----- As Raven "stumbles" around the corner of the building, the others see most of the window openings in the stone structure boarded up. Next to the door is the large window opening. Darkened forms can be seen moving slightly in the interior. The orcish voices can still be heard.
-----As Raven calls out in orcish and drops to the ground, the forms inside the building become quiet. Some of the forms actually appear to drop out of sight of the window. An uncomfortable silence follows and seems to last way too long. Finally when the wait almost seems unbearable, whispered humanoid voices are heard. As the men peer around the corner, an ugly orcish face slowly rises above the open window to look out. It squints its smallish eyes into the bright light of the day and then focuses in on Raven's form. With a look of surprise, it quickly jabbers something to the others out of sight. More brutal talk is heard and then again, the humanoids are quiet.
-----After a few moments, slow sounds of movement are heard. The same orc watches from the window as two smaller humanoids emerge from the window and leap down to the ground. They freeze as they hit the ground stooping and sniffing the air with their snouts working. They sway back and forth as they look at the surrounding ruins.
-----The door to the building slowly opens and a medium sized orc carefully steps out with its sword drawn. It is followed by a larger orc spotting a mane of white hair and tusks which stick out from its lower lip. A total of five orcs can now be seen standing at the window watching. The four orcs slowly and cautiously approach Raven.
-----As the four orcs move in closer, Raven groans out in orcish, "Thalog! Thrak da nuk!" He then "struggles" to get to his feet, keeping his hunched over back toward the orcs. Raven utters "saet hu" and draws his other short sword. With his other sword drawn, Raven looks towards the group and nods and then waits a moment to see if the party does anything.
-----Arliss holds his sword and shield at the ready, in exhilarated anticipation of the combat to come. Yet, he holds his ground for a moment, waiting to see if Thalog will use his magic, and not wanting to spoil the mage's plans.
-----Raven suddenly spins to face the five orcs and yells "Now!" He viciously attacks the big orc, taking it and the other humanoids completely by surprise. His short swords flash as they rip across the orc's belly. The big orc throws its head back as Raven ends his move with a thrust to the chest area. As the sword pierces the orc's heart and the humanoid falls dying, the other orcs jump back with looks of shock and anger on their faces. The smaller ones begin swaying, grabbing their swords and growling. Noises beyond alert the men that four more orcs are climbing out of the window of the stone building.
-----Arliss, decides that he can hold back no longer. With a loud cry of "For Joren! For Justice!" he raises his sword and charges headlong into the group of orcs who are emerging from the window. As he charges, Arliss sees two of the orcs turn to face him. The first one narrows its eyes and sneers at the paladin. Before it can bring its sword across, Arliss thrusts his broadsword at the humanoid's ribcage. His sword pierces the orc's studded leather vest and finds the creature's heart. The sneer quickly fades off its face and it howls as the orc dies. As it falls, Arliss pivots to his right just as another orc slashes its weapon toward the paladin. The humanoid's sword misses and Arliss can hear it make a swooping sound.
-----Thalog steps out from behind the corner and looks at the 4 orcs as his left hand sprinkles rose petals to the ground. His right hand moves like the waves of a vast ocean. From him rumble the words, "REBMULS EROF EMIT S'TI!" All four orcs begin to blink and stagger as if losing their concentration. Suddenly one falls, followed by another and then finally the other two. All four orcs lie unconscious on the ground.
-----Rand draws his bow and notches an arrow muttering a prayer to Solarius as he does so. Rand fires above Arliss aiming for the closest of the three humanoid figures. His first shot sails above the orc's head, but Rand quickly draws another arrow and fires. The missile drives straight toward the orc and buries itself in the monster's left breast. Its knees buckle and the orc falls on its back and is still.
-----Raven rushes past the sleeping orcs and heads over to help Arliss. He yells in orcish, "Ek satoo o blaa!" The two remaining orcs spit at him. Raven stares coldly at one of the orcs holding its sword in front of it. In a quick circular motion that seems to confuse the humanoid, one of Raven's short swords slashes into the orc's belly. As the orc slumps forward, Raven takes a step backwards, slicing his other sword under the orc's chin. Its body falls limply to the ground.
-----Arliss steps forward to meet the last orc. It seems to jump lightly as it moves and it evades the paladin's first sweep. It returns with an upward jab, but only meets the solid surface of Arliss's shield. Quickly, the humanoid hops using a raking movement to find an unprotected area on Arliss's arm. The paladin can feel the blood begin to ooze from the wound. Arliss tries to catch the orc with a back-slashing motion, but the orc springs back a few feet. For a second, Arliss and the orc stare at each other. The orc sneers and rocks back and forth lightly waving its sword. The paladin returns the stare with a look of determined concentration.