Multiminded's page

Tor sneers at Andras as he joins the ranks of the shield wall.

"Finally, maybe there's some courage in yo-" He's cut off by the crackling KTHOOM as Jimmy's shield explodes. He can only stare in awe as the chaos unfolds before him. The orc appears in the sky, plummeting directly toward the wizard, then the metal man knocking Jimmy clear off his feet, and the immediate wet THUD of the Orc's impact. There's a spray of blood at the impact site, and a strange man leaps onto the corpse, driving a knife into the pathetic mass off flesh twitching on the ground.

Tor's anger is drained away by his confusion. It's several seconds before he closes his jaw. In all his years, this was the strangest conflict he had ever been involved in.

"I... The wizard... what?" He stammers, words failing him. "Is it, dead?"

Even now he can't shake the disbelief. The Orc fails to move in spite of it all. The hunter gives a shocked look to the Shaman for any kind of explanation.

"Silence, Child! Ingrate! Wretch!" Tor bellows in fury, his spear shakes in anger. Despite his rage, Tor is not foolish enough to take his eyes off the Orc.

"You brought this evil to us! You begged to be protected! Then you snivel about cuts and bruises behind children while two men die in your stead! We aid you because this monster has taken our own! Hide behind your wizard, boy! Another excuse for your cowardice and we will simply let this creature have you, you craven swine! I should let him butcher your corpse while I lead these people to safety! You should pray the wizard can finish the monster without us!"

His eyes are cold and furious. It is clear the man is not bluffing.

Fast Turn: Spearman 1 and 3 hurl their spears at the Orc, then pull a fresh one off their backs. Spearman 1 now has 2 spears remaining. Spearman 2 has 1 spear remaining.

"Get back, Flint!" Tor shouts to the remaining spearman closest to the orc. Tor raises his heavy spear, takes a step to build momentum, and hurls it with all his might at the orc's chest. The spearman next to him follows suit with a heavy grunt.

The two men retrieve another spear from their backs after the volley. Tor glances furiously back at Andras and sees his hesitance.

"What are you doing, Noble Boy? A good man died for your bullshit! GET IN HERE!" Tor roars angrily to Andras. "Or are you the coward he says you are?!"

Slow Turn: Spearmen 1 and 3 retreat to form a line and ready triggered actions to use Driving attacks upon Smiley's approach.

"Damned beast!" Tor curses angrily as the orc swiftly dispatches the fellow hunter. The spear is planted in Brandon's head before he even knows it's been torn from his grasp from his hands.

"Get the boy out of here!" He yells to the other spearman. A chill fills Tor's stomach as he realizes his end is upon him. Still, he grits his teeth and prepares to hold as long as he can. He motions for the remaining spearmen to bring the child to safety and form up to prepare for the Orc's advance.

The spearmen lower their arms as the Orc puts a foot forward. The leader, Tor, knew an offensive stance when he saw one. This Orc was deadly and no trifle. Fortunately, Tor and his men are practiced hunters as well.

"Exercise? Ain't no exercise but survival. You aren't the first monster we've killed in these mountains." Tor growls. He gives a practiced circular motion with his hand. Two of the spearmen form up in front of the orc, while two others begin to circle around to his flanks. Practiced steps in time with each other hunter. They knew what to do. Distract the filth while their ally steals away the child. They had performed similar diversions against wild game that threatened an injured hunter.

All four in position, the hunters strike in unison. From the orc's right, Clint drives his spear into the orc with all his might. At the same time, Tor's spear flashes and he darts forward with a sweeping arc to knock the beast from his feet. A third spear aims for the chest while the last waits and hopes his allies successfully push the orc away.

Slow Turn: Spearman circle the orc. One of them, to the Orc's right, uses a driving attack in an attempt to push Smiley away from the boy. Second spearman (Front) sweeps with an unbalancing attack. Third is a straight assault to guard the others. Fourth spearman will wait for an opportunity to grab the boy.

Darkness. Darkness surrounded him. He tried to open his eyes, but nothing happened. Or maybe it didn't make a difference. The shadows pressed down on him like a weight. It was smothering him against the cold earth.

He could feel that earth beneath him now. It was cold, and that cold seeped into him.

Where am I? Am I really here? Am I alive? Dead?

His mind churns in confusion. Disoriented and unsure if this was real. Then a sound. The scrape of foot on earth, a light skittering of nails on stone. Fear grips his mind now, defenseless in the dark. The next step is closer. Closer still. What stalked him in this dark?

As the shuffling comes to a halt, the ground beneath him writhes. Fingers? Tendrils? Worms? He jerks up into the void above him, away from the now squirming floor.

"You're awake." A raspy voice croaks through the blackness, "Good. Come, you've a promise to fulfill."