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Blood stained banner
The Barrens looked almost beautiful, the solitary trees rising out of wide-open savannah, only interrupted by the occasional rocky outcrop, grass waved in the light breeze that was the only usual source of cool air in the sun-baked land.
Scout recon Thorgrim Grudgebearer frowned, stepping up onto one of the rocky outcrops and looking out behind him, the waving grass had been flattened by the plated boots of Infantry soldiers, so much so that you could see the route which they had taken, it wouldn't take much to track them.
But it wasn't his intention to not be tracked.
He offered his hand to his spotter - Oléf Forgebeard - as the latter clambered up onto the rocky outcrop with Thorgrim, the hand was accepted and with little effort at all Thorgrim pulled Oléf up onto the outcrop proper, and they looked at the land ahead of them.
Oléf grunted, and pulled off his helmet, wiping at the sweat on his forehead. Thorgrim however did not remove his helmet, merely standing there with arms folded and his cloak rustling slightly in the breeze.
Hrmn. Have the men rest around this outcrop, Oléf. Whilst we wait for Braegor and Torwin to return.
Aye, sir. Oléf replied, tapping his hand to his head in a salute before turning and hopping down from the outcrop. Shouting, louder than was really necessary, for the men to take a few minutes of rest. Most of them sat down where they stood, only taking a few steps to join their own friendship groups, removing skins of ale and water along with rations of dried meat.
Some, mostly Recruits, woefully undermanned as the section was, had the sense to take up positions around the group of roughly forty, whilst the two Priests of the detachment that were skilled in healing began to see to any blisters or sunburns.
The other two Priests, a Dark Iron Warlock and a Bronzebeard priest, began arguing, spurred on by the six or so Wildhammer Auxilaries that had joined the detachment without their gryphons, who were thrilled to see such a confrontation.
Meanwhile, Thorgrim continued to scan the horizon, he stood there for quite a while, and he was about to give up and simply wait with the men when he spotted two, roughly dwarf shaped, shadows step from the bushes of a nearby tree and begin to jog across towards him, one with a slight limp, the other looking over his shoulder as he jogged.
Thorgrim waited, simply staring at them as they neared, when they were finally close enough both tapped their hands to their heads in salute, with Torwin accepted a skin of ale from a Recruit and pouring it down his throat. He earned a sharp glance and a smack over the head with a mailed fist by Ironbreaker Braegor, who then turned back to face Thorgrim, pulling himself onto the rocky outcrop.
Horde raiding party, about... Hrmn... Thirty-nine of them, picked up our trail, managed to pull them about so they'll meet us coming from the opposite way. He pointed at the rough location where he and Torwin had come running from.
This place is as good a place as any to meet them. What's their force composition ?
Mostly orcs, a few tauren and trolls, only one magic wielder from what I could see, though with their shaman wearing the same wood and mail armour as their warriors, I might be wrong.
Thorgrim nodded, and turned his head to look at Braegor. How did Torwin perform ?
It took Braegor about twenty seconds to reply.
Adequately.
Thorgrim nodded again and turned to face Oléf as he joined them.
Get Galstan to plant the banner up here. Tell the men we're not moving until the Horde scum is eradicated.
Oléf grinned. Aye, sir ! and turned to start shouting, not even bothering to move down from the outcrop. One Stoneguard near to the outcrop pushed himself up, bustling to bring up a pole with wrapped cloth at the top of it up to the outcrop. And with a nod from Thorgrim the Stoneguare slammed the banner into a crack on the outcrop, ensuring it was secure before unfurling it. The crossed, runed axes of the Khaz Modan Infantry, laid over Ironforge Mountain, set on a tough cloth of stark crimson colour, was revealed for all to see. Thorgrim nodded once more.
Thank you, Galstan. Join the others. the Stoneguard silently saluted and hopped down.
You know the usual drill, Forgebeard. Braegor, you're in command of the Recruits. Torwin! Get to that tree yonder and inform me via walker when the Horde are in sight, then fall back here to join the Recruits.
Torwin nodded and set off on a run.
TO BE CONTINUED
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It did not take long for Torwin to report in over the walker.
Alert, Thorgrim ! These buggers seem to o’ been joined by… Another group of abou’… Twenty.
Thorgrim frowned and looked down at Braegor and Oléf who looked back, both had heard.
Then both burst out laughing, and Thorgrim grinned as Oléf shouted out Twenty extra Horde, lads! Ha! They think they can beat –us- with that? Let’s show them, eh ?!
the entire dwarven force yelled back with enthusiasm YES !, the sound of their united yells was glorious, and a flock of birds from a nearby tree fluttered up into the air at the noise caused. Then Oléf was shouting again.
Quiet ! Quiet ! Let’s have an even split either side of the outcrop. Ironbreakers in front, the line should be six wide on each side, with four in the second line as reserve with rifles drawn! That’s Ironbreakers only ! Recruits split in two and stay at either side, just behind the Ironbreakers lines! Your job is to – only- kill Horde that try to flank us ! Auxiliaries split between the two groups! Priests ! Offensive casters up here with Thorgrim, you’re taking orders from him ! Defensive casters split between the two Ironbreakers lines!
The Infantry bustled into action, a little slower than Thorgrim liked, but still, they got in position eventually. And Torwin had now reached the outcrop, saluting. Well done, Torwin. Go and join Braegor.
The slightly out-of-shape scout nodded and continued to jog off. And it wasn’t long before the Horde burst out of the long grass in front of the outcrop, quickly forming into a rough battle line, beginning to roar and slam weapons against shields or scrape them against another weapon held in the opposite hand. The dwarves were unphased.
Thorgrim snorted derisively at the sight. Such a disgusting, savage way they have of attempting to proclaim their superiority, don’t they ? Let’s give them our reply.
Simultaneously, the Ironbreakers in the front lines slammed their right feet into the ground twice and then locked their shields together, before shouting back at the Horde with a single, united, FOR KHAZ MODAN !, whilst behind them all the rifle wielding Recruits and Ironbreakers fired a single shot from their rifles into the air.
And the Horde force quietened. Thorgrim grinned again, Now that the proper processes have been seen to. Let the duel commence. he proclaimed.
The dwarves waited. The only sounds being the rustling of armour, the clicks of rifles, the fizzle of magic or the rustle of the banner behind Thorgrim.
Then with a single, savage orcish word the Horde force surged forward, yelling, in common this time, FOR THE HORDE ! Thorgrim once more grinned, almost manically, and waved his hand to the two Priests either side of him. Both began chanting, holding their hands above their heads, then with a single command word, both different, they made movements with their hands like they were pulling something from the sky.
Shards of ice and boulders of fire began raining on the charging Horde force. They reacted with shock and stuttered to a halt, though only one of their numbers had been slain.
They began to reform again. Their charge broken. Thorgrim chuckled darkly at the sight.
The Horde reformed and came again, this time holding shields above their heads. Thorgrim heard Braegor cackle this time before shouting an order: - FIRE !
The eight rifles of the second rank of Ironbreakers, along with Braegor’s own, discharged, firing at the now unprotected front rank of Horde.
Two were scythed down, the others injured. The charge was broken again, Thorgrim watched carefully. Five of the force moved up to the wounded, their hands glowing with healing magic as they saw to injuries. He looked down to Braegor and Oléf, both nodded.
Enough playing with them. I know you want a fight. And a fight you shall have, sons and daughters of Khaz Modan! LET THEM COME! Thorgrim shouted, and the reply was a resounding, and very loud and unified YES !.
The Horde began charging for a third time, with another cry, though this time a little trace of uncertainty could be detected in the usual fear inspiring FOR THE HORDE !.
It was not long before the force impacted with the shield wall. They were thrown back a first time, then a second, the third attack caused two gaps to appear, but these were plugged. One troll clambered up the rocky outcrop, eyes set on the banner, Thorgrim regarded the troll evenly, and brought his hammer down, the troll was still in the process of climbing up and could not parry the attack. The hammer crunched against the skull and the body went limp, still half clinging to the rock. Thorgrim placed his right boot against the arm of the dead troll and contemptuously pushed it away, the body falling down to the ground, blood and brain matter leaking from its shattered head.
At this point two groups of eight and nine Horde soldiers respectively were breaking off to attack the flanks. Thorgrim watched with savage glee as all of them were torn apart by rifle shot, lightning and hammers. Either outright dead or too heavily wounded to move. A call went up in the Horde warband and it backed off a few steps before turning and running.
Thorgrim tilted his head to the side, silent whilst the rest of the Infantry shouted and jeered at the retreating troops. He turned to the Priests.
Eradicate them both nodded, Soni was quicker, summoning a line of runes in the path of the retreating Horde, any Horde soldiers, about half of them, that crossed the lines were frozen on the spot. Soni then quickly chanted another command word, and the ice blocks shattered, along with the Horde inside them, bloodied pieces of ice flew everywhere. Panicking the remaining Horde, who milled about in confusion.
Thorgrim observed carefully. There were still moans coming from injured Horde. He gave the order, flicking his hand towards the corpses. His Sergeants nodded, and gave the word to the other soldiers to begin dealing death blows to injured Horde. Prisoners of war were not taken.
Eradicated.
The General beckoned for Galstan, who nodded and pulled the banner free from the rocky outcrop, errant blood splattered upon the cloth.
He turned as his Sergeants approached.Were they from any unit we know of ? both shook their heads Average regulars, sir. Likely from the Crossroads. was the reply from Oléf.
Casualties ? was the next question.
Four Ironbreakers dead, two Recruits. About twenty-one wounded, three seriously.
Thorgrim snorted.
Acceptable. And our bloody axe strikes deeper into the heart of the Horde. We'll start moving back to base camp.
