Orc Train
Siriln carefully stalked closer to the ramshackle tents clustered near an ancient elven hunting trail. Too near as far as the young koada’dal was concerned. Well, feir’dal rangers had used this trail before the orc refugees had claimed this part of the Faydark, and they would be using it long after the despicable beasts had been driven back to Antonica. With the newest wizard of the Artkeepers on the hunt, the orcs’ days on Faydwer are numbered! Siriln thought to himself. His new greatstaff and enchanted bracers would surely give him an advantage.
Ducking behind a tree, the young elf carefully studied the slovenly orcs milling around the closest tent. Siriln frowned, counting at least four of the noxious humanoids. As a high elf he was a superior being, but four against one were NOT good odds. As he considered his next move, one of the smaller orcs left the cluster heading deeper into orc territory.
Ha! Siriln grinned to himself, Tunare rewards the patient. Waiting until the orc was too far from its comrades to call for help, the sorcerer-in-training began casting his spells. On the final word, the roots of the trees around the orc burst from the ground, twining around the unfortunate creature’s feet.
“Feel the wrath of Tunare, invader!” the wizard crowed, launching a bolt formed of ice at the immobile monster. The ice struck the creature, freezing wherever it touched. Frozen skin cracked open in deep rents. Several shards of ice bounced off the orc’s crude armor and struck its feet, severing the imprisoning roots.
“No one defies the Crushbone orcs!” bellowed the newly freed orc. Charging forward, the orc swung its axe at the high elf attacker. The unexpected blow caused Siriln to lose hold of the magical energies he had been summoning, and he struggled to adjust to the suddenly even fight. Calling on his Art, the elf gradually froze his opponent in between blows of his staff. Finally, the gravely injured orc turned and began hobbling towards the tents he had come from.
“Escape won’t be that easy!” Siriln proclaimed, begin another spell. A sharp blow to the ribs caught him by surprise and he spun around.
“Youse right elf” grinned a particularly large and ugly specimen of orc. Siriln instantly recognized the centurion he had seen earlier leading the first orc’s patrol… the same patrol that had snuck up behind him, keen elven hearing or no. The elf smiled at the imposing orc nervously for a second, then turned on his heel and sprinted away. After gaping for another moment, the centurion recovered from its surprise.
“After him!” the orc howled in fury. The smaller orcs scuttled after the rapidly disappearing figure.
“ORCS TO GUARDS!” The frantic yell pierced the quiet of the Orc Lift guard post. Guard Pineshade glanced at his companion.
“Another apprentice?”
“Sounds like. Tenth one today.” Casually the guards drew their swords and turned to face Orc Hill. Less than thirty seconds later an amusing sight came into view. A koada’dal youth appeared, sprinting over the rise before the guard post. From the flapping robes and narrow face turned red from exertion, it was yet another of the Artkeepers’ pupils in over his head.
“You’d think these children would learn” muttered one of the guards, just before the patrol chasing the high elf appeared. The orcs chasing the young elf were so intent on their prey, they failed to notice the guards until sharp blades bit into green flesh.
A particularly stubborn orc charged the young wizard hiding behind the lift. With a yelp Siriln ran from his hiding place, dashing behind Guard Pineshade. With an amused glance at the youth behind him, the feir’dal warrior nonchalantly swung his blade and separated the pursuing orc’s head from its shoulders. The guard calmly wiped his sword on the monster’s rough clothing before turning.
“Lad, isn’t this the third time in as many hours?” The wizard stared at the ground, flushing from one pointed ear to the other. After a few minutes Siriln ventured a response.
“Umm… oops?” was the single tentative response
A/N Don't own any of Norrath, including places and people and any other Sony property, this is just a bit of fan fiction, so please don't sue. Every newbie to ever play Everquest has done this, whether they admit it or not. *grin* Thanks to DB for reading over this, appreciate it man :).