-----Images of throwing his own shoulder against the hardened doors to the keep vanish as Lovan proclaims the latest target of the violent storm. As the priest levels his warhammer towards the entrance of the stone structure, Sol readies to charge as the forthcoming bolt of rage strikes.
-----Raven draws both swords and snarls at the orcs. Raven coldly eyes the inner keep and keeps alert to any arrows. Raven says with a slight smile, "Lovan, try to leave us a couple this time, okay?"
-----Sarah rides Marlexana through the great ruined doors of the outer gate. Through the pouring rain, she sees a courtyard within that has evidence of damage from Lovan's call to the Rager, but surprisingly devoid of any kind of army. Here and there, she sees dead orcish bodies apparently thrown from the walls during the violent lightning strikes. She also sees debris from the shattered stones from the keep's walls.
-----A few yards ahead, she sees Garrison limping toward the front of the keep itself where Sol, Raven and Lovan stand. The woodsman turns and acknowledges the young mage but then freezes momentarily staring at the trio of strange bug-like creatures that hover near her.
-----Sol and Raven stand back with their weapons drawn and eyes focused on the door to the main stronghold. Lovan strides forth and points his warhammer toward the portal while beckoning toward the angry sky. In the next moment, a bright flash and deafening sound accompany the deadly bolt that arches down from the clouds and strikes the door. The wood explodes with the flash of light and for a moment illuminates the interior to the dark keep.
-----Orcs begin to rush forth from the destroyed portal like angry bees from a disturbed nest. The first few face off with Sol, Raven and Lovan with the trio of heroes outnumbered three to one. Garrison picks himself up off the ground where he tried to get low during the lightning blast. He then limps forth to help his companions.
-----Sol meets the orc's charge with dreadful eagerness. His sword whirls deftly as it strikes towards its targets.
-----Sarah hangs back at the entryway. This is not her type of fight. She points at the orcs nearest to Sol and tells her bugs to go get them.
-----Then she begins to cast a spell and ends up tossing her arm in the air like she is throwing a rubber ball up at the sky. In the air above the courtyard a glowing ball of bright light hangs in the air, hopefully blinding the sensitive eyes of the orcs.
-----Raven leaps into the three orcs facing him and immediately both swords impale orcish necks. Two of the humanoids fall dead while the third snarls and tries to stab the hunter. Raven quickly sidesteps the weapon and prepares to slice this last one before moving on.
-----The three orcs that charge Sol swing heavily, but each orcish weapon is bounded back by the Lathanian blade. At the same time, three more surround Lovan, who suddenly brandishes his shield. The storm priest laughs as the humanoids each try to pound him with flails. The spike weapons simply bound off his shield or his scale armor.
-----Maintaining a bizarre smile in the face of battle, Lovan pauses to hold his warhammer pointed once again to the opening of the keep where more orcs issue forth.
-----Just as Sol swings for the first chance to let his blade bite, three bat-like creatures swoop into the three opponents facing him. The movement is so sudden, it momentarily distracts the battle causing Sol to miss an orc suddenly drawn backwards. Two of the bat-like things fly past the orcs while the third lands straight into the chest of the middle orc facing the young warrior. The orc begins to curse as the creature uses its long nose to pierce the orc's neck.
-----Garrison weighs in and hacks at an orc near Lovan. His battleaxe chops into the humanoid's gut causing it to back up.
-----Just as the Lathanian blade takes an orc's head, two other things occur. A sudden burst of light shines forth from overhead. At the same time, another devastating thunderbolt flashes down and explodes near the keep's entrance. Garrison flinches at the blast while many of the orcs look disoriented by the bright light.
-----Sol quickly cuts through the torso of another orc, killing it. He then notices that many other orcs lay dead around the door with many of the humanoid bodies charred from the lightning.
-----Raven quickly slays another orc. He then sees two more orcs close to Lovan. Garrison still faces the one he hit, while two more are preoccupied by the strange bat/bug-like creatures. More orcs appear at the opening holding spears.
-----Sol starts forward, now intent on bringing the fight into the keep. Or at least intent on finding something other than the rabble that opposed the party now. Any orc that barred his way, the warrior stopped to swing at, but he was now heading forwards as he did so.