The Lion and the Serpent - Chapter Two: Glory

The trees of Ashenvale stood silent, stoic in the mid afternoon light. He had always admired them, their balance and simplicity. A tree sought nothing but to live and exist, supplementing all that was around it for nothing. Nature expects nothing, but gives everything, no wonder the night elves follow the druid ways he thought, considering the ideology behind it with great thought and consideration.

“I still think it be a bad idea! We should o’held position at tha bridge!”

Seiken snapped back into reality, his peaceful day dream thoughts interrupted by Burgen’s ranting at the desperate situation.

“Do not be so foolish Burgen, we would surely have been annihilated if we stayed much longer!” added Maelmoor in response, obviously arguing with the annoyed Dwarf.

The three sat to the north of the road into Astranaar, just behind the top of a hill in the thicket, crouched and waiting.

“Look, does it matter now, we are here and that is that. We have to make do and get stuck in before the situation gets worse” grunted Seiken, trying to assert some authority over the two. Both, sat side by side just behind him as he looked on the road. The Paladin and Dwarf simply looked at each other wearily and sighed.

“You are certain this plan will work, Trollbane? We have already been pushed back from Raynewood, we cannot lose more men to another slaughter” asked Maelmoor urgently, his thick grey hair and beard mirrored by his pure white and gold tabard, sticking out like a saw thumb in this purple and green forest. Not to mention, his smooth gold and silver plate armour was poor camouflage.

“whit ya on a’boot!? stop ya’ ninny’in Lightbringer!” grunted Burgen in response, seemingly restless. Burgen was much better dressed for the situation, his green tabard and plate armour nearly fitted in perfectly, along with the enormous black spiked mace on his back. His armour was similar to that of seiken also, rugged brown steel, sharp and brutal in appearance.

A groaning sigh escaped Seiken’s mouth before he replied “this is our best chance...besides, now we are doing the ambushing, not them, are you both ready?” he looked over them both; behind them at the bottom of the hill sat amongst the thicket in vast columns and rows was a great host, silent and waiting. The banners of Arathor, The Rifle squad, Lightbringers, Strand, Disciples, Natures grasp and others sat waiting for the signal. It was an immense army, The Vanguard of the Alliance, ready to pounce from the forests edge onto the road at a seconds notice. Arador and Trohad could be seen crouched, moving around the various groups to give orders.

“Yes, yes we are ready...” Sighed Maelmoor, obviously nervous about the situation.

“ya owe me a drink afta’ this, IF we survive... Trollbane” grunted Burgen, meaning he was ready in his own Fashion, stroking his thick red haired beard as he peered around.

All three slowly advanced to the edge of the hill to look down upon the road, and waited...

Seiken sat in his own thoughts, holding his sword at the ready. The weapons finely crafted blade shone with a cool silver glow across its rune covered surface. shimmering as the light changed when he took deep slow breaths. As he breathed, the tabard on his chest moved with it, the vibrant blood red of Strom with the pure white emblem of the white fist rose and fell with each patient expelled sigh. Clasped to his shoulder armour sat the huge paws of what seem to of been a large cat, perhaps a mountain lion. reaching over to his back went the arms of the skinned beast, changing into a long fur cloak, feral and warm in appearance. His head shifted around, trying to get the best view that he possibly could with his only eye, deep brown and slightly red tinted. It was a stark contrast to the solid orb of Truesilver that now formed his left eye, a replacement from some forgotten bloody episode. The most visible part of his appearance was the scar. It covered the left side of his face, from the bottom of his thick left brow, cutting across his left Silver eye, straight down to the middle of his left cheek, brutal and cruel in appearance.

“VROOOOOOOooooooM” “Va-ROOOOOOoooooooM!” a deep wailing horn sounded off to the east, on their left, along the road they looked down upon. All three jolted up and stared into the distance eagerly trying to spot its source.

“Here they come lads!” exclaimed Burgen as he readied his massive spiked mace, the army making their weapons ready also. Maelmoor drew his sword simultaneously, quietly muttering a prayer and blessings to himself with his eyes closed.

The deep horn slowly grew louder, closer and more numerous with its calls as it approached. Shapes came into view, various and numerous in all forms as they came round the bend in the road from behind the trees. Orc’s at the front, followed by various Undead, blood elves, Tauren and trolls of many factions and groups. The Orc’s of the Red blade led from the front, wearing wolf masks and riding battle Worgs as they came. One Orc in particular stood out, riding at the front and searching the area in front of him feverishly for his prey, their leader. Seiken knew him, he always knew him. Kozgugore was a smart and deadly foe, overlord of his clan, General of the horde’s war council. He led this army, like he had led many Armies’ before.

Slowly they marched onward, moving closer, and closer toward Astranaar, and eventually just below the three Alliance commanders who sat in waiting. Kozgugore raised his arm sharply; the Orc’s stopped almost instantly, the rest of the army stuttering to a stop behind them. He eyed the bridge into Astranaar, standing quiet before him, it was unguarded? Seiken’s thoughts shifted...

Does he suspect our ambush? ...no, no he thinks us simple, when we are cunning, but we don’t have long before he becomes wise to our plan.
His thoughts running over the perfect timing he needed, was the plan going to work? Only his instinct gave any indication, it urged him to go on, eagerly waiting for the right moment.

Dismounting his great black worg with a grunt and a thud, the Overlord took three paces forward, his chain mail armour making no noise. Surprisingly, his armour made no noise as he took each step. With a great bow and polearm on his back, Kozgugore was armed for the hunt, for battle and certainly the kill. When he stopped, he breathed in deeply. sniffing his surroundings for a scent, much like a wolf on the hunt. taking in every little scent he could catch on the breeze, the Orc twisted and turned his head in various directions.

“Good idea sitting down wind Trollbane...” muttered Maelmoor quietly, with an almost approving nod, and smug grin knowing the Orc could not sniff them out like he had done so many times in the past.

A small smirk played on Seiken’s face, it was that tantalising moment he enjoyed so much, just before the strike. His opponent unaware, unprepared, vulnerable, with him waiting. He couldn’t resist it despite it’s almost vein thrill, such a power of position over his foe. But after all he was Arathorian; it was in his blood to enjoy such things. Only one thing was better than this, the part that came after. The joy of battle, the adrenaline rush was second to none, the beating of an anxious heart.

As it stood, the Red blades were closest to the bridge into the city; right behind them stood varied bands of fighters. The first group was primarily made up of what Seiken considered to be a ‘new’ nuisance, the Horde watch, led by a Blood knight whose name he had come to learn to be ‘Lorath’. At the back was a final mass of poorly organised adventurers and the sixty thieves, skulking around like a mob, only there for a quick profit and some slaughter. Looking back over his shoulder Seiken eyed the position of his forces.

The Veteran soldiers of Arathor were in line with the Red blades, ready to take them on in the heaviest fighting. Maelmoor’s men and the other holy orders, the strand and disciples, stood perfectly for a direct charge into Lorath’s unsuspecting horde Watch. And finally, the Dwarves of the rifle squad and huntresses of natures grasp had a clear run to the mob at the rear of the Horde army, ideal for volleys of musket and bow fire considering their light armour and lack of a solid formation. They had walked right into it, perfectly.

“Vanguard of the Alliance!” roared Seiken suddenly, standing up from his crouching position, rousing the soldiers of the Alliance in their positions. The Horde army and Kozgugore turned their heads sharply to their right and up, to see in complete surprise the enemy general looking down on them.
“Honour and glory is yours, to battle!!” roared Trollbane; bolting forward with his sword in hand, Seiken was quickly followed by Maelmoor and Burgen.
Kozgugore yelled in alarm, knowing what was about to happen if he did not act quickly. The Orc’s and their allies ran around in a chaotic panic to organise themselves as Hundreds of Alliance soldiers began to pour out of the forest. Over and down the small hill toward them they came, a tidal wave of blades and armour eager for battle.

“Zag nag’ra tag rog!” Kozgugore screamed as he and his red blades turned and faced the wave of Arathorian soldiers led by seiken, trying to ready themselves for the imminent impact. It was too late for the rest of the horde war-bands, Maelmoor and his knights began cutting down huge chunks of the enemy’s troops as they came to the road, led skilfully and full of Holy resolve. Burgen did much the same on the far side, him and his dwarves cutting down waves of enemy troops with well aimed rifle volleys and devastating melee combat using great axes and hammers.

Seiken delivered the first blow, plunging his Silver blade into an Orc grunts chest as it lifted its axe above its head to strike. The sword slid into the grunts ribs smoothly, clean through its mail armour, requiring almost no effort to force inward. Pulling the deadly weapon free with a slicing motion, Seiken charged onto the next awaiting enemy as the burly grunt slowly stooped to its knees, unable to breathe. Within moments the green skinned soldier toppled over onto its front. The felled Orc produced a steadily growing pool of blood, gasping silently in an effort to draw its last feint, pained breath, its lungs cut clean in half.

The Eager Warrior Prince was followed immediately by Arador, Trohad, Antirius and many other knights garbed in the colours of Stromgarde. The true chaos of battle began as the element of surprise began to pay off. Butchering their way forward, Seiken worked his way frantically on, cutting down all he could on his way closer to Kozgugore in the centre. The Arathorian troops began to fan out as ferocious melee fighting between human and Orc Warrior alike engulfed the whole area. The cobbles of the forest road quickly became tainted with the dark red pools emanating from the fallen.
Just as seiken had finished felling a massive, almost Ogre like Orc by cutting his head clean away from his shoulders, a black feathered arrow screamed passed his ear, narrowly missing him. Turning sharply, ready to fight another foe with his sword ready at hand, he saw the mighty Kozgugore lowering his bow from the aim. only empty space now stood between the pair.

Seiken let a small smile play on his lips, even saying to himself in a whisper among the noise and chaos... “So we dance with death again old enemy...” nodding slowly toward the Orc with a degree of respect, ready for the fight. Kozgugore, bared his teeth slightly in a half grin, the ragged black hair on his chin visible but moving as his teeth were shown. The Orc nodded, seeming to agree with Trollbane, putting his bow away and drawing his polearm. The weapon was as tall as a human and forged from strong iron in the shaft and wrapped in red leather. Its blade was like a thick half curved scimitar, razor sharp and worn. It had obviously seen many battles and felled many opponents foolish enough to cross him.

They walked slowly toward each other, coming to within ten paces before both charged with two great ferocious roars. The force of the two weapons colliding pushed both back as a violent dazzle of sparks flew. Without hesitation they both attacked again by launching themselves forward as they regained their balance, locking weapons, trying to force each other back in a competition of strength.

“Almost... a shame, to have to kill you Feraleye!” snarled Trollbane, as the adrenaline began to pump through his veins, putting all his strength into pushing against the Orc. Kozgugore simply grinned, growling before he side stepped, trying to throw Seiken off balance. Stumbling forward two steps he ducked under Kozgugore’s next horizontal slash, narrowly avoiding decapitation. Regaining balance and turning to face him, Seiken raised his sword to guard himself, blocking the Orc’s third attack, stopping it dead.

“Nag ro’osh Ke do’gar!” screamed the Orc as they began exchanging attacks, parrying each other’s blows consistently and swiftly. Blade against shaft, polearm on hilt, they went on for what seemed forever but had only been seconds. The dance of death between the two took its toll as both broke a healthy but steady sweat, neither wanting to let up their relentless pursuit of victory, both giving it their all.

“Dog Rag’Kar!” yelled Feraleye as he thrust his polearm forward with all his might, trying to impale Trollbane at close range. Throwing all his weight to the left, Seiken stepped to one side of the weapon Kozgugore held out, he’d overstepped his mark. Cutting downward with all his might upon it, the silver sword crashed through the shaft of the Orc’s polearm with a deafening crack, sparks flying. Now thrown completely off balance and falling forward, Seiken swiftly placed his knee up and into the Overlords chest, winding the mighty Orc as he fell to the ground with a resounding crash.

Kozgugore took one breath before he remembered where he was, the yelling and clash of steel alerting him to act quickly. Rolling over onto his back in an effort to get to his feet he was stopped, a weighty strong boot planting down on his chest with a forceful thud, pinning him down.

The two stared at one another a long moment. Seiken looked down straight in the eyes of his trapped prey, his sword aimed to strike close to his throat. Kozgugore snarled, winded, tired and pinned down. He was trapped.

Taking the sword in both hands, Seiken stood ready to plunge it straight into his enemy’s heart.

“A shame, Feraleye, I enjoyed our encounters, but only one of us could have ever survived our rivalry...” uttered Trollbane slowly, he meant every word. The Orc had proved a worthy, nay, delightful opponent many times, but the game had to end.

Baring his teeth, Kozgugore began to grin as Trollbane lifted up his sword for the killer blow.

“Laughing in the face of death hrm? We shall see-...” he could barely finish his sentence before a large fury, red and grey mass of jaws and paws rammed into his left side, pushing him over and onto the ground, his sword knocked form his hands.

It tried to lock its massive jaws around his neck, but was blocked only by Seiken’s plated arm barring its path. Pulling, biting and barking, the massive wolf was Kozgugore’s companion, and had obviously been lurking nearby when it saw its master fall. Finally releasing its iron like grip on his arm, it simply leapt off, and ran away into the thinning crowds surrounding that spot.

‘No time to waste, to your feet!’ he thought, as he rolled over and onto his knee, trying to spot his target. Peering around frantically, he grabbed his sword and stood. He’d gone? But where, surely he couldn’t have gotten—there he was, being helped off by another Orc, and onto his worg. Kozgugore had escaped him again it seemed. the Overlord quickly began sounding a wailing cry on a Kodo’s horn, the sound to retreat.

It seemed the battle was won, as the warriors of the horde broke off the fight and fled back east down along the road in a running torrent of defeat, following the sound of the wailing horn.

Seiken snarled, gripping his sword tightly. He hated it when they got away, oh how he yearned for a perfect victory, complete, decisive and absolute. But the horde would never make it that easy, always fighting for every inch, defiant and aggressive, but as they should be.

“Seiken! Aarian and the disciples are gonna chase em off, make sure they stay running—hey, wake up there, nay time ta doze off” grunted Arador, stepping over several corpses and pools of blood on the road, as he approached from behind. Arador was stained in blood, facial grazes and mud... the markings of a good fight.

Snapping out of his thoughts Seiken turned and nodded once with a disappointed and clear sigh.

“got away again did he, eh?” chuckled Arador, unceremoniously standing on, then off a Dead Tauren to the sound of crunching bone. he stopped at Seiken’s side, eyeing him over.

He couldn’t help but force a small smirk, Arador always knew what he was thinking somehow. “aye, he got away, again... next time he won’t though, as ever” huffed the prince, wiping sweat from his forehead and brow, inadvertently wiping a streak of blood from his hands onto the left side of his face.
The scene slowly changed as the minutes passed. Soldiers began dragging away the bodies of the fallen, friend and foe alike to the side of the road. More soldiers began running back and forth in their squads, tired and battle stained. Aarian could even be seen in the distance leading a battalion of cavalry down the road to the east in hot pursuit of the routing enemy army. The paladin’s blue and white banner, along with his long black hair, waved in the wind as he led the cavalry off at speed.

“reckon we’ll have ta besiege Splintertree post then eh?” half groaned Arador, scratching the back of his head as he looked around, his laid back aura sticking out considering what had just happened.

Seiken paused a moment to think, sheathing his sword and folding his arms at his front. “No... Kozgugore would expect that, raid the outpost later anyway though, but it will be empty” he replied firmly, eyeing the bodies on the ground, nudging the occasional Orc corpse with his foot to inspect it.
“oh aye, so where will he have gone then mister know it all?” retorted Arador with a sly grin, he did always like to play close to the edge of disobedience Seiken thought, then again, he’d grown to enjoy the sly exchanges of comments.

“South, and into hiding, where he can rebuild his forces and avoid full pitched battle...” grinned Seiken in reply. Arador arched a brow and nodded, seeming to agree after a moment’s consideration.

“aye aye, l will sort out what I can round here then for now, then set off with tha rangers later and find them” Arador finished, but stopped before he turned away fully... “Ya see any Gurubashi by tha way?” he asked inquisitively, his expression grim, as if the question was important.
The empire, how could he have not remembered? The Trolls were nowhere to be seen ever since they landed on kalimdor; it was unlike them to not come to the aid of their allies.

“A very good question, perhaps you and your rangers can go troll spotting too eh?” jested Seiken with a grin, trying his own luck at sly comments.
Arador didn’t seem too amused, an almost serious expression on his face, but he nodded all the same, “aye aye, right on it...” he finished as he turned and walked off toward Astranaar.

Taking a deep breath, he surveyed the situation. Mostly only wounded troops who could be patched up quickly, the vast bulk of the Vanguards men and women had survived the chaos and route at Raynewood’s bridge and tower. Thankfully his own patient ambush had paid off, the Covenant had been badly crippled... just not how he had planned. Though then again, nothing ever went to plan in war did it.
“I told ya it was a good idea!” Exclaimed the voice of Burgen from behind him, sounding almost pleased. Seiken turned to spot him; Maelmoor and Exaythe, all walking along the road toward him.

“A most genius stratagem commander! Had you planned this all along?” asked Exaythe as the three stopped in front of him. She dipped her head with an inquisitive smile. The Draenei was a good head taller than seiken, her blue skin and hair a stark contrast to her white robes and gold plated white wooden stave.

“Something like that Lady Exaythe, something like that...” he smirked, nodding his head courteously, looking straight to Maelmoor who seemed eager to speak.

“-so what now then Trollbane? We have victory and Ashenvale will soon be secure once more” he peered at him, almost as if expecting Seiken to hesitate.
“We wait, obviously” he replied, not even having to think of a reply, “we wait for news from Aarian, then our scouts and finally consider our options. Though my guess is we are heading to Stonetalon” he finished with a triumphant smile.

Maelmoor squinted an eye, considering what he heard. “Very well then, I will await your council inside Astranaar. I shall speak with the elves meanwhile, they seem quite thankful of our efforts.” He nodded as he turned, following the same route as Arador had taken into the city, Exaythe bowed once courteously and followed. Seiken blinked in surprise, it was unlike Maelmoor to leave him to his own devices without some sort of argument. Perhaps he’d finally made a good enough impression to regain his trust? Who knew...

“Right! I’m off ta whatever place these Elves call a bar round here, if ya see Dorik, tell ‘im he nearly blew up tha powder supply again!” announced Burgen as he too walked off toward the city bridge. Seiken tilted his head, shrugging with a half smile, “will do Burgen!” as the dwarf sharply yelled back, “And ya owe me a drink, Remember!”

He couldn’t help but think to himself, he’d need more Beer to keep the Dwarves happy... it was going to be one of those campaigns.

(( Hehehe, nice little ending comment there

Oh and.... *takes out the pom-poms* GO SHREWD, GO SHREWD! - I or assume the furry beast was he What? I can't help it, routing for the Orcs is a natural thing now =D

Still, the quality of writing is just as fab! Though I will point out that I did get a little confused due to the 'name drops', but then, I don't know any of the names for people on the Alliance side. That and I was spoiled by your last chapter with your descriptions of peoples *chuckle* perhaps I'm just too greedy xD

To say I'm enjoying this is putting it mildly! ))