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Even More Events of the 9th of Hematite
Bullion and Adalore marched their squads to the south gate.
A large squad of goblin bowmen waited there, and began firing at them like their lived depended on it. Which of course they did.
Tode Pagespider watched the massacre of the goblin archer regiment from a short way off. He suddenly felt extremely exposed, and wondered how the third group was faring at the moment. If there were to be any progress here, it was clear that he would have to face it. These warriors were fierce, and lets face it, he was probably not up to the task of taking any of them down. Fortunately he had about a dozen totally expendable swordsmen at his call.
"Now lads!" he said, "I know what we just saw, but..."
"THEY JUST SLAUGHTERED A SQUAD WITHOUT TAKING A SINGLE WOUND!" shrieked Utes Poisonearths.
"Calm down. We don't know that they're unwounded. Besides, archers are no good in melee combat, everybody knows that." said Tode, soothingly. He would make sure that Utes died first, so help him.
"Er..." interrupted Amxu, "they're coming towards us!"
"WHAT?" shouted Tode, "Um... CHARGE!"
The goblins ran towards the dwarven threat with some hesitation. Tode stayed at the back, however. The reason he gave was that his whip was merely a support weapon.
The others had wondered why he used a whip, and now that he used this excuse they finally understood.
The dwarves raced towards them, but the bolts reached the goblins first.
Moments later Bullion charged into the goblins, his mind clear.
The combat was a blur, though. Blood spurting everywhere and such. He noticed a goblin with a whip stumbling around with bulging eyes and a bolt stuck through his neck at one point.
The others joined him moments later, and goblin body parts were soon strewn about the area.
To the west, Grimheld was holding the goblins off by himself. His first battle did not go as he had hoped, as the goblin bowman leading the assault shot him through the chest, slaying him.
He watched as goblins ran up the ramp and over his dying body, only to be slaughtered by the traps at his back.
Olngo Hellduties lowered his bow. Thus far resistance had been minimal, though he suspected it had more to do with the sounds of carnage to the south rather than any lack of defense overall. Surely the goblins to the south were enjoying slaughtering these pitiful dwarves.
He envied them, but at least he, unlike his men, had slain a dwarf today.
That was when poor Utes Poisonbone stood on the trap, sending two pikes shooting out of the ground into his limbs.
Olngo could barely suppress a sympathetic gasp, and then began to understand the full horror of his charge order.
His men were spilling onto the traps, and being torn to shreds.
Bolts whizzed over the top of the ramps. Clearly an enemy was shooting at his men even as they were murdered by the traps.
He marched up the ramp, and, standing carefully on top of the bodies to avoid the traps, took a shot at the offending dwarf, piercing him through the leg. A second shot followed the first, and the dwarf dropped to the ground, clutching his leg.
To Olngo's surprise, Dostngosp made it past the traps and began marching on the fallen dwarf.
"Put it out of its misery!" shouted Olngo encouragingly.
Sidew lay on the snow, pain wracking his leg. He watched in horror as the goblin maceman marched on him.
Another arrow struck him in the right arm, sticking deep into the wound. Yet another into his leg again.
The goblin maceman broke into a mad grin as it marched on him, disregarding the distant shouts of dwarves coming to help their fallen comrade.
It raised its mace to do the deed, and Sidew passed out from fear and pain.
It was then that the bolt hit it in the leg.
Another joined it seconds later, and the goblin stumbled to the ground.
"No!" it hissed.
"NO!" shouted Olngo, safely back behind the traps.
Doren ran past Sidew to chase down the goblins. "What's his status?" he called to Scorpios who was checking on Sidew.
"I'm afraid we're too late. Too many wounds."
"DAMN!" spat Doren.
Other dwarves converged on their position. Olngo was acutely aware that he was now very much on his own. His sole remaining men, Snang and Nguslu, were behind him, and the latter was struggling with her injuries.
He was acutely aware that an angry dwarf was now moments away from him.
He was acutely aware of the spear entering his leg, followed by a repeat performance upon his arm.
Then he was aware of Snang standing above his ruined body, ready to defend him.
He was subsequently aware of her running away as fast as she could.
She of course never made it.