The camp was still burning strong as they gathered, preparing to head down to the inn. Airodir had finally joined them and they planned to pick up another group to add to their numbers. The trip down Winnie learned that these strange orcs so well equiped came from Rohan way. Her temper grew a little but she kept it calm, hidden, had to keep focused. Inside the Forsaken Inn they found the others, a dwarf and his two elven companions, a strange combination but they seemed more than capable, clearly veterans.
The plan was simple. Ry lead those from the inn to intercept around the base to stop reinforcements to the tower, and Airodir lead Lavvie, Chrislen and Winnie to the top.
The battle upward was challenging, each one of them faced often by rushes of multiple orcs each. Barely a breath between onslaughts of orcs. Winnie took a solid hit to the ribs winding her enough that a rusty blade took a nasty swipe at her leg. The new shield proving heavy with each passing blow against it, blows that would have taken her head clean off. In a blur of blood and screams she could see Lavandara flying through the air once more, her swift daggers claiming two in that single move with a double slice, to the other side Chrislen clambered back but then when it seemed like he might falter he ran the beast before him down. A devastating slash gutting the one before her followed through to two more and she saw Airodir stumbling, the last one before her finally fell as she saw Airodir crumble to his knees.
Just as she had seen before another on the ground, that instinct to cover overtook all reason, a drive forcing her though that fresh wound on her leg screamed, charging at the orc over Airodir she slashed hard with a raised blade down into the orcs neck ending him as Lavvie ended the other, turning toward the final two on Chrislen. It wasn't long after the field was silent a moment, long enough to run to Airodirs side. Airodir's only focus was that they get to the top, there was no time to fully treat him, but enough to stabiles the blade from moving too much, and so that when it was removed he would be less likely to bleed out. Winnie did what she could then thrust a tonic in his hand to take the edge off the pain. Lavvie wanting to aid him to a safe location, reluctant to press on, but there was no longer time.
The wade through orcs got thicker and harder, by the time they got to the top Winnie shoulder with the shield hung lower from the strain of it, but she had suffered no more serious injuries. Before them was the ruins, but a wooden gate stood firm, before it a massive orc on a worg, the insults flew and challenged made the battle began anew.
Winnie felt those teeth around her, the worg throwing her aside in the mud, hitting hard her shoulder dislocating, finally giving in. She dropped the shield, sword in hand, the sheer adrenaline taking over charging at the worg only to slip in the mud as the ride parried her blade. It was done however for the worg, Lavvies blades finally finding its heart and down it went threatening to crush her as she sprung free. The massive rider before Chrislen battled hard with him as Chrislen charged him pushing with what strength was left, his spear pinning him to the gate, but the riders blade flung up in defenses sending him flying backward. Finally to her feet, her momentum now a steady cold hearted pace, she rushes forward, piercing under the rib cage of the pinned rider as he fails to defend against her, his sword flailing and missing the mark, she then walks forward driving the sword up till she can hear and feel it scrap on his collar bone, her hand pushed up into the wound, her face up to his. "don't talk to my friends like that". She pulls the blade out, all his threats of eating them, of hurting them, it had been too much.
Beyond the gate they saw it, an orc twice the size, standing still watching them, he didn't look the same, something felt wrong about this. All three injured, aching, exhausted, if there were more in there in the darkness that they couldn't see, bigger than this one, like that massive black on in there they would need help. The call went up and help came.
The other group joined them, not understanding the threat or seeing why they were concerned. Clearly these three must be novices, they were not wrong really, but they didn't realise the extent of the injuries taken yet either. Then the black orc made a statement that pushed too far. "The other is broken to pieces and scattered". Winnie charged him without thought, all she could think of was Airodir, limbs strewn everywhere, blinding rage hit her and all thoughts of defense were gone, no thoughts of plans or waiting. All she saw then was a flash of colours as the others barreled in. The barest moment of pause as she saw most divert toward a Troll stepping into view, but her only focus was that black orc. By the end of it all, her sword and Chrislens spear both drove through its chest together, looking around the troll was already down, and she staggered, the pain hitting her.
Half dazed she remembered wandering back to where they left Airodir, searching they couldn't find him, or any sign of anything fighting or coming to him. A simple blood patch where he had been left then nothing. They were forced to return to camp to tend there own wounds. It was done. For now.
