Ovg & Stronghammer - Thanks a ton guys! I have to say writing Nomekast has really improved my writing abilities, going back to read the start I can definitely see some good improvement
I enjoy writing the story and I'm glad you enjoy it too!
6th Slate 679 - MorningThere was no time to waste. The usual council of the Sheriff Derm, Mayor Stronghammer, Chief Medical Dwarf Reg, Fori, and the militia squad leaders Tarran, Rovod, Neo, Meinhard and Kadzar were swiftly brought together to discuss the situation and what to do. The urgency of acting quickly meant that they met up near the entrance to Nomekast; meeting in Stronghammer's office would mean having to run to tell the militia the plans, which could cost the lives of the Elves just over the river. The rest of the militia had already been drawn up and were ready, weapons drawn or loaded.
"Right, what have we got?" Stronghammer started, drumming his fingers impatiently on his arm.
"Two squads on about length of the valley, each about a dozen each, all riding anything from jabberers to rutherers to giant toads. And those are just the ones we can see," Fori replied grimly.
"We don't have much of a choice," Derm started, biting at his lip in thought as he leant on his sword. "No way we can let them die."
"No way we can needlessly risk our lives either," Reg countered.
"We may not have to," Tarran said quietly. The swordsdwarf was stroking his beard, deep in thought. "The Elves are on the far side of the river, right? And the Goblins on this side? The Goblins will need to cross the river to get to the caravan, and to do that they need to take the only bridge - which is on the other side of the valley."
"Not quite the only bridge, don't forg-" Rovod stopped mid-word as he suddenly realised what Tarran had been suggesting. "Of course! We have the bridge from the compound over the river. We lower that, the Elves should be able to get there before the Gobbos, then we can close it. And from there-" he lifted his crossbow with a wry grin, "we can take over."
"What about the Nothing?" Reg asked, raising one worried eyebrow.
"There's no signs of any as far as we can see from the lighthouse, and certainly no flying ones, thank Armok."
"Right. Ve iz all agreed, den?" Meinhard asked. Everyone nodded. They didn't have time to argue further.
"Then let's do it, is everyone here?" Neo asked with a nod, hefting his sword.
Rovod nodded back. "As far as I can tell - except for Konith, the crossbowkobold."
"No time to wait, let's move."
They all fanned out, the militia commanders returning to their squads while Fori moved to pull the lever connecting the bridge. The crossbow squad - nicknamed 'The Arrows of Leading' - swiftly moved to the tower closest to the Goblins. If they passed too close to the compound, they'd swiftly have bolts raining down on them. The Iron Guard were kept back to guard against any possible unforeseen swarms of Nothing popping up, while the main militia force moved to the bridge over the river. If the caravan didn't manage to reach the fort in time they'd delay the Goblins. The Jagers meanwhile were sent on to the caravan themselves to lead them in.
With Meinhard directing them - after having to explain that he was not some monstrous creature out to kill them - the Elves made swift progress into the compound, directing their animals forward with soothing Elven words.
They had not been quick enough though as one squad of infected Goblins, riding full-speed on their assorted steeds, reached the bridge before the militia could pull back. The Arrows of Leading, up on their tower fired a hail of bolts down.
It was Juggernaut who went first. The man hefted his axe high, taking a running start and leaping from the ledge into the Goblins below screaming a defiant curse. Thud took straight after him, the troll bellowing, his fists ready. Melagius hesitated a few seconds, then followed him, and the rest of the militia followed soon after that, not wanting to abandon two fellow soldiers to fight the enemy by themselves, and battle was joined.
The fight was fierce. The sound of metal clashing against metal filled the air, while the rain of bolts continued unabated from the tower above. The militia fought as best they could. Of note were Katana, who fought like a man possessed, and Kuro, who in his zeal to destroy his Nothing-infected brethren went as far as biting them or at least their steeds.
The apparent Goblin leader, wielding a fearsome silver scourge soon proved to be the most dangerous adversary as she bore down onto the Bogeyman Eldrich Stormsap. Despite his best efforts she effortlessly sidestepped his attacks, and sent the scourge smashing into his head. His usual hood came undone, revealing the burnt face of a Bogeyman below and sending him crashing to the floor.
She was apparently no longer interested in finishing the fallen Bogeyman as she turned instead to attack a furious Tarran, who dodged and sent his blade smashing into her side. He was swiftly joined by Bax who attacked her from behind.
The two swiftly made short work of her.
In the time it took them to wipe out most of the first squad, the second squad of Goblins had soon arrived, riding down the valley slope on their steeds, weapons at the ready.
However in riding down the slope like that they'd left themselves split apart, and an easy target for the militia to take out one-by-one without much hassle.
With the Goblins finished the militia took several seconds to breathe. That was, until Dohon noticed Eldrich's non-moving body still collapsed on the earth where the infected Goblin lasher had knocked him. He didn't wait a second, sprinting to his side. Eldrich seemed barely alive, and seemed to all intents not unable to breath at all.
"Gods damn it," Dohon ground out, frowning furiously. He quickly pulled a gauntlet off and placed one hand on the Bogeyman's chest. No breathing movement at all. But Eldrich was still shifting weakly.
The Dwarf took the Bogeyman by the shoulders, ready to heave him to the hospital at full-speed when Eldrich gave one last shuddering twitch and stopped moving at all.
Dohon pounded a furious fist into the dirt, leaving an imprint of his gauntlet. He fell back, breathing heavily. The respite was short-lived however as a third squad soon appeared coming down the valley. As was increasingly the case, it was Juggernaut followed by Thud who charged them first, soon followed by Kuro, Katana, Rashem and John Lock before the whole militia followed them.
It was Doc. Steve who fired the first shot from the towers before the militia could engage the Goblins.
The rest of the militia soon clashed with the infected Goblins. Tired as they were, this proved the toughest battle yet. Neo was almost killed as the Goblin leader, a swordmaster, nearly cleaved his head in two with a scimitar, and left him bleeding from his arm.
Dohon meanwhile found himself dueling two speargoblins alone, and caught by surprise was unable to stop the impending tragedy.
Eventually though the Goblins were dispatched, and the militia left standing in a field of hacked and slashed body parts and blood.
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Topic: [Community] Nomekast - At War with Nothing (Read 180220 times)