The Morians have camped near the river Gladden. Already hasty earthworks have been thrown up, tents pitched, holes dug, fires lit. Heaps of refuse have already begun to gather around the periphery of the camp. It is dusk and it is damp, and the orcs of Moria have prepared themselves for their coming campaign.

 

Already a group of scouts and Dush and Guards and assorted other uruks has gathered, ready to scout out the lie of the land.

 

Surrounded by a small knot of Dush warriors, King Durbmog paces impatiently back and forth, pale gaze turned ever-westward.

 

Muttering to herself, cursing the remnants of light that cling to the clouds as the moisture clings to her body, Mhosh nonetheless stays mostly quiet. Outside the camp, she searches for information, humans, or whatever else she might find. A frog hops across her path and is quickly grabbed, brought to her mouth and devoured without so much as a frightened croak from the amphibian.

 

Finally Durbmog's patience has run its course. His lip twists. "Come on, lads," he roars in a great, bellowing voice. "Let's get going. We're off to scout out the lay of the pass. Come!"

 

The assembled orcs begin to move, paying no particular attention to stealth or formation. Durbmog's in the lead, and that's about it.

 

Crushing the gravelly ground underfoot, the thick-limbed Grumbkul lumbers out of the encampment, joining those who have assembled near the King. His heavy iron mattock is already freed from its usual place at his waist and carried on his shoulder. He wears a nasty grin to accompany the blackened leather armor that adorns his body, and as he arrives by the other ragtag members of the scouting party--those who are neither scouts, guards, nor dush--he spits on the ground. "Evening fellas. Ready for some hunting?" He digs a big foot noisily into the rocky ground.

 

Uruks of all kinds have been busy, the earth-works sport a range of sharpened wooden stakes and metal shards--some of them broken weapons, things deemed beyond repair in the eyes of the Hammerers. Some of this band of uruks linger together and amongst their number is Ashghash.

 

The female Tetrak seems irritable and impatient, hands still empty of hammer, tongs or weapons she remedies that by snatching her scimitar from her belt and slash through the muggy air. When the collection of uruks moves she soon falls into step alongside the Senior Hammerer, Grumbkul.

 

COMBAT - Wielded: Scimitar

 

The obnoxiously sunny day finds Dathluk busy. Well, not quite busy.. per se. He has only exited his tent moments ago, and is now rubbing his eyes nastily. These things... day... night. What are they to one from Moria, where all is under thick rock?

 

Cringing and wincing as his orcish eyes repeatedly fail to adjust, the Senior Gatherer walks up to the crowd unsteadily, looking hard to find a familiar face among an assortment of sunny, splotchy blobs. But the words of the King reach his ears and quirk his head. Not knowing where he is or how he got there, already Dathluk moves.

 

Now that the stealth has been forgone, Mhosh keeps step with the others, withdrawing the axe from her belt. She's not particularly good with it, her talents lie elsewhere. But, it'll do in a pinch, and she has a feeling she's going to be pinched a lot tonight.

 

Hardly having a moment to pause and make the foul chit chat he was hoping for, Grumbkul takes up his clumsy, clompy strides again. He notices the she-uruk Hammerer as she takes up her march beside him. With a grumbling voice he glances over. "Hope yer planning on using that blade instead of mud and dead rats," he mutters.

Mashug growls as the king orders the host to march, he steps forth, his eyes always on the king, his fingers caressing his eyes, a grin on his face. "I hope we find some men today... i'm hungry..." He says to himself.

The day comes to an end, as the sun settles in the west, hiding it's beauty behind the veil of clouds.

 

                Bigar seems to get impatient as time passes. Nervously pacing back and forth he finally stops to stare at Mashug and raises his mace, "No humans to bash yet. Maybe we get a little practice on the Thraks?"

 

"Course I am.." Ashghash mutters in answer to Grumbkul as she slightly adjusts how the leather grip fits into the palm of her hand "By the end I shall be cleaning blood of here.." she glances at the blade, clean and sharp with black letters cut into it. Part of Bigar's comments manage to filter through to her ears and she smirks and glares at Mashug.

 

The Morian scouting-party-in-force moves en masse into the gorge of the Gladden -- perhaps a score, perhaps two-score assorted orcs. Spurred onward by the impatient King, the orcs move west.

Durbmog travels to the South East, heading down to the more stable, flat terrain of the fields before the

 

Noog looks up to watch the thick bands of cloud in the sky go scarlet with the setthing sun, as though the sky had just been bled.

 

It's a pleasant thought.

 

The uruk hitches up and moves out with the rest who follow the king, using his spear as a walking-stick in the rocky terrain.

 

Mhosh is near enough Bigar to overhear him. She grins snaggletoothedly and peers at the both of them, before the continued march forces her to watch where she's going.

 

Like a shadow or a wraith, a solitary orc at the edge of the Morian horde slowly rises from his position at the sound of the Morian King's bellow. The golden-yellow orbs that are Caraz's eyes gleam softly in the dim day, and they flicker downwards to assess the other orcs. Then, without another word, he begins to move west, always staying near but not quite mingling with his southern brethren.

 

Gladden River Gorge

Sound. Roaring sound. The narrow canyon echoes with the rushing cataracts, and the air is filled with light spray. Only a narrow space separates sheer walls of sandstone from the north bank of the Gladden river. At one point a small stream comes in from a side canyon to the north, but it is shallow enough to be forded easily.

 The canyon is so narrow it is possible to see only a little way ahead; overhead the precipices frame a narrow slot of sky. The surface of the stream down in its bed is visible as a bare whiteness below the

 

Mashug looks at the mountain, his eyes are glad that the light is fading, he feels somewhat stronger now. He looks back at Bigar and brings the blade of his axe to his face-level. He looks at the axe for a while, and then spits on the ground. "You might try swine, you might, but it could prove to be a deadly practice, i say." He takes a step towards Bigar. "Care to try? I bet your filthy maggot-blood will be hard to wipe from my axe!" He looks Bigar in the eye.

 

Durbmog barks out orders. "I don't expect any of you boys to have seen my maps, but we are looking for something important. Understand? The Demon's Will that we find it. Search along this end of the canyon -- tell me if you see any irregularities!"

 

Noog is unconcerned for the noise of the marching troop in this place--the roar of the cataracts would hide an army's noise. But he is concerned for the narrow high walls...speaking of hiding, this place would be a good spot to be stoned from above in. His eyes shift about even without the orders of his king.

 

Mhosh nearly gets stuck in the narrow side canyon as she's searching. She calls out, "There's a path over here!" Maybe she's stating the obvious. But it is an irregularity.

 

                Bigar ignores Mashug's remarks with only a wide smile then starts looking around at the "

 

                Bigar shouts out pointing to the hillside, "Up there. Some kind of structure! Maybe a fortress!"

At the King's orders, Grumbkul looks around, and gives another kick to the ground, and an angry grumble--it is probably good that the water roars so loudly here. "Irregularities," he says. "Them bear men are pretty irregular. Where're they?" He looks around again, expecting to see a troop of men appear on the horizon. Unenthusiastically, he continues kicking around in the rocks underfoot, every now and then sending one tumbling into the gorge, while his eyes scan lazily around.

 

Dugmer whom is walking not far behind Bigar hears the treat to her new master. Despite the fact that Bigar ignores the foolish orcs threat, she brings he bow to hand and from a distance watches. She is to far away to be easily notice, and it would take a great deal of time for the Uruk to get to her. The orc would not last long for he would soon taste the bite of an arrow. Dugmer looks in the dirrection Bigar points, then turns quickly back to watch the threatening Uruk.

 

Ashghash paces along the stony ground, crunching small pebbles beneath her hard boots and kicking others ahead of her as she moves, red-eyes skimming the rock faces around and above on seemingly all sides. With the various calls and shouts about paths and fortresses she stops, craning her neck in the direction that the Master Gatherer points.

 

Durbmog peers at the canyon that Mhosh indicates, chuckling after a moment. "You've good eyes. Most wouldn't notice that so easily. Could be," he booms. "Here's what we'll do. My boys and I will go west. The rest of you will explore up along that canyon. Report to me at once if you find what we seek. We search for ancient fortifications suitable to occupy. This is what the ancient maps indicate."

 

Noog's eyes, led by his paranoid thought of Elves dropping stones from above, follow the contours of the canyon walls up, and up. Squinting in the pleasant growing darkness, he discerns There are some battlements and man-made construction on the hillside. Look up. The cliffs rise to the sky ... and outlined at the top of the northern cliffs are battlements of stone -- some kind of ruined fortress.

"Hai! THere are battlements above us!" he calls.

 

The King and perhaps twenty Dush continue westwards, moving purposefully. They round a bend in the canyon and disappear, and the sound of the cataract drowns out the noise of their feet.

 

                Bigar steps forward trying to climb the cliffs to examine the stone structures closer.

 

Being one of "the rest of you", Mhosh takes a deep breath and enters the canyon again.

 

Dugmer follows slightly in the rear of the group, watching the walls and battlements. The chanager seems to not be a threat. She holds her bow in a way that you might think that arrows would fall down on them at any moment.

 

Ashghash mutters and grumbles coarsely to herself and to any who are close enough to hear her. She keeps close to the rock wall and traces along it with the tips of her fingers before eventually heading the way the others did, the narrow canyon..

 

Side Canyon:

Claustrophobia. Utter claustrophobia. This is a small and narrow place, hemmed in by cliffs on either side. Not far upstream there is a waterfall, ending progress to the north.

 The canyon is so narrow it is possible to see only a little way ahead; overhead the precipices frame a narrow slot of sky. The surface of the stream down in its bed is visible as a bare whiteness below the path, which is hard underfoot.

 

Mashug looks at the king as he sees that Bigar does not wish to fight. He watches has the king's troop marches westward and looks back at the remaining host, the guards beside him anxious for a fight. He leads them down the narrow canyon and looks for the so called fortress.

 

Ruined Fortress

This is an open courtyard. The fortress appears to be in surprisingly good shape considering how long it must have been abandoned. The well appears to be intact, a covering stone still lying across the opening just as it must have been abandoned long ago. The walls, though partly ruinous, are still stout for the most part, though here and there stones have fallen to the ground.

 

It is hard to make out much more in the darkness. At least there is no wind.

 

Noog gets stepped on--literally--by Bigar as he ducks back down, and at the orc's glare, decides not to grumble, but back down before him.

 

Ashghash scrabbles up after the other ooze of uruks, scimitar still in hand and scratching on the stones as she goes. Once in the collection of ruins she stretches and glares around her, deepset red eyes appearing as two embers in the black of her skin.

 

Two huge, forms, one taller than the other, are standing around the ruined tower, having just exited it. They're quickly joined by a gangly young lad. The shorter of the two beijabar is holding a piece of debris in his hand, and carelessly tosses it over his shoulder. "Well, I reckon it's right about where they said, Grimbeorn-" that thought is cut short as the orcs begin to scramble in through the Postern Gate.

 

                Bigar scrambles down into the small canyon below and reports about the battlement above. Then Bigar heads back up the steep incline bringing the horde of Moria with him..

 

Not even making it far before Bigar does it, Mhosh ends up in the surge of orcs and scrambles onto the rocks. The large forms are now spotted and she narrows her red eyes.

 

Ashghash's red eyes are keen, like all uruks, especially in the dark and the forms by the tower are not difficulty to hear or indeed smell. She tilts her head back and sniffs at the air and growls to the others "<Morian Uruk> Can't miss that stink...time for some fun eh? Well..?" She look between the orcs and the others, twisting her scimitar in her hand so that a sliver of light catches it.."<Morian Uruk> Come on!" She shouts and edges closer to the Beornings.

 

Grimbeorn wields Beijabar Claws.

 

Soon another comes from the tower, eyes hard to tell as a helm has been strapped on, a rather, daunting figure indeed as if he already had come groomed for war. The White eye peers out, as the Green skirts about eyeing the ruined Fortress. The large Man, though not as large when compared to the two beijabars.

 

"<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>" but he pauses eye look towards the the Laird, then out towards the movement. "<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>" a laugh as a huge meaty hand draws forth his Axe. "<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>" another sort of yell is loosed out, but more in an odd animalistic growl as he hurries to join his compatriots. Morgrim, The Mad Eye has returned, well to the outpost.

 

A large uruk is moving through the horde, he is glancing at all the other uruks as they move forward. He looks up at Ashghash and smiles, with a quick nod of the head he continues moving with the horde, scimitar at the ready.

 

Roitar Pulls Akira out of its sheath, it shines brightly in the light and he has it at the ready. He lets out a loud war cry, enough to scare even the most bravest of warriors.

 

Mashug climbs up the ravine as he hears the screams of Bigar and finds himself in the courtyard. His eyes adapt to the darkness, not as dark as moria, but still dark. He notices several uruks that are already there, growling and grunting at something. The Thrakburzum Maluuk looks to the other end of the courtyard and realizes that some men stand there, sword at hand, caught unaware by the orc company. The uruk raises his head high in the air and unleashes a growl of fury. "Come on boys!" He shouts. "The swine light-lovers will taste nice in Sog's stew!" He moves with the horde.

 

                Bigar is rather winded after the long climb to the apex of the cliffs. He slowly raises his mace to rest upon his shoulder and steps forward toward the battlement.

 

In no hurry to be up close and personal with the quite large Men, Mhosh hangs back in the horde, watching, letting the stronger, bigger uruk's go first. Maybe they'll wipe out the Men and she won't actually have to fight.

 

                As Bigar slowly advances toward the humans he slips the leather shield off his back and slides it onto his left arm. Then taking a deep breath he continues his advance.

 

Bigar puts on Leather Shield.

 

Mashug walks alongside Bigar, his eyes fixed on the beornings as he walks towards them.

 

Ashghash keeps edging forwards, emboldened by blood-lust and some strong grog--judging by the smell that adds to the unique fragrance of soot, sweat and grime that usually clings to her. The scimitar is again turned in her hand in what might be considered a taunting fashion before she looks over her shoulder, looking for Bigar "<Morian Uruk> Well..we goin' to attack then..remember what the Gothshaka said about crushing the enemies of the Flame...? Time to do some crushing, yes?" She grins, fangs a plenty showing.

 

Noog climbs back up behind Bigar, and hearing his cohort's calls, picks the Men out in the moonless dark with mine-born eyes. Hefting his spear, he whispers around past Mhosh, weaselling his way around behind the other orcs towards the postern.

 

Noog brings a short battle-spear into en gaurde position.

 

Roitar keeps on moving, stumbling over loose rocks as he goes on, he is now near the back of the horde, "Argh! Curse these rocks!" he replaces his Scimitar back and reaches for his Bow.

 

Roitar Puts Akira back in its dark brown leather sheath, hanging at his side. He lets out a little grunt as he does so.

 

The swine light-lovers--or in this case, at least one of the most oversized of them--turns suddenly snarling at the sudden appearance of orcs. "<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>" comes the ferocious roar as suddenly, the form of the huge man seems to waver. Where the man stood is now a great snarling beast of a bear, spit rolling off the white fangs that glint from its oversized jaws.

 

Osbeorn's previous thought is left in the rubble near the tower as the orcs continue to pour in. Even Morgrim's arrival doesn't cause him pause. Instead, the beijabar's fists clench up, and he growls lowly through gritted teeth. He starts loping forward unevenly, growing as he does. His black hair spreads like wildfire, sprouting up all over his body, covering him in fur. Already stout limbs thicken and widen, hands become paws, nails become claws, his muzzle lengthens. Within a few steps, the man has been replaced by a roaring black bear that continues to lope forward towards the orcs.

 

Mashug says in Morian Uruk, "Mashug turns to Bigar and hisses: "You wanted to practice... here is your chance Morghash! Let's see if you're as good with your mace as you seem to be with your tongue"."

 

Black_Bear wields Beijabar Claws.

 

Screeching at the onrush of the Men-turned-beasts, Mhosh seeks a better place to .. attack from? Hide? She skitters as she finds herself too much in the line of attack from the black bear. It seems she's not the only uruk who had thoughts to scatter to the wind.

 

                Bigar points over to the Tower, "<Morian Uruk> Archers! To the tower!", he still slowly advances on the humans and now the great bear.

 

Ashghash blinks as bears, BIG bears, are to be found where men once stood "<Morian Uruk> Curses! Bear-Men was right..!!" Snarling, somewhat like a twisted animal herself she jumps towards the black bear that is Osbeorn--steel slicing in an arc towards the fanged muzzle..

 

You attack Black_Bear with your Scimitar...

 

Black_Bear dodges your attack.

 

Roitar grabs his Bow from off his back and smiles "This shall be a long battle" he glances up at the high walls and shudders, he then reaches for an arrow from his quiver and quickly notches it, he looks around for his first target.

 

 The Man laughs as he soon starts into a charge, following after Laird and Kin. His other arms quickly swerves about and draws forth an ancient shield. With almost a Beserker rage, the man, flings himself forward as his axe raises. And if one can see heis eyes through the great helm he wears, well then they are rather unlucky, as soon, much like the death like glare of the white, his axe too will give them something to think about.

 

Mogrgim keeps running keeping to the center, right between the Great Bear and the Black Bear.

 

Roitar pulls a Bow from off his back and notches an arrow, in the blink of an eye. He aims it at his enemy, ready to fire at any second.

 

 Having remained silent up to this point, Valdi gazes at the forming groups from his spot. A sound of wood scratching ground comes as he leans against his staff, before slowly lifting it. A glance goes to the transformations, but no more, as the healer's eyes drift at the line. For now, he is content to hold his ground.

 

Still moving alongside but not mingling with the Morian uruks is Caraz, the Gundabad warrior, his warg-cloak rustling softly as he moves forward in a half-crouch, making no move to engage the men just yet. Even so, his weapons are drawn and ready, and his warg-skull helm covers his silver-haired head. The sharp contours of his face are unreadable in the dimness of the moonless darkness, and his yellow-gold eyes glitter coldly.

 

Valdi wields the Staff of the Spirit Oak. A crazed light comes into his eyes - One that signifies there will be no mercy for his enemies.

 

                Bigar steps to the side of Ashghash and swings his mace at the mouth of the Black_Bear hoping ot knock his teeth out so he can't bite.

 

 

Bigar attacks Black_Bear with his Mace, but he misses by a long shot.

 

Caraz wields a dangerous-looking weapon in his left hand.

 

Skaidatz wields Cleaver.

 

Caraz slips a wickedly flanged mace from it's sheathe, the cruel-looking tines glistening.

 

Mashug growls as the first blow is delivered. He tightens his grip on the black axe and runs towards the Black Bear, his axe high in the air, falling in the direction of the Bear's head, trying to hit him in the eyes and blind him.

 

Mashug attacks Black_Bear with his Battle Axe, but he misses by a handspan.

 

Rukghash slides his axe onto his belt.

 

As the warriors surge forward in a spray of roared spittle to meet the bears, Noog has sidled off to the side around the back of the orc-party, towards the postern gate. Swathed in a cassock of black wool, the smaller uruk blends in with the moonless darkness. From his new vantage he crouches near the postern to make himself as small a target as possible. Suited for scouting and perhaps killing women and children, he knows not to wade into the thick of things. Perhaps these crazed beasts will be wounded enough in the fight for him to stick a few times with something sharp rushing onto the top of the cliffs, met by two huge bears and one insane human.

 

Managing to pass by the bear without running into him, Mhosh's path next takes her into - like, directly into - Morgrim's! In a reflex, she swings out her ax at his.. leg.

 

Mhosh attacks Morgrim with her Axe and mildly wounds him!

 

Archers, their numbers spread throughout the Morian horde, loose arrows into the night sky - sharp, barbed darts cutting with a Zip! through the air. Thwunk! The strings snap forward pushing their arrows onwards into the night. Among those who wield a bow is Rukghash, the Chieftain of the Morghash tribe. Slowly, The Talashakh raises his bow and places an arrow upon the string, but he does not fire. His crimson eyes search out in a flash over the rushing horde - searching for a target.

 

"For the Flame!" is bellowed by untold numbers of orcs. "Spill their blood!" Some others say. Still more, and the more audacious of the orcs, yell, "A bearskin rug! A Rug!" The orcs cackle in glee, their bloodlust driving them forwards.

 

Snerl runs up in the back of the orcish back. He huffs and puffs, carrying his scimitar in one hand and his shield in the other. He stays now in the back and watches the field.

 

Rukghash wields Bow.

 

Deep within the shadows, a darker shape moves. Slow and careful are its steps as it picks its way through the maze of weathered stone, a black figure skuling in the night's embrace. As the battle begins, the shadow wavers not from its course, and creeps forward, slipping silently within reach of the Beornings.

 

Even as he moves in, something knicks along his leg, and he pauses for a moment, countering as he turns about. Eyes narrow toweards the new orc before him, and almost a loud animlastic gargle emits forht. "<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>" Morgrim almost seems to cakcle in delight as the white eye catches Mhosh in his gaze. With that he presses forward in some sort of wild charge, shield slaming forward as the axe comes about, like a windmill aiming down for the beast's shoulder.

Roitar climbs up a large boulder that was once part of the wall, he stands a top it looking for a target, he spots a man and an evil grin spreads across his twisted face, he brings his Bow up and aims carefully at the human.

 

Morgrim attacks Mhosh with his Axe and moderately wounds her!

 

As if the scimitar cut some invisible thread that was holding him back, the black bear bursts into action, letting loose one final, loud roar. He surges to his hind legs to avoid the blade, which puts his head above where any of the others trying to knock out his teeth or blind him woud have been aimed. Staying upright for only a moment, he attempts to bring his bulk down on Bigar, in an attempt to crush him with sheer weight and claws alone.

 

Black_Bear attacks Bigar with his Beijabar Fists and severely wounds him!

 

Roitar launches an arrow...

 

Roitar's bowshot hits Mhosh, moderately wounding her.

 

 The sounds of battle go on all around Valdi as he prepares himself. The shouts, yells, metal clangs, wooden thuds, and blood curdling roars don't phase him, except for making him take deeper breaths. His stance doesn't last though, and he rushes forward, nearly immediately running into a shadowy orc, twisting and dodging with a light staff thrust to knock the thing off balance.

 

Valdi attacks Skaidatz with his Staff and lightly wounds him!

 

Rukghash's eyes peer over the crowds of orcs, quickly attaining a target in their midst. There! A human amongst the gigantic bears that attack. Possibly the harder of the targets to hit, and one no less obscured by friendly orcs. A sly smirk slithers onto Rukghash's face, his bow lifting and arrow-string pulling taut to his ear. "Flame bless this shot."

 

Thwunk! The arrow is released, and with a zip it pierces the calm of the night air - pushing for its target.

 

Rukghash launches an arrow...

 

Rukghash's bowshot hits Morgrim, mildly wounding him.

 

Ashghash hisses as Bigar is struck "For the Flame! Morghash!" and skips to one side, aiming the hooked point of her scimitar at the Black_Bear's underside, though the fur is thick. Her blade moves quickly and decisively in an upwards fashion.

 

You attack Black_Bear with your Scimitar...

 

Black_Bear dodges your attack.

 

 

                As Bigar's mace misses the bear he has no time to react before the Balsk_Bear's giant fist swings toward him. As the bear's paw hit's him in the chest it sends in flying backwards into the uruks behind him to land in a heap on the groung. Shaking his head and coughing up black blood he slowly gets to his feet.

 

The great brown bear turns its massive head as the attack begin, eyes searching for a target. At last, the beady eyes settle on the archers, the massive form of the beserk bear now tearing through the goblins, full weight heading straight for Rukghash.

 

Great_Bear attacks Rukghash with his Beijabar Fists and severely wounds him!

 

Rukghash's bow is knocked out of his hand!

 

No cry nor howl does Caraz let loose to announce his presence, and no bellows of 'For the Flame!' would he even think of yelling. Despite this, his golden eyes begin to burn brighter as they rest upon the forces of the Beornings--conflicting emotions of pure hatred and the caution of not committing to foreign orcs battle across the surface of his grim features, but slowly, inexorably his footsteps turn inwards towards the battle.

 

He stands taller, the blackened chain mail upon his chest rippling like a wave, and advances. He hefts his mace up in the air, and silently glares at the two huge bears he advances towards, still saying no word.

 

Noog pulls an oblong shield around on guard, one arm through its straps.

 

Noog observes his cronies howling and bleeding, quite easily in the dark. As he sees his fellow scout get caught by the man who has run forward with the bears, and then sprout an arrow, he nips forward, crouching very low to the ground and weaving across the clearing in silence. Rearing up at Morgrim's flank, nothing but a hiss escapes him as he jabs his short spear toward the warrior!

 

Roitar growls loudly as he misses the human and hits one of his comrades "Oh well, she got in the way" he grunts to himself, he jumps off the boulder and puts the Bow on his back and reaches for his Scimitar.

 

Noog attacks Morgrim with his Spear and mildly wounds him!

 

Roitar puts the Bow back on his back again, just like it was, before he took it off

 

Mashug takes a couple of steps forward to balance himself after missing the Black Bear. He sees the huge creature smash Bigar and tries to take advantage of it, swinging his axe at the fank of the bear

 

Mashug attacks Black_Bear with his Battle Axe, but Black_Bear parries the attack with his Beijabar Fists!

 

Mhosh nearly loses an arm with the axe wielded by the huge human! Adding insult to injury, as she's going down she takes an arrow in the back. "Arggrreegggggggg!" Her left arm useless now, she tries to imbed the axe into some tender area on Morgrim, ignoring the arrow that soon is broken off by another uruk rushing by.

 

Mhosh attacks Morgrim with her Axe and moderately wounds him!

 

Ummmppppfff! A paw, massive and meaty slams heavily into the chest of Rukghash - the claws digging through his armour and into his skin. Rukghash does not react to the hit, his body going limp instantly as he is sent flying across the ground - his body sprawling out. Blood oozes from his wounds, ribs broken from the force of the blow. "Ummmpfh!" The Talashakh mutter unconciously, his eyes lolling in his head.

 

Roitar pulls out his Scimitar and runs forth towards Valdi waving his Scimitar wildly in the as he does so.

 

Roitar Pulls Akira out of its sheath, it shines brightly in the light and he has it at the ready. He lets out a loud war cry, enough to scare even the most bravest of warriors.

 

With Bigar downed well enough for the moment, the black bruin turns his attentions on another of his would-be attackers. The scimitar slides harmlessly across his fur, and indeed, the bear almost impales himself on it as he turns to bat away Mashug's oncoming battle axe with a massive paw. Now he snakes forward, slavering jaws leading the way as he goes for Mashug's jugular, ready to just rip that orc's throat out so he can turn his attentions onto Ashghash.

 

Black_Bear attacks Mashug with his Beijabar Fists and severely wounds him!

 

Arrows just seem to whizz by as the orc fletches lock on, onle, sings baby, as he follows through zipping past his head towards the one he just previously hit. Thencomes another, zinging along his right, a quick turn is given and this slices by the arm, catching only a speck of flesh, sending a small trickle of blood out. This of course only seems to infuriate the Mad Eye as he turns to take on a new threat. He moves almost like a whirlwind shield moving out to knock some other oc back right in time to be caught in his side, by one Axe blow from Mhosh, and the other, a slash by his leg from Noog.

 

Eyes almost budlge as he roars back, just as insanely as he did before, and with that, he lashes out hard towards the Spear weilder, as he tries to psuh off and away from the wounded one at his left.

 

Morgrim attacks Noog with his Axe, but he misses by a mile.

 

A yelp of pain sounds in the dark, and Valdi's charge strikes true, his tough frame cannoning into the orc in the shadows. Skaidatz, a snarl upon his diseased lips, is shoved a couple of paces back, before regaining his balance, and a wicked blade appears from under his robe. Cruel and cold shine his eyes, scarlet slits of malice in the dark as they glare at the Beorning, and his scimitar slashes forward, aiming for the man's chest.

 

Skaidatz attacks Valdi with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!

 

Shoved away from the man, almost gratefully, Mhosh turns in time to nearly run into fur. Bear fur. Dripping black blood, instead of lashing out at the great bear she tries simply to sneak away through the teeming mass of bodies.

 

Screams rend the air, arrows whistle, armor shatters and steel clangs, but still no sound escapes Caraz's lips. His legs, clad in thick bear-skin, begin to pump like twin pistons as he speeds up to a trot. CRACK! The beijabar's hammer-like paw swoops in again on another orc, crushing bones and tearing flesh. CRACK! Again.

 

"For Gundabad! Tharkaz!!" Caraz roars suddenly, springing forwards towards the Beijabar, jabbing at it's eyes with his short dirk and sending his mace in a horizontal arc for it's teeth.

 

 The scimitar comes out of nowhere, causing Valdi to have to take it in a long diagonal gash on his front side. A grimacing stumble follows, but no call of pain. His actions are enough to show that it hurts plenty. Not noticing the other orc approaching, he makes for a second thrust, attempting to stay on balance this time.

 

Caraz attacks Black_Bear with his Mace, but he misses by an arm's length.

 

 

Valdi attacks Skaidatz with his Staff, but he misses by a mile.

 

Roitar runs forward and yells "Prepare to die light lover!" he lets out a terrible war cry as he jumps up into the air, bringing his heavy Scimitar right onto Valdi, aiming for his shoulder.

 

Roitar attacks Valdi with his Scimitar, but he misses by a handspan.

 

A wicked light tainted with sulphur yellow now graces the She-Hammerer, Ashghash, eyes as yet another of her uruk brethren is gashed by the Black Bear. She twists from the waist, shifts her footing and lunges forward, trying to get her slender, and sharp, scimitar's blade in the Black Bear's neck, equally (if not more so) protected by thick fur.. "Morghash! Morgahsh!" She yells venemously..

 

You attack Black_Bear with your Scimitar...

 

Black_Bear parries your attack with his Beijabar Fists!

 

Snerl runs into the battle, screaming his head off. He heads nearby towards Valdi and his fellow orcs, raising his scimitar high and brining it down in a wide sweep, aiming for the knees.

The great bear nearly flies over the fallen Rukghash, its massive hindlegs digging into the ground to propel him forward to its next target. There--pulling a scimitar out is an orc just ripe for the picking. With that, the bear runs forward to where Roitar attacks Valdi. Rearing on its hind legs, the bear swipes massive paw at the goblin's form.

 

Great_Bear attacks Roitar with his Beijabar Fists, but he misses by a mile.

 

Mashug's axe is stopped by the claws of the massive Black Bear and the uruk looses balance for a moment. He only has time to see the bear's claws dive in his direction and then all turned black, has he flies across the room, unconscious, his neck bleeding severely.

Rukghash pages Ashghash, Caraz, and Bigar: Obviously this will be a shortish battle, before too long we'll want to retreat. Not yet though

<Moria> Fengar says, "ANy RP to be had?"

 

                Bigar again shakes his only to think about attacking the Black_Bear again and very slowly he steps forward with his leather shield before him and swings his mace again at the beast's head.

 

<Moria> Snerl says, "Much"

<Moria> Ashghash says, "hehe yeah"

<Moria> Roitar says, "chuckles "help, a bear is after me""

<Moria> Fengar oos

 

Bigar attacks Black_Bear with his Mace and moderately wounds him!

 

Noog's hiss turns into a snarl as Morgrim spins about to lash at him. Ducking under the blow as quick as an adder, the uruk stabs up towards Morgrim's vitals as he garns aside to Mhosh "<Morian Uruk> Keep him off-balance! We can take him!"

 

Noog attacks Morgrim with his Spear, but Morgrim parries the attack with his Axe!

 

Snerl attacks Valdi with his Scimitar, but Valdi parries the attack with his Staff!

 

Valdi's strike goes amiss, and the sneer upon Skaidatz' lips is hard to mistake. "Die!" he rasps as the blow goes wide, and his cruel gaze flickers to Roitar who joins the fray. Backing up the Morghash with a fresh slice of his own, his jagged blade darts out from the shadows once more, this time seeking out the Beorning's throat.

 

Skaidatz attacks Valdi with his Scimitar, but he misses by a handspan.

 

 Valdi doesn't look much surprised that his attack didn't land. More surprise comes in the form of a charging orc, yelling some distorted insult or cry. Not much is needed to dodge, except for a backstep. Then another attack comes and he has to block it with his staff, before moving out of the way of yet another slash. The constant assault makes his attention whirl and he blindly lashes out toward one of them to throw them off.

 

Valdi attacks Snerl with his Staff, but he misses by a handspan.

 

Turning back again, there's that big human. Her unintelligible cry goes out and she lifts her axe, doing a little dance in front of him to get his attention so perhaps another can take him down. She even tries to poke him with it again.

 

Mhosh attacks Morgrim with her Axe, but she misses by a handspan.

 

Roitar snarls as he misses the human and is about to have another swing at him, when suddenly looking up in horror he spots a bear coming for him, just as the bear swings a mighty paw at him, Roitar manages to dive out of the way and stand back up and attacks Valdi once again, leaving his back exposed to the bear.

 

Roitar attacks Valdi with his Scimitar, but Valdi parries the attack with his Staff!

Quickly the human moves, laughing all the way, as his axe quickly moves down, batting away the spear as a horse's tail does to a fly. A loud growl bursts forth sending spiyttle out towards his attacker as he lunges forward. His shield however goes his as he spins down, truning, he brings the axe forth in a mighty arch toward's this one's lower half.

 

"<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>

 

Snerl snarls as Valdi's staff comes at him. He ducks quickly and the staff narrowly misses him. He then lashes out with his scimitar in a viscious stab, trying hard to keep up his awareness and watching out for that bear.

 

Morgrim attacks Noog with his Axe and lightly wounds him!

 

Snerl attacks Valdi with his Scimitar, but he misses by a mile.

 

Caraz's attack isn't even bothered with, the bear has moved too much already to worry about every attack. Luck's with him for now though, and the dirk and mace both miss. Ashghnak's scimitar manages to find its way into the hump of muscle on his back, narrowly missing his neck. The ursine whirls about, ready to go after the scimitar's wielder when a mace crashes into the side of his head. The bear shakes its head for a moment, confused, before lashing out towards Bigar once more, his muzzle leading the way, intent on ripping away some limb or the weapon.

 

Black_Bear attacks Bigar with his Beijabar Fists and terribly wounds him!

 

Smirking with vicious glee, Skaidatz takes a pace back as he is joined by his fellow orcs. Watching the combat with a smouldering glance, his lips curls as Valdi attacks Snerl, and he spies out his chance. Slashing the air before him with a fresh assault, the poisoner's blade leaps towards Valdi, the lethal edge sent slicing down towards the man's forward leg

 

Skaidatz attacks Valdi with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!

 

 The bulk of a bear taking part in his view surprises Valdi enough to miss his target. With a whirl he brings up his staff close to defend himself, before taking a blow from Roitar. Another orc goes wide enough to where he's given an opportunity to think, before a bellow that causes himself to reel comes as a slash catches his leg. Immediately he strikes back, aiming to crack a skull.

Enraged at missing the great bear turns, slashing out at anything and everything in its way. This happens to be Skaidatz, who passes in front of the bear as the orc attack Valdi. Rearing up to its great height, the bear slams down with all its weight, front paws seeking to break the orc's next--or at least grab it and fling it into oblivion.

 

Valdi attacks Skaidatz with his Staff and moderately wounds him!

 

Great_Bear attacks Skaidatz with his Beijabar Fists and terribly wounds him!

 

Noog has over-extended himself and cannot dart aside as Morgrim, turns and spins his axe up--it hits him in the hip, luckily just above the edge of his cuirass, or perhaps he'd have lost a leg! The uruk takes the blow solidly, keeping his feet, but the sudden pain is so swift that he shrieks. He shrieks like a flamboyantly gay man would who just got three or four paper-cuts at once! Even as Noog stumbles back and regains a defensive posture, he continues to shriek the tea-kettle noise, and as he stabs forward again past Morgrim's swing, the sound finally turns into a howl!

 

Ashghash pulls her scimitar back through the mass of dark fur, the blade snags as it goes but she intends to use any possible dazedness that the Black_Bear might be feeling to her advantage..the same spot is chosen again as she lunges forwards--an almost repeat of her last attack "I want Bear Blood!" She snaps--though looking more than worried now..

 

You attack Black_Bear with your Scimitar...

 

Black_Bear dodges your attack.

 

Noog attacks Morgrim with his Spear and lightly wounds him!

 

 

                Bigar's attack is successful. As the mace bounces off the great beast it draws his attention and again the giant paw of the Black_Bear flies toward Bigar. As the bear's paw hit's him in the stomache he is again thrown backwards through the air and currles up into a ball from the pain before he hits the ground. He keeps rolling and with no uruks behind him to stop him he rolls over the edge and don't stop rolling until he hits the floor of the canyon below.

 

Snerl hisses as the bear arrives and Valdi attacks. He moves around, keeping Valdi between him and the bear, and he slashes at Valdi, who focuses his attention on the other orc

 

Snerl attacks Valdi with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!

 

Smack! Valdi's weapon hammers into the skull of Skaidatz, and the crooked uruk takes a step away from the Beorning in alarm. His gaze wanders back and forth over the ground, before the lust for blood once more flares up in his cruel red eyes. With a new burst of effort, the orc's scimitar lashes out again, all sense of amusement having left his limbs, and dives forward towards Valdi's chest.

 

Skaidatz attacks Valdi with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him!

 

CRACK! The huge black bear before him swings his mighty paw again, sending another orc flying in a spray of black blood and the sickening sound of flesh rent apart by sharp claws. Caraz winces, not out of any sympathy for the unfortunate uruk, but knowing that it could well be him that is that unlucky orc next time. The Morians alongside the Northerner have begun to dwindle, and things are becoming dangerous for the Gundabad warrior, dangerous fighter though he is.

 

None the less, the seasoned veteran dances to the side, aims a glancing strike at the bear's face and spins away, aiming a harder blow with his mace at the huge bear's side. Then he dances back behind the bear and hopefully out of the huge Beijabar's visibility.

 

Caraz attacks Black_Bear with his Mace, but he misses by a handspan.

 

Mogrim grins as he lunges up, aiming to block the spear with his shield, only to have it imbed into his leg, this does not bode will with the man as he takes time to glance down before looking back up and yelling deffiently with that same Beserker Rage. This time, he draws his arm back as eyes Narrow and with that, the hugse Axe is sent, like a rock out of a sling, like a tree falling onto am squirrel, well...you get the idea.

 

Anyway Morgrim slams it forth to cleave a big old notch into Noog's noggin.

 

Morgrim attacks Noog with his Axe, but he misses by a mile.

 

Enough is enough! And too much is superfluous! Mhosh scrambles now, though she's weakening. She is trying to make it past the bears and to the passageway down, alive. She spots the Talashakh and veers to try and help him.

 

Roitar glances around at all the dead and unconscious uruks and bellows out "RETREAT! RETREAT!" he begins running, but stops as he see's a badly wounded uruk, kneeling down next to him he realises its Mashug, he grabs the uruk and throws him onto his shoulder as he continues to run away calling out to the others "Come on, lets fall back. Grab the wounded and fall back!"

 

 The strike to crack the orc's skull gets Valdi two slashes instead, one narrowly dodging beheading him, and the other scratching his back, causing him to arch it in pain, before stumbling back. "Enough!" he shouts with a shaky voice, trying to sweep the legs from under Snerl

 

Valdi attacks Snerl with his Staff, but he misses by a mile.

 

Orcs, many numbers of them begin to turn tail. "Save yourselves!" They cry, seeing the strongest of their numbers fall quickly to the prowess of the Two bears. "Get out!" The black mass begins its retreat, pushing back from whence it came to live to fight another day.

 

Even as his blade finds its mark, Skaidatz is hit by the sweeping claws of the Great Bear. Deep do the Beijabar's claws cut, and the poisoner falls back under their deadly fury. Huge gashes are opened in his chest, and Skaidatz falls backwards from the fray, stumbling with injured vigour as he lurches, bleeding, back into the shadows.

 

Spittle flying, the great bear now heads to the nearest target still available--in this case Snerl. Death in its eyes, the bear strikes with its full weight coming to bare on the deadly claws, seeking to rip Snerl from limb to limb.

 

Great_Bear attacks Snerl with his Beijabar Fists, but he misses by a mile.

 

 

Attempting to drag Rukghash with one arm, Mhosh soon ends up skittering on the rocks, perhaps even falling down the side.

 

Mhosh dodges aside Morgrim, and manages to escape!

 

Snerl growls and jumps as Valdi's staff flies beneath him. He lands with a thud and has barely enough time to jump back. rolling onto the ground and escaping the fists of the Great Bear. He stands and starts running as he hears the yells to fall back. "I'll finish you off later." He says as runs off.

 

Only now, with Bigar off the edge of the cliff, does the smaller bruin turn to face his other attackers. The mace from Caraz hits, but as he's turning, doesn't land a telling enough blow to cause the bear visible pain. Ashghash's scimitar fails to find purchase in the thick black hide as well, and now the creature focuses on them. Lowering himself to the ground a brief moment, he launches forward at Caraz in an effort to tackle him to the ground.

 

Black_Bear attacks Caraz with his Beijabar Fists and severely wounds him!

 

Roitar is struggling under the weight of Mashug, but manages to turn around as he see's the last of the horde retreating "Come on! Fall Back!" he bellows out again as he turns back around and continues running.

 

Noog darts aside again, swiftish and slithery, but he swallows his howling shriek as suddenly as he has loosed it. The pain in his hip is searing and throbbing, and his cohorts are starting to pour away back into the canyon like water through a sieve! Without even a backward glance after he has evaded the great overhand blow, he puts his head down and springs away into the blackness, hoping the confusion of the retreat will cover him.

 

Noog dodges aside Morgrim, and manages to escape!

 

Morgrim lurhces forward as the beast runs, loosing the scout in the mass, he settles with cleaving into a fleeing orc at his side, battering him down, as tohers run past, and off into the night. And so the mad Eye takes his anger on the poor fellow, he has managed to catch. Hacking down on him as his hoarse wild battle cry fills the air.

 

Crouching just behind a pile of rubble, Dagmar clenches her staff in her hands and stares threateningly at any orc that dares glance in her direction. As the beasts retreat, however, she looks quite triumphant and begins picking up rocks and throwing them at the fleeing masses of evil, clouting a few on the head but stopping none.

 

Ashghash snarls and isn't going to stay and take another shot at the Black Bear when so many have tangled only with fur and not flesh and she's not going to stay and help the recently injured Caraz either. The Hammerer runs into the darkness, muttering foul curses all the while..

 

 As the orcs flee, it's time for Valdi to collapse. He does so with dignity, though, managing to land in a sitting position as he groans. "<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>" he murmurs and then starts inspecting his scratches and gashes, looking for the telltale signs of poison despite his pain.

 

Snerl continues to run, grabbing a stuggling orc by the arm and helping him to make it out alive, with the rest of the orcs who run into the canyon.

 

The great bear chases the last of the fleeing orcs, fangs and claws snapping at the butts of the slowest of them, sending their bodies skyward, one after another.

 

Darting off into the darkness, weaving between scattering and yammering orcs, Noog legs it bent double, face almost to the ground, navigating back to the canyon edge. Seeing a lump of warm meat ahead of him, he makes to jump it when he recognizes his own talashakh! Jumping over him, he crouches down and looks back for pursuit before grabbing a bunch of chainmail in one hand and Rukghash's axe in the other with his spear, and dragging the larger orc away with him. Grunting and bleeding, he finally reaches the edge (only falling twice). Looking back once more he sees that there is still a rear-guard fighting. Nodding, he tosses the axe down the slope ahead of him and pulls his talashakh with him, slithering down into the darkness.

 

Dagmar yelps as she runs over to Valdi, dashing to his side and looking at his wounds with a rather worried expression. "<UNINTELLIGIBLE SPEECH>" She looks a little confused and scared.

 

THWACK!

 

And, as Caraz had so feared it would happen, the Beijabar's bulk strikes him full on, cracking ribs and forcing every last bit of air from his stout body. THrough the air he flies, caught death on by the bear's snout, and flies a full seven feet, and with a mighty clatter of his armor and his weapons(which he still holds in a death grip) he crashes to the ground. In his own blood he lies, wheezing, coughing, black spots speckling his vision.

 

Yet he gets to his feet--slowly, laboriously, adrenaline canceling out the pain for a time. He goggles at the huge Black Bear for a moment, dumbfounded that this....animal could best him so thoroughly. Then he turns and stumbles for the cliff's edge from whence he came, hoping to get to the vertical drop that no four-legged creature could hope to manage without killing itself.