Scanning the area, you decide it would be best to take out the archers first.  Your plan is to split the groups into two, each taking out a column of archers, and then catching the knights in a pincer attack. 


You and the chief lead one group to the closest archers, and Dekard and another orc lead the others.  They take their group a longer way as their targets are further away.  Although you figure your distraction will let them take the other column even easier. 


You slowly pass through the trees, the sounds of fighting slowly dying down until you creep up behind the archers.  The orcs prepare their weapons, waiting for the signal.


As you are about to charge, an Imperial archer steps out from behind a tree, adjusting his belt and sighing contentedly.  Although his hood is up and his mask is pulled up over most of his face, you see the surprise in his eyes when he sees you all.


"Attack!" he cries, and at this point you all gallop forward.


The archers scramble to get ready, and Greusim make a passing swing for the Imperial.  He ducks under, and in the same movement grabs onto Greusim and his horse, pulling himself onto it. 


As you ride forward, and Greusim tries to throw the archer off, the Imperial draws a small dagger.  The chief cries out in agony as the Imperial buries the blade into his back.  The chief falls, taking the Imperial with him.


The other orcs are coming up on the archer column, several having been killed by arrows.  Greusim groans and the archer attempts to stab him, but he catches his wrist, and the push and struggle.  Normally Greusim could easily overpower him, but getting thrown off the horse must have done a number on him.

You help Greusim

You whip the axe, the blade burying into the archer's shoulder blade.  He screams in pain as he stumbles to the side, almost tripping over Greusim.  He tries to pull the axe out, but Greusim gets a hand on it first.


Still on the ground, he wrenches the axe out, swinging it back around and slamming it into the Imperial's stomach.  He doubles over as the chief rips the axe out, and the Imperial falls to his knees clutching the wound.  With a savage cry, Greusim arcs the weapon back around, burying it into the Imperials neck.  He falls twitching and gurgling as his blood seeps out into the earth.


Panting, Greusim pulls the axe out, tossing it to you. 


"Thanks," he says, and you nod at him.


The other orcs seem to be wrecking the column pretty well, even though several orcs have been shot down by the deadly volleys. 


"Well, let's get to i-" Greusim says, almost stumbling as an arrow rips into his back.


You ride over, looping around the tree and lopping off an archers arm.


Several more materialize from the trees, firing at you.  Ducking you circle back around, hopping off your horse.  Sliding behind a tree, you and Greusim ready your bows. 


Stepping out, you don't realize the archers were trying to creep up on you.  You slam your notched bow into his, causing his arrow to hit the dirt, before bringing yours back and shooting him in the throat.  He gurgles as he staggers to the ground.


Before you know it, the archers are charging you.  A couple arrows flying by you as you draw your axe.  To your right, Greusim cracks a couple of skulls with his club.  You deflect a sword, chopping into an Imperial's shoulder.


One jumps onto you, grabbing you and trying to restrain you.  His friend tries to run you through with his sword, but you step to the side.  The soldier's sword plunges into the tree, and as you raise your sword he desperately tries to yank it out.  He screams as you spill his blood onto the grass, specks hitting the tree.


The archer on your back grips your forearm, trying to turn your sword into you.  You chuckle and jab the sword back, the tip stabbing him in the face.  He cries out and you throw him over your shoulder, stomping on his neck to silence him. 


You look up, ready to take the next one, but you see them laying crushed and bleeding around Greusim.  He pants as he kneels, deep cuts and gouges all over him.  Three arrows protrude from his back, side, and hip.  The archers must have thought the other two were going to kill you, and decided to all focus on him.


"Chief!" you cry out.


He stands up, waving you off.


"I'm fine, I'm fine," he says, "let's go find the rest, Nolazir."


You nod and go with him to find the rest, mounting your horses.  As you ride out you see that both columns of archers have been destroyed.  The lawless orcs on the hill must have swept down and fought the knights, as evidenced by the butchered corpses on the ground. 


Greusim climbs onto his horse as you ride forward.  Before you can do anything else, a loud cry rises up from the forest behind you.