Ambush!
A tale freshly told of the Gondorian
A Gondorian patrol in Osgiliath meets some scouting orcs...
It is early afternoon in the ruined city of Osgiliath, the snow has stopped this day but it is still bitter cold and the ground is covered in snow, feet deep in places where the wind has made drifts.. The sky is full of clouds, looking as if the snow could once again fall, but for now it is just the wind that assaults the city.. Biting at those we have the misfortune to be outside.
Those unfortunate ones are a Patrol of Gondorian soldiers, some six men this day. At their front is the Lieutenant Aearon Telpekhor, he is dressed in his usual military attire, but this day he wears a thick fur lined wool cloak and thick gloves upon his hands. Behind him the patrol is in a staggered wedge formation, moving slowly through the snow, the wind blowing and biting at their sides.
Turlach follows close behind, moving through the deep ploughs that those soldiers before him have made. The icy death-hues from his burial have been driven away with copious amounts of tea, and he follows silently, his gaze alert and grave.
[Krugh(#32407)]
In the half twilight that perpetually hangs here, the shadows play tricks, leaving hints of movements where there is none or hiding movement that should be seen. The sounds, too, are muffled, so perhaps the tramp of booted streets through these ruins will not be heard until too late.
Or perhaps not.
A voice hisses: \"I don\'t care what you smell, you gutless fiends. Keep moving!!\" It is from the large captain of a small group of orcs--two armed, and two on rope leads of some sort, sniffing at the ground.
[Vortag(#28392)] \"Did you hear something?\" It is a low growl of words, hardly more than whisper. Vortag stops, cocks his head and listens intently, then shakes his head. \"Nothing..\"
[Aearon(#16333)]
Still moving forward is the Gondorian patrol, they are moving slowly, quietly thought the snow. Raising his hand and signaling the patrol to halt the Lieutenant scans the area in front of them, looking about. Shaking his head slightly he signals the patrol to continue.. Moving every slowly forward.
Where greater men may simply plow through the low drifts that build around the streets, Turlach threatens to stumble, catching himself before he may sink into the powdery snow. Biting his lip, the Man-at-Arms hunches closer into his cloak, stepping forward slowly.
[Krugh(#32407)]
Behind Turlach is Menelglir, his sword drawn. The Squire puts a hand out to try to steady Turlach, but there is no need, for the Man-at-Arms retains his balance. \"The quiet before the attack,\" Menelglir whispers in a hiss to Turlach.
Off in the distance, hidden by rubble, a harsher voice is answering, the sound carrying a bit on the wind.
\"Use your nose, idiot! You\'ll smell \'im afore ya see \'im. And remember the hunk of meat we brought...lure \'em. Still...\" Krugh screws up his ugly face, sniffing the wind. \"Safe n sorry.\" With that, he draws a black bow from off his back and strings it, black fletched arrow pulled from a quiver at his side.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Hearing the words of the Squire the Lieutenant once again halts the patrol, turning his head to look at the men in the Patrol he mouths the words \"Draw your weapons..\" taking his longbow from his back he points to one of the other men and motions for him to also draw his bow, then points for him to move in a flanking position. Turning about he pulls out an arrow and scans the area again, moving slowly towards some fallen stone, while motioning for two of the men to continue forward.. Shield at the ready.
[Vortag(#28392)] Vorgat\'s fingers clench around the handle of his mace. \"Right,\" he says, \"sorry,\" not sounding noticeably repentant. They move on, cautious, slow, scenting the cold air. \"Don\'t smell nothing,\" he grunts a few steps later. \"You sure it\'s off this way?\"
Aearon wields Longbow.
The Hostman to the other side of Turlach is one of these motioned forward, picking his way stealthily over the silent cover of snow-draped rubble and brick. His shield is raised, stark black against the blinding white, and he peers cautiously over it...
Meanwhile the Nimothan youth remains behind the Lieutenant, his sword half-drawn and hidden against any betraying flashes of light -- though a hellish cloud covers the sun.
[Aearon(#16333)]
The Soldier who was told to wield his bow is moving slowly about to the side, arrow notched and half drawn.. Scanning ruins of the city in front of him as he moves, he appears at the ready.. Tense.
[Krugh(#32407)]
\"Where else would it be?\" Krugh snarls to Vortag in reply, turning reddened eyes on his fellow orc to look at him in hatred. The captain is stepping Vortag\'s way when one of the trackers gives a small yelp and takes off ahead, into a relatively clear area of the rubble-strewn street.
\"There! There!\" the tracker shouts, pointing in the distance to more rubble. And then the fiend spots the hapless flanking soldier, and straightaway bounds full-speed toward him, wicked long dagger suddenly drawn from under the filth that passes for the tracker\'s armor.
Just about the same time that the tracker breaks out into the open, Menelglir looks up.
\"Lieutenant!!!\" He points with his sword.
[Vortag(#28392)] \"Behind us!\" snaps Vortag, scornfully. \"Just as ... \" The tracker bolts ahead, and the orc whirls.
\"That ain\'t...!\" he says, and lifts his mace in both hands, ready to swing.
[Aearon(#16333)]
The soldier spots the coming orc and drawing his bow back he tries to take the shot, fumbling with his bow slightly.. Obviously spooked.. But getting the shot off
Looking to where the squire point the Lieutenant draws his bow back fully, and takes aim,k calmly.. Releasing his arrow in the direction of the Orc, his aim is true
The soldier with the shield hears the rough shout, startled into action. Quickly does he duck behind the rubble, making his way back towards the company. An arrow from the Lieutenant\'s bow whistles past his ear.
Turlach\'s eyes are wide, staring at the hunched, bounding thing that approaches -- frozen into stillness.
[Krugh(#32407)]
\"Yi! yi! yi!!!\" The tracker orc that charged takes an arrow to his leg, and, screaming pitifully, starts hopping around, dagger flailing about wildly. No fearsome soldier he, he starts trying to crawl away from the pale-faced man, red trail of blood in the snow.
Fifty paces back or so, Krugh now holws with hate. \"Men!! Pale-faced, bony, meatless men!!!!\" Enraged, he lets an arrow fly into the air toward the emerging Gondor patrol. \"Get the tracker, Vortag!! Stupid fool with an arrow in him!!\" The second tracker stands hopping about, as if itching to fight but not daring to move.
Krugh launches an arrow...
Krugh\'s bowshot hits Aearon, mildly wounding him.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Drawing another arrow back, and taking aim at the orc with the arrow in him, the Lieutenant does not see the arrow flying at him.. And it nearly strikes him in the head, for it hits him in the shoulder, a glancing wound, drawing blood from his shoulder as the arrow glances off him. Turning to see where the arrow came from the Lieutenant shouts \"Be ready men!\" and Taking aim, he draws his bow back and releases it.. Aiming at the Uruk-Hai who just shot him.
Aearon launches an arrow...
Aearon\'s bowshot hits Krugh, lightly wounding him.
[Vortag(#28392)] Krugh is shooting beside him. Vortag peers around and then spies someone standing, frozen. With a shout, he leaps towards Turlach, swinging his mace around his head, and howling.
[Krugh(#32407)]
\"Arrrrgh!!\" A growl echoes across the ruins, followed by a string of curses in a dark language as the man\'s arrow finds a chink in Krugh\'s armor on his side--and sticks there! \"Arrrrrghhh!!!\" Krugh howls some more, nocking another arrow and drawing back his bow despite the pain. \"You die for that man-flesh!! You...in my stew pot tonight!!\"
Krugh launches an arrow...
Krugh\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.
Arrows fly, whistling through the cold and empty air. Turlach blinks, throwing himself into action, but there is nothing to see! And suddenly there is everything to see, as a ferocious creature bounds toward him, swinging a meat-tenderizer-like weapon! The Man-at-Arms is blind to all else, bracing himself into a defensive position with sword and shield at the ready. He dares not go forward to intercept Vortag.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Notching another arrow as the arrow from Krugh just misses, the Lieutenant draws it back and shouts to his men \"Shields up MEN!\" with that he takes aim and releases his arrow, aiming for the same target.
Aearon launches an arrow...
Aearon\'s bowshot hits Krugh, lightly wounding him.
[Vortag(#28392)] The orc howls like a banshee, bring his mace back and then slamming it forward at the young Man-at-Arms. Long yellow teeth glisten below angry red eyes.
Vortag attacks you with his Mace!...
...and you parry his attack with your Longsword!
[Krugh(#32407)]
Trog, the first tracker, continues to crawl through the snow, leaving a bloody track behind him as he seeks the refuge of a pile of rubble.
Duog, tracker number two, decides not to be left out of the chance to get fresh meat for dinner. Screaming obscenities and brandishing a club, he rushes headlong into the fray of Gondorians. Several of the patrol of Gondor answer this threat, among them, Menelglir, who screams an incoherent war cry ans he tries to hack at Duog with his sword.
Krugh is in a fury. Another arrow hits im, this one in the upper thigh, and he tugs angrily at it, yanking it out, blood spurting. Enraged, he throws his bow aside, drawing a battle axe instead and slipping his shield off his back and onto his arm. And then he rushes--right twoard Aearon.
Krugh unwields Longbow.
Krugh wields Battle Axe.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Seeing the Orc he has just struck with two arrows the Lieutenant quickly draws another arrow, notching it and drawing it back he takes a quick, half hearted shot at Krugh, the second the arrow is released, so is his longbow. Grabbing his shield, and adorning it upon his arm.. reaching for his spear.
Aearon launches an arrow...
Aearon\'s bowshot hits Krugh, mildly wounding him.
The orc closes. For a moment Turlach is taken aback by the shrieking cry and the sheer ugliness of the orc (not even the worst corsair would prepare him for such a sight). There will not be peaceful dreams tonight, should he live to see the darkness gather ...
Raising his longsword, the Man-at-Arms catches the blow on the metal edge, flinching at the shriek of metal grinding on metal and the numbness reverberating through his arm. And then his blade is free, whistling down at the shoulder of Vortag...
You attack Vortag with your Longsword...
Your attack against Vortag moderately wounds him!
Aearon unwields Longbow.
Aearon puts on Metal Shield.
[Vortag(#28392)] Vortag\'s furious onrush has betrayed him. His mace catches against the boy\'s sword, is knocked aside and in the frenzy of the moment, before he can recover, the orc feels the bite of steel slamming into his shoulder. The mail stops the blade from cutting flesh - but drives it deep into his skin. Momentarily incapacitated, the arm holding up his shield drops.
Snarling in rage, Vortag drags his mace back and hits at Turlach\'s legs.
Vortag attacks you with his Mace!...
...and he misses!
[Krugh(#32407)]
The third arrow but glances off Krugh\'s shoulder, a minor annoyance that he shrugs off. A malice-filled grin of half-broken teeth lights his face and he growls. \"Now, man-flesh, you are mine for a meal.\" A cackling laugh cuts through the streets as Krugh swings his axe, aiming to cut Aearon in two.
Krugh attacks Aearon with his Battle Axe and moderately wounds him!
Turlach is watching the orc\'s wrist -- the ruthless flick and turn of the mace-handle -- and dances back, avoiding a crippling blow. His eyes are wide -- the anxiety, the battle-sickness will return later -- for now, only flame courses through his blood. Then he darts forward again, stabbing at the momentarily lowered shield arm with a high-pitched roar of his own.
You blindly attack Vortag with your Longsword...
Your attack against Vortag moderately wounds him!
[Aearon(#16333)]
Grabbing his spear the Lieutenant leaps backwards have spinning trying to evade the attack of Krugh, though he does not jump back enough.. The Axe gives him a small gash upon the side.. Cause a bit of blood to start flowing from his side.. Grunting through the pain the Lieutenant shouts at his enemy \"You will die this night.. Foul beast!\" With that he thrusts his spear forward, aimed at Krughs middle.
Aearon attacks Krugh with his Spear and lightly wounds him!
[Vortag(#28392)] The point of the sword finds its way between the rings, and Vortag\'s arm begins to bleed. He yells, jerking his arm back, his face pulled into a furious grimace of hatred. With an effort, the shield comes back into place, and the orc leaps forward, swinging for Turlach\'s legs once more.
Vortag attacks you with his Mace!...
...and he misses!
[Krugh(#32407)]
Trog has made it to the shelter of pile of rock, where he continues to whine over the arrow stuck in his leg. Duog is not so lucky, with the patrol and Menelglir hacking into him, though the tracker is wiley and fighting back.
Krugh gives a viscious scream, the spear crushing into his middle. For a second he doubles over. And then, smiling cruely, he stays in this low stance to swipe his axe blade toward Aearon once more.
Krugh attacks Aearon with his Battle Axe, but he misses by an arm\'s length.
And once again Turlach\'s legs evade a well-pulped fate, darting to the left of the swing. A fell glare lights up the Man-at-Arms\'s expression as he looks upon Vortag, and he jabs forward, aiming for the shoulder of the mace-wielding orc.
You attack Vortag with your Longsword...
Your attack against Vortag moderately wounds him!
[Aearon(#16333)]
Once again lunging backwards the Lieutenant just gets out of the way of Krughs attack, seeing his enemy low he once again thrusts his spear forward, aimed for the face of the ugly beast, all with a loud grunt of effort.
Aearon attacks Krugh with his Spear and mildly wounds him!
[Krugh(#32407)]
The orc captain staggers back, the blow to his face momentarily stunning him. But he renews his attack, arcing the axe blade up and then down to try to cleave Aearon in half.
Krugh attacks Aearon with his Battle Axe, but he misses by a long shot.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Sidestepping just in time the Lieutenant once again dodges the Orc Captains attack.. Lunging forward he thrusts his spear at the Orc Captains middle once again shouting \"You will die filth!!\"
[Vortag(#28392)] Again. The same shoulder. The shock reverberates through the bones of Vortag\'s arm, and this time, he drops his shield. Cursing, he leaps back, arm hanging limp at his side. And instead of swinging, this time, the orc jabs straight on. Waist height. With all his strength.
Aearon attacks Krugh with his Spear and lightly wounds him!
Vortag attacks you with his Mace!...
...and he misses!
[Krugh(#32407)]
There\'s a moderate amount of blood seeping now from the uruk hai\'s midsection, but he grimly pushes on, trying to use his height and weight to force Aearon backwards into a stumble. Down swings the axe again, toward the man\'s shoulder. He speaks no words.
Krugh attacks Aearon with his Battle Axe, but he misses by a long shot.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Moving just out of the way of the axe with a grunt the Lieutenant once again thrusts his spear, this time aimed at the shoulder of the Orc Captain, a look of hatred in his eyes.
Aearon attacks Krugh with his Spear and mildly wounds him!
[Krugh(#32407)]
The orc captain laughs loudly, pressing forward with his attack once more, and once more aiming to Aearon\'s shoulder. \"Meat. Tasty meat. Do you have meat on your bones, pale face?\"
Krugh attacks Aearon with his Battle Axe, but he misses by a long shot.
\"Go away!\" yells Turlach, having little else to say to Vortag as he dances aside. \"Away with you!\" he says, sweeping the longsword broadly across at the orc.
You attack Vortag with your Longsword...
Your attack against Vortag badly wounds him!
[Aearon(#16333)]
Hearing the words of the Orc Captain the Lieutenant laughs at him saying \"I will burn your body this night.. Once I have thrust my spear through your filthy skull..\" while he leaps to the side once again, dodging the attack, then thrusting his spear again, aimed for the middle of the Orc Captian once again.
Aearon attacks Krugh with his Spear and moderately wounds him!
Daerthor has arrived.
[Vortag(#28392)] The sword cuts across Vortag\'s chest, just at his collarbone, where there is no mail to protect him. A long, though shallow, cut springs up behind, instantly welling blood. Still more furiously than ever, though weakened by loss of blood, and still with an arm he cannot use, the orc throws itself at Turlach. This time, he brings his mace back one-handedly, and then down - straight for Turlach\'s face.
Vortag attacks you with his Mace!...
...and he hits! Ouch!
ARB: You\'ve been injured for 4 hp\'s by Vortag\'s attack...
...you have 79 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.
[Krugh(#32407)]
\"Fat chance, skin and bones. You\'re good for only a soup, and a measly one at that!\" Krugh sneers. There\'s blood seeping through his mail and he grunts as Aearon hits him again, but doesn\'t seem ready to give up. Axe blade is directed with malice to Aearon\'s leg. \"You and your men...will die like the rest.\"
Krugh attacks Aearon with his Battle Axe and badly wounds him!
Turlach turns to the side, recoiling from the orc\'s suddenly close breath -- and the spiky bit of Vortag\'s mace rakes his cheekbone, leaving a bold red line. \"Go away!\" he repeats, shoving roughly against his shield in an effort to throw the orc off balance and away.
Unwielded: Longsword
You attack Vortag with your Bare Hands...
Vortag dodges your attack.
COMBAT - Wielded: Longsword
[Vortag(#28392)] \"Ha,\" Vortag grunts as the boy shoves his shield against his bad arm. He bares his teeth, sliding sideways and letting the force of the push go harmlessly past. A swat at the back of Turlach\'s legs with his mace.
Vortag attacks you with his Mace!...
...and you parry his attack with your Longsword!
[Aearon(#16333)]
Trying to once again jump out of the way of the axe the Lieutenant stumbles upon some of the rubble.. And with that the axe cuts into his leg, a gash opening up on his hip.. Grunting in loud pain the Lieutenant moves to the side with a limp.. And thrusts his spear at the face of the Orc Captain again.
Aearon attacks Krugh with his Spear, but he misses by a handspan.
[Daerthor(#31594)]
And then an arrow flashes from somewhere among the ruins, headed straight towards Krugh.
Daerthor launches an arrow...
Daerthor\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.
[Krugh(#32407)]
A gleam of victory in his eyes now, Krugh takes a menacing step forward, pressing his advantage, not even looking up as an arrow whistles by him. \"And now...this night is mine.\" He brings his axe down.
Krugh attacks Aearon with his Battle Axe, but Aearon parries the attack with his shield!
Turlach spins about even as he brushes past, countering Vortag\'s blow with a strike of his longsword. Once again he grits his teeth against the numbness, swiping the blade down along the mace-shaft and towards the orc\'s mailed chest.
You attack Vortag with your Longsword...
Vortag parries your attack with his shield!
[Aearon(#16333)]
Blood flows from the Lieutenants leg.. But as the Orc Captain attacks once again he raises his shield just in time to block the attack with a clash of shield on axe.. Gruning he thrusts his spear at the Orc captain again.. For his middle once again.
Aearon attacks Krugh with his Spear, but he misses by a mile.
[Daerthor(#31594)]
Urgently, the hidden soldier nocks an arrow and brings it up, taking a deep breath and aiming. The arrow is released, and flies towards Krugh again...
Daerthor launches an arrow...
Daerthor\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.
[Krugh(#32407)]
\"Ha!! You think a measly piece of rotting wood is enough to stop me?\" Krugh chortles, taking his time about pickign just the right spot from which to cleave the Lieutenant in half. The consideration is cut short, though, at a sudden cry behind Aearon: The remainder of the patrol, having taken out the two trackers, now splits into two groups--half heading to help Turlach, the other half rushing toward Aearon to defend the man.
Menelglir is among this latter group, and again, he is screaming some incoherent war cry as he rushes toward Krugh, sword and shield held ready.
The Orc captain, though, seems to reconsider the odds. He growls, he spits, he menaces his axe toward Aearon, and then he backs away: a slow step at first, then a full-out run for his life.
Vortag...well, he is left to fend for himself.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Hearing the war cry and seeing the Orc Captain flee the Lieutenant moves to the side, picking up his longbow he notches an arrow, as he draws it back.. His draw is slightly shaky.. His face is becoming pale.. It is apparent the blood loss from the wound to his leg and side are getting to him.. But he takes aim and releases the arrow.. Aiming for the back of the foul Orc Captain.
Aearon takes off Metal Shield.
Aearon unwields Training Spear.
Aearon wields Longbow.
Aearon launches an arrow...
Aearon\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.
[Daerthor(#31594)]
And again, the hidden soldier fires, desperately hoping for some sort of hit at the fleeing orc...
Daerthor launches an arrow...
Daerthor\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.
[Vortag(#28392)] The lad is slipperier than he appears, not only managing to twist around in time to stop Vortag\'s own hit, but sneaking one of his own in. It is by the best of good luck that the orc twists his wrist enough to block the blow on the hilt of his mace. He doesn\'t draw back this time, shoving forwards, using body weight and hoping to keep Turlach\'s sword trapped between them, where he can\'t use it.
Vortag unwields Mace.
Vortag attacks you with his Bare Hands!...
...and he hits! Ouch!
ARB: You\'ve been injured for 1 hp\'s by Vortag\'s attack...
...you have 78 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.
Vortag wields Mace.
[Krugh(#32407)]
Krugh\'s laughter as arrows land about his feet can be heard even as the orc runs away. \"Put some meat on your bones, Gondor boys!\" he cackles. \"Next time for the stew pot you are!!\"
\"Cousin!\" Menelglir cries out, coming up behind Aearon, the word said part in warning, part in scolding, part relief. \"You are hurt,\" he states the obvious. \"No time to be here and fight more.\" The Squire, though, gives a worried look to Turlach and the group of men that have gone to his aid.
Turlach pulls back for another swing ... and finds the blade caught. Confusion reigns utterly on his face for a moment as he struggles and pulls -- in vain. There\'s quite some strength in the orc.
You forego your chance to attack.
[Aearon(#16333)]
Dropping his longbow the Lieutenant falls to the rubble below.. His leg pouring blood.. Looking to his cousin he says \"Help he men Cousin.. I will be fine..\" reaching for his leg he uses his bloodied cloak as a bandage and begins to apply pressure.. Still bleeding.. But slower.. His face.. White as the snow.
[Daerthor(#31594)]
Sighing, Daerthor grabs another arrow and nocks it, aiming it at Vortag this time, frowning in concentration.
Daerthor launches an arrow...
Daerthor\'s bowshot hits Vortag, lightly wounding him.
[Krugh(#32407)]
In an instant, Menelglir is kneeling the snow besides the Lieutenant, a strip of linen procured from the pouch at his belt. He bandages the leg tightly, staunching the flow of blood, but his face is filled with anxiety even as he does so. \"Help me!\" he calls to those men not taken with keeping Turlach alive. \"Carry him to the garrison. I\'ve not the strength and if Turlach is as wounded he\'ll need me here.\"
[Vortag(#28392)] Triumph flames in ugly light across the orc\'s face. He shoves forward, keeping the same pressure up - but then, at the moment when he is about to scrabble for a dagger and cut the little snot\'s throat, he jerks back, losing momentum and position. A long slender arrow sticks out of his shoulder. It has not gone in far, but far enough.
ARB: Vortag has \"passed\" on his turn to attack.
[Aearon(#16333)]
As Menelglir bandages his leg the Lieutenant winces in pain.. Hearing the words of the Squire the Lieutenant says \"I wll..\" but is cut off as two of the soldiers reach down and pick the Lieutenant up.. Heading back towards the garrison.. As fast as they can, which is a decent pace.. Considering the size of the Lieutenant.
They are quite a distance out, their tracks meeting in the snow and mussed up by swift footwork. Turlach struggles with the sword, desperation beginning to dim his eyes. But the orc\'s activity suddenly pauses, and the Man-at-Arms takes advantage of this -- bringing up his shield arm sharply in an attempt to cuff Vortag over the head with the edge.
Unwielded: Longsword
You blindly attack Vortag with your Bare Hands...
Vortag dodges your attack.
[Daerthor(#31594)]
His eyes alight, Daerthor once again brings up the longbow, concerned for recently-frozen-and-subsequently-thawed Turlach. He frowns, aims, and fires.
Daerthor launches an arrow...
Daerthor\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.
[Vortag(#28392)] It is now that Vortag seems to realize - he is the only one left here. Surrounded by humans. All intent on killing him. Wide-eyed, he swings his head from side to side - an arrow flies past his nose - then whirls and legs it after Krugh.
ARB: Vortag has \"passed\" on his turn to attack.
For all his telling Vortag to go away, Turlach is reluctant to see him go. Taking up the longsword that was flung to the snow by the orc\'s flight, he dashes after the orc, an angry shout coming from his throat as he jabs forward at Vortag\'s back.
You blindly attack Vortag with your Bare Hands...
Your attack against Vortag mildly wounds him!
[Daerthor(#31594)]
So, too, does Daerthor string another arrow, reluctant to let any of the orcs get away while they are still within range. Pull up, nock, aim, fire.
Daerthor launches an arrow...
Daerthor\'s arrow flies wide, doing no harm.
[Vortag(#28392)] The tip of a sword prods Vortag into even greater speed. He will no doubt collapse as soon as he is to safety already, he is panting hoarsely, his face twisted in a rictus of pain. But for now - it is amazing how a jab in the back can help a fellow along.
Turlach gives chase still, straightening his wrist to gain a better grip on the longsword as he reaches forward to prod Vortag again. But the distance is growing...
[Vortag(#28392)] Vortag doesn\'t look behind, but he can hear the harsh breaths and pounding footsteps of his pursuer. Frantically, he tries to run even faster - and fails. Bone and sinew can only do so much. But it is at just this point when his foot hits a slick of ice. With a shriek, both feet go out from under him, and the orc is gone - sliding down a long slope at speeds far outreaching anything he could have made on his own. The landing might not be fun, but for now, he is safe.
Turlach wipes his sword on his cloak and returns to the rest of the patrol. It is halfway there that he begins to shake uncontrollably, stumbling the last few steps at the fiery rush wearing off and the sight of all that blood -- the Lieutenant\'s blood, and the sticky black substance of orc-veins.
[Daerthor(#31594)]
Abandoning his hidden post now, Daerthor quickly slings the longbow across his back and runs into the field, helping to move the injured. As he nears Turlach, he looms over the boy, brow wrinkled in worry. \"Turlach... Turlach! Are you badly hurt?\"
\"No, no no,\" smiles Turlach at the Master Scout. \"It was just ... so white, and I couldn\'t hear anything...\" the boy scrubs at the cut on his cheek, leaving a smear of red against the paper-pale skin. A little green, perhaps, from his first fight. \"I think I need to...\"
[Daerthor(#31594)]
\"You need to... what? ... oh. OH.\" Daerthor peers at Turlach in understanding, a half-smile forming on his face in sympathy. \"Try to bury it in the snow,\" he adds, somewhat dryly, while looking around. Most of the other soldiers have already fully retreated the bulky figure of Aearon is gone.
Nodding dumbly, the youth hurries behind a fallen wall -- ill retching sounds emanating from there as he refuses the majority of his last meal. Then he returns, wiping his hands and mouth of snow. \"Where is the Lieutenant?\" Turlach asks.
[Daerthor(#31594)]
\"He has been borne back to the fortification,\" says Daerthor grimly. \"And not without little effort on the part of our soldiers.\"
Pausing, he scans the near-empty area. \"Come, we must go back. We can talk on the way.\"