The Curse of Calamus

Kyleen

Leaning forward Kyleen took a large bite from the rabbit's fleshy thigh. It had cooled slightly, and tasted divine.

Nodding her thanks to Jurax, she chewed happily.
 
Uwef:

Grinning at Jurax, Uwef remembers his own speech impediment. He watches as the barbarian feeds Kyleen before he offers to help. "Kyleen," Uwef asks the greasy faced warrior, "would you like me to keep Richard on my horse." The dwarf wonders if he should offer the woman a hanky and decides it would border on rudeness.
 
Kyleen

Kyleen swallowed the rabbit and licked some of the grease from her lips. She looked at Uwef as he made his suggestion, then turned to look at Richards sleeping face, surrepitously wiping her face on his hair. After all, he was dribbling on her shoulder.

She considered the suggestion seriously
"You don't think his feet would drag on the ground on your horse, or overburden the beast?" She replied
 
Many people were far ahead of him. At times, all he had to go on was the huge trail that all the horses left behind. It didn't do much that he was riding a buffalo. It wasn't his fault, this was the only thing that could support his weight and wasn't as slow as a mule.
Still, it was nothing compared to a horse.
He heared pieces of conversation from them, mostly boring stupid things. That didn't bother him though, the occasional howl and shout from behind was what kept him riding the beast as fast as the thing would go.
Downhill, he had gotten the thing all the way up to a fast trot. Now though, through thick trenches and fallen logs, his pace was slowed almost to a crawl.
Sighing, he wished the pains would go away. On his feet, he'd be so much faster.
 
Richard

Slowly, he came to, eye opening as he looked around. He was on a horse, and his arms were around....He blinked, then looked around again. He shrugged, still holding on to her, as he was unused to horseback riding. Quite frankly, he had more ability to stay on the horse when asleep, judging by where he found himself.

Just then, he realized his hat and scarf weren't on his head. He reached a hand back, fumbling through his cloak untiol he found then with a sigh. Realizing that he was nearly falling off the horse, he hugged himself against the only suggort there was.

"Sorry. I'm used to walking."
 
Jurax

He just kept trotting forward, after having taken a bite to out of the rabbit Kyleen had bit into. As they debated, he turned his head from side to side wondering where the huge giant had gone. Looking at Kyleen he asked.. "Where is umm.. Big oafish likish one?" and waited for a response as they kept pressing forward.
 
The orcs

As they headed across the fields that waited ahead, leaving the woods behind, they could barely see those they pursued. They came in a hoard, a few shy after yesterday's battle, but all aware and out for revenge. But they ran close together, nearly tripping over each other with each step. And the ashes where the makeshift spit had been was trampled by quite a few feet before one large, clumsy heel struck the small gift left by Uwef.
Bodies flew through the air, screams of pain emanating as the explosion sloppily took the lives of seven orcs, leaving several more wounded. The distraction slowed them some, but very little. They moved around the ashpit then, almost as though it were haunted.
The warriors they tracked slowly gained ground, but they would have to rest...and the witch had other plans for them ahead.
 
Uwef:

Before the dwarf could answer Kyleen's question or puzzle over Jurax's observation, an echoing bang booms through the valley and disturbs the conversation.

Smirking, Uwef brags aloud of his trap, "The damned suckers probably didn't realize what some red coals and that powder can do to a group. A little trick I learned from some funny looking people who squinted most of the time."

Looking at Kyleen and Richard--finally awake, Uwef remembers his initial query, "Richard, are you comfortable? What ever we can do to help, we would love to." Then, remembering overhearing the giant some time ago, Uwef responds to Jurax, "I think he is near the back of the procession. That steed of his spooks the horses."
 
Kyleen

Kyleen sat up straighter, stretching her muscles, tight from having to support Richard's body against her back for so long.

Releasing his arms, she was able to reach for some more of the rabbit from Jurax, breaking off a leg for Richard, and taking more flesh from the thigh for herself. Handing the carcass on a stick to Uwef, Kyleen remembered that he hadn't eaten yet either.

Adding her voice to Uwef's, the reassured Jurax that Sebulba was not far behind, although Kyleen would have been more comfortable if that buffalo he rode could move a bit faster. It was, however a very sturdy beast, and in the long haul could last much longer and go further in a day than their horses.

Kyleen knew they would have to find a place to make their stand soon, at the pace they were setting, the horses wouldn't last much longer.
 
Uwef:

Without the manners common to some people, Uwef rips part of the carcass off the stick and shoves it into his mouth. Until Kyleen had reminded him, he had nearly forgotton his request from earlier in the morning.

With a hunk of fresh meat in his maw, Uwef returns the spit to Jurax, as he seems to enjoy watching it bob back and forth between the two horseback riders. Not yet swallowing, Uwef thanks Kyleen for offering the rabbit.
 
Jurax

With a smile, to show he now understood, he turned his thoughts from the giant one, and pondered somewhat slowly what they should do if the horses got to tired. Shrugging he ate another portion of the rabbit in his left hand, and offered the last of it to Kyleen, while handing Uwef the one in his right indicating he should give it to some of the others. Looking at Kyleen he said "When we stop? Hor.. Her.. umm.. horsies looking to beum some tired."
 
Enclosed

They horses sped forward, the old man holding tight, hoping that they would gain the advantage of distance before needing to rest. ALready, they had over a halfhour on the orcs, which was something, but not enough time torest the horses and gain their own mental footing, then start off again without being caught. The orcs were on foot, but they were moving fast, and there were too many of them to just avoid,and far too many to make a stand of any kind effective, not out in the open, on the flat anyway.
Pennindar looked ahead, seeing the way the trees arched ahead, looking as though they were riding into a horseshoe. Once they were inside of it, he thought, if we planted archers oneither side, in the trees to weakened them, then perhaps we could chase them off. The trees could be a good ally, when used appropriately.
Then it struck him...there could be more orcs, waiting for them behind the cover of the same trees...
He looked to Briomen, but it was far too late. If there were more, they couldn't turn back and clear the trees before those that chased them would be on them.
Luckily, or so it would seem, it wasn't orcs that came from the trees surrounding them, but human soldiers, clad in heavy armor, carrying larger weapons than would be effective against the relatively small group of travelers.
"Slow," Boguras ordered, the elves, pulling up on his reigns slightly. The horses slowed as they went deeper into the horseshoe, knowing that trusting the humans wasn't the best move, but that the humans would view the orcs as enemies as well made them, on one level, allies.
"Halt!" A man shouted, stepping forward on horseback. "Announce yourselves!"
They brought thier horses to a stop...looking around at these new strangers. The group of travelers was outnumber four to one, and the men they were surrounded by here heavily armored and armed.
"State your purposed here!" The man insisted.
"We are traveling to the north, to battle a great evil," pennindar announced. "Will you let us pass?"
 
Richard

He stared for a minute, and hopped down off the horse he was trapped on. Laying on the ground, he looked around at the men. He blinked, and sat up. Looking closely at a few faces, he stood up.

"I don't believe it. You're,.....Interesting. Anyone up for a game of dice?"
 
The Dragon Hunters

It should have sunk in right away what these men were, but the old wizard was far too concerned about the orcs on their tails to really think about what he was seeing. Now, these men were taking far too long to decide what to do.
Should they let us pass? Pennindar thought. How simple can that question be to take so long to answer?
The orcs were in plain view now, still charging forward, eventhough it was clear they could see all these men standing there, all these armed and armored men. The enemy showed no fear, but what would these new friends, if that's what they were, show them?
The man who'd stopped them and asked them their business was currently conversing with two other men, standing far enough away that they could hear none of the words being passed between the two.
The orcs grew nearer as the conversation continued. Driving forward at the same aggressive pace they'd set in pursuit of Richard and the two elves.
Pennindar watched, waiting for the time when he should draw his weapon to defend himself and his companions.
The time came in mere minutes, as the men who'd been gathered around them began to retreat, leaving them to battle alone.
"They're leaving us to die!" Boguras shouted, angrily. He drew his bow and fired a few quick arrows into the small army of orcs, then turned to the retreating men to shout, "Cowards!"
The word had no effect on them, however, and they continued to back away, gathering their things and going.
"Should we go with them?" Pennindar asked, Briomen.
"No, we'll only to trapped in, without room to maneuver. We can't get around the men, and they'll be willing to give us up in order to keep from battling the orcs themselves. Arms!" Briomen shouted, drawing his short sword and raising it in the air.
As the orcs grew nearer, shouting battle cries and panting from their long journey, they raised their own weapons, preparing to strike.
But as they grew almost near enough to attack, their front ranks suddenly burst into flames, sending bodies into the air, flaming and screaming in pain. It seemed as if they had staggered upon a mine field of explosives, four times the power of that which Uwef had left for them earlier. As bodies burst into flames and were burnt to crisps before them, others pointed to the sky.
The soldiers gathered around them looked upward as well, grabbing for the large weapons they'd been carrying, and the feel of sudden gusts of air drove down at them. He looked up, seeing the fire dragons driving downward toward the field, seven of them, flying in a reverse "V" formation.
"Scatter," Boguras shouted, "they mean business." They swept down, gripping at the orcs and humans alike, lifting them into the air and dropping them, or biting into them, swallowing them in halves (fire dragons are too small to swallow them whole).
The soldiers dropped their large weapons, scurrying for the shelter of the trees.
 
Richard

While orcs, elves, and men ran, Richard stood tall, eyes wide as he stared at the dragons. For Richard had been raised the son of a scribe in a large town. Scribes were mainly used by the rich and the churches, as few others had need of books. As such, Richard had met with the few members of the Church of Grenda. Polytheistic, they had Gods for everything. But one thing stayed the same. Every single God was represented by a dragon.

Turning, he growled, and took of, racing after the men. He'd seen what they were from the first, no one else wondered the wilds with weapons of that size. They were heavily armored, which only served to slow them down. He lept, his feet gaining hold on one's shoulders. His Fang glinted in the Light as he drove it into the man's face. Richard had turned from a thief who cared only about his own well-being into one of the worst zealots of history.

Screaming prayers to the 'Gods' who were snatching up bodies around him, he continued leaping on the backs of the heavily-armed men, slashing their throats or driving his Fang into their faces before moving on to the next. Dodging around the flash of claws and fire, he continued taking down the men, the fastest ones first, completely ignoring theothers, and the orcs. At most, he used the orcs as stepping-stones, leaping on their heads to give him added height as he searched for his targets.
 
Kyleen

Seeing Richard go into a frenzy, Kyleen moved to flank Jurax. In this horseshoe there was only one way out and it was filling with Orcs. Kyleen knew that something dramatic would have to happen for them to get out alive, theirs such a small party among the human army and the advancing Orc army.

At the moment most of the humans were still stunned by Richards screaming attack, and were on the defensive, in seconds they would realize that Richard was only one man, and they would bring him down. Kyleen fervently hoped the wanted hostages rather than corpses. Never-the-less, she felt that the sooner their main party worked their way towards the edge of the horseshoe, even if it ment being cornered, they would have a greater chance of survival having their backs protected.

Nudging her horse towards the closest hedge wall, she steered Jurax and the rest of the party that way.

Her sword in her fist sung a lament for those who would soon die.
 
Uwef:

Following the general push of people, Uwef moves closer to the wall. Near his compatriots, Jurax and Kyleen, the dwarf bares his heavy-axe and hopes that the fate prevails for him.

Adverse to fighting, the dwarf keeps to the back of the crowd for the natural shield of rock and man.
 
Kyleen

"Mer help us!" Kyleen whispers in fervent prayer as the battle raged closer.
 
Sebulba couldn't run anymore. He was too tired, and too filled with pain. He slid off of the buffalo, unable to ride it any longer. The thing ran off to the side, getting jumped on by several orcs, and then get picked up by a huge dragon.
He took out his axe, crouching. There would be no running, only a fight. He would cut off the head of any dragon that came near him. Fifteen feet high, but crouching he still was the biggest target in there. The dragons didn't purposely aim from him, but he could see them eyeing.
Running all around him, chaos on either sides, and then there was him, with just one single axe, both hands in a deadly grip. Waiting for either death,or a visious kill.
Someone was going to die.
 
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Dragons and orcs and soldiers, oh my!

As the dragons descended, taking orcs and huimans and elves alike into the sky, tearing some apart and just dropping others, Pennindar lost track of most of his adventurers. He figured it was all as well...it would be best to separate, given the risks involved. If some were killed, then others might live, whereas if they were altogether and one of those dragons breathed fire down on them...
And the dragons seemed every bit content to feast on and destroy the orcs as well, tearing them to pieces and burning them with equal vigor and determination.
Apparently, all had reason to fear their safety...
War, he thought, it truly is war.
"Pennindar!" A voiced chimed from nearby. He glanced over to see Briomen, still on horseback.
"We have to get into the trees," the elf yelled, "but there are hedges and rocks obstructing the way in places...get whoever you can gather and come with me!"
The old mage looked around, but saw only the soldiers, who were getting more and more aggressive toward the elves as they got further away from the damage being done by the dragons.
The two groups might well kill each other, without the help of dragons or orcs. Many of Briomen's men were waging battle against the soldiers then, and those that weren't were being attacked themselves for the kindness. In the north, the old wizard knew, no one got along, regardless of race or reason.
He looked across the field, wondering if he would find the distant image of one of his companions there, and was surprised to see Sebulba, standing head and shoulders (not to mention chest and some of his stomach) above the rest. He wasn't retreating, but standing there, as if waiting for a battle.
Not a good sign, with the dragons swooping down and breathing fire...fire dragons were not to be messed with, and an unnecessary battle, with unnecessary risks.
The figure was too far away to reach with words, and the trip across the field far too dangerous to risk himself. He hurried on horseback behind Briomen, hoping the elf wouold find his way.
 
And the Sebulba situation...

The dragons swooped down, seeing the large figure standing there, knowing he intended battle, but they let him stand...Giants were not teir concern, nor were dwarves or elves...but the humans had to die, and the orcs...why let them live?
They dove downward, dropping fireballs toward the ground to see them explode when they hit, sending fire dancing into the air, catching humans and orcs alight...sending some bodies flying, burning but not moving.
It was a slaughter, but one that would soon end.
Bodies were everywhere, and many men had survived, but they were escping into the trees, and they couldn't light the trees ablaze...such an act would destroy the forrest, and the innocent creatures that lived there. Killing the innocent was an act of which only humans would wish to partake.
For a moment, one of the dragons stopped, seeing from far above the man in black, attacking the armored humans as though he were possessed. This dragon, Destiny, took careful notice, then turned and flew high into the air, letting out a shriek that drew the other dragons up as well.
Destiny led them away, toward the mountains.
 
Uwef:

Watching the scene before him, the dwarf could only fret about his likely demise. The giant stands some thirty paces from the dwarf and in the other direction, Uwef could see the wizard and an elf hurry away from the battle. Cowards, the dwarf thinks to himself. Then, realizing that he too is a coward, the small target runs across the battlefield, ducking slightly, and ultimately staying out of the way of axes, swords, talons, and fire.

When a hedge impedes Uwef's travel, he finally looks up again and sees the wizard not ten paces from the other side of the hedge. "Pennindar," Uwef shouts. Without waiting for a response, the small dwarf tries to climb over the hedges, getting himself quite pricked in the process.
 
Kyleen

Finishing off the last Orc from group that had charged her, Kyleen looked around, discovering that she'd lost some of her companions.

Looking up at the sky she saw the Dragons begin to depart. She gave a bit of a shudder. Dragons always unnerved her with their knowing eyes and strange loyalties.

Turning, she saw Pennindar on the other side of the hedge. Urging her horse Oak into a gallop, she neatly sailed over the barrier, but almost fell off in surprise when she saw Uwef stuck in the middle as she went overhead.

Giving Oak the special signal she'd taught him when he was just a colt, the horse whinny'd loudly, calling all the unattached horses to her.
 
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Retreat

The orcs turned, their way blocked by flame and bodies already dead, laying across the field in various places, some still burning. In a matter of minutes, it had all happened, ten at most, and now, most of those who were there lay dead.
The old mage brought his horse to a stop not far from the woods edge, just within the trees. Others were there, including Boguras and Briomen, and DaSanda, and a few of the other elves, but only a few.
Other than that, he'd lost track of them all. The giant, the dwarf, even the humans...
"We must gather them together, find out who has survived and who is dead," Pennindar shouted. "I saw the giant over on the opposite side of the field. He might still be there."
"I will go and seek him out. Hopefully, these soldiers will decide they've had enough battle for one day, Boguras replied. With that, the elf started back inot the field.
Briomen pointed to his left. "We can travel through the woods to the other side, that way, we'll know who has escaped in that direction."
Pennindar nodded.
"WHere's Richard?" DaSanda asked.
"One question answered at a time, child," Pennindar returned. They started toward the opposite side.
 
Richard

His Fang hit against metal as he brought his leg up, hitting the man square in the chin. It wqas then he noticed the dragons leaving. He pulled out his hat and scarf, adjusting them. He ran towards the trees, scurring up one and stealthily disappearing.

Silently, he ran through the branches. After a few minutes, he hit the small group of his companions. Timin g himself, he fell down into their midst, looking around at them.

" 'Ello, everyone. Miss me?"
 
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