2/2/06
Broddible and Fyraan slowly crept further into the cave. The gnomes were used to working in tandem despite their almost constant pushing and shoving which often de-evolved into gnomish slap fights (quite humorous to see). Fyraan turns back to the rest of the unit and relays hand signals from the rogues that there was an outpost with six Orcs near an alarm. Fernmug signals orders to the group and they take their positions. From the forest outside a strange high-pitched yell is heard "SLIP-AH!". The group turns to Meesha who has her hands covering her mouth to prevent her involuntary response from giving away the groups position. A whisper escapes ("slip-ah"), and all heads turn to Imajicaan whose shrug and large grin indicates his guilt.
Further into the tunnel the Orcs sit in a circle around the fire. Their glances alternate between the cave opening and how much meat the others are taking from the carcass, concerned about everyones share of the meal.
The two Orcs closest to the alarm bell flash and become sheep. Before they realize they are under attack, two more Orcs fall off their log fast asleep from the stealthed Nittering and Vladimear. The remaining two Orcs immediately charge the cave entrance without seeing their enemies, knowing only that they are under attack. One orc stops mid-stride frozen in place by Rowycos frost trap, but the remaining Orc is already in a frenzy.
- Watch that trapped Orc -
* ON IT *
The Orc rounds the curve to the entrance and lets loose a raging bellow at the nearest Dwarf. The collision between Fernmug and the Orc was legendary. There were brilliant flashes of light in the dimly lit cave from the crushing armor sparking and screeching. The Dwarf was out-weighed by half an oxe, but you wouldn't know it by the way he held his ground. Growls and yells echoed in the cave as the two mighty warriors wielded their deadly weapons trying to send the other to the gods first. More flashes of light as Fernmug blocked deadly axe swings with his own, parrying and swinging the heavy axe as though it were an extention of his own body. The crowd behind him gasped as Fernmug stumbled slightly in the loose gravel, his foot slipping and dropping him to a knee. The Orc seized the opportunity and began a full decapitation swing as Fernmug swung the heavy two-hander far to his left to avoid gashing himself.
The Orcs eyes go wide with shock as Fernmug drives his plate-adorned head into his opponents groin, spiked pauldrons digging into both thighs. Shrieking, the Orc drops his weapon and begins pounding his fists against the the plate on the Dwarves back. With a startled gurgle the Orc is hoisted into the air and brought down on Fernmugs knee in a grotesque back-breaking finishing move.
Throwing the carcass back onto the ground Fernmug turns back to the crowd breathing heavily. "You could actually SHOOT SOMETHING if you've a mind to..." prompting chuckles from the crowd.
* Orc *
The frozen Orc broke free from the ice trap next, but faltered mid-step noticing too late that Bob had removed his leg at the knee. Falling, he threw his axe at Fernmug with his remaining momentum. Before the axe could lodge into the heavy Dwarves back, a protection bubble surrounded him and the axe glanced off harmlessly. The warrior turned in time to see the life beaten out of the Orc by volleys of arrows, bullets and both tigers dropping a green arm from their jaws. Fernmug nods his appreciation to Dreamz for the quick response.
This was a tight team, bound by blood... and HONOR. Do not mistake the practical jokes or the freely flowing ale of the previous night. This is a group who's primary purpose is to defend the Alliance races against extinction, and are willing to kill as many horde as it takes to bring them to the bargaining table (even though they know that co-existence will probably never happen). The merciless slaughter of alliance races must be stopped at any cost.
As the team rounds the corner, Nittering and Vladimear look up from the unconscious orcs they are pillaging and smile widely. With a brutish grunt, the two remaining Orcs wake from their involuntary slumber. Fernmug hammers an axe against the armor of the nearest orc. "HEY YOU GREEN SACK OF TROLL DUNG!" Imajicaan taunts at the other Orc expertly splitting them between the two dwarves. Imajicaan parries the flailing blows with blinding accuracy, minimizing the damage taken but keeping his Orc busy while the other is taken down by the group.
Both polymorphed orcs return to their original ugly form and are immediately sheeped again by the veteran mages.
Rowyco shouts a warning about the patrol rounding the corner of the tunnel. The two trolls stop arguing about the best way to permanently shrink a gnomes head, quickly size up the situation and charge at both Dreamz and Carlysa.
With a roar, the two tigers instinctively pair off and pounce on the trolls as Hecubus and Rowyco backstep in opposite directions to deal with the new threats.
- Bob, get off of him and give me a shot -
* No. He'll go after Dreamz and Carlysa again *
Hec checks the status of the battle, then casts a spell that binds Hunter and pet. The tiger quickly grows to twice his normal size and strength.
- TAKE HIM OUT -
With the troll pinned under his weight, Bob quickly claws through the armor using his short burst of size and strength to his full advantage. With an additional heal from Carlysa to keep him at full strength, he shreds the remaining armor protecting the trolls vital organs and disembowls the creature within seconds.
Bob scans the remainder of the fight; the first orc is down, the second one is going down quickly, and the other troll is dragging his mangled legs behind him while Serge jerks and tears at him. Rowyco fires one last arrow to end the trolls suffering. With everything in control again, the tigers return to their hunters sides. Hecubus unthinkingly reaches down to give Bob a fond rub around the ears thankful that the priestesses care enough to heal the pets as well as the rest of the team. Hec heals the remaining cuts and scrapes from Bobs last fight.
The group takes a moment to catch their breath and evaluate the situation before continuing their assault into the Undercity. Hecubus sits down on a log, wrinkles his nose at the remainder of the orcs meal and daydreams of younger days...
---------------------------------------------------------
* How can I eat a dwarf that feeds me steak? Nope. Can't eat him. *
Hec looks into the starving tigers eyes and sees so much suffering that his chest aches.
- You live with great pain. What can I do? -
* End my pain. I cannot live with the loss of my family *
The stampeding basilisk and pursuing raptor attack on Bobs family suddenly floods Hecs mind like an unexpected wave crashing down while napping in the warm sun on the beach.
A moment later Hec's eyes fill with water and his knees give way. Falling with a jolt into a sitting position he sobs as waves of anguish roll through him in spasms. Bobs heartwrenching roar of sorrow and rage echoes from the fresh memory.
- You're whole family... gone -
* Yes *
- Your cubs were so young. I'm so sorry. -
* You can't know my pain *
For the first time in many years, Hec recalled his memory of losing his own family, and sent it to Bob. Bobs draws a sharp breath, then lays his head back on his paws. He fixes Hecubus with a pained look in his eyes.
* I am mistaken, you do know. I too am sorry. *
- We are two lost souls, you and I -
* How do you keep going? *
- I believe I'm here for a purpose greater than myself -
Hec grins at Bob, and receives a feeling of lifted spirits in return from the tiger.
- We are bound, you and I -
* Yes *
- Let's get on with it then -
Hec tosses another steak to the tiger, who eats this one like he wants to live.
Broddible and Fyraan slowly crept further into the cave. The gnomes were used to working in tandem despite their almost constant pushing and shoving which often de-evolved into gnomish slap fights (quite humorous to see). Fyraan turns back to the rest of the unit and relays hand signals from the rogues that there was an outpost with six Orcs near an alarm. Fernmug signals orders to the group and they take their positions. From the forest outside a strange high-pitched yell is heard "SLIP-AH!". The group turns to Meesha who has her hands covering her mouth to prevent her involuntary response from giving away the groups position. A whisper escapes ("slip-ah"), and all heads turn to Imajicaan whose shrug and large grin indicates his guilt.
Further into the tunnel the Orcs sit in a circle around the fire. Their glances alternate between the cave opening and how much meat the others are taking from the carcass, concerned about everyones share of the meal.
The two Orcs closest to the alarm bell flash and become sheep. Before they realize they are under attack, two more Orcs fall off their log fast asleep from the stealthed Nittering and Vladimear. The remaining two Orcs immediately charge the cave entrance without seeing their enemies, knowing only that they are under attack. One orc stops mid-stride frozen in place by Rowycos frost trap, but the remaining Orc is already in a frenzy.
- Watch that trapped Orc -
* ON IT *
The Orc rounds the curve to the entrance and lets loose a raging bellow at the nearest Dwarf. The collision between Fernmug and the Orc was legendary. There were brilliant flashes of light in the dimly lit cave from the crushing armor sparking and screeching. The Dwarf was out-weighed by half an oxe, but you wouldn't know it by the way he held his ground. Growls and yells echoed in the cave as the two mighty warriors wielded their deadly weapons trying to send the other to the gods first. More flashes of light as Fernmug blocked deadly axe swings with his own, parrying and swinging the heavy axe as though it were an extention of his own body. The crowd behind him gasped as Fernmug stumbled slightly in the loose gravel, his foot slipping and dropping him to a knee. The Orc seized the opportunity and began a full decapitation swing as Fernmug swung the heavy two-hander far to his left to avoid gashing himself.
The Orcs eyes go wide with shock as Fernmug drives his plate-adorned head into his opponents groin, spiked pauldrons digging into both thighs. Shrieking, the Orc drops his weapon and begins pounding his fists against the the plate on the Dwarves back. With a startled gurgle the Orc is hoisted into the air and brought down on Fernmugs knee in a grotesque back-breaking finishing move.
Throwing the carcass back onto the ground Fernmug turns back to the crowd breathing heavily. "You could actually SHOOT SOMETHING if you've a mind to..." prompting chuckles from the crowd.
* Orc *
The frozen Orc broke free from the ice trap next, but faltered mid-step noticing too late that Bob had removed his leg at the knee. Falling, he threw his axe at Fernmug with his remaining momentum. Before the axe could lodge into the heavy Dwarves back, a protection bubble surrounded him and the axe glanced off harmlessly. The warrior turned in time to see the life beaten out of the Orc by volleys of arrows, bullets and both tigers dropping a green arm from their jaws. Fernmug nods his appreciation to Dreamz for the quick response.
This was a tight team, bound by blood... and HONOR. Do not mistake the practical jokes or the freely flowing ale of the previous night. This is a group who's primary purpose is to defend the Alliance races against extinction, and are willing to kill as many horde as it takes to bring them to the bargaining table (even though they know that co-existence will probably never happen). The merciless slaughter of alliance races must be stopped at any cost.
As the team rounds the corner, Nittering and Vladimear look up from the unconscious orcs they are pillaging and smile widely. With a brutish grunt, the two remaining Orcs wake from their involuntary slumber. Fernmug hammers an axe against the armor of the nearest orc. "HEY YOU GREEN SACK OF TROLL DUNG!" Imajicaan taunts at the other Orc expertly splitting them between the two dwarves. Imajicaan parries the flailing blows with blinding accuracy, minimizing the damage taken but keeping his Orc busy while the other is taken down by the group.
Both polymorphed orcs return to their original ugly form and are immediately sheeped again by the veteran mages.
Rowyco shouts a warning about the patrol rounding the corner of the tunnel. The two trolls stop arguing about the best way to permanently shrink a gnomes head, quickly size up the situation and charge at both Dreamz and Carlysa.
With a roar, the two tigers instinctively pair off and pounce on the trolls as Hecubus and Rowyco backstep in opposite directions to deal with the new threats.
- Bob, get off of him and give me a shot -
* No. He'll go after Dreamz and Carlysa again *
Hec checks the status of the battle, then casts a spell that binds Hunter and pet. The tiger quickly grows to twice his normal size and strength.
- TAKE HIM OUT -
With the troll pinned under his weight, Bob quickly claws through the armor using his short burst of size and strength to his full advantage. With an additional heal from Carlysa to keep him at full strength, he shreds the remaining armor protecting the trolls vital organs and disembowls the creature within seconds.
Bob scans the remainder of the fight; the first orc is down, the second one is going down quickly, and the other troll is dragging his mangled legs behind him while Serge jerks and tears at him. Rowyco fires one last arrow to end the trolls suffering. With everything in control again, the tigers return to their hunters sides. Hecubus unthinkingly reaches down to give Bob a fond rub around the ears thankful that the priestesses care enough to heal the pets as well as the rest of the team. Hec heals the remaining cuts and scrapes from Bobs last fight.
The group takes a moment to catch their breath and evaluate the situation before continuing their assault into the Undercity. Hecubus sits down on a log, wrinkles his nose at the remainder of the orcs meal and daydreams of younger days...
---------------------------------------------------------
* How can I eat a dwarf that feeds me steak? Nope. Can't eat him. *
Hec looks into the starving tigers eyes and sees so much suffering that his chest aches.
- You live with great pain. What can I do? -
* End my pain. I cannot live with the loss of my family *
The stampeding basilisk and pursuing raptor attack on Bobs family suddenly floods Hecs mind like an unexpected wave crashing down while napping in the warm sun on the beach.
A moment later Hec's eyes fill with water and his knees give way. Falling with a jolt into a sitting position he sobs as waves of anguish roll through him in spasms. Bobs heartwrenching roar of sorrow and rage echoes from the fresh memory.
- You're whole family... gone -
* Yes *
- Your cubs were so young. I'm so sorry. -
* You can't know my pain *
For the first time in many years, Hec recalled his memory of losing his own family, and sent it to Bob. Bobs draws a sharp breath, then lays his head back on his paws. He fixes Hecubus with a pained look in his eyes.
* I am mistaken, you do know. I too am sorry. *
- We are two lost souls, you and I -
* How do you keep going? *
- I believe I'm here for a purpose greater than myself -
Hec grins at Bob, and receives a feeling of lifted spirits in return from the tiger.
- We are bound, you and I -
* Yes *
- Let's get on with it then -
Hec tosses another steak to the tiger, who eats this one like he wants to live.
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Carpe Diem - EVERY day is 'No Pants Day"! 
