The Iron Legion

Chapter 2        The gnoll eyed the puny human below him suspiciously. He drooled in anticipation of the nice meal it would make. The human was larger than the others, dark of hair and wrapped in a gray cloak. It bore a large sword strapped to its back, but had not drawn it yet. Gadarash snarled in contempt. This would be an easy fight.      Unexpectedly, the human rushed at Gadarash. The gnoll, startled, drew back its halberd and swung down with tremendous force. The human rolled under the table, just barely avoiding the large axe, which crashed with a loud ring upon the stone floor.   -----o-----        Sunder rose behind the beast's back, regaining his feet on the far side of the table. As the creature spun to face him, Sunder drew his large sword with unhurried ease. Gripping it with two hands, he slashed at the gnoll, who snarled in surprise. The sword form known as The River Undercuts the Bank left a vicious wound across the gnoll's belly. Gadarash's corpse crashed to the floor as Sunder eased into a defensive stance, eyes roaming the room, assessing the situation.   -----o-----        Keras rose from his pack, bronzewood staff in hand. Two gnolls advanced upon him, curved swords gleaming in the firelight. Though he despised the taking of life, Keras knew he had no choice but to defend himself. With a barely audible click, he released a hidden catch in the staff and drew forth a sword hidden within. The long, straight blade was sharpened on one edge only, with a piece of the bronzewood staff serving as a long, two-handed hilt. The larger piece of the staff clattered to the floor as Keras assumed a ready stance, one hand stretched palm down towards his opponents. His body was turned sideways, presenting the creatures with a smaller target, his other hand held the sword above his head.      The gnolls tried to rush him, but Keras struck like lightning. Metal rang on metal. Keras's blade turned aside one of the gnolls' scimitars. Heron Wades Through the Rushes flowed into Viper Rises from the Sand as Keras turned defense into attack. A deep gash appeared on one gnoll's chest. It stumbled backwards as Keras barely blocked the second beast's thrust. Parry and counterthrust were met in turn by the fell beast. The creature lacked formal training in swordcraft, but compensated with pure animal fury. Inevitably, it made a mistake.      The gnoll lunged forward, overextending its reach. Keras turned the beast's sword aside and spun like a dancer, bringing his sword around in a powerful backhanded slash. Metal impacted on bone with a jarring crush. The sword was stuck in the gnoll's skull. Out of the corner of his eye, Keras saw the first gnoll rise up behind him. He had miscalculated the extent of that one's injuries. He knew he could not free his sword in time. His Debt would be unpaid, and no child would he leave behind to finish his task...   -----o-----        "My Lord Earl! We are under attack! Quick, you must get yourself to safety!!!" In one fluid motion and without a second thought, Lotheneser knocked and drew his mighty hornwood bow, letting fly his bolts of death to rain on the fell creatures below. Steel tipped arrows struck down several gnolls attacking the Company. Thondred grunted and descended the stairs.      "The walls will hold them," Lotheneser heard him mutter. "They must, else all is lost." The despair on the Earl's voice chilled the half-elf's blood.      While drawing for another shot, Lotheneser noticed a gnoll rising behind Keras, whose sword appeared to be stuck in another beast. Keras would not be able to turn in time. Lotheneser shifted his aim and loosed an arrow. Barely after it had left the bowstring, another followed. And another.      The three shafts seemed to strike the gnoll at the same time. One in its sword arm, one at the neck and another at the temple. Keras flashed Lotheneser a quick grin over the beast's corpse, and turned to face the remaining creatures.      Lotheneser grinned back and loosed a volley at the gnolls coming in through the jagged hole in the wall.   -----o-----        "Rally your men, Earl Thondred! Defend the front of the Bailey! The Ravens will plug this breach!!" Sunder yelled, assessing the remains of the Company. Keras had dispatched two of his opponents and had engaged a third. Durlan the Yeoman had joined him. Jisander, Eliazar and Jaryd faced two more of the beasts. The frost Barbarians, Jord  and Arngrim, had killed several of the dog-faced creatures. Lotheneser was providing cover with his arrows. Several others fought nearby.      Many were the dead too. Some were young lads whose names he barely even knew. They had joined the Company at Ratik. But Elwydd he knew. Elwydd, his friend and Captain of the Company of the Raven, was no more. His decapitated body lay in a pool of blood. Elwydd of the hearty laugh, with whom he had joined the Company of the Raven so long ago. Elwydd had made Sunder his lieutenant, but now he was gone. The men would look to him for leadership.      "Branmor, Aldwyn, Thaddeas! Take up that table and ram it into the breach," Sunder barked the orders. The men hastened to follow them. "Asharak, Jaryd! Clear us a path! " The swarthy Chakyik warrior and the tall Rauxman leapt at the gnolls, tulwar and spear flashing.      "Quickly, lads! Let us stop the dogs at the wall !!" Sunder shouted, as snarling beasts were driven back. With a crash, the hole was plugged. The growls and howls of the beasts rose in pitch as they slammed against the makeshift barrier. The Company of the Raven strove to maintain the barricade. More men arrived to hold the heavy table in place, as the last of the gnolls who had made it inside was slain. A peal of thunder resounded once more, this time at a distance. The gnolls subsided in their attack and were strangely silent. The barrier held. For now.   -----o-----        "Earl Thondred, Earl Thondred!" A young Ratik soldier crashed into the room, throwing open the great doors to the main hall.      "How fare our troops?" enquired the Earl. "Do our walls hold?"      "Nay, sire," replied the agitated footsoldier. "'Tis sorcery, my Lord. They have breached the walls with sorcery. A gaping hole has betrayed our eastern flank and the gnolls have fallen upon our garrison."      The color drained from Thondred's face. "How many?" he asked.      "They are numberless, sire." The soldier hung his head. "We are doomed. Kelten Pass is fallen."   -----o-----        In the dark courtyard, Gorbag howled with glee. The roaring snow and wind covered the fallen soldiers. It would be a great feast. Soon the inner wall of the man-things' mountain-lair would fall to the power of the stolen magic-thing. The pack gathered around him. They would roast the man-things over their own fire. Though they had been defeated at the southern wall, they would feast tonight. Howls of vicious joy rose behind him as Gorbag raised the magic-thing...   -----o-----