-----As it does, the other orcs guarding the line, turn tail and run off, some dropping their weapons! After fighting a feeling of disappointment, Sol realizes that about ten of the prisoners that he freed stand behind him ready to fight. Some of the newly liberated prisoners in this new line stand with mouth agape; some with angry expressions.
-----“Our families . . . ” one young husky man growls, “are they free?” He begins looking back toward the east; toward the village of Ku as if to see what happens there.
-----Many more of the prisoners grumble as if afraid to bring harm upon their loved ones.
-----“We have been nearly forgotten by the orcs,” one of the men behind Sol says. “Don’t you see . . many of them are fighting among their burning tents. Only a few would remain up the hill!”
-----Many more of the prisoners talk amongst themselves. Occasionally questions of families in Ku would be asked.
-----As they continued Sol marched on up the hill followed by those men who stood with him. As the lightning intensified around them, Sol and those with him found less than twenty orcs who were quickly put to death.
-----With the guards destroyed and the rest of the orcish army fighting what hobgoblins remained raiding their camp, Sol was lead where more human prisoners were kept in crude cages.
-----Now, the young warrior found himself in the midst of about one hundred hearty men and women, some baffled about the current turn of events.
-----Sol starts talking, the words tumbling out as he tries for speed, "Alright, have t'make this quick. My name is Sol Herron, an' my companions an' I are making sure yer people are freed tonight. Th' evil blight that's held yer town is tearing itself apart, but there's still much t'be done. We're going t'let th' last o' th' hob strike force an' th' orcs batter away at each other, as we skirt along th' river line. Once we've done that, I'll get ye t'hole up as best as ye can an' I'll head back t'town once we're away from these camps."
-----He owed them some sort of explanation, so he clarified hurriedly, "There are still plenty o' hobgoblins in town, so we still have to be careful. It's also why I'm going alone... I should be able to get back in as one of their commanders. I'll see what th' situation is in there, an' send someone back t'ye if we need numbers. Until I know what's going on though, I will not take extra risks than needed wi' yer kin in Kulendra."
-----The Gorian now gestures to the ground around him, "Now, gather what arms ye can an' follow me. Stay quiet unless ye see something t'watch out fer, then call it as ye see it. Also, make sure no one heads off by themselves. If it comes t'a scrap, fight together. " Sol waves for them to follow and starts heading down towards the river line.
-----A small group of men immediately follow the Gorian warrior as he strikes out. The rest seem to hesitate or begin searching for ways to arm themselves. Up the incline to his left, Sol can see the smoke continue to rise from the burning orcish tents, though now they seem to smolder with the rain that begins to fall. Flashes of lightning momentarily make visible the eddies and waves that roll on the river to his right. The wind picks up and Sol can feel it at his back as if some strong force were pushing him forward.
-----As Sol moves past the light of the burning orc camp, he hears other prisoners rushing up from behind to join him and those already joining his march. The grassy bank between the mining encampment and the village is dark though the building storm helps to light their way. He can tell that the storm has easily reached the village by now. As they make their way, Sol also sees movement of figures running from the village toward the orc camp. He wonders if the hobgoblins he had sent to Ku had convinced more of the hobgoblins to abandon the village in favor of fighting the orcs.
-----As they all draw closer, Sol suddenly draws himself up and pauses as a very loud bolt of lightning explodes down toward the middle of the village. Many of his companions remain quiet; all intently looking at what could have occurred. After a few more moments, as they move just yards to the south of the captured village, another lightning strike rends the air and Sol can tell that the hobgoblin tents in the center of the village are burning!
-----A fierce swelling of pride rips through the Gorian as he witnesses the bolt strike towards the centre of town. That was his god making his mark known, and Sol was willing to bet that it was Lovan that was directing their god's will.
-----It was all a sign... the storm, the wind, the righteous townsfolk at his back. Sol raises his sword high as a signal to those milling nearby and calls loudly to the people of Kulendra, "All bets are off. Those of ye who would fight fer yer home, fer yer families an' friends, then feel the Rage in ye an' above ye, an' follow me! Those of ye who would stay, then find somewhere t'hide fer th' main fight fer Ku's liberation is nigh!"
-----Those that are coming, Sol calls again to them, as he lowers his sword towards Kulendra and begins to charge towards it, "Stay behind me, but stay wi' me an' by Strator's will, we'll see victory this night!" As he pounds his way towards the first road that will lead to the centre, Sol's brief exultant smile is replaced by a snarl as the Stormbringer once more prepares to bring wrath to those that would hinder his way.
-----Sol quickly finds the road he seeks that will lead him into the village square. As the rain begins to fall, he finds the first few hobgoblins that he encounters are disoriented, as if their sense of organized armament has left them. To the amazement of those who follow behind him, Sol quickly cuts through about a half dozen humanoids that seem to make up a light patrol.