A Grand Design 32.

Winter. Central Girdane.

Dorc da Orc yawns after opening his eyes, then he rolls over and grunts as he sees where he is.
The large ork who is within some woods, spots some of the black clad soldiers in the Farqian army through the trees.
Then the ork warleader sourly smiles as he sees sir Percavelle Lé Dic walking this way through the early morning light.
"You're awake then beast" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic in a tone of disdain.
The nobleborn knight from the kingdom of Druvic who wouldn't normally speak to the big, burly ork from the southern polar region of the world, but he's been ordered to.
Tells the ork general "Move your overly large carcass, the lord wishes to speak with thee".
"The fuck you goin' on about cunt?" mutters Dorc da Orc in the ork language, as he struggles to understand the former earl of Lé Dic at the best of times, let alone the first thing in the morning, just after waking up.
The large ork then grunts as the myriad of voices in his head, predominantly the one that belongs to his mother.
Tells him that the heavily armoured knight is telling him that lord Farque wants to see him.
"Why you not fucken say that cunt" mutters Dorkindle as he gets up from where he slept, while the former paladin who is member of the order of the Knights of Saint Mar-che, frowns as the ork weaponsmith is still speaking in his native language. Which just about no one else understands.
"He's that" says the nobleman from the kingdom of Druvic, who sourly smiles and falls silent when the warleader of the ork race, interrupts him, by saying "Me know where the fuck he is" and in the common language too, so that the former knight of the first class understands him.
"Silly fucken knight cunt" loudly mutters Dorc da Orc, also in common so that the nobleborn knight understands him again.
Then the large ork, who is a general in the armies of Farque. Sets off, heading to where he can smell the cold scent of lord Farque, which is distinctive even on this cold winter's morning.
Though it's a morning that isn't particularly cold for the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks. This morning feels like a midsummer's day in the southern polar region to the big, burly ork from the frozen bottom of the world.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic or Percy as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, sets off as well. Heading to where lord Farque is too.
The former earl of Lé Dic, which is his family's fief in the east of the kingdom of Druvic. Keeps as much distance as possible between himself and the large ork.
To say the two of them don't get along is an understatement. The two of them, before the nobleborn knight joined the group. Spents years trying to kill one another in various conflicts and battles across the Southlands.
Now that they've been in the same group for the last few years. They've become bitter rivals, trying to one up one another, and outdo each other.
Also secretly trying to get the other one killed in the campaigns they've been a part of.
At the edge of the trees, lord Farque looks away to the left, to the east. To the road that's a couple hundred yards away in that direction.
The undead warlord who was hoping to head back west, and cross into the duchy of Isanor, to attack the bulk of the crown's forces from behind.
Has had to change tactics, now that the regent of Oaklynn's army has joined the crown's army, in their war against the rebellious duchies of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar.
The undead warlord who is standing with the war engineer Tovis, and the sorcerer Larris, as well as a subcommander.
Senses both Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic heading through the trees behind him, making their way to where he is.
As he does, the heavily armoured deathlord keeps looking to the east, as he knows a battalion in the army of the regent of Oaklynn is that way, heading west as they pass through the duchy of Wostin here in the central region of the kingdom.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque has already sensed their fore riders early this morning, they're still about eight miles away. But they'll be here in short time, as the road is good, and the terrain here in the middle of the kingdom is fairly easy.
Glancing back behind them, and spotting both Dorc da Orc and sir Percavelle Lé Dic heading this way, Larris the engineer quietly says in the elven language "They're almost here my lord".
Lord Farque, or Draugadrottin as he's also known by, to the people of his lands, nods his full helmed head. And continues to wait in silence for the ork general and the former paladin.
Grunting as he stops beside the lord and ruler of the lands Farque, Dorkindle glances sideways and sees sir Percavelle Lé Dic stand on the otherside of the nearby subcommander. The furthest distance away from the ork warleader, whilst still being relatively close to the large, heavily armoured deathlord.
"What fucken happening?" asks the ork general "The enemy are approaching from the east" is the reply from lord Farque.
"Not north" mutters Dorkindle, who then grunts when the lord of the death realm tells him "A large battalion of the regent's army" and continues on with "Around a couple of thousand".
"We can fucken take 'em" states the big, burly ork who is from the southern polar region of the world.
"That's not the fucking point" says lord Farque in the ork language, which causes Dorc da Orc to grunt, then ask in the same language "Then fucken what?".
The undead being who is the lord and ruler of the lands Farque then explains to the ork general what they're going to do.
Causing a frown to appear on the wide, green, feral looking face of the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks.
The warleader of the ork race then adds "Fucken all of 'em?".
Des'tier as he's known by to an older generation of elven kind, shakes his full helm head no, then says "We'll take some of them prisoners" followed by "Whoever is in command, and any fucking officer we can get out fucking hands on".
The ork general grunts in satisfaction when the undead warlord says "The rest of the cunts we kill".
Which is fine by Dorkindle, as he was going to suggest they do that anyway.
And they should be able to, since their force, which is about a third of the Farqian army that's taking part in this campaign between the rebellious dukes of Falosen, Girnath and Dalmar against the crown of Girdane.
Will easily outnumber and out match the battalion of the regent's army heading this way.
"I want you to lead part of the charge on them" says Draugadrottin, who then points to a part of the road, and explains to the large ork what he wants done.
The son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks immediately grasps the idea of what the lord and ruler of the lands Farque wants done.
For though Dorc da Orc like all orks, is more than a little bit crazy, infact he's a raging psychopath. But he's also has a knack for battle. And can see tactics clearly playing out in his mind. Which is usually a chaotic place, full of vile and disgusting thoughts. Plus has a myriad of voices, all clamoring for his attention.
"There, and fucken there" says the warleader of the ork race as he points to a couple of spots.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque nods his full helmed head, then says "Preferably off the fucking road" who then mutters in a language Dorkindle, or anyone else for that matter, doesn't understand "If not, that'll be fucking annoying trying to bury them".
Then switching back to the ork language, the heavily armoured deathlord asks "You got that cunt?".
"Dorc fucken got it" says the large ork, who was exiled from his homeland the Ork Range, after he killed his mother, the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks.
Draugadrottin nods again, then switching to the elven language, he says to the subcommander "Have our scouts and rangers move in" followed by "Their fore riders will be here soon, i want them taken care of".
"Yes my lord" says the subcommander, who after bowing to his lord, turns and heads back into the trees.
Switching to the common language, lord Farque says "Percy, you'll go with the subcommander's company" followed by "You'll keep him out of trouble" the lord of the death realm then adds "You understand?".
"Of course good sir" says sir Percavelle Lé Dic who then adds "Keep the officer safe wot".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque slightly nods, then says to Tovis the war engineer and Larris the sorcerer "You two are with me" followed by "One of you go and get Beldane, he's back with the healers".
The sorcerer bows to his lord, then turns and heads back into the woods to get the fighting cleric.
Draugadrottin looks at Dorc da Orc and tells him "The companies who will lead the charge with you have been picked, go back and wait with them".
The ork general grunts, then turns and heads back through the trees. He's followed a few moments later by his bitter rival, sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Who goes in search of the subcommander, who'll he'll be with in the upcoming attack upon the enemy.
With just Tovis the war engineer and lord Farque at the edge of the trees. Apart from a few of the scouts who are lookouts, a bit further away to either side of them.
The young engineer who is originally from the kingdom of Druvic, where he served in the army of a baron Harkonin. Glances up at the large, heavily armoured figure of the deathlord of Farque standing beside him.
"How many will stay here with you, while the rest go back west?" quietly asks Tovis the war engineer, who then adds "My lord".
"A small number" replies Des'tier, or The Destroyer as his elven name is translated to common.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque who has every intention of sending his force back west to attack, and harass the crown's army from the rear.
It's just that he has to wait until later on today to do so. As first he needs another substantial sized force to stop the regent's army that's coming west from the capital Oaklynn.
And it's lucky the undead warlord has such a force. That being the first battalion of that very same army, which isn't all that faraway now.
It's one of the advantages of being the lord of the death realm. Any force he commands doesn't necessarily need to be alive. Being dead will do just as well.
"You lot might as well stay behind" says lord Farque meaning those members of the group who are with him at the moment. Namely, Dorc da Orc, sir Percavelle Lé Dic, Beldane the cleric, and Tovis himself.
"Maybe Larris as well" adds the undead warlord who continues with "Though our force will be down another spellcaster for a while, so i might send him along with them".
The young engineer originally from the kingdom of Druvic nods in understanding, then the two of them look to their left, as a company of the scouts and rangers make their way out from the trees.
The black clad soldiers cross the gentle terrain of the countryside, heading towards the road. Where a pair of their number already are. The two water elementals with this force from the Farqian army that's been hired by the dukes Hilloc, Korros and Lombasil in their rebellion against the crown of Girdane.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque, and the war engineer are soon joined by Beldane the cleric and Larris the sorcerer.
They all step back behind the first of the trees when the heavily armoured deathlord tells them too.
Without looking back, Draugadrottin knows that Dorc da Orc and those he's with are in position. As are the subcommander, as well sir Percavelle Lé Dic and those who will attack with them.
For when the regent's battalion gets to just before the section of the road that lord Farque has decided to attack them.
The Farqian companies led by Dorc da Orc will make their way from the trees, and cross the fairly open ground to the road. Forcing the enemy to a stop, who'll have to turn and face the threat coming from the woods.
They wait in silence, until eventually lord Farque says to Beldane the cleric and Larris the sorcerer "Hold your power within yourselves" followed by "They've got a couple of spellcasters with them". The subaltern and the fighting cleric do as ordered.
And a short time later, the lord of the death realm says "Their fore riders are almost here".
It's a squad of six riders, and they're ambushed by the Farqian scouts who have hidden themselves near the road.
After they're taken care of, Tovis the war engineer slightly smiles as he sees their dead horses one at time, sliding along the ground, seemingly if by magic.
When infact, it's the water elementals who are moving them. Hiding them behind bushes and shrubs, so that they can't be seen from the road. As the bodies of the dead enemy are hidden too.
And in short time, all trace of the fore riders from the regent's army is gone. And the company of Farqian scouts and rangers head beyond the road, to the otherside, going south. Heading for more cover about fifty yards away. Where a row of trees has been planted on the edge of a farmer's field.
Once they're out of sight over there. They along with those in the woods to the north of the road, patiently wait for the battalion in the regent of Oaklynn's army heading this way to show up.
Eventually lord Farque turns, and looks to where Dorc da Orc is, and says "Move out".
The large ork grunts, then orders the companies who will be with him, and who'll initially attack the regent's forces, to advance.
They move quickly out of the trees, nearly a thousand of them. Just as the battalion in the regent of Oaklynn's army comes into view on the road.
The balance of the Farqian soldiers still in the woods, to be led by the subcommander. Will wait before the enemy engages those led by the ork general, before they advance.
Then as the enemy soldiers spot those approaching the road from the woods, and start shouting and pointing at those who are about to attack them.
Lord Farque has a slight smile on his face, that's definitely wry in nature. Then he slightly nods his full helmed head in satisfaction. When the enemy get a some order into their ranks. And they start to move off the road to confront those Farqian companies led by Dorc da Orc who are about to attack them.
Draugadrottin intends to raise every single enemy soldier they kill here, to attack the next of the regent of Oaklynn's battalion heading this way. While his force heads west into the duchy of Isanor to attack the bulk of the kingdom's army from the rear . . . . . .