Aeschere charged the first orc with an insane fury. He bashed his face with his shield, knocking him out of his way. He then clashed his sword with the other orc, breaking his sword in half and slashing his flesh. He swings and bashes as the orcs throw themselves against him, only to be hewn aside with missing limbs and gushing blood.
Faerhild charged against one of the orcs, bashing him with her shield, to block him from seeing her incoming sword that went to study his black guts.
Eorcan knocked one of the orcs down and finished him off with a stab through the heart, he then swung his blade at the leg of one of the orcs charging towards Aeschere, taking a step back to survey the fight and which of his comrades to help
Yrminas released an aimless shot, with barely batting an eye as he heared a pained shriek he simply continued with laying a second arrow upon his bow..
The Horselord swore fully in his tongue as he shifted aside to avoid an axe, hacking the thing off as it passed him. His free hand reached past the orc's shield and into his greasy mane of hair. He pulled savagely on it. A sweep of Régnwald's sword's heavy hilt, then another caved the orc's skull in.
Eorcan turned around to notice Yrminas has arrived to support the group against the band, he then walks around nearer to the entrance to take a glimpse inside.
Gydgar in the fray receieved a blow to his chest, though all he did was grunt and follow along with his breath coming heavier.
Yrminas seemed to focused at the time on the immediate battle to consider his surroundings. His next shot aimed point blank between Faerhild and Gyrdgar into the orcish patrol if any yet live.."Stay together!", he shouts , not wishing to strike a friend.
Amidst the battle a sudden glance within the ruin, would reveal a proper camp of an orc army. You catch the sight of cages within, as more orcs swarm out the main gate, to replace the fallen ones. A proper alarm sounds within the keep now.
Eorcan quickly turned around and regroups standing beside Gydgar and he took a hit.
Zaiweyn folloed quietly after the group, standing in a distance from them, trying to still remain unnoticed, looking up at the walls for any sentries or other alarm callers. She ignored the fray completely.
Faerhild grinned at Yrminas, "Run faster old man, it seems they will not wait for us." She sprinted to stand by Gydgar and Eorcan.
Yrminas edged along with her , "Hold still..", he said unto those ahead of him, the arrowhead aimed between the two frontfighters...
Eorcan looked at the reinforcements from the orcs, "Form a line! Our bow will take a few of them out as they charge at us."
Régnwald sprinted from one side of the line to the other, trying to keep himself and the others occupied, ''They're coming. Stand fast!'' he firmly grasped the hilt of his war-blade, his free hand reaching to take the small axe at his side.
Gydgar remained infront of Yrminas, shield held out and sword at the ready with the pain strong in his chest.
The growling of an orc commander can he beard in the distance, this time the orcs do not attack with haste but rather well orders. Archers stand over the wall to support them, shooting from the walls first
Faerhild raised her shield up protectively, tightening her grip around her sword, "This is a task for Eored! We should head swiftly inside, or..."
Eorcan stood with his shield infront of him to block the blows from the orcs and put his weight on the left leg that is infront so that he will not fall to the back, he readied his sword to stab the orcs from the bottom, side or top of his shield.
Gydgar lowered his shield slightly, confused by how the orcs don't attack straight away. He let down his guard for just the slightest second and thunk. He breathed in sharply as he bited his lip, lifting his shield up with an arrow protruding from his shoulder.
Faerhild swallowed as an arrow bit into the wood in her shield. She'd look at the fellow men, seeking to charge forth to meet the orcs, instead of standing in the rain of deadly arrows.
Yrminas inched back from the others for a moment, a thin shaft with black raggy fetters stick imbedded within his right shoulders.. The hold of his arrow wavers a little as a flush of pain and adrenaline begins to course through his veins..
Gydgar reached up, tearing off his helm as his vision blurs from the pain. His matted sweaty hair falls free and his gaze hardens at the oncoming orcs, shield still raised as his helm rolls down the slope.
Eorcan got shot by an arrow to his left shoulder as he was too focused on the band of orcs infront of him instead of observing his surrounding, "Curse these orcs, I should have been more observant"
Aeschere locked his shield with Eorcan who was right beside him. ''Come forth, spawns of the enemy!'' he shouted as the orcs smashed against the shieldwall. He quickly brought the end of the one in front of him with a thundering strike over his shield. Dodging the whistling arrows passing by, he hacked and stabbed over his shield with loud roars until no orc dared come close to him.
The orc bands seemed to stand, guarding the gate, not moving forth, allowing the archers to just shot the men down.
Régnwald watched as a volley of arrows were upon them, leaping to the side merely out of his instincts which would save him from the black arrow released upon him. He rolled in the snowy ground before he suddenly rose tall, his eyes wandering among his comrades to see who was hurt. Soon he would take his place beside them, the shieldwall.
Gydgar's chest was cut from neck to his side from the first encounter, and now he had an arrow from his shoulder. He bellowed out, "I am not standing and letting myself be shot like a cowering dog!!" With that, and with sluggish movements he'd start to charge forth with his shield raised high and sword out ready.
Faerhild had charged forth already after the first arrows, having hoped others would follow her, but it seems it was only her and Gydgar.
Eorcan quickly pulled out the arrrow that was shot into his shoulder, luckily it didn't pierce through, Eorcan then stood the pain and looked to Faerhild and Gydgar, "Aye, we should charge, the walls are too high above us if we block the arrows we'd be ambushed by the orcs at the gate.
Aeschere occasionally lowered his shield to get a view of the fight, then caught another arrow on his shield. He turned to the warband and shouted over the whistles of the volleys, ''We're getting shot at standing here! Let us charge ahead!''
Zaiweyn walked up the slope towards the group, shaking her head to herself. Trying to remain unnoticed still, attempting to reach the group to bring them news. "Orcs from the west, coming at us."
Yrminas intended to deliver a final shot towards one of the archers on the walls in retaliation.. Regardless what would come after is him swapping his bow with his spear.
Faerhild smiled at the irony of Aeschere repeating her words. It was then when an orc nears her, thrusting a sword into the side of her gut. She slides out of the sword slowly and falls on her back, only to have the orcs to step kick her head, leaving her unconscious and bleeding.
Régnwald heard Zaiweyn's call, and the news came with it, that the orcs would be approaching from the west. He turned aside but nothing would come of it as he was in the middle of an ongoing clash. ''They're coming from the west!'' he repeated, strongly. He would thereafter plunge onward to meet the next orc.
Aeschere seemed to not even hear the news of the orc assault from the west, as he stared into the fallen body of Faerhild, pierced by a black feathered arrow. He slowly lifted his gaze into the orc band guarding the door. ''Faerhild!'' he cried, as he charged the orcs under a volley of arrows. He reached their ranks and began his bloody business. ''Vengeance! Vengeance for the fallen!'' he cried, as he plunged his sword deep into the bosom of his foe. He parried the other one's halberd with his shield, and his sword bit into the beast's exposed flank. He made his way towards the gate, slaying those who rose up to him in challenge of arms.
Zaiweyn looked over at the fallen people, looking up at the rest, frowning.
Yrminas yelled, 'We need to get out of here!!'
Gydgar looked around for a moment, before he yelled out, at the top of his lungs. "Flee!! All of you go!! I shall hold them for as long as I can! Now go before all of our deaths are found!" He shouted out, his shield waving out from side to side to try and get a few of the orcs attentions on himself and slow them down.
Eorcan glanced behind him as he years of the news, he then looked to Gydgar and and Faerhild.
Gydgar shouted, 'Flee before I throw you out of here myself!!'
Yrminas said while an orc plunged from the walls with a deathcry as his spear shot forwards to ward off orcs trying to trample Faerhild!
Gydgar swung his sword and shield from left to right, blocking many and taking few. His voice came loud and hoarse, "Sing of me in song, though keep your tongues to sing!!"
Eorcan looked up at the two men who continued to fight and hold them back, remembering the words that Gydgar said.
Zaiweyn looked at the people, shouting, contradictory orders - and decided this was just too much for her. Rushing over to the fallen Faerhild, she decided to grab the woman under the arms and - spurred on by the heat of the moment - took off with the downed woman, before the flankers come close enough to even notice what is going on.
Gydgar said, 'I said run, not fight! Get moving!' Gydgar bellowed out to Aeschere, the slip of his concentration making him get a hit to his shoulder though his shield strikes out but his breath comes heavier.
Regnwald swatted one of the blades aside, even as another drew blood with a deep flick from his side. Son of Régn hacked a grim smile, his head slamming into the Orc's face as he fell on his knees, gazing forth and back at his falling comrades. ''Run,'' the mere word left the confines of his mouth with a deep sigh as the tall figure fell.
Yrminas peered down at the scout, he gave her a praising smile for her quick wit. "Come on! Move it all!", he shouted again .. seeing another man succumb to his knees he'd mercilessly pulled him back up.. trying to get him to move, "Back!''
Faerhild was being dragged along the stones, her shield clattered along as it was tied in her arm, yet her sword remained on the ground to remind the orcs of their victory and the idiocy of men.
Régnwald could barely speak as he was drawn by Yrminas, the man he didn't have much change to know. He held his gaze, a hand clad in iron and leather holding grasp of the man's arm ''You will not manage. Leave us.'' 'twas spoken as an order, though it would fall on the Eorling's will to heed or nay.
Yrminas had his good arm wrapped around Régnwald's back, "I am afraid I am no part of your Eored friend, however I believe your loss would be too grievous a blow!", he nods to Eorcan and begins to pull allowing what help he can get.
Gydgar would swing out with his sword, though it got cast off. His shield, split by an axe falls from his grasp and he looks up towards the barrier as swords dig into his ribs and gut. Pain filled him, though it was all cut short by an arrow that came down and lodged itself into his throat. His body went limp on the orcs he fell on.
Eorcan ran back to aid his Yrminas carry Régnwald away, "Come I will help you carry him"
The orc commander growled in feral pleasure at the blood drawn, and the company of twenty orcs guarding the gate now began to advance.
Aeschere looked at the orcs replacing those who fell to their bloody ruins. The gate yet stands guarded. ''This is not over, you cowards!,'' he shouted, ''I will come back and slaughter every last one of you myself if I have to!''. He made his way back off the hill, slaying two of the bolder beasts who got within a sword's distance of his arm.
Zaiweyn kept on carrying the heavily armoured woman, panting and grunting exhausted, but deciding to evacuate at least one of the ceorlfolk. Not stopping, not waiting for anyone. She was out of this.
Aeschere shouted behind, ''Get them off the hill! I will slow them down if I can!''
With a loud thud and clattering sounds, a small, scrawny orc carrying a spear lands at the feet of the stairs leading up to the ruin, grunting defiantly as he scrambles to get on his feet again and rush to join the group advancing by the gates. Following in his tracks, albeit at a walking pace, is a pale, big-bellied orc, equipped with old chainmail and a large, two-handed cleaver, huffing and grunting in exasperation as he carries himself towards the gate. "Wrrrgh!! Drive the foul-smelling horse-people out!"
As the wounded Horselord was being carried by the two Eorlings, he watched the coming orcs with half closed eyes only to find Aeschere standing before the approaching party. "Aeschere, don't be a fool.. the living owe the dead much, but not their own lives." This was shouted now.
Aeschere turned and strode down the hill with Yrminas, Eorcan and wounded Régnwald. He occasionaly turned to look at the oncoming orcs, but steadily made his way down.
Eorcan whilst carrying Régnwald he would be shot by an arrow to the leg making him nearly trip and fall down the pathway, he managed to steady his footing as another arrow flies past and scrapes his face
Zaiweyn pulled back completely, leaving the men to their fate. Far away from the danger while Faerhild remained unconscious. There was a hole in her worn chainmail, blood gushing out of it. The side of her faze was growing purple, and due to dragging her legs are covered in snow and frozen mud.
Yrminas tried gaze over at Régnwald's injuries as he keeps on dragging them, a curse escaped his lips when he sees Eorcan barely escaping with his life..
The orcs advanced further, wary for a a while, until they make sure there are no more eorlings waiting around. Then the charge at the wounded warriors, leaving out horrible screams of malice. The pale orc shoves past the group of advancing orcs to stand at the edge of the small cliff, malicious eyes peering down at the retreating Eorlings. He sniffs rather loudly before spitting out black, foul looking spit in their direction.
Faerhild despite her wounds she looked strangely innocent. Around her young featurer, her helmet hung tilted, soon to fall off her head that rested against her shoulder.
Yrminas looked at the oncoming orcs, "Can you move?", he asked Régnwald as the image of Eorcan falling was reflected in his eyes!
Régnwald was being pulled still, blood and snow covering his back, out of his byrnie, hauberk and he remained barely unconscious, eyes half closed.
Eorcan as he tried his best to carry Régnwald he fell onto his knees due to the injuries that happened to him.
Aeschere rushed over and knelt over Eorcan. He saw that the arrow in his leg bit deep. He helped him lay on his back on the ground. ''Have courage, friend. You have fought valiantly today. We will make it out of this wretched place!'
Eorcan tried his best to stand back up but it's no use, "That damn arrow, if I make it out of this alive I better not be crippled" he said looking at Aeschere.
Yrminas had a grim look upon his face, his face flushed slightly red with frustrated ire. He looked over his shoulder, knowing he could escape easily enough by himself, but he was not one to forsake his kindred, "All or nothing..!!" with a final effort and what seemed to be like an inhuman strength from the man he hauls Regnwald away with his long legs that the heavily armored orcs would be out of breathe ere they could outpace his practiced wanderer's legs!! Hraaaaaaaaargnn!!!'
Aeschere looked over yonder with hope in his eyes. ''Make for the woods! All who is able, carry the wounded!'' He cried. ''It is not yet time to die, friend.'' he said to Eorcan as he slinged his arm over the back of his neck. They started stumbling away for the woods. He stumbled away with Eorcan holding onto him, but he knows that the orcs are approaching fast. He gives out a shout to muster his strength as he pulls Eorcan's arm and lifts his feet off the ground, carrying him on his back. He holds his comrade's arms and legs with each hands over his back. He starts running as he had never run before in his life, with the thumping and of the orcs fade away. They would make for the woods.
Yrminas had pulled Régnwald along with such vigour and has that he was near to collapse once they were what he deemed into safety.. He groans when the pain of the arrow in his shoulder catches up to him....
Faerhild opened her eyes after some hours of dragging, twisting her form by reflex, the pain hits her back and she lets out a heart shattering hopeless whimper. Soon passing out again.
Zaiweyn turned, trying to say something to the suffering woman, gritting her teeth as she just dives back into the void again. Doublign her efforts, she reaches towards the horses. Desperate to make it... perhaps.
Yrminas would've pulled Régn along bitterly till eventually his limbs gave out with exhaustion.. He slowly let's the leader of the éored lower on the snow while he leans against a tree, breathing raggedly.., "Hargh.. argh...", he grunted as the arrow was still stuck there...
Aeschere ran for what seemed to him like hours. Once he made sure that no orc rabble could be heard, he put Eorcan down on the ground by the root of a tall tree, and collapsed in exhaustion beside him.
Régnwald half consciously, let his head drop with the gravity of a point already known, his eyes faintly setting on the helmeted Eorling, in weariness and betraying no life. He blinked once before trying to breath in great pain, now his byrnie, chainmail was all reddened with his own blood...
The orcs charged down after the eorlings. A red sun would shine upon the plateu, giving a reddish glow to the fresh snow...
