Vatta returns Lorae’s smile with an even bigger one and nods her head enthusiastically. She lets let Cerric follow the Paladin so that she can keep a watchful eye on him and she falls in behind keeping watch over the rear of the party.

She guides her horse easily behind them keeping pace and unstraps her bow and makes sure that her quiver is free and gives easy access so she can be ready the instant she neds to be.

She feels a rush as she follows them, but she doesn’t let the feeling of pending excitement hinder her scanning of the surrounding area using all her skills and abilities to ensure that no one surprises them from the side or behind.

She glances at Flame from time to time and smiles reminded of another friend of hers who had a Fairy Dragon as a familiar. She almost chuckled thinking of all the trouble that mischievous little dragon had caused when she had traveled with that group. She secretly hoped that Flame wasn’t a distant cousin of the Fairy Dragon.

His heart skips a beat whilst waiting for the paladin's response, and he is relieved when she nods, and tells them to follow her into the woods. Though, his relief faulters when he considers that they are perhaps moving into a field of battle - one with potential casualties. He gives a nervous glance back towards Vatta, and his face reddens slightly when she winks at him. Cerric had the feeling that this was a bit of a game to mercenary Vatta, his only hope was that it was one she played to win...

*************************

Char suspiciously eyed the dragon who had fluttered into the sky. The raven had never been fond of dragons, or any mystical creature who flew. To him, the sky was the domain of the birds, and he felt as if his home was being intruded upon. It was obvious to him that the interloper was the guide to battle. Scanning the distance for signs of enemies lurking in the hills, perhaps preparing for an assault, he pondered the battle ahead, and more specifically the folly of men. Why would the master risk his life for strangers, who would likely direct him no compensation. Char had seen it all before. At the battle's end, it were not the holy man who was praised as a hero, but the biggest strongest warriors, whose head counts were the greatest... if only they could count, they would see that for every life taken, the Cleric had given as many lives back, back to the side of the victor, a side that would be lost in the drudge of war if not for such a man. The thankless hero, and yet, forward... into the fray!

Highnar was lost in the pure joy of killing one of his races most hated foes.
For the longest time through the ages the hatred between Dwarf and Orc had never faltered or diminished in any way. Both sides took pleasure in the killing of the other no matter how it was done or how gruesome the results. With his axes yet held high and no wounds as yet Highnar looked for his next greenskin targets.

(OOC: Ok not sure how many Orc’s are left but will attack the closet ones.)

The Orc Leader burst through :he brush as the edge of the inner line of trees where Logan had set himself.

Logan swings, using an Attack of Opportunity. His(Longsword +3 (Flaming burst, Keen), #1) hits (15+11) AC 26 for 11 HP of damage to the OL’s left arm. Unfortunately for the Orc he was right handed. Fortunately for Logan the Orc, who had a higher initiative lost his 1st round actions because he was surprised.

The Orc leader bellows in rage and his eyes go red with hate. Brianna and Highnar hear the raging roar of the Orc as they finish off the fallen in the field.

(Round 1-3 are for Logan in the trees but please read as there is some information for both Brianna and Highnar.)

Round 1

Logan’s longswords flashes out is rapid succession; his next strike cut deeply into the right arm) AC 24 for 11 HP followed by his offhanded blade catching the Orc in the head, AC 22 for 13 and his third swing is a goes wide as the Orcs swings about (rolled 1)

OL -35 Logan -0

Round 2

By now the bleeding Orc is fully enraged and his flachion cuts through the air and into Logan

Orc Leader Critical Hit AC 31 , total damage 28 HP in Logan's hips
Orc Leader hits AC 23 for 13 HP of damage and slices open a gash in Logan’s right arm.

Logan returns with his primary Longsword and hits AC 19 for 13 HP of damage in the OL’s head.
Logan hits again AC 30 for 15 HP of damage in the left shoulder.
Blades whirling Logan hits AC 23) for 8 hp of damage in the abdomin.

OL -71 Logan -44

By now Brianna and Highnar have taken care of the dying Orcs and have separated heads for bodies. They can clearly hear the ORc Leader's raging battle cry.

Round 3

The Orc Leader is proving tough, one of the reasons he was the leader. He rounds on Logan and delievers 2 hard blows.
Orc Leader hits (7+16) AC 23 for 18 HP of damage to Logan’s abdomin
Orc Leader hits (9+11) AC 20 and misses

Logan hits AC 20 for 9 HP of damage to the Orc’s head opening a gash in his face
Logan hits AC 26 for 10 HP of damage in the abdomin again.
Logan swings but the Orc Leader is not hit .

OL -90 Logan -62


Round 4

Orc Leader has taken heavy damage, but ius catching up on Logan even though he only gets 2 attacks while Logan gets 3 attacks. The difference is The Orc hits harder. Which he does again and hits AC 25 for 19 HP of damage to Logan hitting his in the waist
Orc Leader hits AC 16 and misses again.

Logan knows he can not take much more of this battering, but damage from wounds in his legs and hips making running impossible. Logan hits AC 29 for 11 HP of damage in the area of the heart and the hulking brute waivers on his feet, then his eyes roll back into his head as he drops to the ground. Not wasting a stroke Logan’s next swing catches the Orc on the way down as he hits AC 30 for 11 HP of damage in the shoulder. Logan’s last swing catches the Orc in the head again hitting AC 25 for 11 HP of damage . There is not the slightest twitch from the Orc as he hits the ground heavily.

OL -123 out of 106 Logan -81 out of 114

If Brianna and Highnar hurried to the sounds of battle after making sure that the Orcs in the meadow were dead, they would arrive as the Orc Leader falls and Logan is barely standing with wounds all over his body.

Breathing heavy, Logan stands there, bleeding and covered in the his own blood as well as that of the Orc Leader. "Today was not my day to die it seems." Logan says to himself. "Why must I always get so lucky in battles to face the tough ones?" He continues to himself, speaking so low he barely hears himself speaking. He looks over to where he knows Brianna and Highnar are and smiles as he sees them heading his way. He sticks one sword in the ground and cleans the blade of the other off before sheathing it. He then drops to one knee, then both and uses the sword he stuck into the ground as a post to help support his weight and keep him upright on his knees. He can feel the strength leaving him. He knows he wont die, but he also knows he must hang on till they arrive so he can tell them to get his healing potions from his saddle bags. The Orcs power it seems has done more damage than the blows of that sword itself as the cuts are vast and deep. He tries to laugh, but the pain in his ribs and side make it hurt way to much as he grimises in pain, and is to tired to cry out.

"Please hurry my friends, this one has drained me of my energy and I'm not sure how much longer I can stay concious." With that, Logan again looks into thier direction and smiles to let them know he is ok, but to also hope he sends the message to hurry.

After leaving the tree he had been firing from Xour scans the battlefield to find where it seems he would be needed next. Out in the field itself where the first four Orcs had been advancing from. It seems that Brianna and Highnar have that area all under control as they make sure each downed Orc is dead.


Seeing that he is not needed in the field at all he turns his attention back to where the Orc leader had crashed into the underbrush and as he does he hears a loud raging roar which he knows came from the Orc, he must have run into Logan and the sounds of a mighty battle echo through the fields. From the sounds of the battle it is very hard to tell who was getting the upper hand, so with the sounds ringing out he proceeds to make his way towards where the battle is being fought.It seems that both Brianna and Highnar have the same idea. So the three move across the field to where Logan and the Orc leader are doing battle.

After the Coup de grace of the Orcs. Brianna heads over to where she heard the raging cry of the Orc and the clash of steel, (though not the thud of metal as it hit flesh.) She sprints quickly swords out and ready. Hurrying through the first of the trees and brush she comes upon Logan on the ground braced against his sword.

"Highnar, Xuor, Over here quickly Logan's hurt." Brianna's voice rings out loud and clear,

Brianna hurries to his side. "I've seen worse, we'll get you taken care of," she says brightly only she hadn't seen much worse Orc weapons left bloody gaping wounds, Logan's were no exception.

Reaching into her pouch she brings out a healing potion. Here drink this," she holds the bottle to his lips to make sure he gets it all down. Then I'll dress your wounds."

Brianna starts quickly to bangage up the worst wounds on his thigh and hip. though it means they will have to remove his studded leather armor, for now she works a folded cloth under the armor where it has be sliced open along with Logan's flesh. Dressing his abdominal wound first she places a folded cloth over the wound.

"Logan, hold this one down and hard." Then she begins to make a compress for his thigh and hip.

(OOC Time is about when the others are envolved in the beginning of there fight with the Orcs.

The dark line of the Cormanthor seen earlier is now a line of looming trees as the three riders near its edge.

Flame does a quick wingover and races back to Lorae.

"Hurry, Hurry, there is fighting." The dragonette calls out while turning around over the three and taking up his forward flight again.

Hearing this, Lorae knows her friends could be is great danger. But the line of the Cormyr Forest before her is formidable, not a place to be galloing horses, even the grasslands left before them was tricky and is was not a good idea to gallop willy-nilly through it, least a horse step into a burrow and break a leg.

Knowing this, yet needing to hurry, Lorae reaches into her pouch and draws out the green crystal which was left after her mother's disappearance. Holding it to the waning light of day she begins to pray.

At first the facets of the gem flashed out varied vibrant greens, verdant blue-greens and every so often a scintillating yellow-greens. The air about it began to glow green and form around it them until the three were enveloping otally in the glowing greenlight, The green light make what the view in any direction strangely tinted as if they looked through a a green glass bottle..

The moment the green surrounded Cerric and Vatta, the sounded of their horses hooves was different. Lt was like they were galloping on a smooth road.

It is soon noticed, by both Cerric and Vatta, that the grass is bending out of their way, and they quickly reach the forest verge and pass through it and under the great trees of the old Elven forest that once covered the land all the way to Cormyr.

The Elven lady did not slacken her pace, but galloped on, undergrowth and trees seemed to move from their path. They galloped over fallen logs as if they were not there.

Dropping down to a small tributary of the Ashbara River they galloped they passed an astonished group of Orcs and Goblins preparing to move out for battle.

Some 5 minutes later they came to an open glade and at this point Flame circled back shouting, "Here, Here, Here."

Lorae stops Dancer and puts the gem back into its place. The green glow dies leaving the three standing about 20 feet from four Orc bodies with their heads removed. At this point Flame takes off for the trees ahead and to the right of the bodies.

While working as quickly as possible to staunch the bleeding. "Goddess, I need you help," she prays.

Suddenly she can hear Flames high pitched voice, "I'm back." and soon the diminuative dragonete is flashing through the trees circling quickly around those gathered to aid Logan.

"Flame, Go to Lorae we need healing," calls out Brianna not bothering to turn her head to speak to the little flying reptile and certainly not letting up her pressure on Logan's wounds.. "Go, quickly."

Hearing Flames call that there is fighting ahead and knowing it has to be Lorae’s friends, Vatta is anxious to gallop into the forest. She can see that the way is heavy with vegetation and knows it could take too long to make their way to them if they are deep in the forest.

Vatta is awed by the green light coming from the gem and when Lorae takes off at a gallop she charges her horse after her. She is amazed at the ease in which they make their way through the thick brush and over fallen trees as easily as riding across the open steppe. Magic sure has it’s uses, she thinks.

When they flash past a group of orcs she almost drew and fired upon them but seeing Lorae continue on she follows concluding that her friends must by deeper into the forest.

When they come to the clearing and stop, Vatta’s bow is off of her saddle and an arrow is notched and ready to draw in an instant if a target presents itself. Seeing the decapitated orc corpses she scans the area for others; on constant alert for attack.

Not seeing anyone in the clearing, friend or foe, other than themselves, Vatta waits for Lorae and Cerric to move and she will follow them. If any orcs appear she will immediately draw and fire to protect the Paladin of Light and the Priest of Knowledge.

Doing what is asked of him, Logan presses hard against his side holding the bandage in place even thou the pain is intense. "I have several potions of healing in my saddles bags, feel free to get them for my wounds and yours" Logans says thru clenched teeth holding back the pain he is feeling. Only the healing potion Brianna gave him moments earlier gave him the strength to bear the pain and talk ever so slightly.

"So tell me, am I the lucky one of this group or what?" Logan says with a chuckle before grimising with pain again.

"Lorae! Lorae!" calls Flame suddenly appearing next to the head of the Paladin, "Logan is all bloody. Come quick."

At the point Lorae rides forward to where the tracks lead, dismounted and motioned the others to do the same.

"Vatta loop your reins on my saddle," she comments to the young woman.

"Cerric, your healing skills may also be needed." Then she heads off into the underbrush following Flame and leading the way for the others to follow.

Vatta nodded to Lorae’s comment and threw one leg over the pommel and slipped from the saddle to the ground easily all the while keeping her arrow notched in her bow at the ready. She quickly looped the rein around the pommel of the Paladin’s magnificent steed and followed Cerric and Lorae into the underbrush.

“I got your Back!” she states.

She keeps to the rear just slightly for several reasons, one so she can cover them both in case of attack and two because she knows that the Priest’s healing skills will probably be needed to help Lorae’s friends.

Coming into the area where the others are waiting, she scans the area quickly and seeing no orcs she stand guard. She keeps her vigilance upon the surrounding woods, her keen senses listening attentively for signs that the orcs will be returning.

She glances at the companions of Lorae, sizing them up; she sees a Dwarven Warrior, An cloaked Elvin man with a bow, a tall warrior woman leans over a male warrior laying on the ground covered in blood. Next to them lay the body of a large orc, a chieftain from the looks of his garb; obviously the cause of the male warrior’s wounds.

Having no healing ability, other than some potions in her backpack, she stands watch with bow at the ready, keeping a watchful eye on the area.