The sounds of battle filled the night air.  Swords being drawn, steel
crashing against steel.  Armor being rent by the blades and weapons, the
screams of the wounded and dying permeating throughout the woods.  The battle
had been going on for only five minutes, but to Balinor it seemed like hours.
    It had been around midnight when the enemy had raided the camp.  Balinor's
company had been sleeping, with Milran on watch.  The first attack came
without warning.  Before Milran had time to react, two shaft arrows sped into
the clearing, one catching him in the chest, the other in the throat.  As he
dropped lifeless to the ground, scores of orcs flowed out of the bushes.  The
company had little time to prepare, only able to grap the nearest weapon and
defend themselves without armor.  After five minutes of fighting, nine orcs
still stood, but only five of Balinor's company remained.  Balinor, the tall,
heavily muscled leader was covered in blood, his own and that of his foes.
His bastard sword was likewise splattered with the red liquid.  Milandra, the
female mage, was desperately preparing a spell.  The two thieves, Kranch and
Kilratha, were busy notching arrows and aiming.  Murmandamus, the powerful
mage, stood catching his breath.
    Once again the orcs regrouped and attacked, rushing towards them in a
phalanx formation.  Kranch and Kilratha let fly their arrows, the high pitched
twang of bowstrings sounding across the field.  The arrows hit their marks,
and two more orcs dropped lifelessly.  But the rest kept coming.  Balinor took
a deep breath, and hoisted his sword.  With one slash he decapitated the lead
orc, and with a backslash he spilled another's guts.  Milandra cast her final
spell, and flames burst forth from her fingers, engulfing three more orcs.
The remaining two rushed at Murmandamus, as he appeared weak and feeble.  With
one flick of his hand the two suddenly dropped dead in their tracks.  The
remnants of the company breathed a deep sigh of relief.
    "Well, glad that's over with," muttered Kranch.  He turned to Kilratha and
winked.  "You even look beautiful covered in blood."
    "You want an arrow in the head?" growled Kilratha.  She let one loose just
to frighten him.  Kranch calmy snatched out with his hand, ripping the arrow
out of the air in midflight.
    "You and your damned elven skills," laughed Balinor.  Kranch turned to him
and smiled, his almond shaped eyes turning upward in amusement.
    "Well and good, but I believe we have to move out before reinforcements
arrive," said Murmandamus.  "These orcs usually travel with ogres, and I don't
think we could handle a group of those stupid bastards in our present
condition."
    "Very well.  Move out!"  replied Balinor, as the company began gathering
their gear and searching the bodies.
    "I think we need some new recruits!" said Kranch.  He turned to Kilratha
and smirked.  She simply slapped him, and bent down to retrieve her pack.

Creeping Death [CHAOS CT] '93