Strange beginnings

The morning mists were rising over the crags creating a dense fog, but even through this Gregor could see the unmistakable signs of an Orcish warparty camped on the borders of Athel Loren. Seeing the fires dotting the horizon he knew that this incursion could not be permitted. Odd, he thought, that this appearance of greenskins was occuring only days before the Spring Equinox in which the King and Queen in the Woods would be awoken from the Oak of Ages. Knowing that immediate action was called for, Swiftarrow sent one of the scouts under his command to journey deeper into the forest, mustering forces and sending the warning throughout the forest. Now down to six men and himself , Gregor was painfully aware that they could do little to stop the horde if it moved further into the forest so he ordered four of his men to begin laying traps and falling back while he and two others attempt to find out what they could about the oppostition.

Splitting from the other two Waywatchers, Gregor began the precarious job of approaching the main contigent of greenskins. With the fog lifting he was required to dart from one obstacle to another with only the sparse vegetation and rocky outcroppings to protect him from the view of a teeming mass of Orcish swords. Finally within range to observe most of the army, his spirits dropped even further. The size of the force in front of him was larger than any enemy he had ever seen in his life. This swarm held at least six hundred Orcs on foot, another sixty or so on boars, not to mention the massive tides of goblins. Quickly appraising the force in his head he prepared to return to the safe shadows of the forest when he heard a rock slip behind him. He quickly turned to see the light catch a bit of fine, polished steel. Knowing that no Orc could be that quiet, not that no greenskin had such fine weaponry Gregor turned to investigate.

Splitting from the other two Waywatchers, Gregor began the precarious job of approaching the main contigent of greenskins. With the fog lifting he was required to dart from one obstacle to another with only the sparse vegetation and rocky outcroppings to protect him from the view of a teeming mass of Orcish swords. Finally within range to observe most of the army, his spirits dropped even further. The size of the force in front of him was larger than any enemy he had ever seen in his life. This swarm held at least six hundred Orcs on foot, another sixty or so on boars, not to mention the massive tides of goblins. Quickly appraising the force in his head he prepared to return to the safe shadows of the forest when he heard a rock slip behind him. He quickly turned to see the light catch a bit of fine, polished steel. Knowing that no Orc could be that quiet, not that no greenskin had such fine weaponry Gregor turned to investigate.

Alyssa cursed herself for having slipped on that rock while observing both the the Orcish war host as well as the camoflauged observer who was sneaking around below. She assured herself that no human had hearing so acute as to pick up the small sound of a rock falling, especially so close to an army the size of what lay before her. But yet the man slowly approached her own hiding place. By her judgement he was still at least fifty feet away, so she prepared her sword and hunched down incase he was quarrelsome.

She sat waiting, how she hated this part. How the seconds seemed like minutes and the minutes seemed like hours. What in the bloody hell is taking him so long, she thought.
"Who are you and what are you doing here, trespasser?" she heard from behind as she felt a sword placed in her back.
"I am known as Alyssa of the Sword, I lead a band of adventurers and warriors and I have been following the Orcish horde below since Midwinter when they sacked an Imperial village. They stole all the foodstuffs the village had, murdered the young, the weak and the old, and took the rest for slaves. They salted the rich farmland so that it could not be used again." Alyssa turned around slowly, making sure she was doing nothing that could be confused as being an attack. "I have been making small, swift, attacks to the army trying to weaken it. But in the mountains we ran across a dwarven army on the march who claimed us to be trespassing as well. We tried to reason with them but they would have none of that. My force was halved in number attempting to get away. And now I have you here so if you dont mind sheath the sword unless you are going to kill me now."

As Gregor confronted the warrior in front of him, he had to hold back surprise that it was a female. He knew that it was rare that human armies had and humans in them, little less as commander. Furthermore he was struck by her beauty. The woman was tall and slender, with blonde hair flowing from under her cape and deep blue eyes that could set a man on fire. Her features were well etched into her face yet looked still very feminine.Enough, he thought, he could not be distracted from what was at hand. She was looking at him like he was insane as he realized she was no longer speaking to him. His face became light for a second and then he began to speak, avoiding blushing from his embarressment.
"I am Gregor Swiftarrow, Waywatcher and Guardian of the realm of Athel Loren." He allowed his sword to relax to his side. "I understand your concern but I must ask you to leave this place immediately. An army is being raised as we speak to combat the greenskinned menace below. I will allow you to leave unaccosted on your vow never to return and to never speak of this place again. Additionally it is...."
"I thank you for your offer but I must refuse. I have lost many valiant men in the pursuit of these Orcs and I so not intend to simply turn back now as if none of this had ever happened. Even asking me to do so is an insult to me."
"I am afraid it is not an offer warrior. You either leave now or you shall be destroyed with the Orcs."
With that Gregor turned back and walked away, disappearing into the remaining fog.

What nerve that man had. Telling here that she had no right to be here. Threatening her like that. Alyssa kept replaying the incident in her head on the way back to her camp. She was, to say the least, peturbed by the elven scout. Still her mind thought that in another circumstance...

As she neared the camp a ruddy man carrying a long sword ran toward her.
"M'lady, we were begining to worry. You have gone for quite a while. We had feared that you were captured, or worse" Alyssa immediately snapped back to the situation at hand. "Come now Arkelm, you should know that no Orc could come close to me."
"Well, from the legends about this place their could be greater things to fear than the Orcs. Why it is said that there are beings who live in the forest who...."
"I have met a forest dweller and he was an elf, nothing more. You are just listening to too many old fantasical tales that have little basis in reality."
"Well still legends say that all but a few leave this forest alive."
"If it calms you, we are not in the forest itself if you would look around. And now that you mention it, I would like to meet with the captains in my tent within the hour."

The sun blazed brightly in the sky but in the tent it like dusk. Candles were lit on the table and Alyssa looked around the room, making sure that all her captains were present. Irabin, leader of the horsemen of Araby; Barin, commander of the Tilean crossbowmen contigent; Arias, leader of the horse archers of Kislev; Sune, the apparent head of a small group of exiles from Nippon who were welcomed to the army for their prowess; Arkelm, the most powerful warrior of the Norse band of fighers and also her bodyguard; Lars, spokesman for the handgunners; and finally Liam and his hunters from the isle of Albion.

Alyssa looked from face to face, judging their feelings, before she began to speak."During my scouting mission today I was able to estimate the size of the Orcish army. Now I need to know how many men are left from the encounter with those thrice-damned dwarves."
The first to answer was Sune, "All eleven of the men I came here with still remain with me.
"Including myself, there are twenty-seven gunners remaining," added Lars. Arkelm spoke somberly, "Many of my brothers lay dead in the grave from holding the rear to guard the armies escape. Of the eighty friends and battle brothers I started this mission with, nine remain alive"
"Hrmph," chimed in Barin, "My battle company till remains at two score of heads."
Arias and Irabin conferred in a low tone before the Kislivite spoke. "Our horses have faired poorly in this mountainous trek, together we will be able to field only thirty calvary, the remainder of our troops will either fight on foot or remain in reserve."
"The hunters I brought with me are still in perfect form, eighteen strong" Alyssa allowed all the information to sink in and set for a moment in thought. "We shall strike the Orcs in three days when the sun is at its full height in the sky. If we appear to be falling under the massive hoarde then you shall fall back with to the areas you were shown. Any questions gentlemen?"
The men sat for a moment, and then Arkelm had the courage to speak. "Forgive me mistress, but you said that you spoke with one of the dwellers of the forest. Is there any chance we may receive reinforcements from them? If our suspicions on the size of the army are correct, then the greenskins will slaughter us as soon as we step on the field."
"Are you afraid to die in battle Arkelm? Do you wish to dishonor your ancestors by cowardice? Discount any aid from the elves, they said that they would handle the Orcs and that if we were not gone then they would slay us."
"I can't speak for the Norseman," spoke Barin in his guttoral voice, "but I think if they want to handle it, then we should leave them be. If they are defeated then we can take on the Orc army. It isnt like the villiagers will be paying much anyway."
Alyssa glared at Barin until he had to turn his head for fear that her eyes would bore into his head. "I pay you and your men, not those who I choose to help. I have always made sure you were paid before and if money is all you love then I shall make sure that you have money available."
"Which brings up a good question Alyssa, where is all this money that you pay us with coming from. And why are you so ready to die that you want to send those under you to death with you?"
"How dare you! And my past is my own. You are dismissed and you have your orders."

Gregor sat staring at the moon as he was thinking of what would occur the next day. In the three days since the appearance of the Orcish horde things had been busy for him. At first he was scouting the enemy army. Then as the eldest and most experienced Elf he was responsible for organizing the forces that were mustered from the surrounding glades. And now that a Lord of the Kindred of Equos had taken the command, Gregor was preparing to lead his waywatchers close to the enemy to lay traps and take up sniping positions. Looking to the men in his command he gave the signal to advance. It would be a long night before a very long day.

Alyssa looked up at the stars before returning to her tent. She was painfully aware that tomorrow would likely bring the death of many of the men under her control, but it was too late now, her destiny lay with the coming battle. And who was she to argue with destiny. She removed the sword from her side and placed it gently on the bed. She lifted the cot and removed the roll of cloth. Setting it upon the table she unrolled it, revlealing the sword she was given as a child.

The sword's blade glowed in a light blue warmth. The pommel was an ornate weaving of gold and green, the guards in the shape of leaves. She knew that tomorrow the blade would be all that might keep her alive on the field and it was time for it to be at her side once again.