Remnants of the Horde:The Return of Zuregath

[ferretguy]

Looking to the fallen paladin and then to the cloud of creatures heading to the castle, Forlash repliesAt this distance, sir, I also cannot tell what these creatures are. My magic is not of the distant seeing type, but since our scouts have not returned I suppose I could go and survey the situation...although I would like it to be known not to strike at me when I come back..
The twisted dwarf hunkers down and gathers energy for his spell allowing his body to change once again into a bird, but this time into one meant for battlefields, a raven. Cawing loudly to the captains, he takes off for the castle trying to get a better lookout on the situation..

 

[Uriel]

Wekerak
The Bugbear grunts at his troops and they gather their things. The Gnolls immediately move to the front, loping alongside you as the hobs fall-in in a sad immitation of Order (there are only five of them, after all).
Moving off back the way that you came (Blaught is still missing), you quickly reach the area that you left your Band, to find them hunkered down in various holes and behind volcanic slag heaps. The only sound is Bargo gibbering at his Sword, as ever.
At least the idiots have seemed to finally used their tiny brains and have stopped standing about in the open as before.

***********************************************************

Main Band

After a half an hour or so, Wekerak comes padding back upon Frostbite, the hobgoblins on dire wolves flanking him, although there is no sign of Blaught.
As well, a large Bugbear and a trio of Gnolls are with him, as well as five Hobgoblins. All have the look of Castle Troops (except for the Gnolls, who seem to be hunters of some sort).

The Bugbear stops before the group and addresses Vespazian (who clearly wears Captain's Bars).'You are Durgo, I take it? The Corporal mentioned that you had a plan to strike at Bevrokk's forces? Where is your army,Captain...?'
The Bugbear looked about displeased and let down, clearly having expected some large force to liberate the castle. He speaks in deferrential tones, as is proper, although his tone carries a hint of doubt as to what is going to transpire next. Of course, he had also addressed the wrong Captain as Durgo...

***********************************************************

Forlash

Winging your way across the landscape, you notice many stragglers upon the plains, most in the livery of Zuregath, though a few you are unsure of.
Closer to the castle, there are great piles of bodies and carnage of all sorts; blackened and charred spots blasted from the Earth, melted landscapes and piles of destroyed armor and bones,sure sings that powerful Energies were expended in the Siege. Upon the wall, pockets of warriors fight, and it seems that the castle is held by both sides, with different forces holding different parts.

Having never seen Castle Zuregath before,you are rather awed by the sheer magnitude of th structure, with soaring towers and walls a hundred feet high in some places. Perhaps an army of Giants built this place...
What you know of the Iron Kings is that Zuregath is (was) one of the strongest, with perhaps only Dessa Greentongue the Lich and Fyllgryr Hellspawn (rumoured to be an exiled Pit Fiend,if your Mother's stories be true...) as mighty as he.

Although much of the Castle seems damaged extensively, most of it remains intact.
Upon one of the lower walls, a number of Minotaurs and Trolls are fighting against an equal number of Ogres (Muragar), with one particularly huge Ogre in the forefront, a mace nearly the size of Durgo's Maul smashing to and fro, killing Minotaurs with every hit. Nearby, a flying gang of Fire and Steam Mephits jeer at the Trolls, spitting flame upon them as the Muragar dispatch them. The forces of Zuregath seem to be faring well in this battle until you notice a small door (that wasn't there a moment ago) open at their rear. A slight form slips out of the doorway and raises a crossbow,firing it at the back of the Muragar Captain.
The massive Ogre straightens and then stiffens, his Mace falling away and down the face of the Wall, his body trailing after, dead before he even left the Wall.
The assassin disappears again within the door even as the Minotaurs and Trolls renew their attack, as if they had been waiting for just this event...

The cloud spotted from the hillside appears to be a flock of Gargoyles and several Erinyes Devils, currently engaged in battle further up the Wall with a number of Drow mounted upon Dire Bats.
Which side each of these serves is a mystery at this point.

 

[Uriel]

.......................................

 

[Jeremy]

Bargo fails to hold in a chuckle that comes bubbling out his lips in a strangled gurgle as he looks to the hoo-man and Durgo.

"Hu hu hu...." The big giant can't wait to see what Durgo will do.

 

[doghead]

Troops, Tsukoka thinks upon the arrival of the Bugbear and co. A motley bunch to be sure, but a beginning perhaps?

Then Tsu'koka hears the Bugbears words. While he is standing a little way away with the Marshall, he is close enough to catch what is said. He too finds himself holding his breath in anticipation of Vespazian's reply.

 

[Velenne]

From behind a nearby mound of slag, an enormous Muragar rises at the sound of approaching troops. But when the bugbear talks to the hoo-man first, Durgo is not amused. His voice drops deepens ominously while rising in volume, vibrating the black ground at their feet,

"I am Captain Durgo, Muragar and Gulgathan."

Though some in this company have heard the ogre name himself such before, he seems to have better mastered the art of the entrance recently. His voice carries further and shakes one's very bones. The dark pall cast over his face promises a swift and brutal death to any who defy him. The point is accentuated further when he steps forward and his shadow passes over the bugbear Marshall.

"Why Zuregath army not inside castle? Who leading dem," he indicates the chaotic fields below, "and where Shay-man big-big? Durgo need find him first."

 

[doghead]

Tsu'koka releases his breath. He had not realised he had been holding it. The best outcome, it was probably. But not the most entertaining.

He returns his attention to the Hobgoblin Marshall.

"The battle below, what do you make of it?"

 

[Jeremy]

Bargo at first is taken aback by Durgo, Where him get fancy cape? Capes for sissies, why Durgo wear something with frills? But it seems to work for him, he talks like someone in charge, almost like Varn did. It still doesn't stop him from blowing air out disappointed when Durgo doesn't squash the buggie or at least make a big stink.

He looks at the hoo-man and grins. Maybe he start somethin'... Bargo giggles a little maddly.

 

[Uriel]

The point is accentuated further when he steps forward and his shadow passes over the bugbear Marshall.

"Why Zuregath army not inside castle? Who leading dem," he indicates the chaotic fields below, "and where Shay-man big-big? Durgo need find him first."

OoC:I never said he was a marshall, but that is moot.

IC
The Bugbear looks suitably admonished at Durgo's entrance, giving Wekerak and Vespazian a rather disgusted look. Turning to Durgo and nodding briskly, he says 'Our army was attacked from within as well as without. Drow and other things unknown came at us from below whilst Bevrokk's forces assailed us from outside. As you know,Gulguthan,the forces at our disposal were much less than prior to Great Zuregath going off to war. It is almost as if bevrokk was waiting for this War to happen to make his move. I have my suspicions about traitors in the ranks, but they remain merely that without proof.
As far as who is leading them, Bevrokk's own Son does lead them, a Minotaur with Fiendish Blood in his veins.I saw him once on the wall.He threw a hill giant over the parapet with a laugh, before killing a dozen of our soldiers.Alas, that was just prior to the spell that tore me from the walls.That must have been five hours ago, and we have been out here every since, trying to think of a way top get back in.As for your Shay-Man, I know not which you mean.

 

[Uriel]

He returns his attention to the Hobgoblin Marshall.

"The battle below, what do you make of it?"

Marshall Sroka, quiet until now, looked at the distant battle with disdain.
Without taking his eyes from the sight, he says to Tsu'Tsoka 'It seems that the enemy has taken the lower Wall. Although they may be inside at various points, the upper levels look to be in our hands yet. If we can find some of our engineers upon the plain amongst the stragglers, they may be able to find us a way in.As it stands,unless we can all fly, and that cloud of monsters that the Hag-Dwarf went to spy upon looked unfriendly as far as that option goes, we are stuffed,Sir.'