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Grimbold · 02-13-2003, 08:33 AM

It was time for the first patrol to move out. The fiery sun sank behind a low band of turbulent clouds. Handorth had assembled eight soldiers who would follow him out into the wilderness: they waited for one last soldier to join them. Handorth's patrol sat outside the cave, twirling their blades and preparing for the journey--their captain looked them over with a careful eye.

The redness of the sky deepened as the warriors prepared their supplies for the patrol-march. Three were mock-duelling in turns to keep up their mastery of the one-handed shortsword. Iron clanged on iron and beat on their shields as they fought each other back and forth across the paths. Handorth lifted his sword and joined them. He took the place of the third warrior and stepped into the battle.

Handorth threw out his shield-arm in a block which doubled as a powerful blow--his foe stepped back and tried to maneuver around him. Handorth lunged out with his sword and it made contact with his enemy's blade. He swung his shield again as he raised the sword and then slashed again. He fought in this way in close-quarters: alternating bashing with the shield and hacking with the sword. He soon had the other man half-running backwards to escape his onslaught. He stopped and turned to engage the other man, when he noticed something unusual.

Several Orcs had emerged from the cave. They were sickly-looking but furious with their curved blades and long-knives drawn.

"Orcs can't eat rotting bread and dirt you know!" said the leader. "We need flesh off the bone, and some squirming thing to pry it off of! You won't give it to us so we have to take it, you grimy mongrels!"

A second Orc stepped up and raised a wide crossbow. Handorth raised his shield and charged. He heard the arrow fly and saw it spear the man he had been fighting through the throat. He heard several Orkish war-cries as the angry ghouls screeched and howled and charged. Handorth felt a second arrow impact his shield, and the tip of the projectile punctured it and stabbed into his knuckle. As Handorth ran forward, he peered around his shield and located the Orc chieftain.

Handorth swung the shield back and launched it forward with all his strength. He heard and felt the satisfying crunch of cracking bone as he slammed the Orc's head with the corner of his diamond-shaped shield. The crossbow Orc stood just beyond. With two quick movements, Handorth slashed horizontally, spilling the fiend's innards onto the ground, and then back diagonally, removing his head and sending it spinning through the air. The rest of the men had made quick work of the remaining Orcs: they now lay like butchered meat on the earth.

Handorth ordered that the bodies be gathered and dropped at the cavern mouth--fresh meat for the Orcs.

02-13-2003, 08:33 AM	#36
Grimbold Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Númenor Posts: 88	It was time for the first patrol to move out. The fiery sun sank behind a low band of turbulent clouds. Handorth had assembled eight soldiers who would follow him out into the wilderness: they waited for one last soldier to join them. Handorth's patrol sat outside the cave, twirling their blades and preparing for the journey--their captain looked them over with a careful eye. The redness of the sky deepened as the warriors prepared their supplies for the patrol-march. Three were mock-duelling in turns to keep up their mastery of the one-handed shortsword. Iron clanged on iron and beat on their shields as they fought each other back and forth across the paths. Handorth lifted his sword and joined them. He took the place of the third warrior and stepped into the battle. Handorth threw out his shield-arm in a block which doubled as a powerful blow--his foe stepped back and tried to maneuver around him. Handorth lunged out with his sword and it made contact with his enemy's blade. He swung his shield again as he raised the sword and then slashed again. He fought in this way in close-quarters: alternating bashing with the shield and hacking with the sword. He soon had the other man half-running backwards to escape his onslaught. He stopped and turned to engage the other man, when he noticed something unusual. Several Orcs had emerged from the cave. They were sickly-looking but furious with their curved blades and long-knives drawn. "Orcs can't eat rotting bread and dirt you know!" said the leader. "We need flesh off the bone, and some squirming thing to pry it off of! You won't give it to us so we have to take it, you grimy mongrels!" A second Orc stepped up and raised a wide crossbow. Handorth raised his shield and charged. He heard the arrow fly and saw it spear the man he had been fighting through the throat. He heard several Orkish war-cries as the angry ghouls screeched and howled and charged. Handorth felt a second arrow impact his shield, and the tip of the projectile punctured it and stabbed into his knuckle. As Handorth ran forward, he peered around his shield and located the Orc chieftain. Handorth swung the shield back and launched it forward with all his strength. He heard and felt the satisfying crunch of cracking bone as he slammed the Orc's head with the corner of his diamond-shaped shield. The crossbow Orc stood just beyond. With two quick movements, Handorth slashed horizontally, spilling the fiend's innards onto the ground, and then back diagonally, removing his head and sending it spinning through the air. The rest of the men had made quick work of the remaining Orcs: they now lay like butchered meat on the earth. Handorth ordered that the bodies be gathered and dropped at the cavern mouth--fresh meat for the Orcs. __________________ Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountains. Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west. Behind the hills, into shadow. How did it come to this?