Remnants of the Horde-Flight from Aruth

[deadestdai]

For the first time in a year Vespazian dreamt. He dreamt of the battles won and the slaves garnered thereof. He dreamt of a woman..... A snuffling woke him. Eyes opening suddenly, his love was forgotten in a second.

Rat! What is it? His annoyed words cut through the inky silence in his room. From beneath his bed, a snout appeared, closely followed by the rest of the overlarge rat's ridged body. The dire rat looked up to it's master. It noyzzze master. It not sound sayfe

Vespazian leant toward the window - outside he could hear fighting from the Muragar barracks. Nothing unusual there. Then he heard the Gulgathan's son's words. So the freak had managed to bond with the rest of the ogre-beasts.... Vespazian turned to his most trusted of servants. Rat, sleep. This something I sort. Sleep. The mental message was as simply put as he could muster so his pet could understand properly. He almost liked the vermin - if only it wasn't so stupid. Tomorrow he would have it spy on the wizard, Vespazian was sure he shouldn't trust anything the freak did.

 

[Velenne]

Dawn breaks over the sparsely-manned but newly-decorated walls of the Keep. Durgo rises just before the sun and isn't surprised to find the gnoll shay-man on a pallet in the corner already growling prayers to Yeenoghu. They would need the mojo this day.

It is during these pre-dawn hours that the Muragar goes first to check on the scouts. His first few minutes of peace and reflection were thusly broken, and once again, Durgo was angry. But Durgo was always angry about something. Elfies was comin'. Fast, dem was comin', always too fast.

Looking around, he knew the Keep's paltry force would be utterly useless. But what did Durgo care? Let them all die here (except the Muragar, of course), just as long as he got to Shay-man Big-big in Castle Zuregath. His eyes narrow and turn to look at the central spire where the hoo-man slept.

Minutes later, his tromping boots come to a stop at the hoo-man Captain's quarters. He gives the door a single, solid *thump* with the side of his fist and pushes it open. If the hoo-man tries to sound smart, Durgo talks over him. If the hoo-man wasn't there, Durgo finds him and talks to him privately.

"Tonight, elfies squish Keep like bear," he says, mashing two enormous fingers together in front of him for effect, "and Durgo no gonna be here when dat happun. You come to Castle, dat fine wif Durgo. You stay and die...hmf, dat fine wif Durgo too. Stay or go, Durgo's troops and Muragar waiting outside north gate... in one hour."

Again, the ogre accentuates his point by holding up a single thick finger. He then leaves the hoo-man to hold his own council and searches out those under his command.

First the wizard, so that he could get his choice of the best pillages. Then the gobbie scouts (he consideres both to be his charge now), whom he outfits from the loot as he sees fit. Then the Song Speaker, whom he does for likewise. To Tsu'koka, he also gives the order to meet outside the Keep to the north. Then comes the Muragar, with whom he begins by bellowing in their native language,

"WAKE UUUUUUUP! ON YOUR FEET YOU LAZY...SLOPPY...WEAK GOBBIE-KIN!!!" He grabs the nearest ogre by its neck and stands it up. "Hoo-man may give Muragar gifties, let dem sleepy late, BUT NO DURGO!"

He grabs the same ogre by his shoulders and sizes it up contemptably, "Look at dem's arms! PUNY!" He shoves the ogre backwards onto its hindquaters and moves onto the next one, "You ever see Muragar big as Durgo!? NO! CUZ DER IS NONE! And when Durgo done wif you's... YOU BE MIGHTY TOO! Grab's you's things...faster! Faster, Durgo-no-wait-all daaaay! Sloppy! Weak! GOBBIE-KIN! Maybe Durgo let gobbies eat Muragar if dem's so weak and sloooow!"

His bellowing done, Durgo waits for them to go about the barracks and rummage out their belongings before sneering down their pitiful excuse for a line. And, as usual, Bargo was the worst. It almost made him regret giving the Storm Giant's axe to the half-breed. He saw how the bastard slept in a bed, and oh how Gruk must have hated sleeping on the floor like a gobbie. Good. Durgo knew nothing motivated Muragar like a little competition.

"You's coming North wif Durgo. Dis no place to die for Muragar," he says at last, nodding, "Gruk carry Muragar gear in back. Bargo take point. Outside dat Gate, no Muragar fighting Muragar... or Durgo end fight. We go."

And with that, he goes to meet the rest just outside the Keep.

 

[Uriel]

Morning comes and with it a new day to die.
Wekerak and Blaught had been in and out all morn just prior to the rising of the accursed Sun, keeping tabs on the elf lines. They were a scant few miles away now.Ten at the most and moving fast. Chariots and calvary in the front and at least 2 of the nasty owl-Riding Wizards.
Wekerak and Blaught cared not for this tur of events, as a fast oblin could always get away if he left the slow and stupid behind.

The Muragar had been up early, kicked and berrated by Durgo, staggering out in a haze with the hangover from the previous night still thick in their heads. Had anyone cared to check (doubtful in the current situation), they would have seen that the Ogres drank not only all three kegs of Dwarf Whiskey/Ale, but a dozen bottles of rare elvish wine that had been in the larder, property of Captain Vespazian.

Kurg fell in beside Durgo as he stormed up and down the lines, yelling at Muragar and Hobgoblins (who, at least were sober).
Bargo's head felt like he had been hit my a boulder, like that one time a stoopid Hill Giant did that to him. A Hill Ginat that wuz Dead now, Hu,hu,hu... Ouch, laffing hurt Bargo's head even more.

Vespazian awoke and surveyed the situation, the bellowing Ogre yelling at the pitiful remaining troops.What a loud beast it was...

Tsu'Tsoka gathered his things and stepped out into the morning, watching as the Ogre tok charge in the yard. He was an uncouth brute, though with a little advisement and direction, he could make a decent Leader. The Hobgoblin caught sight of vespazian on the wall, pulling on his riding gloves, a cool and calculating look upon his face as he surveyed the situation down below.
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Forlash looked up from the Map, bleer-eyed. Chuckling to himself, he smiled. So, That is how the former WIzard got out of here...there was a Portal closeby, how could those in charge not know of it. Stupid Humans and Ogres. Damn them, but they were dense beasts. Only 5 miles away with enough power 9hopefully) to transport this motley lot far enough away that the Elves were a distant memory.

Stepping out into the brighness of the day, Forlash grinned as he moved off to share (or not) his newfound Knowledge...

 

[deadestdai]

Vespazian had hardly acknowledged the Ogre Captain's words once the brute had burst into his rooms. He continued looking out of the Keep's Southern window, half expecting to see the Elven Legions on the horizon ready to swamp the Myrach Keep with ease. Perhaps it was time to..... Durgo's troops and Muragar waiting outside north gate... in one hour. Vespazian brought himself out of his thoughts and called for his goblin servant to help him on with his armour.
As the small beast set about buckling the pieces of the precious cold steel about him, shivering as it did so, Vespazian thought about the coming journey to Castle Zuregath. With Zuregath reportedly slain, his enemies would see his death as an opportunity to take his lands for their own. Yrendol would make bargains to appease them no doubt and still keep his new found seat of power, albeit as vassal to one of the Iron Kings. This would mean that there could be enemies all along the journey from the Keep. Elves at the rear, and who know's what ahead?

His armour now firmly about him, the goblin servant moved to the wall and brought it's master's axe over, hands almost blue after so much exposure to the Captain's magical gear. You are free to leave slave. The Goblin's eyes lit up and it turned toward the door to get back to it's cozy alcove under the stairs. Vespazian's axe split the creature in two before it's hand could reach for the door handle and the Captain reached toward it's dead fingers to retrieve the rings it had tried to steal, slipping them over his own. He shook his head and kicked the pieces of corpse aside, opening the door and hissed for Rat to follow him outside.

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A breeze blew in over the short parapets as Vespazian looked over the troops gathered below. With so few they would be lucky to make it to the first cross-roads. Still, with Zuregath's leadership, the Myrach forces had a chance to turn back the Aruth Legions, and if the Dread Lord saw that Vespazian had his hand in helping the Iron King to force back the elves..... The rewards would be "quite" considerable. Smirking to himself, Vespazian looked to the Muragar leader, Doiger, Doogo....? He'd need to learn these newcomer's names, perhaps.
Gulgathan! The Muragar have the honour of guarding the rear of our column. You and your men are up to it I assume? Vespazian looked questioningly at the Ogre, his voice loud enough for all gathered to hear. He turned to the Hobgoblin Marshall. Leiutenant, get the men in, two abreast and have your riders range ahead of the column a little as skirmishers. Corporal Blaught, you and..... Vespazian tried his best to remember the other Goblin Rider's name, and failed miserably. "YOU" He emphasised who he meant, pointing at the ugly gob who rode the large wolf-thing. I want you both to scout on ahead. We need to know what is waiting for us on, if anything. I want no surprises Corporal. Swiftly leaving the wall, he walked up to the Song Speaker, ignoring the troops with disdain as he went, especially the Muragar captain. Mounting the DireWolf that had been prepared for him he went on, Tsu'Tsoka, I would have you ride next to me. Your council would be most welcome. Lastly Vespazian looked about for the gross squat figure of the hag-spawn. Wizard!? Have you anything to say or offer before we leave? Rat crawled up and over the Captain's back, crouching over his left shoulder, ready for the journey.

 

[ferretguy]

As he stepped out into the castles courtyard, Forlash looked at the motley crew gathered to escape from the elven army. The ogres holding their heads while being yelled at by Durgo, while the others tried their best to look like some type of military force was actually quite amusing....
As he came closer to the troops, he noted that the commander of these military jokes was busy yelling commands that most of them barely understood (of course, it may be different if he noticed that most had fingers in various orifices instead of listening to him)....hmmmm...Wizard,Have you anything to say or offer before we leave?
Looking up at the Human staring down at him with a condasending look no wonder the other wizard left....idiot! Forlash grinned Well of course Great Commander, going over the maps I did happen to note a way out of here....A Gatewaylies to the northeast which I do believe would help us leave in a more effective fashion

 

[deadestdai]

Forlash grinned Well of course Great Commander, going over the maps I did happen to note a way out of here....A Gatewaylies to the northeast which I do believe would help us leave in a more effective fashion

Vespazian wasn't sure the stunted freak was being altogether truthfull, but he wasn't about to argue, what with the small Myrach force's predicament being so perilous. He nodded toward the wizard, Then we should strike toward the gate. Holding his hand high and bringing it down to signal the advance, he shouted, To the northeast! Our hope lies there!

 

[Uriel]

OoC
Assuming there is no argument from Durgo...

IC

Exiting the doomed keep, the group makes it's way out and northeast to where Forlash is sure some portal exists.

the Ogres and Hobgoblins are nervous as they jog along. Not because there are enemies behind; they have long ago learned to deal with the reality of death in battle. No, they feared the Unknown, and that is just what this path represented.

Behind could be heard the sounds of destruction, as the ELves hit the keep not a half an hour after the Myrachians abandoned it. there was no sign of the Owl-Riding Mages, so perhaps they were busy elsewhere.

Coming between two low hills, the Company comes to rest in front of a pair of Columns, these resembling two long serpents coiling around pillars of skulls, all rendered into the basalt of the Column.

Power radiates from these, and even Bargo and Durgo feel the Mojo.

 

[Capellan]

Wekerak watches the posturing of the commanders with amusement. Every pack needs an alpha male, as any wolf-rider knows. The human needs to stop tryin' to throw his weight around, or he'll find out that muragar weigh a lot more'n he does. The goblin smirks crookedly at the thought.

Feeling Frostbite's hackles rise at the sight of the basalt gate, the goblin fights down a similar reaction in himself.

"There'll be rivers of blood and mountains of meat, on the other side." he mutters. It may or may not be true, but it's an pleasant thought, even with his stomach and saddlebags laden with supplies from the keep. Roast elf, with the skin seared crisp, and the flesh still bloody ...

 

[Velenne]

From the rear of the column, Durgo and the other Muragar watch for signs of elfie scouts. Hoo-man knew where the enemy would come first, so he put the mightiest troops there and put himself farthest away! Cowardly hoo-man!

As the sounds reach his dull ears, the Gulgathan becomes uneasy. Forsaking battle for mojo was completely alien to his thinking only a few weeks ago, yet he had recently come to appreciate its use more fully.

Durgo can be heard tromping up to the front when the portal comes within view. He eyes is suspiciously and then turns his gaze down to the wizard.

"Dis it? No look like portal to Durgo. Hurry up, wizard! Open! We go!" He includes Tsu'koka in his gaze, having seen the hobbie cast spells previously. Even Kurg gets a hurried gesture, rounding out the Muragar's experience with known spellcasters.

 

[ferretguy]

Feeling the power radiate from the portal makes the hag-born dwarfs patches of hair stand on end, his eyes seeing the waves of magical energy shimmering off the basalt columns...Certainly Captains...just give me a little time to decifier these runes to activate this portal.... Moving up to the columns Forlash looks to find a way to open the gate..

OOC: so is this a spellcraft or a Knowledge Arcana Mr. Uriel?