Midnight: A Lost Faith's Shadow. Book 1, The Awakening. Chapter 1, The Charge

[Hrothgar]

Before the Heroes can consider the wisdom of starting a fire in hostile country, dark figures break from the forest, spreading out into the grasslands. Orc horns roar in the night, the orcs directly behind the Heroes. Lightning flashes again above, briefly illuminating the orcs in their black armor with heavy vardatches raised. Shouts go up, orc bloodlust running high at the sight of their quarry. Smaller shadows bound next to the orcs, avoiding the orcs' massive girth. Goblin trackers! Little wonder they were so quick to find the Heroes trail, not to mention the bloody mess left by Melin in the forest.

The orcs charge directly toward the heroes, not more than one hundred yards away.

OOC: Since no one has said otherwise, I assume the Heroes are still standing in the grasslands, outside Caft's ancestor ring and its faint, green luminescence.

 

[Krug]

Starhl goes towards the ancestor ring. "Go there.. quickly!" says the barbarian. Normally he would fearmagic, but the ancestors might be able to aid the heroes.

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Valurel peers into the darkness, his superior vision allowing him to make out the Orcs and their Goblin lackeys more vividly. He growls low in his throat, resisting the suicidal urge to charge his enemies. Charge them, and then rip and tear until they are dead. He forces his baser urges down, knowing he will only get himself and his newfound companions killed.

When Starhl says to go to the glowing place, he eyes it warily. Casting a quick glance back at the charging Orcs, he makes his decision. "Go, go!" he says, trying to herd the others towards the glow and the ring of stones while covering their retreat at the same time.

 

[Ranger Rick]

Brian mind has grown tired from the stress of running away. His will being weakened by the blowing of horns, he stands there dumbfounded. The muscles growing heavy and sluggish as he stands there transfixed. Upon hearing someone make a descision and shout a command, Brian awoke from his tupor and than headed towwwards the glowing ring. "Come on everyone," he shouted, "tis better than being caught by the orcs."

Brian heads toward the ring.

 

[Bobitron]

Kaela grasps Aislinn's hand tightly and runs after the others, fear filling her mind.

 

[elapse]

Into the great wide open...

Reznik
Reznik moved with his companions into the grasslands. He could not believe that the goblins were able to track them so quickly. He made mental note to take more care when it came to hiding bodies. From now on it would be crucial to minimize any trail they left.

Unfortunately, the orcs were closing on them. There was less than a hundreds yard between the two groups and the rag-tag group of refugees was burdened with a corpse and a near catatonic young girl. Reznik drew his blades as the small band ran farther into the grasslands. He chanced a glance back occasionally in an attempt to learn the size of the hunting party that pursued them, as he formulated a plan to confront the orcs if they continued to give chase.

OOC:
Spot +4

 

[Hrothgar]

The Heroes of Caft scrabble up the shallow rise to Caft's ancestor ring. Lightning above illuminates the fire-scorched ground in the ring, the stones blackened by cremating fires. Ash blows in the wind, filling nostrils and eyes. In the grasslands, over one score of orcs charge up the rise to the stone ring, fang-filled maws gnashing and frothing.

As the Heroes decide on their next course of action, the closest orc almost fifty yards away, a heavy blast of wind strikes, almost knocking the heroes to the ground. Aislinn lets out a scream, as Kaela and Aislinn disappear from view.

 

[Krug]

"What the...?" shouts Starhl. He will run after Kaela and Aislinn and try to grab them. What are we fighting? The very winds are against us!

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Reluctant to turn his attention away from the rapidly closing Orcs, Valurel rips his eyes away from them and turns his attention to Aislinn and Kaela. He runs to where they disappeared, in his typical animalistic crouch, hoping that the very ground hasn't opened up and swallowed them or something worse...

 

[Ranger Rick]

Brian runs into the ring looking for the two that are missing.