Session 27: “Attack when you’re stronger….” Or “Ok boys, I’m mounted lets go”

19th Day of Firemoot, Thunderday. (Part 2)

Hagnulf reported it was difficult to get closer to the walled enclosure but there was a blind spot opposite the Orc sentry on the tower.  Plans were made and preparations completed. Fargrim was deep in spiritual prayer as a shimmering shape took form beside him. After awhile the shape took the form of a boar, a giant boar. Fargrim seemed to be in conversation with the boar as he turned to the group and informed them that this was Skane Brokentusk, his mount, a gift from Morradin. He swiftly mounted the boar and led the group towards the furthest tower from the Orc sentry.

The group gained the cover of the tower as the rain which had been threatening to fall since they left Wyvern Tor plummeted to the earth. Skirting the tower along the south wall they came to a gap where a portion of the wall had collapsed. As Fargrim led the way, mounted on Skane, across the rubble area Skane suddenly let out a squeal of pain as his leg plunged into a spiked pit trap causing him considerable pain and injury.

Bandur pushed on into the compound and was amazed at the height of the building in the centre. Following a fence, with haystacks on the other side, he came to a corner and peered around. He could see 2 Orc sentries approaching fast. They charged towards him pulling swords out as they moved to attack.

Ardan remained by the tower watching along the west wall. Uthal plunged into another trap as he pushed forward to leap over the fence into the haystack area. The fence collapsed under his weight but he kept his footing. Beorwulf charged across the gap in the wall towards the fence. Hagnulf remained on the outside to provide cover.

Fargrim, still mounted, pushed on to support Bandur. Orcs were pouring out of the south west tower and 3 Ogres from the north west tower, all moving towards the group. A group of goblins, who had been resting in the haystacks suddenly sprang into action firing arrows at the Beorwulf, Uthal, Fargrim and Bandur.

Fargrim and Bandur defended against the Orc attack as javelins thudded around them. Hagnulf killed a goblin, Uthal killed a Goblin and Beorwulf charged into a haystack, thrusting up with his sword but getting nowhere close to the goblin he was aiming at.

The alarm had been raised and Orcs poured out of tents and the south east tower, the main building and the north east tower. The Orc leader bellowing his instructions and the guard in the gate joined his charge too.

Orcs lay dead at Bandur and Fargrims feet as 2 Ogres charged home. Uthal dispatched more Goblins so too Hagnulf. Beorwulf burst out of the haystack and moved to the fence to engage a 3^rd Ogre.

The haystack area was cleared of Goblins, Hagnulf moved along the south wall to engage the Orcs there. Uthal saw the same line of Orcs moving towards them and charged them to slow them down. Beorwulf was not doing well against the Ogre as Bandur and Fargrim tried to fight off the other 2 Ogres. Fargrim had to dismount and tell Skane to find somewhere safe as the boar had been hit hard by 2 javelins and was near death.

Uthal was now fighting 2 orcs as Hagnulf killed a 3^rd then withdrew to safety. His move drew the attention of 4 orcs away from Utahl. Ardan moved down the west wall and engaged the Orcs from outside. 3 Orcs turned to attack and he was forced to withdraw. The Orcs followed.

Beorwulf went down, hit hard. Fargrim and Bandur killed the 2 Ogres facing them. Hagnulf killed another Orc and withdrew again. Uthal was fighting like a Goliath possessed, in rage, and fighting his hated foe, Ardan cast a spell of darkness around him. The Orcs charged into total darkness unable to see. Fargrim and Beorwulf saw a group of Orcs charge into view, stop, then form a battle line 3 deep. A large Orc with a 4th Ogre by his side flanked by Orcs to the front, a line of Orcs behind then the Shaman they hunted, in the rear. A volley of javelins arced towards them. Bandur fell to the floor, dying from 2 javelins that had pierced his armour. Beorwulf lay dying as the Ogre turned and attacked Bandur and Fargrim.

Uthal tried to disengage and his ploy worked as the Orc swung and missed, he was now in a narrow gap where the orcs could only attack 1 at a time. Hagnulf was surrounded fighting 3 orcs off. Ardan was down, after a lucky swing by an orc had hit him. Fortunately the wildly swinging Orcs in the darkness had also killed one of their own. Fargrim dispatched the 3^rd Ogre and carried Bandur to safety, healing him by laying on hands. Bandur stood and turned to thank ‘his shinning one; when 3 javelins took him down again, Bandur crashed to the floor dying, again. Beorwulf was dead. 

Uthal broke off and followed Fargim's command to withdraw managed to get on the outside of the wall to assist Hagnulf killing the Orcs surrounding him. Fargrim again healed Bandur with his laying on of hands and pushed the dwarf outside the walls. Fargrim killed an Orc that was attacking Ardan then killed the last Orc attacking Hagnulf. 

A quick look around and Fargrim saw they were in the clear, he led the retreat in the rain back towards the hills. He looked back, but in the rain could not see if they were being followed.