Turn 88 -- The Tension Mounts

At the sight of the young kin's blood, Gnore clenches his teeth in anger and motions as if he is about to charge the orc...yet he doesn't. Bowing his head, Gnore focuses on the ground before him, in contemplation of the youth's situation. A dwarven warrior should die with weapon in hand and soaked with the blood of his fallen enemy. His dwarven kin should not die at the point of an orcish blade and on his knees in submission. Gnore reasons that if he initiates the battle now, the young dwarf is forfeit and he the cause. Then again, the orcs may kill the kin regardless for their own sick pleasure. At the base of it all...Gnore's vow never to let a kin, familiar or not, die alone if he is able to stand beside him.

Shaking his head slowly, Gnore ponders what action is demanded of him in order to save his kin. Back of the front line, Dain sights softly and wishes he had the strength to muster another spell; but he knows that it is physically impossible. Feeling quite hopeless, he prays that the enemy has yet to take notice of him as he rests behind the boulder.

While the eyes of Ogurkek and the other orcs are on Ortho, Gnore and Garth at the front, Randor, with a very angry and devious look on his face picks up his hammer and walks over next to Kersath. He whispers into his ear, "Take an offensive stance like you will rip off the orc's head any second. I want you to show them how their exciting your 'dark elven wrath'. Tell them how the dwarf is nothing and that if they don't surrender now you and these 'duergar'," motioning to the dwarves, "will hand their orcish hides from the stalagmites in here as a sacrifice to whatever deity the drow worship. I'm not sure it will work but it's worth a try. If it causes the leader to hesitate that might give us all the time we need to get him away from the hostage."

Kersath nods and straightens up slowly. With a very focused, penetrating look he ever so slowly turns his head towards the orc leader. Barely able to control the bloodlust he came to be so familiar with lately, he addresses the orc between clenched teeth, "Do you really think I CARE about this little maggot!?! Do you wish to invoke the wrath of Lloth, the Spider Queen, upon you and your tribe? Do you wish to suffer for all eternity in her home in the abyss? I know this, you scum-sucking filthy roach! If you even attempt to think that either of us care about that little maggot you're holding there, you're wrong. Oh, you are so wrong. The only reason we came here is to strip you and your filthy followers of your skins, to hang in our homes as curtains! I warn you, pondscum, do not underestimate the power of the drow! Kill us, imprison us, and you invite the wrath of the whole drow city of Menzoberranzan!"

Kersath stops speaking but keeps his flaring green eyes focused on the orc leader's eyes, not to give him any chance to think clearly.

Ogurkek forces a laugh at the words of the dark elf however, "We no fear Lloth!" he begins, "Gruumsh protect us. Drow leave us alone!" The two orcs in the far back nod at the mention of Gruumsh, you now notice that they are attired as priests. It is obvious that Ogurkek does fear Lloth and the words of Kersath but he cannot waver in front of the priests of Gruumsh.

As the war of wills is going on, Druckner speaks up in dwarven to the prisoner, "Listen friend, if you feel brave we can try something. Give the guy who's holding you a good kick on the kneecaps. That should hurt him enough to make him hesitate. At that moment I'll shoot him in the head. You might get a chance to run for it. If it doesn't work, we'll avenge you."

Fear creeps into the eyes of the dwarf and he shakes his head ever so slightly at the words from Druckner, he knows that he is far too weak to try anything of that nature and Ogurkek would slice open his throat before Druckner's shot was fired.

Druckner nods and reaches up to wipe away the sweat from his brow. Shifting his weight leaning against the rock before him, he continues to train the point of the bolt at the head of Ogurkek. He knows he can make the shot just given the chance. His thick finger on the trigger of the crossbow, Druckner anxiously awaits that opening.

Taking a moment to reason out the situation, Ortho realizes that all their lives are forfeit if they disarm. Looking at the young dwarf Ortho says, "Lad, ye may be on yer way to Moraddin's Halls. Go with honor and dignity. And my respect."

That said, Ortho narrows his eyes and focuses on Ogurkek. Then he begins to walks towards the orc. "Let go of the lad and Ah'll let you live. Harm 'im further an' me axe will split yer skull. It is yer choice."

Ortho continues to walk forward as he speaks, his axe in his right hand level before him. Ogurkek smiles at the challenge from Ortho and simply raises the blade of his axe further, lifting the dwarf's head as he does so. The dwarf closes his eyes as he realizes that the end is near, there is no escape for him, he will die weaponless at the hands of the orc. Ortho walks unhindered to stand before Ogurkek where he stops to stare into the eyes of the orc with his most menacing glare. As his hand tightens on the shaft of his axe, the silence is broken by the loud TWANG! and recoil of Druckner's crossbow. A hissing sound sails past Ortho as the bolt strikes the helmet of Ogurkek, blood flying through the air as the bolt glances off the helm. Ogurkek's hand falls slightly and Ortho takes the distraction to grab the captive with his shield hand, shoving the lad behind him. "Red Feather Company! To me!" he shouts as he brings his shield and axe up to protect himself and the now-free dwarf.

Ras is the first of the companions to react as he steps from the shadows behind one of the orc soldiers. His first dagger thrust glances off the side of the orcs armor from Ras' anxious thrust but the second blow slices under the leather breastplate and finds exposed flesh. The orc turns to look at the hidden assailant before it falls to the ground, it's lifeblood spilling out quickly from the artery Ras severed.

Garth next steps forward to engage the second of the guards, his flail swinging around to crash into the chest of the orc. The soldier is dazed by the blow but quickly recovers and slices Garth on his shield arm with a minor wound of his own.

One of the orc priests from the rear of the entrance begins chanting softly, quickly finishing the prayer to Gruumsh and then pointing to Ortho and Gnore, releasing the power bestowed to it from it's god. At first, Ortho and Gnore notice nothing unusual from the incantation but quickly that changes as the metal on their armor begins to heat up. Ortho doesn't have time to worry about it right away though as he dodges two blows from the axe of the recovered Ogurkek. Randor steps forward to assist Ortho and lands a solid blow to the right shoulder of Ogurkek from his warhammer. Gnore screams a curse and steps forward across the chamber to engage the casting priest who was recovering from its casting. Catching the orc unaware, Gnore lands a solid blow to the abdomen of the orc, blood flowing strong from the wound. Kre steps from the shadows behind the orc and lands a glancing blow to the right forearm of the orc before it can recover and dodge another dagger thrust from the thief.

At the front of the melee, the huge orog, Garundzer, lets out a loud yell of rage as it steps forward to attack Kersath once again. With lightning speed, both of Kersath's blades are free of their scabbards and ready for the attack. Unfortunately, large orog manages to overpower even the heightened strength of Kersath. His first spear thrust knocks aside the left blade of Kersath and carries on to open a deep wound in the dark elfs left side. The return swipe from the spear is also successful and a deep gash opens up across the chest of Kersath. Pain erupts in the body of Kersath from the force of the wounds and he is knocked backwards off his feet, blood pouring generously from each of the wounds. Kersath attempts to get up to his feet but a wave of nausea washes over him and he falls into unconsciousness.

The second orc priest finishes a casting of his own and a large, scimitar-like red blade of energy erupts from his right hand. Smiling a crooked smile, the orc raises the blade before it and advances toward Talimar and Ras.