Intruders

[Bomanm66]

Liam chanced another look over the boulder as he waved the two nearby Rivermoot soldiers to his side. Nothing had changed while he had returned to town for reinforcements. Half a dozen orc raiders were still briskly pillaging the scattered dwellings of Rivermoot’s small farming settlement, while still more cluttered the cliffs above with ready crossbows in hand. He had slain a number of the brutish fiends almost an hour earlier, while scouting the area with Magnus, a brash, brawny veteran of the town. At the thought of the valiant dwarf, Liam risked another glance from his concealment. The body still lay at the feet of the huge orc chieftain, while the creature barked orders to his scurrying followers. Absently, Liam wondered where the dwarf’s head had rolled off to. “Ready when you are, Longstride”. That was Tom, the young, enthusiastic, sandy haired archer sent along to help repel the invaders. The other was Mark, a gruff, lean foot soldier with a droopy moustache, who usually appeared drowsy whenever Liam encountered him in town. But he seemed quite awake at the moment, Liam thought to himself with some amusement. The lieutenant had done right by him, sending two of his better men. These two would stand, even if things went bad quickly. As he stared at Tom’s lopsided grin and Mark’s furled brow, he again ran through his head the plan he’d outlined with them earlier. Laying out his throwing axes in a neat row where he crouched, he vividly remembered the promise he’d made to the good lieutenant, “No more men die today”. He truthfully liked these two trusty warriors and hoped he would make good on his words. With a final wink, he simply whispered “luck boys”. Then with a deep breath he roared “NOW”, already rising in one graceful motion to hurl his first axe end over end at the monstrous leader.

News of a recent orc raid on the plantations near Rivermoot spreads throughout the communities in the area. A well armed war band of over a dozen orcs , which had stormed the nearby farmlands, was successfully repulsed by small skirmish unit comprised of Rivermoot regulars and militia. Sadly, it was reported that one well loved veteran was lost in the fray. Locals are advised not to venture far from the town walls unescorted and be exceptionally wary when working the fields.