Part 12: The Night of Spears29th of April
Ever since the return of the Red Blade clan, their banner had seen only limited action upon any large battlefields. The only proof of conflict upon its colours, was the dried up sand of Silithus as its cloth danced in the Barrens' winds. Tonight, however, there would be more upon the banner than just sand...
The time had come to mobilize every orc and centaur available for battle. Worza's hand had been forced, and he had now amassed a small army to face Krerak and the Red Blades in the open field. Upon first sign of this, the Red Blades made for Krerak's oasis to draw up a battle plan. Upon arrival, the Kolkar exiles were already well on their way to prepare for war. Families were readying their warriors who were about to go to battle, and Krerak and his champions were setting up a plan of attack. Upon his recommendation, the orcs would be best served to hold the center of the front lines, ensuring the flanks would be held by the swiftness of the centaurs' own legs and the champions who led them. Having agreed upon the plan, the orcs set about making their own final preparations. Under Thur'ruk Kogra Windwatcher's guidance, a ritual was set up to invoke the Great Spirits of the clan, calling upon their protection for each orc as they had drawn upon them the runes and markings of the wolf spirits with the blood of the sacrificed. The Red Blade was ready for war.
A long herd of centaur warriors accompanied the Red Blades to the battlefield, ranging as far as the eye could see to the horizon. When they arrived, many already stood ready for battle... yet there was no sign of the enemy. Briefly, there was the notion that Worza might have had other plans for his warriors and might plan a ruse, but such elaborate plans are too far-fetched for the likes of centaurs. Within moments, his warriors began to flock from the treeline of the oasis like a mass of ants. They did not attack just yet, however. Instead, an imposing figure came riding towards them, flanked by several bodyguards. It was the Warlord Worza himself.
Worza was not surprised in the slightest to see the Red Blades having joined forces with Krerak, for he despised both equally given his previous run-ins with the orcs. Even so, he gave the orcs a choice to abandon Krerak's cause, for it was a matter between centaur and centaur. Worza's words fell upon deaf ears however, as the orcs were determined to stand by the word they had given Krerak. Tonight, orc would stand beside centaur for the greater good. A night not only of the spear, but of the axe as well. Disappointed and disgusted, Worza withdrew back to his own warriors across the open field. Battle was about to determine the fate of the Kolkar clan in the Barrens...
Chieftain Kozgugore Feraleye stepped forward to inspire the orcs with a final, rousing speech, before personally giving the order to charge. A violent clash of orc and centaur versus centaur ensued, leaving many dead and wounded within the very first seconds of the battle's onset. This was no battle that is typically described as beautiful and glorious. It was a slaughter and a pure mess of centaur limbs and heads, as the centaurs' reputation for their crude means of warfare easily equaled that of the orcs. Amidst the chaos, the imposing Warlord Worza slowly hacked his way towards the front line of orcs with his immense and crude blade, flanked by two of his finest champions. Meanwhile however, a messenger arrived to inform Krerak that the left flank was threatening to fall to the pressure of the enemy ranks! Forced to withdraw some of his own troops, Chieftain Feraleye ordered Rrosh-tul Nosh'marak Ironclaw to take several orcs with him to return to their wolves and see to the left flank instead. This had now become a battle not only against the centaurs, but against time as well, with the left flank threatening to fall on one end, and Worza closing in on the other.
Followed by Kai'gron Ripclaw, Karnna Blackfeather, Atar'ka, Mal'garr Firefist and Vraxxar Wildmark, Rrosh-tul Ironclaw was quick to retaliate on the left flank. In a lightning strike, the orcs struck the enemy centaurs in their flank and were allowed to charge freely through them! Meanwhile however, Worza approached fast upon the center and its defending orcs, waving his enormous blade around in wide arcs and taking down orcs and centaurs alike in the process! Through sheer determination and iron will, both of his champions managed to be picked off in no small part thanks to Kyrazha Throatrender, whose arrows struck true upon both. This did not relent Worza himself however, as he was nigh-unstoppable in his berserk rage! The left flank had to be rolled up quick in order to seize control of the situation... And as if guided by the spirits themselves, the left flank would soon bend the knee! Many centaur warriors, including the champion holding their flank, fell underneath the might of the wolf backed orcs as they ran rampant across the left flank and worked their way towards the center. Before they could reach them however, Worza soon began to realize his imminent defeat.
Counting his losses, Worza turned tail and ran, instead ordering his warriors to seek shelter at the treeline of the oasis. Hounded by the Red Blades, Shatterskull Marauders and centaur exiles on their heels however, many of the fleeing enemies were cut down before they could make it... and those who did, managed to form only a feeble last stand. The orcs briefly reformed their lines, before they charged once more and broke the last line of their defense entirely! The centaur warriors ran rampant across the oasis, hunted down by orc and centaur alike as victory seemed within grasp!... And yet, it would all be for naught, if Worza would not be counted among the dead. Instead, the Warlord managed to hack his way through his attackers and attempted to flee the oasis to live and fight another day. Refusing to let the Warlord get away, the Chieftain ordered Rrosh-tul Ironclaw to outmaneuver the fleeing centaur with his wolf backed warriors.
Cloven centaur hooves proved no match for swift wolf feet that night. Cleverly outmaneuvering the retreating Worza, the Red Blades managed to corner the defeated Warlord. Even then, Worza refused to give in, however... even if the Red Blades would not have given him any such courtesy to begin with. The Warlord made a worthy last stand for one of his kind, warding off some of Karnna's attacks before being set afire by one of Kai'gron's vials and decapitated by Karnna's spirit-blessed blade. Then, the blazing remains of his body were kicked by a charging Kai'gron, cast from the highest edge of the ravine at the Great Divide. With his head rolling down the hill unto Chieftain Feraleye's boots and his burning carcass falling down into the pits below, Worza's death marked the end of the Kolkar uprising...
The orcs and their allies cried out and cheered in victory as Worza's head was held up high on display. When Krerak and his retinue followed to join them, he too saw that victory was achieved that day, and in no small part thanks to the orcs' intervention. He was left to admit that if it were not thanks to their aid, Krerak's cause would have been futile from the very start, considering the vast amount of warriors that were still at Worza's command. Now forced to uphold his end of the bargain, Krerak solemnly swore in the presence of orc and centaur alike that from this day onward, the local Kolkar clan would no longer conduct any raids upon Horde lands or caravans, and remain isolated in what few oases the Kolkar called their home. With both ends upheld and their honour intact, the two unlikely allies finally decided to part ways. After all, both agreed that, for all the blood they had shared together, orc and centaur make unlikely and, frankly, uncomfortable allies. Far better is it to simply part ways and expect either side to never have to conduct business with the other again. Even so, a number of valuable lessons had been learned throughout both this battle and the campaign. For without honor, what is any orc or, indeed, any self-respecting individual, upon this earth? No matter appearances, allegiance, race or otherwise, a person is to be judged by the merit of his honor alone... And honor, that is what goes above all else for these Red Blades. Even if it can be found in what would normally be their enemies. Perhaps a lesson that, in the future, too, shall become relevant...