original ) (raw )Hexdrake on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/hexdrake/art/Ork-Rearguard-891938182Hexdrake
Published: Sep 15, 2021
Zunerel is just a half-orc warrior serving as a rear guard for her brave male companions who are fleeing a group of adventurers. For the complete story, see here:
The Loss of a Companion Our small group headed deep into the caves of Fire Mountain, led by Braddock, a paladin of Helm. We had encountered no resistance save for a few half-starved giant bats that Faehawk made short work of with her bow. The tunnels opened up into a huge cavern whose floor dropped into a void that was bisected by an enormous stone bridge. We could see a worked tunnel lit by braziers leading away at the other side. What we did not notice, however, was the orc sentries hidden to one side. As Braddock led us onto the long bridge, a horn sounded, and two orc warriors rushed from their blind and charged us. Braddock drew his sword and flames begin emanating from the blade as he cut the two orcs off from our group. Shouts seemed to come from everywhere in the guttural Orcish language, and a dozen more warriors replaced the two Braddock fell. Worse, more filed in behind us, and the whole was led by a gnarled orc wearing a bone breastplate. As battle was joined, it seemed everyone but me knew their roles. Braddock faced the majority of the orcs, keeping them at bay with his flaming brand. Every so often one of the warriors would land a heavy blow on the paladin, but he either healed himself or Mal, the cleric of Ilmater, shored up the injury with his divine magic. On the other side, Faehawk and Thurik the dwarven rogue performed a deadly dance with their blades, and orcs were dying by a thousand cuts. Faehawk’s raptor companion glowed with fire as it dived amongst the orcs, sowing confusion amongst them. Me – I was in the middle with Mal, well protected on both fronts. I tried launching a few bolts of fire amongst the orcs, but they were so close to my companions I was afraid I would accidently hit one of them. Thus, while my companions were slaughtering the host I was throwing little balls of flame that did little more than annoy the humanoids. Mal’s magic was more suited for healing than harming yet it seems Ilmater does protect his clerics from needless suffering as bolts of holy light unerringly struck orcs in the midst of the chaos.Their leader shouted something in Orcish, and a look of fear crossed over Faehawk’s normally calm face. The reason for her fear soon became apparent as a half-dozen shock trooper orcs rushed towards Braddock from the corridor we sought to reach. These orcs wore no heavy hides to protect them and eschewed even shields. Instead, they wielded massive two-handed arms and relied on their toughness and battle sense to see them through. Amongst them was a strange sight – a half-orc woman, clearly segregated from the rest of them yet fighting alongside them.Even this new development we could have handled if not for her. She strode into the midst of us, somehow dodging assuredly lethal blows at the last minute and only receiving grazes. I called to Mal to help Braddock who was being overwhelmed by a press of no less than five orcs. I didn’t anticipate the half-orc amazon descending upon my, swinging a massive axe with frighting speed in attempts to decapitate me. I kept my cool as best I could, blocking her blows with conjured shields and attempting to fend her off with sparks aimed at her face. But then I stumbled, and as I fell down she towered over me and reared back to end my short career as an adventurer. I turned away and threw my hands up, praying to Deneir to receive his humble servant in the afterlife. Then there was a raptor’s cry and Grutok, Faehawk’s companion, descended upon the she-devil in a flurry of talons and pecks aimed at the warrior’s eyes. The distraction saved me – I crawled between the legs of those in the mass melee and found a position on a ledge to take a breather. Grutok fought bravely, but when the woman grappled the flaming bird, ignoring the obvious pain from burns, the bird could do little under her mighty grip as its neck was snapped. The woman then looked confused as rather than fall to the ground in a heap, the bird exploded in a gout of flame, driving her back. The rush of the shock troopers proved to be just a distraction of sorts, for while everyone had turned to save my neck and was busy with the berserkers, a small group or orcish women had scaled one of the walls to a ledge and let loose with a volley of envenomed arrows, heedless of who they struck. Perhaps they believed that their allies constitution would protect them from the worst effects of the venom – or maybe they didn’t care if a few of their males died as long as they got a few hated invaders. Orcs fell from the sides of the bridge as they were struck by arrows, but a few found their mark amongst our party as well. Thurik had taken an arrow in the shoulder and Braddock was nicked alongside his neck by another missile. Braddock nodded towards Mal who rushed over to aid the dwarf. I noticed that Braddock was starting to move slower, his reactions impaired, and the orcs renewed the attack with vigor. At this point the orc leader finally decided to get his hands dirty, and he also charged in the mass attacking Braddock.I saw the women preparing another volley, this time being more selective in their targeting. I remembered the incantation I learned to keep awake during the long lectures I had to sit through at the academy. A simple reversal of the motions and speaking the words of power in a different order and soon the orc women began falling over, asleep. To my horror, however, I saw that the slanted nature of the ridge made it where when they hit the ground they simply rolled off into the chasm. My first kills as an adventurer – seven orc women armed with homemade bows. My professor would be so proud of my application of Lorniar Tremlin’s Fifth Law of Reversal. A shout stirred me from my reverie.I looked to see the orc leader and Braddock grappling. Braddock’s sword was several feet away, the orc amazon calmly picking it up and heading towards the where Faehawk, Thurik, and Mal were finishing off the last of the orcs attacking from the rear. The front line was lost in an instant, however. Braddock shouted a final prayer to Helm, slurring his words from the poison, and with superhuman effort hurled himself, the leader, and four orc warriors caught off guard into chasm.Both sides were stunned. The remaining orcs retreated, the amazon acting as a rear guard as they stumbled down the passageway. Faehawk began firing arrows after them. Mal had finished binding up Thurik – the tough beardless dwarf would survive – and the two followed the arrows’ flight and began chasing the orcs. They stopped short as the amazon turned and faced us at the entrance to the corridor. A dozen cuts were upon her, and her left eye was nearly swollen shut from where she took a blow from Mal’s mace during the melee. She spoke to us in the Common tongue, spitting the words at us even as she coughed up blood.“Long ago humans make us not welcome. They drive us away from the pretty fields and into the caves and tunnels. Here we subsist, we survive. But the humans get jealous – or maybe they forget about the powerful sorcerer who once dwelt deep in the caves. Maybe that is why you here. No matter, the rest of my kin escape and I battle you to my last breath. Cave mother give me strength!”With that Braddock’s sword burst into flame again, and she picked up a discarded polearm that became engulfed in strange fires of its own. All of stared incredulously, including her, as she twirled the polearm about one-handed and some of her cuts and bruises mended before our eyes. Faehawk took point – she was the backup fighter so to speak. The outcome of this was obvious; even with the magic this one had there were four of us and one of her. Faehawk stopped short six feet of the woman and sheathed her scimitars, looping her peace knots over the handles.“It seems this has been a…misunderstanding. I might react the same way if an armed group of people invaded my caves. Both sides have seen loss. We seek an artifact that corrupts the Weave itself, hidden deep within this mountain. Allow us to parley – you are obviously a great warrior and not like your kin.”Faehawk then began speaking in Orcish. It was surreal – a four and a half foot tall, unarmed wood elf standing before a half-orc bigger than her male orc counterparts. The amazon could have cleaved her in two and we wouldn’t have been able to save her. It was obvious, however, that Faehawk’s words swayed the giantess. She dropped her weapons to the ground and gave a smile that I suppose was meant to reassure us. The two tusks sticking out from her mouth and bloodied teeth made it more disturbing than reassuring. Her words in broken Common gave me hope.“Me Zunerel. I take you to the deep caves. I know way – others afraid but me feel less battle lust when there. I help you on the way; it dangerous and take many days. Never do me fight my kin. You must make peace with offering and respect to shaman – then tribe at peace with you.”And that is how we lost one companion but gained a new one.CharactersBraddock, male human 8th level Oath of the Crown paladin of HelmThurik Stonefall, male hill dwarf 4th level Thief rogueFaehawk, female wood elf 5th level Beastmaster variant ranger and her companion, Grutok the flame hawkAsef Gloryscribe, male human 2nd level Scholar wizardMal Givanu, male human 4th level Life cleric of IlmaterZunerel, female half-orc 7th level Rage Mage barbarianShock Troopers, male orc 2nd level barbariansJarzag the Vengeful, male orc 4th level Warlord barbarian
Character: The base character is G8, believe it or not! I reskinned her several times, with the final version using Skin Builder 8. Adding make-up, sweat, dirt, tribal markings, etc. really amped up the render time for this one. Used the Pyromantix Fire Sword along with Merlin's polearm bardiche. Outfit is mainly resurfaced Kyra, and hair is Short, Wet hair.
Image size
2560x1440px 5.33 MB
