Durgo and Company
Setting off once again, Durgo and Bargo, as well as Kurg,Nilgo and one nervous remaining Muragar head ever closer to the Castle. At one point, Kurg runs up excitedly, pointing at a nearby rock outcrop. Axesand spears can be seen, and soon, many orc and Goblin faces are peering out, curious as to who these lumbering Giants upon the plain are.
As the band draws closer, a burly (for an Orc) Orc strides out of a rank of orcs, all dressed in the gear of Zuregath's Troops, and levels a glare at Durgo.
'Me Noggrag,me leader of Redfist Orcs here, Zuregath's finest!. The defiance in the Orc's tone is evident, as evident as his stupidity.
As Durgo is drawing himself up to kill this stupid porker and bargo is tittering at how much blood will be spilled across the plains, Sgt Nilgo steps forward, saying 'Captain...if you will allow me to discipline this Fool. Without waiting for an answer, Nilgo moves forwards with a speed suprising given his armor. Smashing the Orc across the chest with his Morningstar <34 including Sneak>, Nilgo drops the haughty piggie with one blow. Turning to the other Orcs (and Goblins, who cower behind the Orcs 'Red Fist Orcs serve Zuregath. I am Sgt Nilgo of the Castle,scum.You serve he who I serve now, Captain Durgo, Muragar Gulguthan and Zuregath's Champion! Now fall in line, you worthless pigs, or it's the Pot for the lot of you,we have a Castle to retake!' <Intimidation roll 26 total against their save of '1'>
The Orcs squeal in alarm as they line up as best as they can, while the goblins move forward, showing that there are ten of them, all archers armed with short composite bows.The thirteen Orcs seem to be skirmishers of the sort that Zuregath throws at the enemy by the thousands.
Nilgo moves back, saluting Durgo and snarling at the new draftees.
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Wekerak
Moving across the Plains, Wekerak spots a group of Orcs <7 of them>, barbarians from the Red Fist tribe, one of several tribes subservient to Zuregath.
As well, he can see a couple of Mephits (they look to be Magma or perhaps Fire? Wekerak can never tell the difference, they all look pretty much the same).
Zuregath employed (enslaved?Was there any difference...?) Mephits by the hundreds, if not the thousands in his armies. These two could be his troops or they could just be displaced from one of the surrounding volcanoes...
The Orcs and Mephits were some disance off from one another and hadn't seemed to have noticed each other (The mephits were busy touching any little bit of grass or anything else that they encountered that might burn), cackling all the while...
Vespazian and main band
The Hobgoblins marched along silently, their lockstep a welcome and refreshing sound compared to the doldrum that Vespazian had been subjected to at the Keep. Sroka kept a good Company,it seemed.
The gnolls had moved off to scout on the edges of the path that the band had taken and the Wolf Riders (the one given Vespazian's mount seemed able enough to ride) had moved off with Wekerak.
Rat chittered in Infernal about how grand it would be if Vespazian ruled all of this delicious and abundant territory.The Dark Powers would surely favor him over a dead Sorcerer...he only had to find their ear and ask...
The Blackguard's Reverie is inturupted by an alarmed yell from around a small hill.
Two Gnolls came racing back around it, yelping and barkingan alarm.The screaming on the third could stilll be heard behind them.
Instantly Sroka abrked an Order and the Hobs reacted, the ones in from lowering spears and bracing their shields, a half dozen racing to surround Vespazian. The remaining rank behind drew arrows and awaited whatever lay beyond the Hill...
Around the Hill strode a massive Giant, with the Gnoll dangling from it's huge grip. A Fire Giant, dressed in the livery of Zuregath, it's black Iron Plate adorned with a red dragon. The Giant stopped and snorted, dropping the Gnoll (who quickly yelped and ran for the Ranks),Leaning on his massive Axe, the Giant said,looking right at Vespazian 'It is going to take a lot more troops than this to retake the Castle, Captain...'
