Nargesh’s pacing was stopped short when Rulfim, or Runt as Nargesh teasingly called her, came running up with the news. As well as just as importantly an idea Nargesh wished she had thought of earlier. Nargesh smiled at Rulfim and made a fist before bringing it firmly against her own mailed chest. A kind of salute among orckin, often reserved for recognition of a good idea. Nargesh quickly turned and headed toward the barracks that many of the blades had gathered as the siege played out, ready to move to any trouble spots when needed.
However, Nargesh thought better of their sudden skirmish force. Many in the company might think her slow, but if there was one thing Nargesh knew well, it was battle. Speed would likely serve them best for a quick attack on the enemy's siege weapons to allow an equally quick escape before the entire bunny army was on their green arses.
Thus Nargesh stopped short then made a heavy stepped beeline for the stables. Unneeded for the moment, the warg riders are currently either feeding their mounts or caring for them in one manner or another. The air heavy with the scent of blood, most of it from the recently butchered horses that had remained within the castle. The meat was raw of course--just how wargs liked it.
Nargesh snorted as she stopped in front of a circle of riders. A few jumped a bit when the Ogrillon suddenly appeared, with a growl Nargesh barked, “Alright maggots. Get off’er arses. We’re goin hunting.” Her voice like echoing hard stone and gravel.
One of the orcs made up his face in confusion. One had the audacity to ask, “Err, but we’re in a siege? What’ we ta hunt?”
Nargesh rolled her eyes in annoyance. “The bunnies you frog brain. We hit them fast and we hit'm hard. Mount up and get ready, unless any of’ya are too coward like of course.”
The orc in question huffed as if he had been personally insulted. Of course like any good orc they didn't need much prompting at the idea of some bloodshed. As the warband assembled Nargesh looked to Rulfim then tapped a finger to her chin as if just realizing something, “No dog for ya to ride,” She voiced sounding almost melancholy.
Rulfim had returned the gesture, a strong strike against the plating on her chest. The ogrillon was too often underestimated, in her opinion. Maybe not the sharpest sword of the lot, but no one entered the Chosen without reason.
The runt was growing anxious, hungry for the coming battle, as she watched Nargesh take off to fulfill the suggestion. Alone again, that energy turned into commands for the bastards running to and fro. She snapped off a few commands, directing them one place or another. She was met with grunts, but no challenges. Losing the castle the same day as taking it was an unforgiveable thought. With the taste of victory still on their lips, the mood was ripe for slaughter.
Rulfim's eyes narrowed when they caught sight of the returning Nargesh and the band she had collected. Wargs. Integral to the unit, but not what she had
politely suggested. No matter that she wasn't all that fond of the beasts to begin with. Oh she'd get on a warg when she needed, but she was just passable at riding one. The mercenary group was the first time she had had cause to care to learn.
At Nargesh's comment, her eyes slackened in their disapproving stare. She could put together the orc's thought process. Wargs were faster. She would get to see the bunnies shit themselves in fear as they scampered under their attack. And she wouldn't have to ride a warg, though that left her own mode of transportation up in the air.
"Looks like you're my, whatta the bunnies call it...steed. Saddle up!" Rulfim had to look up, in order to meet Nargesh's face, very nearly half her comrade's height. "Hit 'em hard and fast, hm. Ugly thinkin'." The compliment was grunted. She no more liked giving compliments than getting them. "Let's go get 'em."
Nargesh snorted before offering a shrug in response and easily hoisted Rulfim onto her shoulders before making her way to the gate. She grunted, “Hold’en tight, eh? Don’t want ya flyin off.”
Nargesh boasted a smile at that then scowled at the orcs near the gate who were currently sheltering from any wayward enemy fire from over the battlements. A shout got their attention and after a few choice words they reluctantly agreed to open the gate. It was just at that moment that a huge explosion sounded. Accompanied moments later by screams of pain and panic. Music to Nargesh’s ears.
She raised her massive two handed sword and shouted to her fellows, “Hear dat boyz! Dat’s the waer cry o da bunnies! Let’s give ours!”
The warg riders raised their own lances or swords then began hollering and hooting to their hearts content. Working themselves into a blood frenzy all the while. Nargesh herself inhaled sharply and Just as the gates finally fell forward opening up the way with a loud bang. Nargesh joined in with her own seemingly earth shaking warcry. She might not have the true size of a giant, but by the gods did she have their shout. It echoed from the castle gates instantly silencing the bunny lines as he froze in terror and dismay. Thinking perhaps the orcs had secretly hidden some strange mythical beast come to claim their souls.
Then she shot forward not unlike the barrel Rassmata and Kavu had fired toward the enemy-- a warband of warg riders pulling up the rear as the orcs offered their own lesser yet still formidable cries of battle. Between the unexpected shower of burning pitch, the cry and appearance of Nargesh and the riders, the bunny army was in momentary disarray as shouts and warnings mounted up across the enemy lines. Thus causing a moment of confusion to follow. Now outside the castle Nargesh could fully appreciate the bunny army mounted against them, and as expected they were large, larger than expected perhaps.
If this in any way dismayed the Ogrillon, she did not show it in the least. The enemy had begun digging ditches between the castle and the siege line-- a wise choice. Small bridges already set up to aid in closing the gaps here and there. However, this was still early in the siege, and the ditches were not only not very deep but most of the lin lacked any wood stakes. The bunnies had truly underestimated their enemy. Now they would simply pay for it in blood. Nargesh closed the distance to the first line of ditches, strong legs pumping with almost mechanical efficiency, eating up the distance faster than the line of bunnies had a chance to respond. This many enemies speed and surprise were the warbands only weapons.
The bunny armies’ size and number could easily wipe them out in moments, but the confusion had delayed a rapid response, chances were the bunnies had never expected the enemy to react so quickly. Instead to hold up in the castle and await the assault as any sane bunny force would. Sadly for the bunnies they seemed to know little of orcs. With one great bounding leap Nargesh cleared a portion of a ditch and landed heavily on the other side, her sudden appearance surprising a group of diggers armed with tower shields. She did not stop to greet them with her sword however, but continued onward. Her real target was a circle of fortifications with an enemy siege engine at its center. A giant crossbow thing the bunnies had been using earlier of course.
Besides which the warg riders made quick work of those poor sods before they could regain a semblance order. A circle of wooden stakes and a few pavise shields circled the ballista-- seemed the bunnies wanted to keep these as protected as possible. Nargesh had a feeling this probably meant they had no reserve engines to use. She simply barreled through a pavise that had been acting as a pseudo door of sorts to the inner defences of the ballista-- free up room for the riders to enter.
This was where Rulfim’s ride had to end however, Even the half ogre could not fight effectively with someone on her back. Besides she knew Rulfim would much prefer to fight on her two feet.
The much smaller orc dropped from her position against Nargesh's shoulders. It had been a wild ride, not entirely enjoyable. Whoever lived would have a few snide remarks, she was certain, at least until she could quell the call outs with a brawl or two. That would be fun.
But for the moment, fun was right in front her. The falacata was drawn less than a moment after her feet touched the ground. This had been a good plan, the bunnies were unprepared for such a force of orcs to break their lines. Stupid bunnies, expecting the orcs to play by the nice rules and wait quietly at the castle to be attacked.
A ferocious growl erupted within her, to kill or be killed was all that existed. The first bunny to bullrush her found her a more sturdy target than expected. A heavy slash across left the fleshy puppet writhing in a pool of it's own blood.
Her shoulder panged with each time she raised her arm to attack. Good and deep and enraging her lust for blood. Nargesh had burst through the gates, so to speak, and they were soon joined by their companions. The bunnies squealed in anguish, orcish grunts of pain - or death - permeated the air.
Runt had one bunny in particular pinned against the ballista's supports, a savage grin across her face. "Think yer smart? Smart little bunnies?" With a cruel laugh, she stabbed the stilletto dagger through his eye into what she knew to be the mushy bits of his brains. He was still spasming as she turned to find where Nargesh had picked a battle.
