The Prowling Forest, Part 12

Showdown at Blubberfen: Drive Them Back!

Blubberfen was now ripe with fungi and teeming with critters of all sizes.
They'd do for some tasty morsels, thought Skargat as he surveyed the restored bog with pride. Behind him, belches, farts and laughters sounded loud as the Ironforged began the forth day of feasting to celebrate their victory. Even Hrothgur's sullenness had finally gave way, and the Crusher had joined the celebrations, recognising his place in the pecking order.
Then the glint of metal in the distance caught the Tyrant's attention. It moved with purpose and too high over the bog surface to be drifting floatsam. This could only mean one thing.
"Lads!" he shouted "Drop the food and grab your weapons! Them Swordfyshes are at it again, coming into our lands! Barag, Marg and Growt, you track their path and figure out what they've been up to this time. Cargo, Braggoth and Hrothgur, with me! We're going to teach them another lesson!"
With resolute grins on their faces, the ogors stood and marched up to their assigned duties.
A bunch of gnoblars, still swelling with pride for bursting the dam, skreeched in glee and aping the ogors movement joined them.

***

The murky swampland sucked hard at both the ogors' and orruks' feet, slowing them down, when Skargat, Cargo and Hrothgur came upon Krashhart, Ol' Mudgob and Lugger Dag.

Braggoth lagged back, his armour making it more difficult for him to manage the sucking mud.

Hrothgur took the initiative and ordering Cargo with him, closed up on Krashhart. Cutlass, anchor and axes rained on the Warchanter's armour.

Ol' Mudgob bellowed a powerful Waaagh! and he and Lugger splashed noisily away, leaving the Warchanter alone. Skargat immediately sprinted in pursuit.

As he pushed through the mud, the Tyrant shouted few unsubtle threats at Braggoth, making sure that the Maneater moved up, leaving Burna behind.

The Gristle Grinder slammed square on Cargo's chest, and as the Maneater recovered his breath, Krashhart turned tail and followed his shaman.

As Leeway Ruk and Hook tryed to sneak behind the Ironforged, Burna's shout of warning was brutally cut short by Leeway's gore-hacka. Hrothgur rushed back to protect the gnoblar.

Braggoth left the pursuit of Ol' Mudgob and moved to intercept Hook.

With Cargo firing at his back, Krashhart passed close enough to Skargat that the Tyrant could finish the job started by the Maneater and the Crusher, sending the Warchanter to once again grovel in the mud. He them strode forward, in pursuit of Ol' Mudgob.

The Shaman shouted to Lugger Dag, ordering the Brute to move further away.

Ahead of the Brute, Watcha, Basha and Loota forced their way through the mud, trying to reach the orruk and pushing him back.

Hrothgur drew the vial of Blight Serpent Venom from his satchel and smeared it on his axes as he trudged forward to catch up with Leeway. In spite of the sucking mud, the Crusher came upon the brute in an avalance of poisoned blow. Braggoth braced behind his shield and took Hook charge. Soon, both brutes were sent sprawling into the bog.

Ol' Mudgob called the Foot of Gork to descend upon Cargo, all the while hacking at Skargat. At the same time, Docker Goff emerged from the mist, swinging his great axe at the Tyrant. Both the Tyrant and the Maneater, bleeding profusely, reached for their Greater Itxi Grubs and chew on them. Then Cargo opened fire on the Shaman, while Skargat hacked down Docker.

The trio of gnoblar reached Lugger, and though the brute slapped Watcha down and gave a good thumping to Basha, they managed to surround him and push him towards the edge of Blubberfen.

As one, Lugger and Ol' Mudgob realised the only thing they could do was grabbing the wounded and leave Blubberfen.

***

Even if still limping on his mending leg, Barag had led the Gluttons on the Swordfyshes' track. There seemed to be no trace of the orruks trying another underhanded trick to dislodge the Ironforged from Blubberfen. And yet, as the trio advanced through the Prowling Forest, they stumbled upon an old, small cemetery.

There, Barag found an Amethyst Amulet. As soon as he grabbed it, Marg was set upon by deadwalkers, but the glutton emerged from the fight with just some scratches and a bag full of well cured meat.

***

Finga followed Hrothgur's instructions and found the entrance to the hidden cave. Inside, he grabbed a shiny bottle. Surely it was because it was so shiny that the Crusher had sent him to recover it and told not to tell Skargat about it...

***

Even if the other gnoblars had left him behind, Skreecha was happy. As he splashed through Blubberfen he had uncovered a bunch of golden coins. With avaricious eyes, he collected them an returned to camp.