POUNDING PROOF
8 AM: Back on their steeds, the platoon moved north through a driving drizzle that flashed out of the southeast. Dawn was uninformative because the ceiling of gray clouds brought on a dismal perspective. Garments were soaked, but progress never hampered. Before long, the platoon came to the breakoff point of their travel. Dividing in half, ten galloped off east towards Airrdale. The fellowship sponsored three scouts who were escorted to the head of the orcken trail where they had been chased out the previous night. Muddiness was an understatement. The horses had to be hand-led through the slogging sludge that made movement a literal chore. Rain prevaded everyone's senses and they fought off this discomfort to slowly plod along west towards their destination.
NOON: Persistant, unrhythmatic banging was the first sense that they were not alone in the forest. The racket echoed off the trees and made their walk even more foreboding. Sooner then expected, however, they came upon what they sought after. The black sleek walls of the ruined fortress were unveiled by the foggy mist. Its' wet, oily surface reflected dully as they climbed the sloped embankment.
The pandemonium seemed to come from the back portion of the structure, so the team of ten moved west along the southern wall. Orc tracks along their path were numerous and the scouts guessed 150 orcs passed through in the last three days {based upon the spacing-distance of the feet}. That was not a good sign. Were the monsters multiplying? Within minutes, the group came upon the southwest corner and saw a sight to behold. Numerous boulders and rocks were scattered about a small clearing and piles of stripped logs were crudely stacked in the center. Over thirty large orcs pounded away at the rocks and stones attempting to shape them with their heavy hammers. Acting on impulse, Torynth loaded a slingstone and snapped it towards the enraged orc. The projectile missed widely and the mob reacted by charging the squadron. "Retreat!" barked the dwarf and the group quickly jumped upon their animals. Wheeling their steeds around, they raced hard along the soft grounds back towards the entrance path as the humanoids bore down upon them. Teflar and Aramil took notice of the tall walls making sure no counterfire would assault them from any monsters hiding within. The horses slipped around the southeast corner and struggled down the embankment. The scouts mastered their steeds down the muddy decline while StarPoint Raven followed after holding onto the backs of their mounts for dear life. " Back to Pinedroi...quickly!" ordered Harris and he prompted his steed through the trail muck. Leah's horse could not cross the grounds without falling so it reared upon its' hind legs and screamed. Kicking its' forehooves in the air, it protested any further advancement. The druidess was thrown backwards and landed hard into the brutal mud. Luckily, it cushioned her fall. Before she could move, however, six orcs topped the small rise cursing in wild fervor. The team fought their way ahead and the clouds opened up pouring warm, hard rains down upon them.
" I can't believe this!" breathed a scout named Harris
" What are they doing? From where have they come?!"
Another, named Bentley, came up slowly with his horse replying " I don't know, but this seems to be the evidence we sought. A small portion of the humanoids if our analysis is correct. We should leave now before we are seen."
Suddenly, Teflar's horse snorted sharply.
An orc amid the boulder hem stopped pounding its' rock. The beast looked in the vicinity of the fellowship and let out a rauchous roar!