The next day, as the first light of dawn broke over the oasis, Rorgash entered Liam's tent with a serious expression etched across his face.
"My lord, I have news from our scouts," he began, his voice steady but urgent. "The Shadowtusk clan has taken refuge in an extensive network of tunnels underground."
"However, the humans and dwarves are advancing rapidly and might uncover their location within a week."
Liam's brow furrowed in thought, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. He knew that time was of the essence.
"We can't let them be discovered. We need to act quickly," he said, determination in his voice.
"Prepare the troops for a confrontation in three days. We'll move out immediately."
Rorgash nodded, taking note of Liam's orders. "We have 300 Orc infantry ready, with 150 clad in green-grade armor and weapons."
"There are also 50 Orc riders equipped with C-grade mounts. All of them in grade5 and above"
"Good," Liam replied, feeling a sense of pride in his warriors. "We'll need every advantage we can muster.
I want everyone to prepare for the journey; it will take a day or two given the size of our army."
He stepped outside, surveying the camp as the sun rose higher in the sky. Orcs were already training, weapons clashing as they honed their skills
Liam called for Grothar and Uldren to discuss the final preparations. As they gathered around him, he laid out his plans.
"We'll strike fast and decisively. Our main goal is to rescue the Shadowtusks and make sure they can join us. We cannot let the humans or dwarves take them out."
"And if possible we will launch an attack on their base later the confrontation"
"Perhaps we can use the terrain to our advantage" Liam continued
"Agreed. We will send a smaller group of scouts ahead to gather intelligence on their base."
"We need to know how many are stationed there, the layout of their defenses, and any potential escape routes"
All of them spoke together
"Prepare the scouts and finalize our plans. We move in three days," Liam commanded.
The Orcs rallied behind him, their spirits lifted by the prospect of a bold strike against their enemies, ready to fight for their kin.
3 days passed in the blink of an eye. Elara had returned successfully after singing the trade negotiations with the two groups.
She was now actively strategizing for the incoming battle ahead
The enemy had 4 heroes. 3 blue grade with the leader of the camp being a purple grade one.
With all the preparations done and the army ready to move, Liam decided to try out the Altar of sacrifice he had recently built
Liam summoned Uldren to the altar
Uldren regarded the Altar of Sacrifice thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"My lord, the altar requires a sacrifice of significant value to summon a powerful warrior spirit."
"Traditionally, offerings of rare resources or high-grade weapons yield the best results. However, a life willingly given can also invoke the favor of the spirits."
Liam nodded, contemplating the options. "I want the best outcome for our upcoming battle.
Perhaps we should sacrifice some of our rare resources. We have plenty of essence and a few valuable artifacts from the battles we've won. What do you think?"
Liam focused intently on the altar, channeling his energy and intent as he prepared to sacrifice the 200 Warrior Essence.
He laid the essence on the altar, the vibrant energy shimmering as it pooled together.
As the essence were put in front of the altar, Uldren began chanting in ancient language.
As the last of the essence dissolved into the altar, the air thickened with magic, crackling with energy.
The altar pulsed and glowed fiercely, illuminating the surroundings with a brilliant light. Slowly, a scroll began to materialize in the center of the altar.
With a final flash, the scroll settled on the altar, glowing softly. Liam reached out, feeling a rush of warmth as he picked it up.
He unfurled the scroll, revealing elegant script that glimmered with power.
Summon Scroll: Great Orc Warrior
Grade: Peak Orange
Duration: 5 Hours
Liam's heart raced at the possibilities. A great orc warrior would be an invaluable ally in the upcoming battle.
He turned to Uldren, who watched with wide eyes, clearly impressed.
"Now, let's finalize our preparations," he said, glancing at the gathered orc warriors and their steeds. "We'll leave for the Shadowtusk camp right now."
"We must be ready to assist them and confront the Blackrock Fort if the opportunity arises."
As dawn broke, Liam led his troops through the rugged terrain towards the Shadowtusk camp.
they journey went smoothly without much hazards
Upon reaching the outskirts of the settlement, they paused, a sense of urgency palpable among the ranks.
Liam dispatched scouts to gather intel on the enemy's positioning. It wasn't long before the scouts returned, breathless but exhilarated.
"My lord," one of the scouts reported, "the humans and dwarves have set up camp on the surface. Most of their forces, about three-quarters, are exploring the underground tunnels, leaving only around 120 men on the surface to guard the camp."
Liam's eyes narrowed as he considered the report. "Then we have the element of surprise on our side. We can overwhelm them quickly."
With a fierce battle cry, he raised his axe high, rallying his troops. "Today, we fight for the Shadowtusk clan! Charge!"
The orc army surged forward, their war cries echoing through the valley.
The sound of heavy footsteps and the clinking of armor filled the air as they closed the distance between themselves and the enemy camp.
As they neared the camp, the few human and dwarven guards looked up in shock, barely registering the incoming onslaught before the orcs descended upon them like a storm.
Liam led the charge, his axe cleaving through the air, cutting down foes with precision and power.
The battle was fierce but brief. Caught off guard and outnumbered, the surface guards struggled to defend themselves.
Liam's warriors fought with relentless ferocity, their adrenaline fueled by the sight of their foes. Within the first hour, the battle reached its climax.
"Push forward! Don't let them regroup!" Liam commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.
The orcs pressed their advantage, overpowering the human and dwarven soldiers with sheer force.
In a matter of minutes, the last of the guards fell. The ground was littered with the defeated, and the once-boisterous camp fell eerily silent.
Liam looked around, seeing the determination on his warriors' faces. "Now, we prepare for the next stage.
We must assess the situation underground and help the Shadowtusk clan before the enemy realizes what has happened."
Liam and his group entered the underground opening.
The atmosphere shifted from the chaotic battlefield above to an eerie silence below.
The place was wider than they had anticipated, allowing them to move with relative ease.
Flickering torches lit the way, casting long shadows along the rough stone walls.
"Stay alert," Liam warned his troops as they gathered at the entrance. "We don't know what traps or ambushes await us in the dark."
The clearing diverged into 3 separate tunnels.
Liam divided his troops into 3 units with Grothar and Uldren leading 1 each with him leading the last one.
"Grothar, take your unit into the left tunnel," Liam commanded, pointing with his axe. "Uldren, you lead the middle one. I'll take the right with Rorgash."
Uldren's Unit: The middle tunnel
As Uldren and his warriors ventured into the left tunnel, they encountered a series of tight corridors that branched off into smaller rooms.
The space was filled with remnants of shadowtusk life: crude beds, old cooking pots, and makeshift training areas.
"Search for any signs of the Shadowtusk clan," Uldren commanded, his keen senses alert for any sounds of life.
As they moved deeper, the unmistakable clang of metal on metal echoed through the tunnel.
A group of humans, caught off guard by Uldren's sudden appearance, scrambled to arm themselves.
Without hesitation, Uldren unleashed a barrage of spells, enhancing his warriors' strength and speed.
"Charge!" he shouted, and the orcs surged forward, quickly overpowering the humans. They fought with precision and strength, the element of surprise working in their favor.
Grothar's Unit: The Right Tunnel
In the right tunnel, Grothar and his orcs found themselves in a wide chamber filled with crates and barrels, remnants of supplies that the dwarves and humans had stockpiled for their exploration.
"Look for anything that can help us," Grothar instructed. As they rummaged through the supplies, they stumbled upon a group of dwarven miners, attempting to fortify their position against the encroaching orc forces.
"Stand down, dwarves!" Grothar roared, raising his weapon. "We mean no harm if you cooperate!"
The dwarves hesitated but quickly realized they were outnumbered. Grothar's intimidating presence and fierce demeanor left them no choice.
The skirmish ended with the dwarves surrendering, providing valuable information about the layout of the tunnels and the location of Shadowtusk warriors still hiding within.
Liam's unit: The right tunnel
Leading his unit down the center tunnel, Liam felt the tension in the air as the walls closed in.
The tunnel twisted and turned, opening into larger chambers that echoed with distant sounds of scuffling.
"Stay close!" Liam barked, his senses on high alert. As they progressed, they encountered a fortified position where a group of humans had barricaded themselves, frantically preparing for any counterattack.
"Prepare to breach!" Liam commanded, raising his axe. "We'll break through their defenses!"
With a powerful swing, Liam shattered the makeshift barricade, allowing his warriors to flood in.
The ensuing battle was fierce but swift, the orcs overwhelming the humans with their numbers and strength.
After securing their area, Liam paused, catching his breath. "We need to find the Shadowtusk clan and get them to safety before the humans and dwarves regroup. Let's move!
"Rorgash, lead the way. Your mount might be able to sniff them out"
Rorgash nodded and moved ahead, navigating through the winding passages of the underground complex.
The air grew cooler and more humid, and the faint echoes of distant conversations reminded them of the humans and dwarves above.
After a few hours of hurried trekking, they arrived at a dimly lit chamber where the Shadowtusk clan had taken refuge.
The orcs were huddled together, their faces a mix of fear and determination. At the center stood their leader.
"Rorgash! Is that you?" the leader exclaimed, his eyes widening as he recognized the orc. "What are you doing here? We thought we were a nomad."
"Not anymore," Rorgash replied, stepping forward. "I have a lord now, and he is here to rescue you. We need to move quickly before the enemy finds us."
"We are here to help you escape and fight back against the humans and dwarves above. You don't have to face them alone."
The Shadowtusk leader narrowed his eyes, sizing Liam up. "You fought well above, but we've already lost so much. What makes you think we can succeed?"
"I don't think you force here if big enough to fend them off"
"I assure you, there are many more orcs in my ranks. This is just a section of my army." Liam replied
The leader's expression shifted from skepticism to belief. "You… you really think we can push them back?" he asked, his tone softening as hope sparked in his eyes.
"Absolutely"
With the Shadowtusk leader now convinced, he quickly rallied his warriors. "Prepare yourselves for battle!"
As the first wave of human and dwarven soldiers rounded the corner, Liam raised his axe high. "Now!" he shouted, signaling the ambush.
"Push! Don't give them a moment to regroup!" Liam yelled, leading the charge into the fray.
The shadowtusk orcs, masters of stealth suddenly appearing behind the enemy caused mass disruption among their formations.
The fight raged on, the narrow tunnels becoming a chaotic battleground
Just as victory seemed within reach, a horn sounded from deeper within the enemy ranks. "Reinforcements!"
Rorgash shouted, spotting the movement of additional soldiers preparing to join the fray.
"We need to secure our position now!" Liam ordered. "Shadowtusks, hold the line! Orcs, let's push forward!"
But the enemy reinforcements were closing in quickly, their numbers threatening to overwhelm the exhausted defenders.
"We can't let them reach our base!" one of the Shadowtusk warriors cried.
Liam glanced back at the barricaded door leading to their makeshift camp. "We must hold until our backup arrives! We can't let them breach our defenses!"
They were now being pushed back