The Crusher of Beasts BR3 April 683

John Smith nodded with thanks as Ramon led the rangers behind the warriors of The Dispossessed. He had done as promised and led the small strike force right under the noses of the servants of Xeranth the vile Necromancer. There was now only a short distance between the Beastmen encampment and his force, but now the danger would start. John had laid his archers out in front of his warriors so that they could shoot a few volleys before his warriors charged in. He waved the men forward and was glad to be surrounded by his hammer wielding bodyguard. He looked to his left flank and saw Tauro of Grantham leading his guardsmen forward in good order. So far all was going to plan. Then the beast bellowed. It was a noise like no other he had ever heard. John knew this could have only have come from the mouth of the Minotaur. More bestial bellows answered the call they must have picked up the scent of the strike force. John knew there was little time for stealth now and began shouting orders to his men to ensure their focus stayed on the goal. The archers began shooting ahead of him, and his officers yelled out ranges as the beasts came closer. John heard some shouting for concentrated fire on the Minotaur. The archers loosed as quickly as they could, and the volleys became more ragged as the beastmen drew closer. The signal was given,

and the archers withdrew through the lines of the warriors behind. John now saw his enemy. Many of the beasts were injured, but still they advanced in a frenzy of hate. The Minotaur was coming straight for him. His men stood strong around him, stretching their arms and loosening their shoulders. Hammer work was hard work. He waited until the archers were safely out of the way then called the charge. The line of men moved forward as one, screaming their own war cries back at the beasts ahead of them. Johns hammer swung into the side of a goat faced monstrosity, crushing the air out of its lungs. He moved on. His hammerers around him striking like the beasts were iron on the anvil. The Minotaur was just ahead of him and roared it challenge at John Smith. The answer came as a surprise to John, and he bellowed back as if the fires of the furnace were in his soul. The Minotaur swept the nearest of Johns hammerers aside with its club as if they were twigs, and with its backswing caught John in the chest. His metal breastplate cracked under the fury of the blow and the air was punched from his chest. Tauros long axe took the Minotaurs head neatly off its shoulders, and he smiled as he looked down at John before charging off again with his guardsmen struggling to keep up with him. John watched as the remains of the Minotaur slowly turned to a thick sludge, the curse of the necromancer fading away. He was helped to his feet by his men, and surveyed the field around him. The beastmen were all slain, and the men of The Dispossessed and Grantham had survived once more.