Lost Scout

[Frundette]

Snaga had expected resistance and had to drop the club to regain his balance, opening a small path to the human. He dipped down long enough to grab the mace again and turned to Aelfric, ready to fight the sword wielding man.

Aelfric took advantage of the orc reaching down. His sword had barely left its sheath and he brought it up quickly toward the orc's chest. Regardless if the strike worked or not, he rushed to the left, trying to lunge between Snaga and Barash, hoping to get away before the rest of the orcs caught up to them.

 

[StarrNico]

Aelfric took advantage of the orc reaching down. His sword had barely left its sheath and he brought it up quickly toward the orc's chest. Regardless if the strike worked or not, he rushed to the left, trying to lunge between Snaga and Barash, hoping to get away before the rest of the orcs caught up to them.

Snaga roared in anger as the sword cut his chest, rising to cut his cheek as well. He stumbled back a little, giving Aelfric the time he needed to get through. Snaga shook his head and picked up the mace, giving chase.

 

[Frundette]

Snaga roared in anger as the sword cut his chest, rising to cut his cheek as well. He stumbled back a little, giving Aelfric the time he needed to get through. Snaga shook his head and picked up the mace, giving chase.

Not knowing how many of the orcs would follow, Aelfric did not want to lead them toward Strider and the girls and so as he sprinted away, he ran south, hearing the heavy footfalls of the orc behind him.

A few moments later, Mulush and the rest of the orcs spotted Snaga pursuing the human. Mulush, excited by the prospect of having a new slave in his collection, wasted no time trying to put out the fire, leaving the task to the others and instead followed after Snaga.

 

[StarrNico]

Not knowing how many of the orcs would follow, Aelfric did not want to lead them toward Strider and the girls and so as he sprinted away, he ran south, hearing the heavy footfalls of the orc behind him.

A few moments later, Mulush and the rest of the orcs spotted Snaga pursuing the human. Mulush, excited by the prospect of having a new slave in his collection, wasted no time trying to put out the fire, leaving the task to the others and instead followed after Snaga.

Snaga didn't look back to see if any followed him, he was too intent on catching the human. He would growl every time he got close and swing the mace to try to knock Aelfric out or down, but kept missing.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Gytha kept a carefully blank expression at his statement about a romantic relationship, not wanting to offend him by showing she found the idea revolting. But she focused instead on the bit about Gomez knowing things about the orcs and about the prisoners. "What is it that they are after? Do they intend to attack Wedmor? Or our young settlement?"

"What do you think they want?" Gomez asked, noticing her blank expression. "They are a greedy breed, the orcs. Want, want, want... all want, but never give. These woods used to be there's, until you moved in next door. You... Wedmor... among others, and more to come! They don't take kindly to sharing, you know. And," he looked back at her slyly, "what easier way is there to fortify your camp then to capture the enemy and force them to do the work? The orcs are not very smart, but that-- that was well thought out. I'll give them that... at least from an orcs point of view. Maybe not so smart for you..."

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Vorgak hadn't expected the human to turn and charge toward him and had no time to knock another arrow to the string. Instead, he dove to the right, rolling out of the way of the horse and the sword, but cursed to himself as he realized that gave the human an unguarded escape route.

"Idiot," Orkhan growled as Vorgak dove to the right, leaving an open path for the horse to escape. Still a couple of strides behind the fleeing animal, he pulled out a large dagger from the sheath on his belt and threw it towards the mare's butt. If it made contact, at least the pair would not get far.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Ruby struggled against her bonds once again, using the liquids that she had been covered with to try to give her wrists the slickness she needed to free them. She noticed the distraction of the cook and wanted to be free before whatever had distracted her came in. She froze when she saw her father come in the doorway, low and fast.

The cookhouse was dim and smoky from the poor ventilation and lack of windows. The fire and pot were in the center of the floor, suspended from a crude wooden structure. The stew inside was bubbling and boiling, producing a foul smell inside the hut in addition to the smoke. Around the outside, up against the walls were various 'tools' that were used in the cooking process, they included dirty dishes, animal bones, etc. Until his eyes adjusted, the far side of the hut would have been invisible to Strider, but after a moment he would have been able to see the metal cage, and the faint outline of the kill table on the far side away from the door.

Danielle was suspended from a wooden beam, her hands tied tightly above her head. Her head was down and her eyes closed. Ruby was facedown on the kill table with a rope tied around each leg, one around her neck and the one remaining on her hands which were still tied behind her back. Both girls were sticky with tree sap, and had feathers sticking out in all directions. The most noticeable thing, however, was that both of them were also covered in pig's blood. It was soaked into their hair, covering their skin and dripping onto the dirt floor. The scene gave an image of death, and a rather gruesome one at that. Ghegari was nowhere to be seen.

 

[StarrNico]

Strider looked around before rising from his crouch. Slowly he made his way to Ruby, cutting the ropes from her. He was surprised that she moved to get up from the table. "Ruby" was all, her could say as he wrapped an arm around her, not caring about the bloody mess on her.

Ruby hugged her father, crying. "Father, I knew you would come. " she sat back from him and looked around the room "We have to get Danielle and get out of here."

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

While Strider and Ruby were being reunited, Ghegari slunk from her hiding place in the shadows, within a sort of makeshift pantry. In her chubby hand she carried a heavy iron skillet used for grilling smaller meals, and in one swift motion cracked the corner of it across the back of Strider's head, hoping to knock him out. "Nobody steals from Ghegari!" She let out a deafening, angry roar and brandished the iron pan. "Humie going to die, all of you!"

 

[StarrNico]

"NO" Ruby yelled as Strider stumbled under the blow. She took his sword from him and swung it at the orc, using the table to be tall enough to try for that advantage. Anger, fear and the knoledge that they would die if they didn't kill this orc and get away drove her and the lessons she had learned from her father showed in the way she handled the familiar weapon.

Strider stumbled at the blow, releasing the sword as Ruby took it. He knelt for a moment, trying to clear his head of the dark spots he now saw. Once he was reasonably assured he wouldn't black out he moved to put space between himself and the orc and gather his wits once again. He shook his head once again, then headed for the other girl to cut her down and set her free, pulling out his boot knife.