Culling the weak.
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:39 am
Stone Gaurd Hektar sat upon his loyal wolf Lightning-paw at the Northern gate of Orgrimmar. He had volunteered to lead an armed patrol with the Horde army. Though his association with the Grim excused him from such duties Hektar enjoyed patrols as a change of pace. Today they would set out to enforce Horde rule of Azshara, Eastern Ashenvale and the Norther Barrens before returning to Orgirmmar in a weeks time.
40 orcs made ready their wolves around Hektar, they were to be his troops for the patrol. Among them were several shaman, a few battle mages and many warriors. Hektar was tempted to ask one of the battle mages if they knew of his daughter, he had not heard from her since they had a disagreement about her decision to pursue the arcane ways rather than the shamanistic path. He immediately decided against it given his status as the leader of this platoon.
To his left Sgt Wellaron Firetalon, a Blood Elf Hektar had sponsored to become a member of the Grim sat upon his hawkstrider. Wellaron had proven to be a competent warrior against the Undead hordes in Northrend and such prowess had prompted Hektar to support his application to the Grim. To Hektars right sat the Death Knight Kragrinn upon his steed, a massive muscular orc Kragrinn was intimidating when he still lived, to say nothing of his unlife presence. The two would serve as Hektars sergeants for the coming task.
“I think its time we set out Kragrinn.” Hektar said.
The death knight nodded “Listen up ta Kragrinn! Mount up, we gets goin now!” He boomed.
Without hesitation all fourty of the orcs climbed aboard their wolves.
“We move!” Hektar called as he set out into Azshara, his sergeants at his side and his troops falling into two columns behind them.
They had been marching for no more than an hour when a shout came from an orc at the back of the column. “Friendlies approaching from the rear!”
The column halted and Hektar turned to look down his line, sure enough he saw a dozen Orcs, riding at full sprint toward the column, a male and female at their head. As they neared he could see the male wore heavy plate with his hair fashioned in a mohawk while the female wore lighter leather armor with her face covered in a black hood. He waved as they approached. “Throm’ka!”
“Throm’ka Stone Gaurd!” The male responded as they reached Hektar saluting.
Hektar returned the salute. Now that he had a closer look at the orc warrior Hektar recognized him. “Gregosh! It has been years nephew!”
“Indeed Uncle. The years have not been kind to you.” Gregosh grinned. “You remember my mate Skarka?” he motioned to the female beside him.
“Ah yes, how could I forget the one you called ‘the fastest blades on Mount Hyjal’ ?”
“I swear there were no faster that day” Gregosh responded then continued “I wish I could say I was here simply to talk of old times but I am here on official business.”
“Of course. What is it.”
Gregosh handed a scroll to Hektar. “New orders. Earlier today a recon flight spotted a platoon of Night elves in Eastern Ashenvale, we are unsure of their mission right now. Whatever it is, our mission is now to hunt them down and eradicate them.” Gregosh explained.
Hektar studied the scroll. “Ahh yes I see that. Fifty Night elves could wreak havoc upon our supply lines in Ashenvale.” He looked at Gregosh “It says here you are a sergeant, you have done well for yourself. These are my sergeants Kragrinn and Wellaron Firetalon.” Hektar motioned to the two at his side.
Gregosh nodded to the two as he eyed the Grim tabard the three wore with obvious envy but said nothing of it.
“Have your troops fall in with the rest, you will ride in front with me.” Hektar ordered.
The unit made good speed toward Ashenvale and that night they made camp just inside its borders. In the morning they once again packed their wolves, formed coulmns and began the march through Ashenvale in search of their enemies. This time however Hektar had Gregosh form three columns, on the two outer were his most heavily armoured troops, and inside were his shaman and battle mages.
Kragrinn and Skarka rode in silence at the rear of the formation.
As they made there way Wellaron asked “Any ideas how we mean to find these Night elves? Their people are masters of the forest.”
Hektar grinned. “I mean for them to find us Sergeant.”
“What!? You mean we intend to follow the road until we are inevitably ambushed? That’s madness!” Wellaron was obviously appaled by the strategy.
“Got a better idea runt?” Gregosh asked.
Wellaron glared at the orc “Better idea than suicide? Anything is a better idea than that you fool.”
The two began to sling insults back and forth until Hektar stopped them. “Enough! The elves know this wood better than anyone, the alternative to this tactic is to go clumsily hacking through the bush in search of an enemy that would then easily separate and kill us. At least this way we can fight in formation. We play to our strengths.”
“And if they simply fire their arrows at us from the trees?” Wellaron asked smugly.
“Then our battle mages will burn those trees to the ground while their arrows bounce off orcish plate and shield!” Gregosh responded. Hektar nodded in agreement then gave an angry glare to Wellaron.
“We will speak of your insolence later.”
Several hours passed, the orcs made camp, ate slept and in the morning once again set out in the same fashion down the road.
It was half way through this day that the elves finally struck. Arrows soared from the trees at great speed for the column. As fast as an arrow flies an Orcs reflexes are just as fast, most of the warriors were able to raise their shields, of those that did not only two were fatally wounded.
“Dismount! Form shield wall!” Wellaron ordered.
The orcs complied with lightning speed, soon shield walls were formed on either side of the formation with all the wolves, battle mages and shaman to the inside. Hektar positioned himself just inside the shield wall. “Light them up!” he called. The battle mages began throwing fire into the surrounding trees until one of them crumbled to the ground in pain.
“Counterspelled!” One of his fellow mages called. “They have magi!” No sooner had he said it when a giant ball of fire hurtled out of the trees toward the column. Hektar leaped in front of the shield wall calling upon the spirits of air to ground the fire and it was blown with great force into the ground before him.
Arrows whizzed by Hektars head as he quickly looked about for Skarka but he could not see her. Seconds later she bounded from the trees.
“Mage problems fixed!” she said.
“Keep burning them.” Hektar called. Fire rained down in every direction burning the very cover the elves were using to their advantage. Their positions were clearly visible to all in the shield wall and the order was give. “Charge!”
Unlike human knights who often needed the help of three men to get onto their steeds in full armour orcs are practiced in the art of mounting and dismounting as a combat tactic. With lightning speed they hopped aboard their wolves and set off toward their attackers, reaching the first within seconds of the charge beginning.
Most of the elves broke and fled, orcs in hot pursuit. Hektar spotted Wellaron and three orcs battling a group of elves that refused to give up a spot of high ground they had obtained. He steered Lightning-paw in that direction and charged. As he reached the position Hektar threw himself from the saddle, landing in their midst axes swinging in a windfury. Lightning-paw was just as deadly without rider and his fangs found purchase in the throat of an elf.
After they finished this group Hektar set out in search of more elves to kill. As he finished removing the head of a particularly skilled elf that had leapt upon him from the trees Hektar could hear arguing from a clearing ahead. “They surrendered to me, they are my prisoners and you will not lay hand nor axe upon them!” It was Wellaron.
As he made his way into the clearing Hektar could see Gregosh was the other side of the argument. “Outta my way or I’ll gut you next.” He brandished his axe at Wellaron. There were a dozen Night elves on their knees in the clearing as well as half a dozen orcs looking to put their blades to elvish throat.
“Whats the meaning of this?” Hektar asked.
“These ones surrendered, they have laid down their arms, I will not see them sla-” Hektar cut him off laughing.
“Times have changed Wellaron. I thought you to be wise enough to see that. Let these ones live today and they will bear arms against us tomorrow.” Hektar said.
“Times may have changed, but honour has not and honour dictates we not slay unarmed opponents.” Wellaron responded.
“Peace through Annihilation.” Hektar responded. Wellaron simply stared at him. “Peace through Annihilation!” Hektar yelled causing Wellaron to step back.
“I will not allow you to kill them.” Wellaron said and then brought his sword up in a combat stance.
“You are no Grim. I was wrong about you.” Hektar glowered. “You are not fit to wear that tabard.” Hektar thrust his hand toward Wellaron and the crest of his tabard lit on fire, burning away the emblem of the Grim. Wellaron quickly ripped the burning tabard off and resumed his defensive stance before the dozen kneeling night elves.
Gregosh stepped forward, his battle axe held high “You are a weak pathetic fool elf. You have no place in the horde, you will die!”
With that battle was joined between the two. More orcs arrived at the clearning and watched the battle play out between the elf and orc. Both warriors were equally skilled and where Gregosh was stronger Wellaron was faster.
The two traded blows back and forth a blur of attacks and counter attacks. Finally one of Wellarons thrusts found flesh and he buried his sword deep in Gregosh’s gut. The large orcs axe dropped from his arms as he stood impaled before the elf.
“You are nothing but a beast, and so you die like a beast.” Wellaron said as he looked into Gregoshs eyes. Gregosh simply grinned back, confusing Wellaron, at least for his remaining seconds of life. Gregosh brought his mammoth hands up to either side of Wellarons head and with a violent twist he ripped the elfs head clear off his shoulders.
Both warriors dropped.
“We need a healer!” one of the orcs called out.
Gregosh lay on the ground holding his gut, a look of satisfaction on his face as Hektar stood over him. “Peace through Annihilation uncle.” He said.
One of the accompanying shaman pushed passed Hektar to begin work on Gregosh wound.
“Will he live?” Hektar asked.
The shaman chanted a few words while holding his arms above the wound. “Aye, but we need to get him back to Orgrimmar, he’ll be no good to anyone for a week or so, looks like he cut up every organ in his gut. Lucky he’s a tough son of a bitch.”
Gregosh laughed weakly, blood spitting from his mouth before losing consciousness.
“Somebody find Skarka, let her know what happened. Also execute the prisoners at once.” Hektar directed the order to a group of orcs watching the shaman work. “You know the hall of the Grim in Orgrimmar?” he asked the shaman.
“I do.”
“When he is well enough have him delivered there. I will make arrangements.” Hektar removed his Grim tabard and handed it to the shaman. “This is his, see too it it does not leave his side.” The shaman nodded.
Hektar climbed aboard Lightning-paw to make assist in mopping up the elf forces, he looked down upon his nephew, pride in his eyes. “Peace through Annihilation.” he said before kicking the wolf into action.
40 orcs made ready their wolves around Hektar, they were to be his troops for the patrol. Among them were several shaman, a few battle mages and many warriors. Hektar was tempted to ask one of the battle mages if they knew of his daughter, he had not heard from her since they had a disagreement about her decision to pursue the arcane ways rather than the shamanistic path. He immediately decided against it given his status as the leader of this platoon.
To his left Sgt Wellaron Firetalon, a Blood Elf Hektar had sponsored to become a member of the Grim sat upon his hawkstrider. Wellaron had proven to be a competent warrior against the Undead hordes in Northrend and such prowess had prompted Hektar to support his application to the Grim. To Hektars right sat the Death Knight Kragrinn upon his steed, a massive muscular orc Kragrinn was intimidating when he still lived, to say nothing of his unlife presence. The two would serve as Hektars sergeants for the coming task.
“I think its time we set out Kragrinn.” Hektar said.
The death knight nodded “Listen up ta Kragrinn! Mount up, we gets goin now!” He boomed.
Without hesitation all fourty of the orcs climbed aboard their wolves.
“We move!” Hektar called as he set out into Azshara, his sergeants at his side and his troops falling into two columns behind them.
They had been marching for no more than an hour when a shout came from an orc at the back of the column. “Friendlies approaching from the rear!”
The column halted and Hektar turned to look down his line, sure enough he saw a dozen Orcs, riding at full sprint toward the column, a male and female at their head. As they neared he could see the male wore heavy plate with his hair fashioned in a mohawk while the female wore lighter leather armor with her face covered in a black hood. He waved as they approached. “Throm’ka!”
“Throm’ka Stone Gaurd!” The male responded as they reached Hektar saluting.
Hektar returned the salute. Now that he had a closer look at the orc warrior Hektar recognized him. “Gregosh! It has been years nephew!”
“Indeed Uncle. The years have not been kind to you.” Gregosh grinned. “You remember my mate Skarka?” he motioned to the female beside him.
“Ah yes, how could I forget the one you called ‘the fastest blades on Mount Hyjal’ ?”
“I swear there were no faster that day” Gregosh responded then continued “I wish I could say I was here simply to talk of old times but I am here on official business.”
“Of course. What is it.”
Gregosh handed a scroll to Hektar. “New orders. Earlier today a recon flight spotted a platoon of Night elves in Eastern Ashenvale, we are unsure of their mission right now. Whatever it is, our mission is now to hunt them down and eradicate them.” Gregosh explained.
Hektar studied the scroll. “Ahh yes I see that. Fifty Night elves could wreak havoc upon our supply lines in Ashenvale.” He looked at Gregosh “It says here you are a sergeant, you have done well for yourself. These are my sergeants Kragrinn and Wellaron Firetalon.” Hektar motioned to the two at his side.
Gregosh nodded to the two as he eyed the Grim tabard the three wore with obvious envy but said nothing of it.
“Have your troops fall in with the rest, you will ride in front with me.” Hektar ordered.
The unit made good speed toward Ashenvale and that night they made camp just inside its borders. In the morning they once again packed their wolves, formed coulmns and began the march through Ashenvale in search of their enemies. This time however Hektar had Gregosh form three columns, on the two outer were his most heavily armoured troops, and inside were his shaman and battle mages.
Kragrinn and Skarka rode in silence at the rear of the formation.
As they made there way Wellaron asked “Any ideas how we mean to find these Night elves? Their people are masters of the forest.”
Hektar grinned. “I mean for them to find us Sergeant.”
“What!? You mean we intend to follow the road until we are inevitably ambushed? That’s madness!” Wellaron was obviously appaled by the strategy.
“Got a better idea runt?” Gregosh asked.
Wellaron glared at the orc “Better idea than suicide? Anything is a better idea than that you fool.”
The two began to sling insults back and forth until Hektar stopped them. “Enough! The elves know this wood better than anyone, the alternative to this tactic is to go clumsily hacking through the bush in search of an enemy that would then easily separate and kill us. At least this way we can fight in formation. We play to our strengths.”
“And if they simply fire their arrows at us from the trees?” Wellaron asked smugly.
“Then our battle mages will burn those trees to the ground while their arrows bounce off orcish plate and shield!” Gregosh responded. Hektar nodded in agreement then gave an angry glare to Wellaron.
“We will speak of your insolence later.”
Several hours passed, the orcs made camp, ate slept and in the morning once again set out in the same fashion down the road.
It was half way through this day that the elves finally struck. Arrows soared from the trees at great speed for the column. As fast as an arrow flies an Orcs reflexes are just as fast, most of the warriors were able to raise their shields, of those that did not only two were fatally wounded.
“Dismount! Form shield wall!” Wellaron ordered.
The orcs complied with lightning speed, soon shield walls were formed on either side of the formation with all the wolves, battle mages and shaman to the inside. Hektar positioned himself just inside the shield wall. “Light them up!” he called. The battle mages began throwing fire into the surrounding trees until one of them crumbled to the ground in pain.
“Counterspelled!” One of his fellow mages called. “They have magi!” No sooner had he said it when a giant ball of fire hurtled out of the trees toward the column. Hektar leaped in front of the shield wall calling upon the spirits of air to ground the fire and it was blown with great force into the ground before him.
Arrows whizzed by Hektars head as he quickly looked about for Skarka but he could not see her. Seconds later she bounded from the trees.
“Mage problems fixed!” she said.
“Keep burning them.” Hektar called. Fire rained down in every direction burning the very cover the elves were using to their advantage. Their positions were clearly visible to all in the shield wall and the order was give. “Charge!”
Unlike human knights who often needed the help of three men to get onto their steeds in full armour orcs are practiced in the art of mounting and dismounting as a combat tactic. With lightning speed they hopped aboard their wolves and set off toward their attackers, reaching the first within seconds of the charge beginning.
Most of the elves broke and fled, orcs in hot pursuit. Hektar spotted Wellaron and three orcs battling a group of elves that refused to give up a spot of high ground they had obtained. He steered Lightning-paw in that direction and charged. As he reached the position Hektar threw himself from the saddle, landing in their midst axes swinging in a windfury. Lightning-paw was just as deadly without rider and his fangs found purchase in the throat of an elf.
After they finished this group Hektar set out in search of more elves to kill. As he finished removing the head of a particularly skilled elf that had leapt upon him from the trees Hektar could hear arguing from a clearing ahead. “They surrendered to me, they are my prisoners and you will not lay hand nor axe upon them!” It was Wellaron.
As he made his way into the clearing Hektar could see Gregosh was the other side of the argument. “Outta my way or I’ll gut you next.” He brandished his axe at Wellaron. There were a dozen Night elves on their knees in the clearing as well as half a dozen orcs looking to put their blades to elvish throat.
“Whats the meaning of this?” Hektar asked.
“These ones surrendered, they have laid down their arms, I will not see them sla-” Hektar cut him off laughing.
“Times have changed Wellaron. I thought you to be wise enough to see that. Let these ones live today and they will bear arms against us tomorrow.” Hektar said.
“Times may have changed, but honour has not and honour dictates we not slay unarmed opponents.” Wellaron responded.
“Peace through Annihilation.” Hektar responded. Wellaron simply stared at him. “Peace through Annihilation!” Hektar yelled causing Wellaron to step back.
“I will not allow you to kill them.” Wellaron said and then brought his sword up in a combat stance.
“You are no Grim. I was wrong about you.” Hektar glowered. “You are not fit to wear that tabard.” Hektar thrust his hand toward Wellaron and the crest of his tabard lit on fire, burning away the emblem of the Grim. Wellaron quickly ripped the burning tabard off and resumed his defensive stance before the dozen kneeling night elves.
Gregosh stepped forward, his battle axe held high “You are a weak pathetic fool elf. You have no place in the horde, you will die!”
With that battle was joined between the two. More orcs arrived at the clearning and watched the battle play out between the elf and orc. Both warriors were equally skilled and where Gregosh was stronger Wellaron was faster.
The two traded blows back and forth a blur of attacks and counter attacks. Finally one of Wellarons thrusts found flesh and he buried his sword deep in Gregosh’s gut. The large orcs axe dropped from his arms as he stood impaled before the elf.
“You are nothing but a beast, and so you die like a beast.” Wellaron said as he looked into Gregoshs eyes. Gregosh simply grinned back, confusing Wellaron, at least for his remaining seconds of life. Gregosh brought his mammoth hands up to either side of Wellarons head and with a violent twist he ripped the elfs head clear off his shoulders.
Both warriors dropped.
“We need a healer!” one of the orcs called out.
Gregosh lay on the ground holding his gut, a look of satisfaction on his face as Hektar stood over him. “Peace through Annihilation uncle.” He said.
One of the accompanying shaman pushed passed Hektar to begin work on Gregosh wound.
“Will he live?” Hektar asked.
The shaman chanted a few words while holding his arms above the wound. “Aye, but we need to get him back to Orgrimmar, he’ll be no good to anyone for a week or so, looks like he cut up every organ in his gut. Lucky he’s a tough son of a bitch.”
Gregosh laughed weakly, blood spitting from his mouth before losing consciousness.
“Somebody find Skarka, let her know what happened. Also execute the prisoners at once.” Hektar directed the order to a group of orcs watching the shaman work. “You know the hall of the Grim in Orgrimmar?” he asked the shaman.
“I do.”
“When he is well enough have him delivered there. I will make arrangements.” Hektar removed his Grim tabard and handed it to the shaman. “This is his, see too it it does not leave his side.” The shaman nodded.
Hektar climbed aboard Lightning-paw to make assist in mopping up the elf forces, he looked down upon his nephew, pride in his eyes. “Peace through Annihilation.” he said before kicking the wolf into action.