7 Desperation
Gregor saw the signal which indicated that he should throw 2 more boxes of gunpowder at the charging orks. This time though it would not be as gratifying than the last, he only threw 1 barrel at the orks swarming while he told threw the other at the front gate and told his men to close the gate as fast as they could.
Thankfully it was an elevated doorway and was closed immediately once the boxes of gunpowder were now dropped and the normal footman would soon engage the enemy with a kite formation at the front followed by long pike man at the back. There were only 3 lines of regular footman and 3 lines of pikeman would be enough to halt this assault.
I'm glad Gregor recommended a kite shield formation and pikeman too, but was rather strange at first. Why would he have both pikeman and foot soldier be in such a precarious line. I have never seen this in some of the medieval movies and reenactment events that would show such a... I can't find a better word for it though? Maybe uncanny?
While I was lost in thought the well trained soldiers are keeping the militiaman so they wouldn't run off. They occasionally told them some motivational speeches or would give them death threats if they deserted the fighting. Giving these 100 or so men a coin toss of whether they'll all die or live to see the morning sun rise again in the horizon.
The orks rammed straight at the pikeman to the shield wall - regardless if it could kill them, but some of them didn't mind the pike that pierced through either their arm, shoulder, lower and upper abdomen or even straight through the head. They still relentlessly strike at the men who were shielding themselves tightly and hoping they wouldn't die from the orks axes and glubs.
The orks are as stubborn as the stories told them to be. A resilient bunch nonetheless. Richard feared that this would be enough to create as many loses for the orks as our own. He hopes that the orks are dumb enough to fight them head-on but this time their numbers have dwindled to the point where it would be equivalent to our well trained defense force, coupled with the temporary militia backing them up.
Richard was confident, well at least slightly relieved that his plan worked; only partially though. The reason to it is because he only killed dozens of orks and the militia are cleaning up what remains of their swarming tactic. He only needed to finish this force until he would return to his mansion and check if his butler produced 4 more barrels of gunpowder.
2 hours later.
Before the last remaining orks were dealt with, he has received word that another ork force was assaulting the North Gate, where there was only a small group of regular troops and a few knights manning it.
Immediately I realized why the orks attacked the west gate and it was to distract them from engaging their other force that would breach Isstvans walls. He knew they didn't have much time since the North Gate isn't as heavily defended as it was before.
"Charles, grabbed as many knights and footman as you can. Viscount, Sterlin, you go ahead and march your cavalry to reinforce the north gate while we catch up. Do not let any ork to enter Isstvan! That is an order to your duke!" I yelled to Sterlin who was a few yards away from me and Charles.
"Right away, my lord! Hiya!" The Viscount replied and brought with him around 20 horseman.
"Charles." I said to the knight who was in front.
"Yes, I'm on it!" Charles said as he quickly dismounted and round up about 42 men with 14 experienced knights among them.
"Now, Charles, onward to the North gate!" Richard said to the head knight and proceeded to lead this small force. "I hope the Sterlin's cavalry made it to the North gate and we aren't too late" he nervously muttered.
*****
Meanwhile at the North gate, the Gate keeper; Marcus Aurelius of the north gate was staring at the right side of the his direction. Anxiously thinking that the relief force there would be able to repel the besieging ork's. Only time will tell when he hears word that the west section has been breached and that everyone were slaughtered.
To ensure the people's safety and for the sake of Isstvan's survival; he issued orders to his subordinates to warn the nearby civilians to pack their belongings and wait at the entrance. If such a thing could happen, if not then he'll simply tell them to go back in their dwellings and stay in their homes.
He thought it would be better to save as many lives as he can, after all; he sees the fall of Isstvan due to a few senior officers bickering what the next course of action they would take whenever commander Gregor is not around. This was the largest assault the city had since the previous one 20 years ago. Until someone yelled at him - disrupting his thoughts and brought him back to reality.
"Sir, look over there; Orks charging in!" A nearby archer said and pointed at the orks.
Looking at where the Archer pointed at. A sense of dread well up within him. As his eyes widen to see a massive ork army that is within the hundreds. He was now at a very precarious situation; instead of focusing all their efforts in attacking one section of the wall. They are attacking both gates! They have done this tactic before and many times.
As the orks flock near the moat that stretch all the way up to the Kyros river from the Hydracian Bay.
The air around Marcus was suffocating him each time he breathes in oxygen as the tide of green is encroaching Isstvan. This time it would be as tenacious as one man sparring at multiple opponents from all sides; it shall be my last stand to fight for Isstvan.
"Order the civilians to leave immediately and head towards the docks!" Marcus said, yelling like a panic-stricken lad who was hanging from a cliff.
"Y-yes sir! Evacuate! Tell the citizens to evacuate at once!" A regular footman said and spread the message to the nearby knights that are guarding; in case any ork would try and sneak in and open the gates.
As soon as the word has been told by some soldier that they are able to spare. A sense of doubt has been rummaging inside the men in the walls. Their faces glum to a barren wasteland that can't grow anymore, like the feeling of never coming out alive as their families eagerly await their uncertain return.
Morale has been at an all time low: Lower than a depressed beggar in the street to plead for any scraps of food or coin he may obtain. Hoping to leave its unavoidable misery of strife and hunger. Seeing the distress look that these men were showing Marcus made a stand for himself, despite the throbbing heartache he is experiencing.
"DEFENDERS OF ISSTVAN, HEAR ME!" Marcus screamed at the men standing in the walls, as they stare at the gate keeper. Marcus inhaled and opened his to utter.
"Men, I ask you to fear not death, I ask you to fear not what happens if you fall to the likes of the greenskins! The walls you protect, house your wives, sisters and mothers. I order thee to fear what those vile beast may do to your family may they pass these gates! To relinquish each and every one of those duckers so that they may forget the very path to our lands as their bodies mount in the thousands. Join me brothers in arms and help protect this city; our city! For Isstvan and the Duke!" He solemnly growled followed by an uproar of men cheering.
"HOUGH!" They all screamed.
"For our wives!" Marcus yelled.
"HOUGH!" soldiers bellowing.
"For our daughters!" Marcus yelled.
"HOUGH!" troopers howled.
"For our sons children!!!" Marcus yelled.
"HOUGH!" Men of steel roared in rage.
"For the Duke!" Marcus yelled one last time.
"HURRA!" A final cry to the city defenders.
Marcus and his 30 men, along with a few knights, valiantly defend the North Gate till the last man standing. As soon as the orks were now besieging the gates across the bridge, the defenders morale - now full of vigor and energy have finally had the balls to fight once more in this damned world.
*****
Meanwhile within the orks ranks. The ork warboss was surveying the majestic walls of Isstvan through his telescope. He sees the cracks of ruble in the walls, falling in the moat that stretch around the city, But it was not enough to completely take it down.
Frustrated, he took all his anger on a gretchins that was next to him and smashed his skull in a fit of rage. Blood drip from within his coiled fist. Many were unsurprised by their warbosses annoyance on the hummies (as they call man from the orkish language; crude but effective to communicate).
They thought it would be a quick fight but now are relishing the fight thanks to the humans tenacious defense. I believe they are enjoying the fight instead of calling off for the day and just leave for a city for another that can benefit them. Something that wouldn't be worth the trouble but for these orks.
They cherish fighting so much so they would bring their wives to join in the fighting and they are having as much infatuation than their male counterpart. It is, within their culture, their way of life; war is life.
"Oi! wot zi lil' hummies gunna do about der bricky walls?" The ork warboss Skulznapper said
"I bulieve we gunna break dem boss!" An unknown ork said to him.
"Daz roight boyz, we a gonna make dem hummies learn wot a true ork iz and... Oi wat ya git doin' wit dat glowy rod! Daz mine!" Skulznapper said as he sidetracked to the fellow ork playing with a hot, glowing metal rod that he is touching in his uncovered hands.
"Hot, hot, hot. Itz hot boss!" The ork said alternating from one hand to other.
"Well, puttin dat aside, les get goin' and go ta WAAAGH!!!" Skulznapper said as he roared in eccentricity. He led whatever ork remains in the battlefield to charge at the enemy gates head-on.
