User:XW3 AR3 L3GION/Doisac: Warfare

"The first warrior over the walls gets the daughter. The second gets the mother."

- Jiralhanae saying.

To Hammenus, the ground looked like a thick carpet of fur and bodies. He was deafened by the war cry's and the clash of blade upon blade and shield. In the sudden lull, Hammenus realised how much his muscles burned from combat and his body ached with the weight of his armour. Two more of the loathsome creatures from the next tribe over bounded into view, both had murder in their eyes and were brimming for a worthy fight.

Hammenus made sure to remember these two, their scalps would be added to his collection.

Despite the bodies on the floor, Hammenus quickly advanced on the two. The first raised a blade but Hammenus blocked the over head attack with his round wooden shield. The wooden shield splintered but held against the attack. Hammenus quickly punched forward with the shields metal boss, ramming into the attackers face. The first Jiralhanae howled in pain but Hammenus had moved swiftly onto the next with a growl.

This one was armed with a spear but he was younger than his partner, most likely his first time in combat. He lunged forward, his spear waving wildly. Hammenus used his own blade to thrust the spear aside before stepping inside the range of his spear. Here the spear was just a long pole of wood, the point was behind Hammenus, unable to harm him. The young Jiralhanae looked startled, unknowning what to do and began to yelp in fear. Hammenus ended his cries with a thrust of his blade into the young ones unprotected neck.

The first Jiralhanae attacker growled again picking himself off the blood-soaked ground but Hammenus was already prepared. He had taken the late Jiralhanae's spear and with experience that had become instinct of so many seasons of warfare, plunged the spear into his attackers flank. Pulling it free with a sickly squelch, Hammenus thrust again; this time in the chest of his wounded foe. The Jiralhanae still breathed as Hammenus pushed in further in, eventually pinning the body to the floor with the spear itself. With a growl, Hammenus spat on his dead foe.

Hammenus looked upon the plain, Jiralhanae fought against Jiralhanae, a mess of bodies in the bloody slaughter. Hammenus gave a small bark, rallying members of his small pack to his side. The fifty-strong war pack had also been engaged with their own personal enemies and as such many had minor injuries, their fur matted with blood. Few had lost their lives, grieving would happen later when their bodies would be found and given a proper burial but for now, the enemy still breathed. Cerhenus, his second in command of the war pack, appeared at his side, "Hammenus, you fight well."

It was more of a question than a statement, "So do you, Cerhenus. Maybe, if I was wounded, you could keep up?" Hammenus replied. Hammenus and Cerhenus had known each other since birth, their rivalry was playful at the best of times. It would be downright ugly at the worst or even after a few flagons of ale.

"Perhaps. Is that it?" Cerhenus pointed to the small town, sitting silently behind the battle occurring on the plains in front of it. It was poorly looking, ramshackle houses could be seen over the walls, some were even on fire but the action was happening on the field.

"Yes," Hammenus replied, "At the cost of the Chieftains warriors, we are to capture that piece of shit village." He spat again in disgust.

Cerhenus, however, was more of the optimist, "Think Hammenus! If we are the first over the walls, we get first pick at the warriors loot!"

"And if we are killed for being first over the walls, then we won't get any of that loot now, will we?"

Cerhenus shugged, "You know what they say: The first warrior gets the daughter."

"And the second gets the mother," Hammenus completed the saying, before barking an order to his war pack.

Hammenus and his war pack skirted around the battle on the plains. There was no use for him or his warriors to concern themselves with the two Chieftains and their slugfest. Chieftain Delorrenus, Hammenus' master, far outnumbered his local rival army three to one. The outnumbered Chieftain Gerhunus had been a thorn in Delorrenus' side for quite some time and after a few victorious battles against the aging Gerhunus, Delorrenus had made the push onto Gerhunus' capital, Hunlyu. It was obvious Delorrenus's army was far superior, they had already cut through the pitiful force sent to block them from the wall but were now in range of Gerhunus' archers on the ramparts.

Hammenus ignore all that. Instead, he led his war pack around to an unguarded section: Gerhunus had positioned almost all of his warriors at the main gate, leaving vast sections of his wall undefended. Hammenus and his warband quickly unraveled several long lengths of rope, each with a hook on the end perfect for catching and gripping the wooden wall in front of them. With seasons of experience behind them, Hammenus' warriors deftly slung the grappling hooks and once secure, scrambled up them. Hammenus slung his shield onto his back and sheathed his blade before ascending the ropes.

Unfortunately, fifty Jiralhanae was not easy to hide on an open battlefield. His warriors pulled themselves up only to be confronted by roughly the same number of defenders but like the Hammenus and his warriors, the defenders arrived in a trickle rather than a defiantly flood of resistance. Neither side attacked, both waiting for reinforcements, however the attackers soon gained the advantage with the quickness of the warpack ascent up the climbing ropes.

Armed with blades, axes, hatchets and numerous other weaponry and protected by large round shield, Hammenus and his war pack charged as one and set about the defenders. On the crowded walkway, Hammenus and his experienced warriors proved superior in the intense close-quarters fighting. Unable to run away, the defenders were filled with desperation and fought savagely but with moments, their numbers began to dwindle until only a few tired Jiralhanae stood in the way of the warpack. Hammenus stuck one such defender down with a violent stab at his unprotected chest, scarlet blood erupted forth drowning Hammenus' arm and blade in thick, clinging liquid. Another defender screamed as he was kicked off the walkway, missing an arm as he fell and landed with a thud.