Gabriel stood silently for a moment as he watched the passive army. Avariel were still falling around him. Without that army, we all will be destroyed.

He then tore down the stairs, shouting orders.

"Everyone, bar the doors! Get those weapons up here now! If anyone here knows anything about healing, get to work; the doors won't last long!"

Gabriel stalked over to Hakar, a Grim expression on his face. "Don't you see? We ARE his political enemies. Think about it; Ashtar sends all those in the empire who oppose him to defend this place, and get them all killed. The Macharendir's only son was killed by Orcs after Ashtar sent him out. How would the Orcs know where he'd be only an hour after he left the citadel? My father-"

He stopped as his voice caught in his throat. "My Father probably told him of the plan to use us to defeat Antarrak. That's probably when he realized that we were a threat to his plans."

He growled under his breath. "The South may not be allied with the Orcs, but this may have been some sort of arrangement between Antarrak and the General. Antarrak gets rid of enough people for Ashtar to sieze power, and Antarrak gets control of a huge mass of territory..." His mouth went dry. "And then the Avariel get carved up between the two of them."

Then came the great pounding on the Doors of the Keep.

OOC: complete and total lack of punctuation makes DB MAD! DB smash bad grammar!

IC: Hakar shook his head, the expression on his face seemed like he was trying to remember something unclear, "It wasn't orcs...I remember one powerful, fiery presence, and a cold heart filled with shadows. My brother was there, and one other being, Kiiri was terrified, your father was fighting while she ran...then there was a burst of flame, and I saw no more." he sighed, then said slowly, "Gods...it all makes sense now. That bastard was using us all along. The only thing that confuses me is how he plans to defeat Antarrak's armies, or control the Orc Lord, without Gwaethir's mages. He has to have some backup source of magical power..."

He shook his head again, "I just don't understand why he used my brother to abduct Kiiri...he was always fairly competent, but I'm sure that a normal force of orcs could have done just as well, and why the overelaborate deception? Either way, it won't matter if we don't survive the next few hours, so I'd best go help heal the others." he got to his feet, wincing as his still-sort, though healed, wounds protested the motion.

Gabriel looked on at the shaking door and all the defenders trying to brace it. "I'll try and give you as much time as you need to heal them enough to move on their own."
********************************

Litheril got to work. The water elemental stood atop the keep and looked down upon the hoards of Orcs swarming at the entrance. He closed his eyes and focused his thoughts. "Gabriel! Matt!" he called out. "I need you now!"

Even as he heard the approaching footsteps, he stretched out with his hands. Around the feet of the Orcs the ground began to moisten, it then turned to mud as they sloshed through to get to the door. The mud began to dilute and became a puddle as the moisture within the earth was drawn forth to the surface. Within moments force at the gates were knee deep in water.

"What is it?" Gabriel asked as he arrived at beside Litheril. He stopped and looked at the water at the orc's feet and smiled knowingly at the water user. "I think you just answered my question..."

As Litheril spread the waters about the feet of the milling orcs within the fortress, the two lightning users raised their fists; their limbs starting to crackle with electricity...


There was the sound of hundreds of deafening screams, and suddenly the doors stopped shaking, the constant pounding ceased. In the silence that followed, all strained their ears. They began to hear a slow, but constant thumping. It grew louder as it approached.

"Away from the doors!" came Gabriels voice down the stairwell; followed quickly by the Half-Elf himself. "Man the weapons and get away from the doors!"

Thumping was nearly deafening now.

He saw Hakar look up with a confused expression on his face. Gabriel answered his unasked question.

"They have an Ogre."

OOC: red italics are the ogre's thoughts, normal italics are Hakar's thoughts.

IC: Hakar grinned, "Big, stupid, capable of wreaking much havoc?" he stood up, a wicked gleam in his eye, "Let me handle this!" he concentrated, reaching out with his mind, a tendril of mental force passing effortlessly through the door...searching. It sensed slow, dim, violent thoughts...a large, nearby source and many smaller sources. Entering the larger being, Hakar felt himself connect to the ogre's mind.

Smash! Break! KILL!

It's fun, isn't it? Killing those little creatures...

Grunk GOOD at killing! Orc tell Grunk to smash, so Grunk SMASH puny small ones!

Grunk is very strong...but why is Grunk wasting his effort on this clumsy door? Grunk could be killing small ones! Hakar insinuated himself into the ogre's brain, his logic becoming more persuasive to the stupid creature as he dredged up thoughts of the feel of snapping bones and spilling blood. At first, the thoughts were the ogre's own...humans dying, Avariel having their wings ripped off...but slowly, as bloodlust took over and images blurred, the figures Grunk saw himself killing changed to orcs and goblins.

Grunk can kill those weak ones, can't he? Grunk can smash them good, right?

Grunk BEST SMASHER! Grunk kill ALL small ones! Rip them and break them!

You're surrounded by them...why wait? Show them how strong you are! Smash them and rip them!

The pounding on the door stopped...and was suddenly replaced by a deep, guttural roar, and screams from orcish throats. There was a deep laugh, and a roar of "Grunk SMASH!!!"

Hakar smirked, disconnecting from the ogre's mind, looking over at Gabriel, "Amazing what you can solve through a little persuasion, isn't it?"

Gabriel gave him a suspicious look. "Where did you learn that?"

"Guys!" Litheril yelled down the staircase. "That Big Orc guy is coming this way!"

"Antarrak?" Gabriel Called up.

"No, the other one, the Slaughter guy." came the response. "Watch it!"

But just as the words left his mouth. The doors exploded inward. The Slaughterman stood there, an Ogre's giant head in his hands, and four trolls at his flank. They roared as they entered, swinging their warhammers and morning stars.

"FIRE!" Gabriel yelled, and the three captured Balistas in front of the doors let loose.
Two of the Trolls were impaled on the wooden shafts, falling over dead. The slaughterman was hit in the leg, knocking him forward and snapping his leg back. The remaining two trolls barged in, followed by a squad of Orcs behind them.

Gabriel charged and rolled under the swing of the nearest troll. He landed beneath it and swung his Zweihander upwards, catching the Troll between the legs and spilling fluid on the ground beneath it. A flood of Orcs rushed in, and Gabriel met them head-on; swinging and hacking through their ranks. He turned to strike down another orc-

And let out a howl of rage and pain as the blade of a cutlass was raked across his face.

Gabriel stumbled backwards, clutching his wound. He could no longer see out of his right eye. Though did see what happened next.

A mighty blow struck him straight in the chest as the Slaughterman swung his warmhammer. Thanatos was flung from his grasp as Gabriel flew through the air; smashing hard against the wall. He coughed up blood- and could not inhale.

He began viciously clawing at his armour; so dented inward was it that was crushing his lungs. White spots began to form before his eyes...

Hakar had leapt to his feet even before the door burst open, his psychic instincts warning him even as the doors exploded inward.

Lit lanterns hung from hooks in the room. He grabbed two, ducking under the first troll's arm, smashing a lantern into its face.

Oil splashed, flesh sizzled, and the monstrosity burned like a torch, howling and thrashing in torment.

The other troll, slower and wounded from Gabriel's emasculating strike, recoiled, unwilling to come near its burning comrade...giving Hakar enough time to run for the wall, leap onto it, and use his momentum to jump off...flipping over in midair and kicking the burning troll into the other one, hurling the second lantern at the them.

Both struck the wounded creature, fire sweeping over it, and Hakar heard howls as the orcs charged.

"Gabriel! Litheril! Get these doors closed, and tell some of the others to evacuate any surviving troops or civilians! We can't hold Bastion against this many..." he sliced an orc with his curved sword as it charged, slaying or maiming it quickly as he moved on to the next one. He caught a glimpse of Gabriel through the melee, though his armor was caved in and blood covered one side of his face.

Sensing his friend's pain, Hakar hacked his way toward him, slicing the shoulder-straps of his armor with his dagger, then pulling away the crumpled chestplate. Orcs were still pouring through, and he and Litheril held them off...but it seemed as if there were endless numbers of them.

************************************************** ***********************

Jaral looked stoicly at the fortress...wondering why in the Nine Hells he had been sent with these forces, considering that attacking was not Ashtar's plan at this point in time. the half-drow ninja understood this, and agreed, but he saw no point in his accompanying this expedition. He worked best alone. He wasn't even where the troops could see him, staying hidden, but without orders to observe anyone or do anything in particular. Just sitting, and watching, "in case something happened that required his talents", according to Ashtar.

Jerick seemed inactive to many around him. He was barely breathing, no moving at all, his right arm looked mangled, and he had blood all over his left shoulder from the bolt that had hit him earlier. It didn't look like he would ever be getting up for a while, but sometimes, looks can be decieving.

With a sudden and unwanted rush, Jerick somehow regained consciousness. He couldn't even feel his right arm, which was shattered thanks to the troll, and he was having trouble breathing, probably because of some broken ribs. He could feel and move his right arm now, which was a plus, but it didn't really matter because of all the pain.

With a loud groan that somehow pierced the sounds of combat in front of him, an orc looked over at the limp and nearly inactive blacksmith. With a desperate and quick spell, the orc went flying in a direction that Jerick hadn't thought up, dragged by its armor. The orc went flying for the Slaughterman, but Jerick turned away before he saw it make contact.

Without even thinking, Jerick stopped a wave of crossbow bolts that were heading for him without chanting, throwing them all into three orcs that were heading over to him. With a scream of pain and agony, he sent all the archers into the orcs behind them, stopping them for a while.

While some may not have noticed what was gonig on, Jerick was somehow active, casting weak spells that were still effective. He couldn't even move, his whole body feeling drained, but somehow he was still casting. He just hoped something would send him into unconsciousness again so he could evade this horrible pain.

The Slaughterman bellowed in bloodlust, then began to advance on Metrius, stopping when a small figure stood in his way.

"Move out of the way insignificant one arm. Or heck, I'll move you for ya." The warrior said raising his weapons.

"I don't think you're eyes are doing too good, cuz I'm seeing something different." Gug said and proceded to shoot two thin but molten hot lines of fire from his eyes to his tormentor's. They instantly shot out from behind his skull, and his eyes, brainy mush, and assorted bodily fluid ran down his face, pooling in his outstretched jaw. Slaughterman fell, and Gug managed to crawl towards Jerick before collapsing as well. "Your turn to be protector."

Gabriel gasped for air as his lungs were released from the steel grip of his armour; and began coughing up blood as he clutched his wounded face. He fumbled weakly for Thanatos, and found it placed in his hands by Hakar. He forced himself to his feet and leaned against his sword.

The Keep's garrison had sprung into action, and even now were barracading the entrance with the stolen Ballistas. Litheril and Arkhon tore down the stairs and sought out Hakar. "We won't last long. Ashtar will not send help, and the Avariel will not last once the fortress is taken." Arkhon said, and winced as the sounds of another Orc charge was held back by the soldiers at the door.

"We will have to get Gwaethir to retreat, we cannot win this fight."

"So..." Gabriel's voice called up weakly. "This is where we die."

"No." Arkhon replied, his voice solid steel. "There is a way out: the sewers. Get your men to their feet and follow me."

Antarrak snarled in response to Gwaethir's questions, chopping at him again. Gwaethir easily flew out of reach, then saw that his troops were being decimated, and the keep was lost.

"This isn't over..." he promised the orc leader, his voice filled with menace. He tuned the air around him, making it amplify his next statement so that all of his nearby troops could hear it over the din of battle, "RETREAT! Sound the signal to withdraw!" his crisp, military tones, encouraging the troops to keep their discipline. Horns blew, signalling, and the remaining, battered, Avariel troops rose into the sky, flying high out of range as they grouped into formations, soaring off into the distance.

Some stopped to pick up those of the Elementals who had fallen, or were trapped outside, getting them into the keep with the others before they flew off. The troops watched, not blaming them as they left.

************************************************** *********************

Hakar nodded grimly, "We can't wait...if Gwaethir doesn't retreat, his army will be slaughtered." outside, horns blew, and the half-drow paused as he listened to them, "Well...it seems that we think alike, the Avariel forces are withdrawing." he smiled, but there was no humor in his expression, "Bring Metrius...he and I can heal Gabriel enough that he can make it into the sewers with the rest of us. Gather the rest of the Element-wielders, and get them to the sewers."