Nikolos, Danica, and Ventus
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The Imperial way of fighting involves getting in close with a wall of shields, and then using the short sword for quick and controlled thrusts into the body. The Dorinthians play by different rules, preferring to use their spears to hold an enemy at bay while the archers do their work.
Ventus adjusts to the new tactics, and signals a small reserve of men from the southern end of the exterior defenses to rush forward and meet the orcs where they are beginning to break through. His family sword is buried deep into the ribcage of an orc that he pushed against a barricade with his shield. With bloody blade held high, Ventus rallies spare soldiers into pushing the orcs back over the barricades.
All the while, Danica, Cal, and a hundred archers ply their own deadly trade. Every time the groups of archers let loose another volley over the barricades the sound of injured orcs ring out. The attack begins to peter out, and the orcs can be heard regrouping on the other side of the barricades.
Nikolos follows Ventus close, keeping the Tallione man from harm more than once, and helping to pull the injured out of the way so that they may recover and fight this battle once more. He sees one particularly older and larger orc on top of the barricades and casts a detect thoughts spell. The priest detects fear and some confusion in the creature's thoughts and reports to Ventus what he finds. The battle does not go as easily as the orcs had thought. Also, it seems as if they were expecting elves and half-elves, and not battle-hardened humans this far north. The orc is looking for a place to breech the human defenses and is focusing hard at your sparsely defended southern flank. He is considering reporting it.
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Dartis and Barok
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Your hearts grow cold in fear and worry as Silas' defenders cease firing arrows over the barricades at the incoming orcs. Have the archers run out of ammo or were they somehow wiped out? It looks as if you can still see spear and halberd tips peeking out in defense of the barricades, though. This halt in firing gives the orcs a better opportunity to form up for an attack, and they push harder.
Though still at the maximum arrow range, Dartis orders a couple of volleys to be fired. It does prove a minor distraction, as you can see some of the orcs closest to you peering in your direction in confusion.
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Silas
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The abjurer's laughter increases when one of the orcs comes from over the barricades and slashes at him but instead connects with his shield, causing sparks to fly. Silas' return swing crushes the warrior's windpipe and the battle mage coolly steps over his corpse.
On examination, it is plain to see that the loss of his archers has quickly turned the battle against the mage and his army. His defenses are beginning to bow inwards, and Silas realizes that if he can't find a way to turn the tide again, either he will need Caramip to disobey his last order and return with the archers or a miracle from the heavens.
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Caramip
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You arrive at the creek's bank just in time to take control of the situation. A few dozen orcs are coming at you from the creek by swimming across the deep body of water. "Diraak", Caramip utters the command word and waves her newly grabbed wand at the deepest part of the creek. She uses it repeatedly to coat a larger area (5 charges used).
Although it's not impossible to see inside or outside the magically created darkness, it does make the sighting of the enemy much harder. The swimming orcs have the hardest time, though, as Caramip's archers fire either at the noise of their surprised shrieks or the slightest hint of orc in the dimness. Soon the orcs have either drowned unable to find dry land or been made into pincushions. None reach the Dorinthian side alive.
The gnome smiles, but then looks back to where Silas last stood. The mage is still there, fighting with his staff, although his line is beginning to buckle. There doesn't seem to be an easy way to get the people across the creek. On the other hand, it is evident that Silas' defenses will fall shortly unless aided.
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