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Sniktch's Story Hour Prelude - From the Beginning (UPDATED 04/22)
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<blockquote data-quote="Sniktch" data-source="post: 415457" data-attributes="member: 7704"><p><strong>The supply wagon</strong></p><p></p><p>Welby crested the hill and held up his hand to halt the others. Squinting into the wind, he could make out figures moving in the icy field below and he discovered the fate of the supply wagon. A heavily cloaked figure struggled to lead an overburdened horse off of the road, his shouted curses just barely reaching Welby’s ears over the wind. Two large brutish humanoids in fur lined scale mail stood watch with greataxes held ready. The two sentries were distracted by the efforts of their companion, pointing at him as he wrestled the horse and laughing. Around them in the snow lay the wreckage of the wagon and the corpses of the townsfolk who had been its escort. Patches of crimson stained the otherwise pristine white plain.</p><p></p><p>Welby crept back behind the hill to the others. He held up three fingers and explained, ”All people dead. Two pig-snouts with axes watching third drag horse off road. They not watch close.” </p><p></p><p>The others considered this information. Eli spoke first, ”If I understand our diminutive savage correctly, the bandits, for I assume they are such, will be easy to take unawares. We should hit them hard and fast – though we outnumber them, orcs, as I guess them to be, are nothing to underestimate in battle.”</p><p></p><p>Ike spoke next as the others tried to comprehend the long-winded elf. “I think I agree. I think we should try to outflank them. I’m sure Welby and I could sneak around to the side and catch them in a crossfire. We should try to take them out with our bows if possible, it’ll be a lot less dangerous than facing those axe-men up close.”</p><p></p><p>Jack scowled, “Bah, I ain’t scared o any two bit orc swingin an axe. Only three? I say charge.”</p><p></p><p>The Crow joined the discussion. “No, I agree with the others. From what Welby told me, orcs are responsible for my current condition. With the distance separating us, to charge would be to give away all the advantage we have. I’m all for Ike’s plan.”</p><p></p><p>“Agreed,” Eli said, “Ike and Welby, try to take up position. We will start firing on the creatures at the count of one hundred – wait until they are focused on us and then join in.”</p><p></p><p>Welby nodded, then he and Ike began creeping away as the others took up position near the top of the hill.</p><p>__________________________________________</p><p></p><p>Marsem Trember let out a stream of foul oaths as he struggled with the packhorse. The ambush had gone flawlessly, the townsfolk falling quickly to his crossbow and his hired orc thugs. However, this had to be the most stubborn animal he had ever encountered, and his bestial allies were absolutely no help now.</p><p></p><p>“Well, don’t just stand there gawking!” he shouted at them. “Help me drag this stinking animal off the road! We need to get out of sight.”</p><p></p><p>He triggered only more laughter. These two were enjoying his discomfort far too much; he would have some words with their warboss when they returned to the cave. Marsem Trember was not going to accept being laughed at by two simple brutes. If his brother had been present, he would have already disciplined the pair, but Aldin had stayed behind to continue the excavations, and he did not trust the orcs’ loyalties enough to push them while he was alone.</p><p></p><p>What was that sound? “Silence!” he snapped. The orcs quieted and he heard it clearly, a faint battlecry coming from the low hill to the west. He heard another voice briefly, “No, wait Jack, damn it!” and then a crossbow bolt cut through the air, plowing into the snow about ten feet short of their position. Following the direction the bolt came from, Marsem saw an armored dwarf charging through the knee-deep snow, brandishing his axe overhead. Behind him, partially shielded by the crest of the hill crouched two more figures, one furiously reloading a crossbow and the other aiming a longbow in their direction.</p><p></p><p>“Take that dwarf,” Marsem commanded the orcs, then dropped the reins of the horse and picked his already loaded crossbow off of the ground. Training it in the direction of the longbowman, Marsem mumbled a string of arcane syllables, using magic to sharpen his eyesight and give him devastating accuracy on his next shot. An arrow whistled through the air and ricocheted off one of the orcs scale mail vests, drawing a howl of rage, and then Marsem returned fire. His bolt flew straight and true, and the archer fell back behind the hill with a strangled cry. A satisfied grin spread his lips, and he began invoking the spell again as he hurried to reload the crossbow</p><p>________________________________________</p><p></p><p>“What a stubborn ass,” Ike mumbled to Welby as the battle began. “I should’ve realized he’d be too prideful to allow this ambush to work right.” Welby simply returned his gaze for a moment, then looked eagerly back to the fight.</p><p></p><p>The pair lay in a low drift, watching the action unseen from several yards away. The two orcs had rushed to meet Jack’s charge, while the third figure had picked up a crossbow and began firing upon the Crow and Eli’s position. Things were not going well. Eli had gotten one arrow off before the man had taken him down with an amazing shot, both Ike and Welby hearing the hoarse scream from the elf. The Crow’s first shot had come in low and he had not fired a second – Ike guessed that he was busy now tending to the wounded elf. As he watched, the enemy crossbowman raised his bow and fired a shot between the two orcs. It took Jack in his left shoulder, and the dwarf’s charge slowed as suddenly his shield arm hung weak and useless at his side. Jack shouted a dwarven oath and urged the orcs to “come and get some.” </p><p></p><p>Ike turned and whispered to Welby, “Alright, then – it looks like Jack is going to need some help against those orcs, the idiot. Try and sneak in close and get involved in that combat, I’m going to go after the crossbowman.”</p><p></p><p>Welby started to run towards the combat in a sort of half crouch, trusting on his size to get him close to the combat unseen. Ike turned his attention back to the reloading crossbowman and realized that he had spotted Welby. He had reloaded the crossbow and brought it to bear on the scurrying halfling, and was chanting something in a strange tongue. Ike felt a shiver creep up his spine. Spellcaster! At least his attention was diverted – maybe Ike would get close enough to strike unseen. He dropped to his belly and began to wriggle closer through the snow.</p><p></p><p>Jack slowed at the last moment and accepted the orcs charge. He parried the first axe strike out wide and sidestepped the second opponent. Unfortunately, the movement carried him between his foes and he could no longer see the movements of his second opponent. He quickly brought his knee up, driving it into the first orc’s groin, causing it to wheeze and double over. His axe flashed and he buried it in the orc’s thick skull, then spun around, trying to pull his weapon free and raise a defense.</p><p></p><p>Too slow. As he turned, the other orc brought its own axe in a wide sweeping arc that smashed into his ribs, driving the links of his chainmail deep into his flesh, tearing skin and fracturing ribs. He collapsed gasping as the orc prepared to deliver an overhand strike that would surely end his life. Why hadn’t he followed the plan? It seemed now he would pay for his folly and pride with his life.</p><p></p><p>As the blow descended, a small form burst through the snow and caught the downward stroke on the blade of its own battleaxe. Jack sighed in relief as he saw Welby standing over him, blood dripping from a crossbow bolt imbedded in his side. The halfling seemed oblivious to the pain, and stood facing the orc with his face contorted with rage, blood-flecked foam spraying from his lips as he leapt towards the orc with a deep-throated roar. The orc hesitated, stepping back from this fierce little demon, and then its chest erupted under the force of Welby’s stroke, the air filling momentarily with a warm red spray. </p><p></p><p>Marsem Trember was afraid. He let fly and saw another bolt imbed itself in the halfling warrior, knocking the small form backwards but not off its feet. Now he was out of spells and would have to rely upon his own skill to fell the two fighters closing in on him, and he seemed unable to even hurt this small savage! It was definitely time to return to his brother’s side and the safety of the rest of the orc band – these two could not catch him in a race now. He dropped the crossbow and made about a dozen leaping steps before he saw the figure explode from a snow bank, crossbow leveled at him. A scream of fright and astonishment burst from his lungs, then the crossbow bolt struck a glancing blow to his skull and darkness took him.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sniktch, post: 415457, member: 7704"] [b]The supply wagon[/b] Welby crested the hill and held up his hand to halt the others. Squinting into the wind, he could make out figures moving in the icy field below and he discovered the fate of the supply wagon. A heavily cloaked figure struggled to lead an overburdened horse off of the road, his shouted curses just barely reaching Welby’s ears over the wind. Two large brutish humanoids in fur lined scale mail stood watch with greataxes held ready. The two sentries were distracted by the efforts of their companion, pointing at him as he wrestled the horse and laughing. Around them in the snow lay the wreckage of the wagon and the corpses of the townsfolk who had been its escort. Patches of crimson stained the otherwise pristine white plain. Welby crept back behind the hill to the others. He held up three fingers and explained, ”All people dead. Two pig-snouts with axes watching third drag horse off road. They not watch close.” The others considered this information. Eli spoke first, ”If I understand our diminutive savage correctly, the bandits, for I assume they are such, will be easy to take unawares. We should hit them hard and fast – though we outnumber them, orcs, as I guess them to be, are nothing to underestimate in battle.” Ike spoke next as the others tried to comprehend the long-winded elf. “I think I agree. I think we should try to outflank them. I’m sure Welby and I could sneak around to the side and catch them in a crossfire. We should try to take them out with our bows if possible, it’ll be a lot less dangerous than facing those axe-men up close.” Jack scowled, “Bah, I ain’t scared o any two bit orc swingin an axe. Only three? I say charge.” The Crow joined the discussion. “No, I agree with the others. From what Welby told me, orcs are responsible for my current condition. With the distance separating us, to charge would be to give away all the advantage we have. I’m all for Ike’s plan.” “Agreed,” Eli said, “Ike and Welby, try to take up position. We will start firing on the creatures at the count of one hundred – wait until they are focused on us and then join in.” Welby nodded, then he and Ike began creeping away as the others took up position near the top of the hill. __________________________________________ Marsem Trember let out a stream of foul oaths as he struggled with the packhorse. The ambush had gone flawlessly, the townsfolk falling quickly to his crossbow and his hired orc thugs. However, this had to be the most stubborn animal he had ever encountered, and his bestial allies were absolutely no help now. “Well, don’t just stand there gawking!” he shouted at them. “Help me drag this stinking animal off the road! We need to get out of sight.” He triggered only more laughter. These two were enjoying his discomfort far too much; he would have some words with their warboss when they returned to the cave. Marsem Trember was not going to accept being laughed at by two simple brutes. If his brother had been present, he would have already disciplined the pair, but Aldin had stayed behind to continue the excavations, and he did not trust the orcs’ loyalties enough to push them while he was alone. What was that sound? “Silence!” he snapped. The orcs quieted and he heard it clearly, a faint battlecry coming from the low hill to the west. He heard another voice briefly, “No, wait Jack, damn it!” and then a crossbow bolt cut through the air, plowing into the snow about ten feet short of their position. Following the direction the bolt came from, Marsem saw an armored dwarf charging through the knee-deep snow, brandishing his axe overhead. Behind him, partially shielded by the crest of the hill crouched two more figures, one furiously reloading a crossbow and the other aiming a longbow in their direction. “Take that dwarf,” Marsem commanded the orcs, then dropped the reins of the horse and picked his already loaded crossbow off of the ground. Training it in the direction of the longbowman, Marsem mumbled a string of arcane syllables, using magic to sharpen his eyesight and give him devastating accuracy on his next shot. An arrow whistled through the air and ricocheted off one of the orcs scale mail vests, drawing a howl of rage, and then Marsem returned fire. His bolt flew straight and true, and the archer fell back behind the hill with a strangled cry. A satisfied grin spread his lips, and he began invoking the spell again as he hurried to reload the crossbow ________________________________________ “What a stubborn ass,” Ike mumbled to Welby as the battle began. “I should’ve realized he’d be too prideful to allow this ambush to work right.” Welby simply returned his gaze for a moment, then looked eagerly back to the fight. The pair lay in a low drift, watching the action unseen from several yards away. The two orcs had rushed to meet Jack’s charge, while the third figure had picked up a crossbow and began firing upon the Crow and Eli’s position. Things were not going well. Eli had gotten one arrow off before the man had taken him down with an amazing shot, both Ike and Welby hearing the hoarse scream from the elf. The Crow’s first shot had come in low and he had not fired a second – Ike guessed that he was busy now tending to the wounded elf. As he watched, the enemy crossbowman raised his bow and fired a shot between the two orcs. It took Jack in his left shoulder, and the dwarf’s charge slowed as suddenly his shield arm hung weak and useless at his side. Jack shouted a dwarven oath and urged the orcs to “come and get some.” Ike turned and whispered to Welby, “Alright, then – it looks like Jack is going to need some help against those orcs, the idiot. Try and sneak in close and get involved in that combat, I’m going to go after the crossbowman.” Welby started to run towards the combat in a sort of half crouch, trusting on his size to get him close to the combat unseen. Ike turned his attention back to the reloading crossbowman and realized that he had spotted Welby. He had reloaded the crossbow and brought it to bear on the scurrying halfling, and was chanting something in a strange tongue. Ike felt a shiver creep up his spine. Spellcaster! At least his attention was diverted – maybe Ike would get close enough to strike unseen. He dropped to his belly and began to wriggle closer through the snow. Jack slowed at the last moment and accepted the orcs charge. He parried the first axe strike out wide and sidestepped the second opponent. Unfortunately, the movement carried him between his foes and he could no longer see the movements of his second opponent. He quickly brought his knee up, driving it into the first orc’s groin, causing it to wheeze and double over. His axe flashed and he buried it in the orc’s thick skull, then spun around, trying to pull his weapon free and raise a defense. Too slow. As he turned, the other orc brought its own axe in a wide sweeping arc that smashed into his ribs, driving the links of his chainmail deep into his flesh, tearing skin and fracturing ribs. He collapsed gasping as the orc prepared to deliver an overhand strike that would surely end his life. Why hadn’t he followed the plan? It seemed now he would pay for his folly and pride with his life. As the blow descended, a small form burst through the snow and caught the downward stroke on the blade of its own battleaxe. Jack sighed in relief as he saw Welby standing over him, blood dripping from a crossbow bolt imbedded in his side. The halfling seemed oblivious to the pain, and stood facing the orc with his face contorted with rage, blood-flecked foam spraying from his lips as he leapt towards the orc with a deep-throated roar. The orc hesitated, stepping back from this fierce little demon, and then its chest erupted under the force of Welby’s stroke, the air filling momentarily with a warm red spray. Marsem Trember was afraid. He let fly and saw another bolt imbed itself in the halfling warrior, knocking the small form backwards but not off its feet. Now he was out of spells and would have to rely upon his own skill to fell the two fighters closing in on him, and he seemed unable to even hurt this small savage! It was definitely time to return to his brother’s side and the safety of the rest of the orc band – these two could not catch him in a race now. He dropped the crossbow and made about a dozen leaping steps before he saw the figure explode from a snow bank, crossbow leveled at him. A scream of fright and astonishment burst from his lungs, then the crossbow bolt struck a glancing blow to his skull and darkness took him. [/QUOTE]
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Sniktch's Story Hour Prelude - From the Beginning (UPDATED 04/22)
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