A bird chirped a sweet tune off in the distance, the morning sun had started to rise and like a blankets of warmth the rays kissed the land of Ered-Luin. Down the steep slopes of the high mountains silence seemed to fade away into a humming noise of thuds and steel, the blankets of crisp white snow now found a crimson tint, it air stank of battle. Blood and guts, the smell of war.
"I will not lose you today Hroskold, not today and not any time soon!" Kveltrild spoke with a stern tone, her hands wrapped tightly around the fallen Hroskold's arms as she dragged him away from battle. Azadrud still hacked away at oncoming goblins holding them back while Kveltrild could take the wounded away. He was quick in his work but the enemy still even after a long battle seemed endless. "Look at me! Keep your eyes open, by Mahal I promise you will make it" she told him again, her eyes carried deep worry in them and they should, maybe for the fallen or those who still fought. The Dwarves of Durin's Folk started a battle with strong arms and willing hearts but even the great grow tired. They fought long and hard in the night and with morning the energy of the company had faded away. Both sides had lost more then they could afford, Hilfar, Thorlaen and Daingorf had disappeared among the fallen and the goblins had lost nearly half their force. Still they charged.
Four Dwarves still held the bridge, the shield wall broken and now facing seemingly unbeatable odds they continued to defend. Asudrom slashed back and forth keeping goblins for over powering him, his elven blade danced like a bright light bring his foe to the end of their lives. Dhordur spun his great axe like the mighty weapon it was often making giant arcs of the shaft keeping his enemies away, the handle switching from on hand to the other before both would grasp the crafted wood to deliver a quick blow to end a life. Azadrud fought his way to his brothers. "Still alive I see! From all the goblins past you I though more would have joined the fallen!" Azadrud chuckled while crashing his shield into the brow of a fat goblin. "Save your breath, the fight is not over yet and you will need all of it!" Asudrom answered and he was right. Thogen back stepped using his axe to parry a blow of a long rusted blade and struck back with a hard strike. The goblin had tried to block the blow but its own weapon shattered and the head of the Dwarven axe buried deep into the creatures shoulder. War Master Thogen had no plans on letting his company die without a fight, his words spoke loud and direct to his folk. "Sigin Tarag! Brothers, hear me now. Let us draw a line where we stand! If they wish to kill us then they will have to pass us! Stand with me! Glorious death!" he called, the four of them took ranks and fought to stand side by side. Another horn blew, and the goblins cheered.
A hammer rose to the air, it was large and crafted of dwarven skill. It was not of metal but crafted of the very mountain itself, a chiseled stone. The dwarves had seen it before, clearly it was a piece of a lesser statue of a Longbeard monument. An ugly hand held it, knuckles covered with a steel glove that lead down to a large arm, again more bits of steel covered the skin. The beast wore armour of the dwarves, or what ever could fit him. He was much taller then the goblins and with a large sweep of his arm he used the mighty hammer to clear some goblins from his path .. a path towards Durin's Folk. "Ugly Beards! You live to long .. here you die!" he spoke, the hoard of goblins cheered and laughed taunting the longbeards. "If these stupid goblins will not kill you then I will! I am Brauggg! I am death!" Brauggg called, his yellow eyes almost burning holes into the dwarves hearts. Again another powerful swing of the orcs hammer pushed aside a goblin so he could step closer to the bridge. "I will cut your beards clean off those ugly faces, i will wear them around my neck so when I kill those at Thorin's Hall .. they will know Brauggg killed their leaders!" the orc roared. He was so close, feet away from the bridge. Without struggle the orcish leader raised his hammer and pointed to the dwarven company, he now stood ready to charge with the rest of the goblins, the end was near and it seemed Mahal was welcoming his children. A snarl came from his lips but before he could speak yet another horn blew .. this one loud and deep and behind the dwarves. "To the Azaghalbad!" they called, Reinforcements!
Thodsi held his lips to the carved horn, it glittered of fine gems and gold lining. He sounded the horn once again and together him and Holgi came from the back both with large weapons and fresh morale. One goblin who had fell in the backfield had started to come to its wits but felt a swift kick of an iron covered boot to the face before dropping dead, Hogli still cheered as he passed. Thogen had tried to let a smile crack on his face but all he could do was nod, it seemed the fight was not yet over and all he could do was yell "Chaaaaargeeee!". In a pressing line of armour the dwarves started the goblin ranks and caused a bit of a retreat. Beards and blades crashed into the enemy as once again the tide of battle changed. Goblin after goblin they cut down the enemy, the bridge still littered with bodies now was almost cleared of the goblin army. Thodsi struck at a small goblin so hard in the ribs that his axe caught deep and the momentum of the strike sent the horrid creature clean over the bride.
"Any of you who run will die by me! Fight! Fight!" Brauggg howled at the fleeing goblins, his orders had caused some to turn but most fled for the mountain halls. Those still left made a cry and did their own charge with Brauggg at the lead. Like an unstoppable force meeting an unmovable object chaos erupted.
Kveltrild still sat back with Hroskold, his face pale and skin cold. Nasty scars had been exposed since Kveltrild had torn away armour and cloth to try and stop bleeding wounds but it seemed she could not do it alone. "Sister!" Hilfa had shouted, she had come with the reinforcements and like Kveltrild knew some healing treatments. Together they worked on the dying solider. "We heard battle almost all the way at Thorin's Hall! Uzbad sent us as quick as he could!" Hilfa explained while holding a gash on Hroskolds face shut. Kveltrild took some thread and needles and quickly worked at binding larger wounds, still she addressed Hilfa "Its good you all came when you did .. Mahal may still grant us victory." she said. Time would tell.
Goblins still fell left and right, their numbers soon dwindled but with both sides not wishing to admit defeat they all fought hard. Brauggg brought his hammer side to side trying to strike at the dwarves, Asudrom took a blunt end hard to the chest. "HArrAAGH!" he groaned feeling his chest plate cave in a bit, the sheer force of the weapon launched his body across the way and into the side of the bridge knocking him to the floor. Dhordur took the opening to bring his axe against the mighty foe but a solid knuckled fist met his chin and made his head spin. Thodsi and Holgi danced together bringing down what few goblins were left, Azadrud tried to stick with the two but found himself so weak and drained that one a goblin or two met his axe with a struggled fight. "Fine! If no one else will kill these short creatures I will!" Brauggg screamed, he almost seemed to stand alone now. Again the giant stone hammer of the orc's waved off to the side and Thogen was taken by the heavy hit and landed several feet away from Asudrom, his body lay motionless. "Nooo!" Asudrom called, sweat hand blood covered his face, his breath was heavy and it seemed like sooner rather then later it would all be over, victory or defeat. Dhordur coming to his sences pushed his axe shaft into the chest of Brauggg and knocked him off focus, the lively two of Thodsi and Holgi started to smack and slash the great orc but again with brutish strength Braugg smashed them all back lie mere flies.
" I told you! You will all die! Die now! Die now!" Brauggg taunted, his hammer was placed down on Dhordurs chest leaving him pinned. Thogen coughed hard, his ribs seemingly broken and his lungs filling with blood. Anger bubbled in his blood, he couldn't bare to see his companions .. his friends in such pain. With a strange surge of power he rose to his feet and raised his axe over head! "Sigin Tarag!" He called again, his axe striking the orc in the arm but as quickly as his strike came the orc retaliated with a boot to his Thogens face. The hard pressed foot of Brauggg now held Thogen to the ground pushing what air still lay left inside him out. Asudrom still struggled to move at the side of the bridge, his eyes locked with his friend Thogens, he knew what he must do.
The dwarves all lay on the ground, Brauggg boasted in open air were only the dead would hear him, the lives of Durin's Folk was at his finger tips but still he dragged on their lives. "Foolish beards, ugly beards. Dead beards!" he taunted. Single handed he did it seemed he beat the company of dwarves, but only if he finished him now, something he didn't do.
"Now! The legs! Get the legs!" Asudrom ordered, he waited until he had more energy but now was the time. The elven blade slashed down the calf of the orc, blood ran quickly like a flowing stream down the open skin and caught on steel that protected seemingly stupid places. "ARAGH!" Brauggg cried but it was only the start of his pain. Thogen knew he had only one chance at life and it would come at Asudrom hands, seeing his friend lay the first blow Thogen wiggled his fingers around his axe then smashed the head into the orcs shin, bone shattered at the strike and the orc dropped to his knees. Thogen rolled the best he could to escape the weight of the giant. "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" Dhordur yelled, his mighty hands drew strength and pushed the hammer off his chest. Like a rabbit he leaped to his feet and swung his axe across the abdomen of the orc, skin and muscle peeling bac while organs lay exposed. Asudrom nearly spent took the last of his energy plunging his long blade into the neck of the orc, blood sprayed like a fountain from that wound and now the crying words of Braugg turned to bubbling nothing. The Mighty Braugg, death dealer of the goblin army was nearly through, his lack of intelligence to end the dwarves while he could got the better of him. Thogen stood infront of him now, eye to eye the War Lord looked with the Brauggg. "Sigin Tarag" Thogen said before hacking his axe far to deep into the once great orcs head. A final breath left Braugggs lips before he fell to the ground, blood pouring from his vicious wounds. Thodsi and Holgi cheered, they won!
The warriors all set catching their breath, they could hardly move due to pain. Thogen chewed his lip a little while sitting a top the orcs chest. His eyes watched over to Kveltrild, Hilfa and Hroskold. Theyw ere not alone anymore, two Elves stood by them, he noticed Hroskold was wrapped in a fine robe and color was returning to his face. Kveltrild glanced over with a smile and a nod.
"Lets find the wounded, the lost and the dead. We will sleep well tonight .. Mahal's hammer shielded us." Asudrom spoke to them all, the wounded and burried dwarves dug out and helped to their feet, shoulders and arms carried the fallen and Thogen pulled along a mighty stone hammer. It had a new place within Durin's Folks halls.
All members in the story let the system of /roll decide their fate. Thanks everyone for the fun.
