Trials of Azeroth

Chapter 8

"Hold up..." Said Codin, halting the group as they trekked along the main country path of the southern Hillsbrad Foothills. A chilling wind swept over the wooded countryside, rustling in the leaves above.
"What's wrong?" Asked Belmin, tightening his grasp on his Warhammer.
"Something's not... right." Replied the Warrior, drawing his sword as slowly as he could. Hwinion readied his bow and Fizzbiscuit collapsed into a balanced stance.

A horn sounded in the distance, off in the trees. The wind dropped suddenly. Codin's heart began to race.
"YAARGH!"
"In the trees! On the right!" Cried out Belmin. A band of horde fighters charged out of the towering pine trees to the side of the road, with weapons and teeth bared. The raiding party consisted of orcs, trolls, undead and Tauren, all wearing mismatched pieces of typical horde garb (Spikes, spikes and more spikes etc).
"Stand your ground!" Yelled Codin, collapsing back into his old role as a soldier.
"Death to the Horde!" Spat the mountaineer, rearing himself up for the fight.
"For Azeroth!" Yelled Fizzbiscuit, igniting a searing inferno in his hand.
"For the Alliance!" Cried the Warrior, raising his shield.
The horde closed in. The band of adventurers braced themselves. The two groups collided.

The ring of steel echoed throughout the air. Grunts of pain followed. Belmin raised his hammer and brought it crashing down onto an Orc warrior who was heading right towards him. The creatures helmet crumpled under the force, as did the orc along with it. Codin thrusted the blade of his longsword into the stomach of the foe who challenged him, who in turn dropped his weapons and fell to the floor. The gnome and hunter both stood back on the other side of the road, firing off both fireballs and arrows at their attackers.
"Codin, on your left!" Hollered Belmin, jostling with a giant Tauren who wielded a similar weapon. The warrior looked to his left to find an undead rogue creeping up on his flank, with two daggers drawn. Codin kicked away his original attacker and turned to face the new adversary. The rogue lunged in for the kill with his daggers slicing through the air. To combat this, the warrior simply raised his shield and charged forward with all his brute strength. He collided with the small frame of the undead and sent his opponent sprawling to the ground. He then grabbed the horde rogue by the scruff of his neck and threw him down to Belmin's feet, who without needing to be asked, finished the undead with a brutal blow to the chest.

Meanwhile, the elf hunter had manoeuvred himself to higher ground, away from the melee. He stood back, nocked an arrow and loosed it with deadly accuracy. It found its mark and buried itself in the throat of the bumbling orc who Codin was previously facing. But, as he fixed to ready another arrow, something whistled past his head. He turned to his left to find a buck toothed troll firing on him with a menacing looking bow. The nimble night elf instinctively ducked and flipped to cover behind a thick pine tree. He caught his breath and in one swift movement, rolled out of cover, nocked an arrow and fired it off at his troll adversary. The arrow sliced through the air and firmly implanted itself in the forehead of the horde archers, who let out a gormless grunt, collapsed to the ground and rolled down the hill.

"Belmin, duck!" Cried Fizzbiscuit.
"What?" Asked the Dwarf, fighting to hear his halfling brother.
"DUCK!" Replied the mage, charging up a scorching fireball. The mountaineer did exactly that. He fell to the floor, and just in time, as a Tauren blade narrowly missed his head. The mage unleashed his projectile, which flew through the air, seeming to singe the oxygen around. It hit he towering beast, planting the Tauren in the dirt, out of the fight. Codin finished off the last of the horde attackers with a flawless slash to the orc's neck, in between the gap of its armour. It fell to the dirt, its axe sent clattering to the ground.

The battlefield fell silent, resuming its role as a quiet country road.
"God, it's been a while since I've been in a battle like that!" Panted Belmin, semi laughing. Hwinion glided down off the hill side and back to his companions, sliding his bow onto his back without saying a word. The gnome waddled over to the group, clearly pleased with his performance.
"Nice job, chaps." Congratulated Codin, wiping the blood off of his steel blade.
"Now how's about we get to Southshore before anymore of these unwanted surprises show up." He continued.
"Sounds good to me, friend! As long as there's a warm fire and cold ale!" Replied the Dwarf, bursting out in his semi-obnoxious roar of a laugh.
"That would be wise. Where there's one horde raiding band, there's bound to be more in its wake." Explained Hwinion, stroking his beard which rested in his pointed chin.
"Quite right." Replied the warrior, sheathing his blade and setting his sights west down the road.
And so, with haste, the band of intrepid adventurers set off to the town of Southshore, the small alliance outpost in South Hillsbrad, with no clue what was held in store for them, or where this trail would lead.