Broken Skull

I'd mentally ran through a list of potential strategies that could be used to assault the orc fortress, but only a select few would result in the least possible casualties. I'd brought Lakus in on the project since bouncing ideas off of him seemed to help me figure out which possible route might work the best. He had taken the stance that a diversionary tactic would work best since the orcs wouldn't be used to us taking a direct approach, so that we might catch them off guard with one of our usual surprise attacks. I had taken the stance that we might instead lure them out and soften them up with our own archers and mages, before moving in and ending them without much fuss.

In the end we decided on a mixture of the two tactics. While our archers and mages provided the right provocation to lure the orcs out, a small team could get inside to take control of the gate and walls. If that could be accomplished, then another smaller contingent of archers could hit them from behind, sowing chaos and fear in their ranks. At that point, it would just be a matter of taking advantage of the confusion to deal with the main force before any orc commanders showed up. We hadn't seen evidence of any orcs of that level leaving the fortress, so we could only assume that either they were the type to not leave their hole, or that they looked so alike all the others that we couldn't tell the difference between them. I was banking on the former.

I thought about who I would have to actually perform all of these tasks, considering that there would absolutely be casualties. I told one of the skeletons walking outside to go find Lilith. It didn't take long for her to enter, wondering why I'd called for her. "Lakus and I have come up with a plan that I believe has a chance to work, but there's a few complications. It will likely be a suicide mission for several skeletons who are going to be a distraction, so they're going to need someone to help them rally. That means I need you to lead the infiltration team that will be taking control of the gate. It's going to be dangerous for all of us, so we'll have to do this right the first time, and with everything we've built up so far." While I couldn't see her exact reaction, she'd gone fairly rigid as she leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. "So this is actually happening then? All or nothing?" Her voice was a little shaky, the same fear that resided within myself making itself known.

"Yeah, all or nothing. That's all it's ever been. So, you think you can do it?" One thing I'd learned about myself was that no matter what I'd been through, there was always and undercurrent of rage or fear. Now was the time to start seriously facing it, for all of us. She nodded once, not daring to speak while Lakus looked over the plans once more. "If we can lure out only a portion of them, then whoever's providing the distraction will have an easier time of it so long as the main force moves fast enough to cut off the gate as it reopens. That doesn't mean the diversion team will have it easy though, considering they'll be outnumbered and probably outmatched. The faster this is done, the better." I pat Lakus on the back, bone clicking against bone, before standing. "I'll go and see who I can muster for the diversion."

Getting the mages was easy, as I told the two who had been training with more offensive magic that they would be hanging back right alongside the archers, and that they'd have a guard of skeletons to keep them and the archers safe. Afterwards, I went around telling everyone I saw that I wanted to see them at the training grounds as soon as possible. I even gained quite a following, some who hadn't been that busy falling in step behind me.

Maybe two minutes after I had gotten to the training grounds, I found myself standing on an impromptu stage made from dirt alone. In front of me was the entire army that had been built up to this point. Bones rattled, equipment rustled. I could see Lilith and Lakus both pushing through the crowd to stand next to me. Nodding once to both of them, I mentally took a deep breath, feeling my nonexistant nerves calm ever so slightly.

"We have a plan to take the fortress that is currently in the orc's possession. The first stage of this plan is to draw out a large portion of the enemy army by provoking them. This means either killing them, taunting them, wounding them, or generally holding their full attention without being hurt or killed in turn. The next phase of the plan is for a small team of our best warriors and archers to infiltrate the fortress under the command of Lilith. She will select whoever she needs for this part of the operation, while those who are not selected for either the diversionary team or the infiltration team will be the main force led by Lakus, who has shown a brilliant mind and the determination to achieve victory. Lilith, go ahead." I gestured for Lilith to choose her team, and then waited with my hands held behind my back, my eye sockets scanning over all the others.

Some were equipped well, while others had almost nothing. An orcish sword here, a rusted breastplate there. Lilith wandered throughout the multitude, picking out some of the best that either she or I had trained, along with a few others who'd survived battle after battle. She even took the guy who fought about as viciously and as skilled as I did. I was surprised with myself to have completely forgotten his name. I'd have to learn it later, though for now I just waited as she sent a total of fifteen skeletons off to the side, to act as the infiltration team.

Definitely a big team. I hope she uses them well.

Once she finished she came back to my side, staring impassionately out over all the others who remained. I stepped forward to the edge of the pile of dirt, speaking once more. "For the diversionary team, I will not pick and choose anyone. This mission is dangerous, and to participate is to ask death itself to claim you. The orcs we will be facing will be stronger, hardier, and faster than most others we've faced in the past. I will not lie to you. This is essentially a suicide mission." Some muttering could be heard from the crowd, uncertainty creeping in. I kept going. "That is why I am leading the diversionary team personally. When death comes for all of us, I plan to be there to send him back to the abyss, weapons raised and covered in blood. The diversionary team will buy time for the infiltration team to act, and in doing so, we shall ensure that the main force is able to come down on the orcs like a fist of God. Those who fall will be honored, and those who survive will be one step closer to seeing the surface, and making our home amidst sun and safety, though we have never needed such things." My voice rose in volume, projecting out over the entire camp.

"To any who are willing to give their lives for the future of our people, you will be remembered as the ones who fought impossible odds to secure hope! To any who are willing to fight with all they are at stake, you shall be remembered by this world as one who never yielded to the death that is our birthright! To the suffering that is our existence! Now I ask you, who among you is willing to fight against the howling hordes of hell? Who will join me in raging against these miserable orcs? Who will take hold of their attention long enough that Lilith and her team can sneak in to gut them like the wretched pigs they are?" I stood and waited as my words sank in, before at least a third of the skeletons in the crowd pushed their way to the front. Some were well armed and armored, while a few of them had nothing more than a rusty blade to fight with. I couldn't help but hold back a dark chuckle.

"So be it. You're all going to help distract the orcs. I don't think there's much preparation to do, but just in case there is, I'll give you all a day to make your last minute decisions and prep work. Remember lads, this is a plan that involves our full might. There's no holding back and certainly no do-overs. We either win tomorrow, or our history is lost forever. Diversionary team, you'll be meeting back here tomorrow, main team, you'll be meeting Lakus soon after we leave. Lilith's team, you'll meet at the command hut at the same time the diversionary team leaves. Dismissed." With that, I stepped down from the dirt and started walking back to the command hut. While I was definitely riled up and ready to go immediately, I knew that just leaving all of a sudden was an easy way to get everyone killed, as some would be missing a weapon or piece of armor that would sorely be needed.

I checked my own gear for awhile before deciding to take a walk. I nodded to the sentries as I passed, axe held in a leather loop that passed through a hole in my pelvis. I didn't find any orcs wandering around as I walked, nor were there any adventurers stupid enough to enter the fourth floor at this point. I didn't really know where I was going, but I felt the need to clear my head, or at the very least do some thinking.

The rubble of the fortress came into view, having not been absorbed at all into the dungeon itself. There were no skeleton corpses however, not even a shred of bone or blood. I sat down on a blackened pile of stone and wood, and just stared at the area where the battle had taken place, now just a slowly flattening crater with bits of wood and stone scattered about.

The feeling as my sword slid into the human's ribs, stabbing into his heart despite the resistance of flesh and blood. The solid thud as each of my attacks was blocked by the lightning quick bowman. The agonizing, torturous pain as the spell washed over me and everyone else. The red that seemed to fill my senses, the whistling of the sword as it flew through the air to impale the fleeing coward who had almost ran away.

I remembered it all like it was still happening. If the orcs won, then I would never see the sun. If they won, I would never truly get away from the bastard who had forced me into all this insanity. If they won, then all I might ever be is a footnote in someone else's history.

I let out a mental sigh as my axe found its way into my hand. Tomorrow I had a battle to win. I sat there among the ghosts of the damned, and swore I could almost hear them.