"Meanwhile, Fungee executes the one and only strat he's rumoured to have mastered. The cannon wallin. Although he botches the attempt slightly, Mother Teresa might give him a C+ for effort."
-|]agomar
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| The Horde, Chapter One | | | Author: | | | IP: | pcp12280XXXX | | Date: | 07/27/02 07:07 | | Game Type: | Warcraft 3 | | Labels: | none | | Report Rating: , # of Ratings: 1, Max: 4, Min: 4
Lifetime Rating for Vigilant: 4.0000 |  | The Horde
The Continuation of a Random String of Ideas by Vigilant
Chapter One
The point of war is not to die for your country, but to make others die for theirs.
Jaina Proudmoore, the leader of the humans in the age of Eternal Peace, was frustrated.
Their peace had ended. To some, it had been inevitable, but Jaina had been one of the optimistic ones. She was sure that, under the benevolent Thrall's lead, the orcs could maintain peace and co-existence with the human race.
So, when she got the news from a messenger boy that Thrall had been killed, and a small, mostly orcish settlement had been scourged of human life, she was less the ecstatic.
"Damn! What the hell happened?" she screamed. The messenger backed away, startled. "Uh, I've no idea, my, uhh, Highness?"
Jaina sighed. "You're supposed to say Quee- oh, nevermind! Where are they going?"
The boy was relieved. He at least could answer that. "They're going after a small elven settlement to the west of Depan.... well, formerly Depan. The unfortunate grove is known as Tsein, and they're in trouble. The sentinels haven't been maintaining a garrison since the Peace began, and I don't think they were able to amass an army and rush it to Tsein. They might not even have the news now. By now, of course, Tsein is toast. Uhh, my queen. My queen of highness. Or is it--"
"Nevermind it! So, do we have the knights assembled?"
"That's just the problem. Other than our Guard, we'd disbanded all our troops. We're going to have to call in the veterans, and start a new draft, if we're going to be ready for them. I'm expecting them to raid villages till they've assembled every loyal orc, and then try to take down Kul Tiras. The greenskins, they've probably been ready for this the whole time, and we're not."
Proudmoore was not happy. "Fine. Go to my father and tell him to instate a draft. Every able-bodied youth in my kingdom will have his, or her, place in my armies. And call back every healthy veteran. I'd tell him myself, but I'm going to Ashenvale. I have to tell Tyrande to assemble her sentinels."
The boy bowed, and quickly scurried off to the main keep.
The Horde camped for the night. His orcs had been instructed to rest well, to prepare for hours of marching and the possibility of battle. But Toughskull Longarms could not sleep for excitement. His glorious victories replayed in his mind. In just two days, he had become the leader of the Horde, and successfully laid waste to two enemy towns. The war chief could still smell it.....
It was the smell of blood! As sudden, unexpected, and unprepared for as could be, the Horde had charged. A few night elves looked on, to see what in Cenarius' name the orcs were up to, when they realized that the engagement would not be friendly. They swiftly retrieved their bows as the humans in the encampment scrambled for their swords and armor. Tsein's orc population soon found itself in the middle of a gory battle, and were inclined to join their brethren, who were quickly overtaking the proud elves and hatred-filled humans.
Toughskull was proud of his army. The taurens still were uninformed of Thrall's death, as they were currently living a peaceful, centaur-free life in the plains of Kalimdor. It was expected that the taurens would reject the new Horde, and possibly attack, but Longarms was confident in the orcs. The trolls, wyverns, and kodo beasts remained allies. The trolls seemed, however, angry about Thrall's death. The war chief did not trust them. The wyverns owed a long debt to the orcs, and despite their despair at Thrall's death, they remained friendly. Toughskull decided that the wyverns would remain steadfast allies. However, he could not interpret the kodos' reaction. No matter. So long as they remained allies, they would be helpful; should they revolt, they would die.
But in any case, his army was quite well-rounded for now, and his numbers were strong. Toughskull instructed the spearmen to stay back, for the elves fought with bows, and while the orcs attacked, the spearmen could not be trusted to maintain perfect accuracy. The chief didn't want any accidental killings which could only instigate more trollish friction. Thus, the bulk of the horde charged, led by the noble blademasters, whose fiery sword claimed many elven lives that day. Longarms stayed behind to watch the results.
He couldn't be happier with them, however. His forces sustained only two casualties, and a handful of injuries. The call to arms had been valiant, but the elves and humans had been killed. Furthermore, some orcs emerged from behind the elves and proved to be valuable allies. Evidently, they were happy to pick the winning side, and join their brethren in battle.
Firefang, the leader of the raiders, continually begged his war chief to allow his forces a charge, but Toughskull knew the raiders weren't needed. He chuckled, then put on a serious face and told Firefang that defense of the catapults was of the utmost importance. Firefang grinned, saying, "We'll do our best," and eyed up the line of catapults who were already reducing the ancient demi-gods of the elven forest to ashes. "Wake me when it's over."
Toughskull smiled again. Tomorrow, they would march for Kul Tiras. They would have no time for defense, just as the night elves had been defenseless. His inexorable armies were not to be denied.
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Author's Notes:
As always, please be patient while I continue the series. Post any comments (preferably positive; after all, if you've nothing nice to say....) and well, umm, yeah! w00t! |
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