When I turned around to see where the noise came from, I saw green. Green skin, white tusks, muscles, and a brown leather jerkin sewn with metal plates. He was carrying a dark wooden round shield that was big enough to seat four for lunch in a tight cafe booth.

  In the center of the shield was a metal boss with a steel spike jutting from it. His double-bladed ax had a head almost half the size of the shield…and he had the muscles to carry both like they were nothing.

  Behind him was a more slender, obviously female version. She wore a long, sleeveless dress of dark brown leather, belted with a wide, slightly darker strap. Leather bracers were strapped tightly on both her forearms. In her hands, a thick walking staff, almost as tall as she was. Shorter and thinner than the male, but easily just as muscular in a lean, powerful way.

  Two quick REVEAL STATS showed an Orc Warrior and a Healer.

  Gar-Kosh and Agra Wolf’s Daughter.

  Bhaarrt stepped forward, slapping his left shoulder with his right fist. “For the Horde,” he shouted.

  Both Orcs returned the salute with perfect timing. “For the Horde!”

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bartholomew Ironshaper] [Are these the Orcs we rescued?]

  [Bartholomew Ironshaper:] [William of Brinsford] Yes. You played WoW more than I have. You take it from here.

  Putting my right fist to my opposite shoulder and bowing slightly, I said in a rush, “I’m William of Brinsford. Welcome. We need every Warrior and Healer willing to stand with us.”

  Then slowed down with what was going on. “Some local gangs have banded together. They’re coming to take over Eddington. I’ve been put in charge of the battle. I’ve been Alliance since TBC…but Horde and Alliance fought the Burning Legion together. We can fight together here too. My welcome to both of you.”

  “Thank you, William of Brinsford. And thanks to your Fire Mage, whose bravery will last in song. You saved my wife and children. There were more than even I could fight…as glorious as the battle might have been,” Gar-Kosh said.

  “We didn’t want to fight anyone. Blaze’s bravery turned an enemy into a friend…just like Jaina and Thrall. I see CHARGE and shield skills in your stats. You’re a Tank? We need more tanks.”

  He laughed. “I’ve main tanked since Lich King. Raid leader too. I can help. What’ve you got?”

  “Sir Andrew’s in charge of the shield wall. It’s mostly police with riot gear. Bhaarrt’s my current Main Tank. His job is to break their lines if it comes to that. Sir Andrew’s been doing field battles at Pennsic since before Blizzard made their first game. We don’t know what they’ll bring. We’re betting on lots of guns and not much else…but we could be very wrong.”

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  “Warchief,” he said, squinting at me. “Are you fighting a raid? Or a battleground?”

  Pausing, I thought for a moment. “Haven’t thought of it that way. Yeah. PvP. It’s a battleground. No objectives, no flag…no resurrection.”

  “No.” Gar-Kosh’s voice dropped, serious. “You do have an objective. Win. Lok’tar ogar. Victory or death. You want to save this city. Your people. You win, or you die trying. Honorable death. That is the way of the Horde. Even the Alliance knows this. If your shield spells are as strong as the one protecting your Fire Mage…we’ll win. If not? We’ll charge, and take as many with us as we can.”

  His grin was full of teeth and tusks. “I see Gar-Kosh, Bhaarrt, and your knight charging their line. They’ll shit their pants and run.”

  This time we both laughed. So did a few people around us.

  “You’re right. We don’t need to kill them. Just break them. Make them run.” I pointed at him. “Got an idea. Once we need raid leaders, you’re top of my list. For now, work with Bhaarrt and Sir Andrew. Help get our people ready. Don’t know how much time we have. Hope it’s enough. Have your wife talk to Ingrid, Bhaarrt’s wife. She’s in charge of the Healers.”

  Gar-Kosh nodded once, firmly, and he and his wife left with Bhaarrt.

  Chief Brown waved me over.

  “Will. We’ve got a couple of plainclothes watching what looks like the group we were warned about. They’re loading into cars and trucks. Most of them look armed with guns.”

  “How long until they get here?” I asked.

  “Depends when they leave. Fifteen, twenty minutes maybe,” the Chief answered.

  “We’ll move as fast as we can. Can you keep them from coming around the back? I want us staged out of sight.”

  He nodded. “I’ll call some city and country utility departments. Get them to put up barricades and block streets with their trucks. We’ll block the streets as far out as possible. Funnel them in where we’re ready. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

  “Honestly? No. But I know a little about fantasy, medieval, and modern warfare. That’s what we’ve got to work with. Good people will help keep us from making dumb mistakes. Like Bhaarrt reminded us every time we went out today. no plan survives contact with the enemy.”

  Chief Brown gave a slow nod. “We’ll funnel all of them we can into the front lot. We’ll get the rest of the cars cleared.”

  He paused, hands on his hips, slowly rotating as he looked over the parking lots.

  I’m not used to being on the defensive like this.”

  “I know. But better they come to us where we’re ready, than we go rooting them out of their neighborhoods. We’ll meet them in the open grass between the front and back lots. That’ll limit property damage.”

  “Mz Tarcheski.” Chief Brown gestured. “You and your cameraman, please come with me. I’ll get you to the roof. You’ll be as safe up there as anywhere.”

  They followed him without questions. I returned to my party, who were now surrounded by groups all looking my way.

  “OK. Everyone!” I shouted. “Chief Brown’s going to force them to come in the front, unopposed. We’ll stage in the back. When they’re unloading, we’ll come around the side to meet them. I’ll explain the rest once we’re in position.”

  “We have fifteen to thirty minutes to get ready!” I yelled, as we were moving behind the building. “If you haven’t been in a party before, follow instructions from those who have. Let’s move, folks. Now!” I shouted as I started the movement to the back of the building, out of sight.

  Musical Interlude:

  "Power of the Horde" in WoW by L70ETC (aka. Storm Earth Fire)

  Or if you want it live.....