In the hill top ruins
Fredar finds himself free of the clutching plants and in amoung the stunted bushes and brambles in the south east corner. He's not so sure its a great exchange. He scrambles through, getting a few scratchs and tears for his troubles, until he comes to a small open space. On the other side of the last bush, about 20 feet away, are the orcs. There is just enough room to swing a sling, and a clear line of sight. He winds up and lets loose moment before Nate plows into the fray. The bullet strikes the shaman a crunching blow to the torso. The Shaman grunts in pain despite the armour.
Hadarook takes a steading breath and draws his bow. The arrow cuts another bloody mark onto the orc. This time he draws a grunt in recognition of his efforts, but little more.
Nate needs only a couple of strides and he is upon the orcs. His blow is brutal and crude. But the sheer force of it nearly knocks the orc warrior to his knees.
The warrior, ignoring the dog at his feet, turns hammers the blacksmith straight back {1}
The orc shaman screams something and stabs at the dog at his feet. He sounds decidely unimpressed. Even more so when the animal ducks his attack.
The orc warrior to the east hurls again, but it goes wide, or high, or something and is not seen again. The warrior turns and begins running south along the wall.
The dog snaps at the shaman, catching his arm and tearing bloody gashes in it.
The shaman glances up, turns and runs. The dog takes the opportunity to take another bite out of the shaman. He latches onto the orcs leg and the shaman stumbles and the two of them crash to the ground a tangle of bloody legs and arms.
The hippogriff swoops low over Nate and the last remaining orc warrior. Nate feels the heavy rush of wind as the creature passes overhead, its claws inches above their heads. Nate's too far gone to even flinch, but the orc does.
Craddoc rips himself free of the plants that had been holding him for so long. His roar of triumph is cut short as he notices that the plants are reaching out for him once more.
The goblin shaman barks something at the rider beside her and lightly vaults off her worg and begins bounding in the in the direction of Cromwell's body. Meanwhile, her beast surges forwards and plows through the orc taking out its throat and leaving a bloody body sprawled in the dirt.
The goblin rider and his worg bound past Nate. The beast tears great tracks in the ground as they cut out of the gate and around the corner, heading for the fleeing orc to the east.
End of Combat ... but not quite the end of the story.
Nate howls a curse at the creature which had stolen his opponent. Nate mace swings up and stops quivering slightly. The worg turns and looks at Nate knowingly. There is no fear there. Its more like ... anticipation.
Nate flings his mace down. He stands motionless for a while, panting and shuddering occasionally. {2}
A little way down the hill, Garival and another man who you haven't seen before emerge cautiously from the trees. Garival carries his sling, and the other man a crossbow, loaded.
The goblin shaman reaches Cromwell. She places her hands at his thoat, then removes them with a slow shake of her head. She looks over to her worg, Nate, and back to her worg. She motions with her head, and the worg sets off after the other rider.
The dog extracts himself from the body of the orc shaman. The animal barks a few times, then dissapears.
{1} Nate has lost 4 wounds and is lightly wounded (no penalties to rolls)
{2} Nate makes his willpower save and successfully surpresses the beast within.