Dwarven Vengeance

"We are the last vestige of hope!" Balok swore, "The people of Ravenglass must be liberated from the clutches of the Shadow Legion! Our people have been put to the torch, and their heads placed on the walls of Ravenglass...This Legion of Shadows must be destroyed. Commanders! Prepare the men to march!" The screams and cheers of eleven hundred men erupted in the small clearing just after day break. Balok was brought back to the time when he first encountered the Shadow Legion Commander.The screams of the civilians in Ravenglass, being slaughtered by the invading army, took the dwarf and his elven ally Havok by complete surprise. They and the city they lived in were ill prepared for combat that day. Porthos brought his army in and decimated the city guard. Betrayed by some of the noble houses in the city, Ravenglass fell to the might and treachery of of the Shadow Legion Commander, Porthos. Balok and Havok escaped the wrath that overwhelmed the city, each vowing to Paladin, God of Justice, that the city would be freed from the tyranny of Porthos. Balok was pulled from his reflections as unit commanders barked orders for the army to begin the march. A short distance away another interested bystander was making her own plans. As'rell was the finest assassin in the east. A small scar on her left cheek was all that marred the features of her half-elven face. Her past successes had earned her the attention of the Shadow Legion commander. Her mission was to collect information on the bearded warrior for her employer, Porthos. As'rell had first balked at the proposed mission. This upstart general was no threat to anyone, with his pathetic army of misfits. Porthos didn't care for the insolent tones of the female assassin, and commanded her to perform the actions for which she was hired or die. She decided courtesy was the best course of action and accepted the Commanders orders. Balok force marched the Griffon Army until nightfall.
"Find me the Legion," Balok ordered the scout commander, Havok Runedragon. Havok and several scouts left the camp and headed in the direction of the Shadow Legion. His pointed ears, and heightened senses had little difficulty finding the camp of the Shadow Legion Army. Havok returned with the scouts two hours later and reported back to Balok.
"Sir," he said "The Shadow Legion is camped some four miles distant to the east." The General spoke in haste to the scout commander.
"Gather the rest of the Elven Scouts. We're going to find out what Porthos is up too." Balok and Havok lead the scouting party out of camp. The small group moved quickly through he plains. A short while later the party closed within sight of the Legion camp. The eyes of a single half-elven female grew concerned as to the intentions of the bold dwarf. The Legion pickets were easily bypassed by the deft movements and precision timing of the elves. The dwarven General, however, accidentally stomped on a goblin picket, but before it could react, two elves slipped in, and slit the portly humanoids throat without a sound. With the pickets bypassed, the small unit took position on the eastern perimeter of the enemy camp. Havok moved in under the cover of the shadows. His stealthy movements were covered by the deadly aim of the crossbow wielding dwarf, and the longbows of his highly skilled elven scouts. Havok made his way to the tent of Porthos the Red. Havok placed a pointed ear to the tent, and listened intently as the humans inside planned their attack sequence on the hapless Griffon Army. Walking through the compound, As'rell the half-elf woman took note of the lone elf listening at her commander's tent. She would take care of the scum-sucking elf herself. "Prepare yourself for the nether world, Elf," she mumbled, moving toward the doomed elf. A slight breeze hid the scraping noise as she drew her trusted short sword from its leather bound scabbard. She moved with the speed and grace of a Cobra striking its prey. Havok never noticed the crimson stain on his chest as the sword pierced his fine elven armor. The dead elf slipped slowly to the earth, taking with him the secrets of the Legions attack plans. Balok released his bolt. A second after, a burning pain coursed through the entire body of the half-elf woman. She saw a crossbow bolt buried deep in her shoulder. As'rell screamed to wake the camp "Fools! The dwarf General and his elven terrorists are here. Kill them!" The assassin's shouts brought the Shadow Legion camp quickly to life. The elves, led now by the grim determination of a battle hardened dwarf warrior, "Scouts. Make you're way back to camp". The darkness of the early morning was all that greeted the dwarf General and the elven scouts as they made their way back to base camp. When Balok marched past his guards and entered the camp, he went to the commanders tents and demanded their presence in the Command Tent. All the commanders quickly gathered within the walls of the Command Tent. "We move out in fifteen minutes." was all the dwarf told his commanders, holding back the anguish from the nights failed mission. Rumors of Havok's death spread through the camp. The camp was roused by the commanders and quickly readied for the long march. Balok reached the battle field several hours before the Shadow Legion. Balok, because of the early movement was able to conceal men on a small forested ridge flanking the field of battle. A messenger from the Shadow Legion came with a most disturbing message. "Porthos the Red, Supreme Commander of the Legion of Shadows, will accept the unconditional surrender of you and your army!" The messenger spat in mocking tones. The messenger was sent running by arrow fire intended to frighten, not to kill, not quite yet. The units of the Shadow Legion and the Griffon Army were commanded to attack. As the battle raged on, Balok spotted the Legion commander Porthos. Seeing an opportunity for revenge, Balok sent a crossbow bolt whistling in the direction of the Legion commander. The bolt deflected off the heavily armored commander, but it did get his attention.
"It's time to pay," shouted the dwarf. The two steel clad warriors collided leaving the armies fate, to their unit commanders. The Shadow Legion began taking its toll on the outnumbered Griffon Army. The unit of light cavalry hiding on the ridge charge into the melee, causing massive casualties to the flank of the Shadow Legion. This tactic had the benefit of causing several of the Legion units to break and rout from the field, however, the Legion survived the cavalry assault. The battle finally encompassed the Dwarven General, Balok, and the Legion Supreme Commander, Porthos. Porthos landed a crippling blow to the shield arm of Balok. Balok dropped the useless shield to the ground. Swinging the battle axe to deflect the next sword slash, Balok pushed himself into Porthos heaving the large man off balance. Balok then landed an axe cut to the right leg of the Legion commander, causing the commander to stagger back. The next strike of the axe landed on the humans sword arm, hacking it off at the elbow and sending the sword flying. The Legions Supreme Commander went to his knees. At that moment, Porthos knew that his part in this war was about to come to an end. The last strike of the dwarf's axe separated the commander's head from his lifeless shoulders. Seeing their feared leader decapitated, the entire Legion's moral failed. The Legion of Shadows broke ranks and headed for the hills. Balok hefted his battle axe in triumph. He saw one of his unit commanders and commanded "Chase down and slaughter the rest of the Legion. Captain when you're finished, report back to me."
"Yes, Sir!" was all the unit commander said before he mounted his horse and left.
The dwarf placed his broken arm in a sling fashioned from torn strips of cloth. While watching the rest of the Legion being rounded up and killed, a crossbow bolt impacted and penetrated his armored shoulder. Dazed, the dwarf pulled out the bolt and saw that bolts head was poisoned. Balok's legs buckled and the dwarf fell heavily to the ground. The half-elf As'rell approached the dwarf with a little hesitation. Seeing the dwarf not breathing, she moved closer to remove his personal wealth.
"Ye killed me best friend, WENCH!" the dwarf hissed, grabbing the stunned half-elf by the throat.
"I was paid to kill you and your friend, pay me and I'll work for you." As'rell piped, through clenched teeth.
"Then here's yer last payment." the dwarf grunted, as the corded muscles in the dwarf's arm tensed, and snapped the neck of the young half-elf woman.
The dwarf released his grip on the lifeless woman after a bit. The wound and the poison still hurt, but it took more than a little poison to drop a dwarf in his tracks. He applied a field dressing to his wounded shoulder and went down into the bloody field to oversee the troops. There was still a lot of work ahead of him.

[Notes: Balok Ironforge, military strategist from the Ironforge clan. Balok by dwarven standards is slightly above average in size and stature. The dwarf along with his leadership ability, is an excellent marksman with the crossbow. Balok being a disciplined warrior has a simple relationship with his troops, the leader leads, and the followers follow. For the first time in the dwarfs seventy-five year lifespan, Balok had a mission.]

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