#13388)]
Orc tries to flee from Thari, but he fails!

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Foul breath laughs in Frarin's face as the creature parries the hammer in a circular stroke, "I'll taste ya's yet, fat one!" Yellow-greenish eyes gleam in the low light of the burning bag of moldy bread that Naalg abandoned upon the road.

    Steel war hammer and rusty scimitar clang, entangled - the come free. The knicked, curved blade comes up from low as though to split Frarin from the groin up, even as Sluzgek's tongue lulls out and the creature laughs lustily and eager!


Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and you parry his attack with your War Hammer!

[Thari(#31038)] Thari falls silent now. The short dwarf just runs after the orc, footfall heavy, glancing around for other nearby foe. The axe-blow falls even as the dwarf's attention is given to elsewhere on the battle.

Thari attacks Orc with its Axe, but it misses by a hair.

[Frarin] Clang! Scitmitar blade and war hammer shaft meet with the resounding clap of metal on metal, sending shockwaves down the hafts of both weapons. But Frarin's groin is spared its split, even if his nose must endure another wave of wretched stench. The dwarf's face contorts with disgust, but no words come forth, only a grunt as the dwarf moves in for another attack. The spike of the war hammer flies forward, aimed for Sluzgek's abdomen.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Sluzgek dodges your attack.

[Orc(#28992)] The orc who tries to scamper away from Thari falls headlong as the pain of axe wounds rends his thoughts...and it spares him for at least a moment longer, for Thari's axe cuts a swath just above his head. Not taking a moment to ponder his fortune, the snaga continues to stumble away, hoping to free himself from his pursuer.

[Combat(#13388)]
Orc tries to flee from Thari, but he fails!

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Again the Dwarf's blow meets only air. Sluzgek is getting very excited and eager. The thing hisses its joy, pressing again upon Frarin and drooling as it hisses, "Stuff my boots wit' ya's beard come th' winter!"

    That rusty old scimitar with jagged knicks in the blade this time swings low to try and take Frarin down in size even more - at the knee caps!


Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You've been injured for 10 hp's by Sluzgek's attack...
...you have 84 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

Mukluk is arriving from the west.
Mukluk has arrived.

Thari is running past the orc when the axe meets nothing, and must stop again and turn. The dwarf looks at the cowering orc with lip curled. "Even you, I don't like to kill, you cursed beast. Just DIE already!" Thari darts after the orc again and gives a two-handed swing for the snaga's leg.

Thari attacks Orc with its Axe and severely wounds him!

[Orc(#28992)] The snaga stumbles again, and this time it is his undoing. Thari's low swipe cuts him cleanly in two. The nameless snaga, it seems, will remain so.

Orc puts down a Scimitar.

[Kwar(#32022)]  

    Grinning broadly as he settles himself into the bracken at the foot of a large tree, Kwar can't believe his good luck. All around him, he can hear the sounds of fighting an chaos. The night air is ripped but the swish of arrows honing in on their targets.

    "I really had to escape," he reasons to himself, "They'll need me after all this is over."

    Stubby clawed fingers reach out to draw the ferns around him as he squats behind his tree. "Yes, they'll thank me for staying alive."

[Frarin] A hit, and a good one at that. Sluzgek's blade bites into Frarin's left leg, just below the knee, leaving a deep gash. The dwarf stumbles as dark red blood, barely visible in the dark, soaks the lower part of his trousers leg. He steps back, the fierce attack reigned in now as he sizes up his smaller, quicker opponent. Favouring his right leg, Frarin charges after only a moment, growling something unintelligible into his beard. The mallet of the hammer cuts the air, streaking for Sluzgek's chest.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Your attack against Sluzgek badly wounds him!

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Arrrcrack! The Dwarf's war hammer knocks the bit of ringmail scrap right off the front breast of the uruk, knocking Sluzgek a good hearty blow! The creature's under armour splits and dark orcish blood wheals up through the wound.

    Fangs are beared and Sluzgek howls in pain and hate! "Peel ya's skin off and starts eating ya's from below, I's will!" It threatens even as the reaking beast brings it's blade up from below once more - another groin splitting and gutting attempt!

Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he misses!

Nauthcel has disconnected.

[+LIGHT] Nauthcel's burning goods flickers and goes out, plunging East Road - Barren Lands into darkness.

Vogog is arriving from the west.
Vogog has arrived.

Thari stumbles aside after cutting an orc in half and -- please Mahal that no one sees this -- the shorter dwarf gags. Turning, eyes wild on the battlefield, the dwarf runs to the nearest foe, axe raised.

[Frarin] Once again Sluzgek's jagged blade misses its precious target, for Frarin jumps away from the scimitar, moving quickly even despite his wounded leg. He quickly follows the attack through, skipping to the uruk's left and bringing his mallet around towards the back of Sluzgek's hip.

You blindly attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Sluzgek parries your attack with his Scimitar!

[+LIGHT:#31050] Frarin lights burning goods.
[+LIGHT] You create a light source named "burning goods" in your inventory with 97 minutes of fuel.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Wounded, but too hungry to give up just yet, Sluzgek parries the Dwarf's hammer again. Steel kisses steel and is pushed away in the old song. The uruk doesn't taunt the Dwarf now, but his beady yellow-green eyes are intent upon Frarin. Foul breath hisses and Sluzgek pushes in against the dwarf once more.

    Rusty, knicked, fouled blade this time is drawn back, then thrust directly forward at Frarin's face!

Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You've been injured for 9 hp's by Sluzgek's attack...
...you have 75 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

[Frarin] Deep into the flesh of Frarin's face does the scimitar now bite, cutting a ragged slash from the dwarf's mouth to just beneath his left eye. Freely does the blood flow, quickly thickening the beard above the mouth with red. The silver merchant reels away, wiping at the gash and smearing the blood in a hideous pattern across his cheek. Even in the gloom of darkness, the wound cannot fail to tempt to the orc further.

But however painful such a gash might be, it fortunately does not inhibit Frarin's movement. A glare burning in his eyes with this newest wound, the dwarf barrels forward doggedly once more, and with a bellow the spiked end of the war hammer flies for Sluzgek's abdomen again.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Your attack against Sluzgek severely wounds him!

Naalg heads east down the road.
Naalg has left.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    Crunch goes the war hammer's spike into studded leather armor, and the orcish flesh below! Even as Sluzgek lures and leaps foward at the blood on the Dwarf's face, tongue and teeth eager to taste of Frarin's living flesh, the hammer makes its landing. The breath, the very foul stinking breath, of the creature is knocked from it!

    Anger, bloody lustful anger replaces hunger. The thing is now badly injured, but maddened at the sweet scent of Dwarvish blood, if not its own. Sluzgek though is forced back and the uruk whips up the rusty, jagged scimitar once more - this time to hack at Frarin's beard and chest, "Nasty! Foul! Hammer-thing!" he screams!

Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You've been injured for 5 hp's by Sluzgek's attack...
...you have 70 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

Rhifaroth has disconnected.

[Frarin] Up slices the scimitar and, even as Frarin backpedals, the tip of the blade catches the dwarf across the chest. It does not break the chain mail hauberk beneath, even though it rips the red tunic, but the crash of the blade will surely leave a bruise. More importantly, however, it whips off the bottom few inches of one of the braids of the dwarf's forked beard.

The sad little chunk of beard goes flying past Frarin's bleeding face, and suddenly those dark eyes widen with anger. "Well then, now you've done it, orc!" he cries, lunging forward. The spike of the hammer flies for Sluzgek's neck.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Your attack against Sluzgek severely wounds him!

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    "Hah!" laughs the uruk, as a precious braid of Frarin's beard is whacked off! Sluzgek pays too much attention to where that lock of hair falls for a later momento because the Dwarfs ugly war hammer licks out suddenly!

    Back leaps the Captain of the unmentionables! But not fast enough! The tip of the hammer just barely grazes Sluzgek's neck, opening a small wound as much against it as the jaw. But only a scrape.

    Dark blood though still wheals up, unnoticed, from the uruk's own breast, and the creature is weakening. It backs away from the Dwarf even as a clawed hand reaches up to touch the neck. But the hand is already black with blood. Sluzgek becomes suddenly alarmed at the realization of how badly wounded he is already.

    A glance is spared down the road to the east - where are the others??

    But there is no time for that now, it's much too late. Foul of panting breath, Sluzgek whips the rusty, knicked blade up once more for Frarin's face, a half hearted blow to buy it more time as it begins to fall back in earnest...

Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!

ARB: You've been injured for 8 hp's by Sluzgek's attack...
...you have 62 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.

[Frarin] Again with the face! A second score is raked across Frarin's face, this time cutting the dwarf's face from brow to left temple. He growls with frustration, for, among other things, blood now dribbles into his left eye, half blinding him. He stumps backward on his injured leg, wiping an arm across his brow to stem the flow of blood from this newest wound.

Still, the orc before him appears increasingly wearied. Perhaps the gushing wound at Sluzgek's neck lends heart to Frarin, perhaps he is still enraged about the loss of part of his beard. Either way, the dwarf charges with something of a finality, swinging the mallet of his war hammer with fury, straight towards Sluzgek's head.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Sluzgek dodges your attack.

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    There is a curse as Sluzgek leaps back and looks again up the eastern road, "Curse ya's Naalg-snaga worm! Curse ya's Kwar! Cowards! Ya's ta raise th' Alarm!" There is no sign at all of the other orcs. Not a one.

    Something swings past Sluzgek's head so close, the uruk can feel it just barely miss! He bears his teeth and hisses, lunging forward again, rusted, chipped blade leaping forth as though to simply skewer this Dorf and make a final ka-bob of the stout soul, right through the middle!

Sluzgek attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he misses!

[Frarin] Round the orc goes Frarin, narrowly avoiding the arching scimitar. It whirls past him, missing mid-section and indeed, dwarf altogether. Gritting his teeth, the dwarf follows through his momentum, bringing the hammer up once again and aiming for the back of Sluzgek's head, just at the top of the neck.

You attack Sluzgek with your War Hammer...

You have defeated Sluzgek!

[Combat(#13388)] Sluzgek's shield "Banded Shield" falls to the ground...
[Combat(#13388)] Sluzgek's weapon "Scimitar" falls to the ground...
[Combat(#13388)->Frarin]
Your attack against Sluzgek fatally wounds and defeats him!

[Sluzgek(#31082)] 
    The uruk is weakening rapidly. Sluzgek has slid forward too far, retreat down the road and back towards the east would have been wiser. Even if followed by the Dwarf who just will not give up! Sluzgek pants, black blood slicking down the front of the soiled armour. Still, there is no sign at all of any help coming. Fear flickers in the yellow eyes.

    Almost, Sluzgek's blade arm is too heavy to lift, the rusty, abused length of old steel coming up almost in slow motion as Frarin comes around him and raises that blasted hammer...

    Sluzgek doesn't even see the blow that drops him. Foul smelling, the uruk crumples, head opened up like a mellon to spill out upon the dark earth. Then, there is nothing.

Sluzgek removes Metal Helmet.
Sluzgek puts down Metal Helmet.
Sluzgek removes Studded Leather Armor.
Sluzgek puts down Studded Leather Armor.

[Frarin] Only a mild relief shows on Frarin's face as the foul uruk drops, head split. The dwarf's lip curls in disgust, but he removes his buried mallet without emotion. And now the road is cleared, the uruk's routed and the dwarves regrouping. Black bodies, and a few bearded ones, litter the causeway. Slowly, with deliberate steps that remind of his leg wound, Frarin wanders among the small battlefield as the caravan of dwarves begins the gruesome job of cleaning up.