A Tough Job Ahead [Basic Axe] Orog

[Gauls]

The Month of Aperitus, in the Season of Summer,
Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum,
the Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne

It was an amazing sight. A glorious summer day and the area surrounding the mighty fortress of Orckon were teeming with 9000 orcs. These orcs came from all points of the Sherian Cosmopolis upon receiving word of the victories claimed by the Horde in Narim and Paxia. These orcs were not the trained and disciplined types that make up the Horde instead, they are a wild bunch of young males all with a mix-matched collection of talents and skills. It was a tough job ahead for the clan leader of the Pardahun Votar to attempt to arrange these testosterone filled orcs into some sort of effective fighting force. Before anything specific could be taught to them, it had to be made certain that all these orcs had the basic ability to use an axe in combat.

"Listen up! Bakka Grimlir of da Pardahun Votar teach lat how ta use da axe. You not learn axe, you be arrow fodder for shara in next fight!"

The orcs words were met with some grumbling and hisses from the young masses of orcs but being the bolg that he was, they listened and respected what Bakka was about to say next.

"Urak not hab axe, lat go into Orckon an git axe from armory. Lat now Lughorn in da Great Horde!"

Not flashy or full of pomp but yet in an instance, the mobs were granted status (rank) within the Great Horde. Lughorn was the starting position of any new recruit and no matter how these orcs felt about being under the Horde Master's command, they were now under him regardless. The Great Horde has swelled in numbers just that quickly. Bakka now is standing by waiting for those orcs that do not have an axe to go to the armory and return ready for their basic axe instruction.

[Rushnak Orog]

Orog found himself overwhelmed with other orcs all with the same intentions, regardless of the motives, as his own. To be consumed within a huge massing of his fellow race was inspiring. It was the first time he had joined with so many orcs since he was too young to remember and the power he felt pulse through his veins was an unfamiliar and motivating feeling.

When Bakka had announced their status, Orog could not help but feel above them in a way. He was considered a Sapat, though that was mostly due to his name than anything else. He required the training that all these others orcs were about to receive and Orog was going to take advantage of experiencing first hand what the lughorn grunts had to go through. He, just like most of the thousands surrounding him, had no axe to train with, so he continued to the armory just like the rest.

Upon his return, he watched the other orcs file back to form up and prepare for training. Orog was excited and eager to start training and eager to see how these other orcs worked. There will be blood shed this brightening, the Sapat thought as many unskilled and dumb orcs came running out with axe in hand. Training with a vast number of ignorant orcs like this could spell a disaster, but having an accident was inevitable in this situation. Orog just hoped they felt the brotherhood they now shared and death would be kept to a minimum.

[Gauls]

The Pardahun Votar orc with his black skin clashed drastically with the green skinned orcs that were his new students. This made him highly visible. Soon, there came out of Orckon, a group of other orcs also black skinned. These orcs were also Pardahun Votar. There were about 100 of them and they gathered around the clan leader Bakka. They huddled for a moment then broke up yelling and cursing at the orc lughorn.

:Pushing and shoving the poor orcs around until they finally formed somewhat of smaller more managable groups:

"Git in ta groups scum!"

Now that the orcs were in smaller groups, they were herded off to more secluded spaces where they would have enough room to maneuver and begin their classes.

Orog

Basics

Orog was lucky to get the clan leader for their teacher. They moved off to an area on the west side of the city outside the walls. Still, with there being 9000 orcs in the area, it was not a whole lot of room to just go nuts in. It was important that the classes be kept under control which is what the Pardahun were trying to do.

:Holding up his axe:
"Listen Up!" Bakka shouted out to get the attention of his class. "Dis sapat (axe). It save lat life one day and spill blood of many enemies if Lughorn learn to use right! But before lat learn ta spill blood, lat learn ta move wit sapat."

Bakka holds his axe over his head and points to each part as he names it off:

"Dis face (points to the side of the axe blade), dis blade (points to the sharpened edge of the axe), dis head (points to the whole metal end including the blade and face), dis shaft (points to the center of the pole connected to the head), dis handle (points to the area closest to the end of the shaft opposite from the head). Dat easy remember right? None git killed after that little bit of class right? Good."

Balance

:Bakka points his axe at his class:
"Now lat hold sapat over head wit both hands holding shaft! MOVE IT!" he shouted.

Bakka paused and waited for all the orcs to get into position with both hands on the shaft of their weapon holding it up over their heads.

"Now, lat stand on one foot an' lean as far as lat can to left din lean as far as lat can right. Don' drop sapat or lower below head!"

Bakka demonstrated and then waited for the class to repeat what they saw. He was ready to see the masses of orcs screw this one up. It was enevitable. When he sees them at least get it right *enough* he will add:

"Hurry up idiots! Move it. Now do same wit opposite foot!"

He stopped again to witness the calamity before him.

[Rushnak Orog]

Orog nodded as the Pardahun Votar came to assist in the training. It made sense to split the entire group up into smaller groups even though the now smaller classes still contained roughly ninety orcs each. With a shrug, the dark green skinned orc moved into a formation and was herded along with the rest of his group following Bakka himself.

The Sapat paid close attention when their teacher outlined the different parts of the weapon from which his status was named. The parts made sense as he learned which was the face, the blade, the head, shaft and the handle. It was not an extremely complicated weapon, but it was always a good thing to know the weapon you wield.

Obediently, Orog held his weapon with both hands above his head. The weight of the bladed weapon was much more in this position than he had expected, but he kept the weapon above his head nonetheless. When Bakka instructed them to shift their weight onto one foot, Orog did so, slowly. First, he gained balance on his left leg without leaning. When comfortable with that, he would slowly lean over towards his left side.

His eyes focussed on a single point- a blade of grass or something close to him that was not moving. Also, as he leaned, he shifted the axe itself to the right to work as a counter balance. With luck, this would help him lean further over. After all, it was his goal to be the best of the massive group.

When told, he started to shift the other way. Again he ensured his movements were slow and he kept his focus. There were certainly other orcs around him falling and losing balance and Orog would have to keep his focus regardless of what was going on around him. He moved the axe towards the left as his body moved right. He adjusted his grip on the handle of his weapon to try and keep it above his head, but through the balance exercise, he knew the weight would keep adding up.

[Gauls]

It was pure comedy to see not just the orcs in Orog's group but also in the various other groups falling over and struggling to keep their balance. Axes were swirling everywhere and some were getting dropped. To anyone else this would be one to tell the young ones but Bakka was scowling the whole time throwing slurs and curses in all directions.

More Balance: Swing Plus Balance

"How lat kill shara when lat no able ta stand on own foot? Sapat good weapon but not if lat not able ta git in position ta swing it!"

Bakka paced back and forth pointing at various orcs to try the exercise again. "Do again! Muss learn balance. Shara not stand still an' let urak swing straight at dim! Shara swing, lat move an' swing same time."

Bakka demonstrated leaning on one foot and swinging straight and hopping up on one foot then swinging again as if he was dodging a sword swing to his right.

Basic Attack Stance

After all the orcs performed to Bakka's liking, he moved on to the next lesson; the basic attack stance.

"Ok shok golog!" Bakka cursed to get the class to pay attention again. "Only snaga run at shara wit sapat waving in air like gru!"

:Holding his axe in his right hand waving it up in the air over his head like a lunatic:

"Dis not disciplined urak." he said after his demonstration. "When holding over head, lat only hab half power behind swing." He then held his axe in his right hand with his hand placed between mid-shaft and the end of the handle. His hand was low about waist line and he held the axe head about midway between waist and shoulders. "Dis how hold axe when lat standing an' when charge. Dis hold gib full power when lat make swing."

Bakka showed the class first slowly then faster how one could make various swings overhead, sideways, and diagonal from the basic attack stance. He placed his strongest foot back and weakest foot forward toward the enemy.

"Use balance lat learn ta put weight on strong foot jus before any swing."

Bakka stopped and looked on as his class performed what he was showing them. It was important that the orcs knew how to hold a weapon correctly before they started swinging it around others.

[Rushnak Orog]

Orog finished his balancing act and watched Bakka as he demonstrated the proper stance to fight with an axe. As he spoke, he hefted the axe in his right hand and held it parallel with the ground above his waist and to the side. He moved it around through the air as his muscles acclimated to the weight and balance of the weapon the way he was holding it. It actually felt natural, which made the orc satisfied with himself. This was the weapon he was meant to wield.

The other orcs were either not paying attention or gave Bakka enough time to explain the stance before they tried things on their own. It was not that they wanted to disrespect the orc, but just because they were orcs and were aggressive in nature and wanted nothing more than to spill blood with the weapon in their hands. Orog could relate, certainly, but he also had better discipline. He watched as Bakka moved and saw how he would attack a theoretical enemy.

Once the command was given, Orog took a few steps backwards in an effort to allow himself more room to maneuver. He looked around thoroughly before taking any further action, however, as he wanted to make sure those bloody hungry orcs kept their weapons in their own hands and not his back. It would be very disappointing for a Sapat to lose his life in training because of stupid lughorn too immature to keep relative peace during training.

Orog moved slowly as he raised the axe from his starting position and crossed his body with it. He slashed down and brought it back to where he started- checking his grip on the handle and shaft and where it naturally came back when he finished his swing. Starting again, this time the orc took the axe over his head to swing downwards, feeling the power and hearing the air part as the blade came crashing down. This was power and Orog wielded it naturally.

[Gauls]

Bakka looked on pleased with seeing his students perform to this point without lobbing off an ear or imbedding their axes into another orc's back. So far so good. Bakka moved over to a nearby tree line and motioned for his class to follow.

: Motioning toward the trees :
"All urak fin' tree. Stand n' front of tree wit sapat in basic attack stance Bakka jus show lat!"

Bakka waited for each orc to find a tree to stand in front of. There were sometimes two or three orcs per tree each standing at a different side of the tree. Bakka himself found a tree and held his axe straight out in front of him to where his axe blade could touch the tree then placed his strong foot back keeping his other foot in place.

Overhead Strike

Looking around to make sure his orcs were in position, Bakka proceeded with the next lesson, the overhead strike...

"Dis first strike lat learn wit sapat. It called "overhead strike". Wit sapat in basic stance position, whip arm back din forward an' down past lat head! Notice blade pass over head, not below."

Bakka demonstrated slowly drawing his arm back heaving his axe over his shoulder then with a slow motion bringing his axe back forward in an overhead arching motion toward the tree trunk in front of him planting the axe blade into the bark of the tree.

"Urak aim fer point on center of shara's forehead above da brow. Lat can do same strike but wit angle like dis..."

Bakka repeated his overhead strike in slow motion but this time angled his overhead arching swing to a point on the side of the tree trunk from where he had struck first.

"Now urak aim fer point on shara's head by ear. If lat take off many shara ears, lat make good necklace!"

This was orc humor that probably only an orc could laugh at. It was a serious strike to learn not to mention the foundation strike that makes up many fighting tactics. Bakka began practicing the overhead strike faster and faster until it looked like he was making natural swings as one would see in battle. Each strike he made, he alternated from center to left, center to right of the tree until the poor tree was pocked with various cuts in the bark from the many blows.

"Now, lat try. Don' stop 'til lat hab swing perfect!"

[Rushnak Orog]

Orog finished with the lesson on balance and the basic fighting stance and followed Bakka's orders to find a tree. He moved with the rest of the group and positioned himself close enough to the Bolg so he could see clearly what he was being taught. When the rest of the urak found their positions, he watched the teacher demonstrate a couple of the first attacks they would learn.

Attacking over the head seemed to be opening himself up to a counter attack much more easily. Orog knew, though, that the attack would most likely have more power than a slash from the side or horizontally and the ability to smash a head, even if helmeted, would be one to cherish.

The Sapat positioned his right foot behind him slightly and his less dominant foot forward. His axe was held in his right hand and to his side, level with the ground and above his waist. Taking notes from Bakka, Orog started slowly at first. He brought his arm back slowly and moved it up over his head. He concentrated mainly on making sure the axe went straight over his head as Bakka commented. The axe blade came down in a straight line and he put a small notch in the bark of his target to mark where he would want to aim his future attacks.

He repeated the slower movements again to make sure he got the alignment right and decided to speed up. His next attack was faster and he forced himself to concentrate on making fluid movements instead of rigid motions which would not work in battle. Speeding up with every attempt, the overhead strike seemed to become more natural for him. Though he still felt exposed with his arm straight over his head, the power behind smashing his blade into the tree and seeing pieces of bark fly all around him only served to invigorate the orc.

Slowing his pace again, the Sapat tried to angle the attack to land the blade to the side where the man's ear would be. Thinking of the necklace of ears made him smile- a gesture only others orcs would appreciate. He landed his blade angled and to the right. It was easier for Orog to start the attack just like the overhead strike and change the path of the axe on his way down. This still gave him power behind the strike and the opportunity to change where he wanted to land the blow in mid swing. He sped up the attack and then switched sides. Not being far removed from the overhead strike, he was able to speed up the pace much quicker this time.

Orog changed the attack every time he swung his axe down until he felt comfortable and until Bakka either approved his attack or moved on to the next part of training.

[Gauls]

Bakka was cherishing the sound of axes ringing upon trees. It almost sounded like it would in battle when axes would hack through bones and limbs. The class was progressing well but he was well aware that this class was only the basics, the foundation for more leathal attacks that these orcs will eventually learn to make with their axes.

After checking, then checking again the orcs to make sure that they were doing everything with not just the right form but also with power, Bakka yelled out to stop the class from that lesson...

"Listen up gru! Lat see dat sapat hab most power when urak use in overhead strike. It too dangerous ta use overhead strike as first move against shara! Never use overhead strike as lat first swing. Urak be dead before make sapat meet shara head! Dis most basic way urak meet shara in battle..."

Measuring Distance

Bakka once again measured the distance from his tree by holding out his axe in front of him then taking 2 steps backward.

"Lat not know how far sapat reach when first move toward shara in battle. Lat not know how much longer shara's weapon be than lat own sapat. Urak first mus' find out distance."

Bakka once again moved in slow motion showing his class the form first of finding distance.

: Starting from the Basic Attack Stance :
"Shara not wait for urak to hone in on his location. Urak hab ta find distance fast. Maybe two steps from shara, lat swing sapat flat straight across waistline directly in front."

Bakka demonstrates swinging the axe from right to left in a horizontal arc directly in front of him. Then freezes in that position with his right arm across the front of his body and axe at the left side of his waistline.

"Lat can also start from dis position maybe four steps from shara din measure distance by swinging sapat in opposite direction."

Bakka then swings his axe from left to right in a horizontal arc in front of him while taking one step forward.

"Dis show urak how far lat hab ta move in closer before makin' next swing. Measuring distance not meant ta hit shara, just set up urak ta make next strike a deadly strike. If lat do hit shara in measuring swing, dat a bonus but measuring meant ta git own position and also ta clear away shara's sword if him make first swing at urak when him approaching."

Bakka demonstrates again the two measuring swings (right to left and left to right) and how they always seem to place him in just the right distance from the tree to then follow up with a swing at the tree itself. It is also evident to the class how the swings could clear away any blades coming toward them as they attempt to close with the enemy.

"Lat also able ta angle da measuring swings as lat need to when shara chage his angle!"

He then swings his axe in the same fashion as before except he shows the class how they can angle either down or up swinging left or right to parry any blades coming from those directions and still accomplish distance.

"Now lat try measuring distance din attempt overhead strike at end of measure swing ta see if lat gettin' good distance from target."

[Gauls]

Bakka waited for the class to finish the exercise and was pacing through the ranks of his class to make sure that they were measuring correctly and then placing a well aimed overhead strike afterward. When this was accomplished, he proceeded with the final lesson.

Horde Battle Array (basic)

The basic axe class was just that, the basic knowledge of how to handle the weapon without hurting oneself and hopefully doing some damage to the enemy. This simple lesson could be magnified into a deadly combination when done in sheer numbers as a single flowing force. This was the founding principle of the Horde Battle Array.

Bakka looked upon his students with satisfaction...

"Lat doin' good an' maybe lat swing sapat in fights whole life but in battle wit' shara legions, urak not last long if try ta fight alone. Dat is why lat learn da way da Great Horde fight, as ONE unit. Every urak pair wit another ta make groups of two!"

Bakka paused to wait for all of his students to pair up. He then found an orc himslef to pair with and drug the orc over to a position so that all of the students could see.

"In da Great Horde, Sapat an' Lughorn status urak make up da first ranks on all four sides of da Horde. Lat maybe tink dis because Gothmog Ushtar wan' low status Sapat ta die first in battle. Bakka tink dat Gothmog Ushtar put Sapat der ta git first blood from shara!"

Bakka said this with a great passion to instill in his students that they were not just arrow fodder but an important part of the Horde as a force. Bakka's words caused some grunts and roars of excitement from some of the students.

: Bakka put his hand upon the shoulder of the orc he had paired with :
"Der be no greater glory for urak din ta kill many enemies before him die too but ta do dat, lat hab ta rely upon da urak next ta lat!" Bakka took a position next to his partner's right side then took about one step backward. "Now, lat learn da basic rule of da Horde, dat is "Battle Array". Da basic Battle Array is combination of measure swing, an' overhead strike, an' followup swing. All Sapat an' Lughorn ranks start in Basic Attack Stance. Da urak on lat left side (Bakka holds up his left hand so there wasn't any confusion which side he was referring to) makes da measure swing din urak on right follows wit overhead strike at target. After da overhead strike, da urak on left git ta make finishing swing ta any target dat could make couter attack to him or urak on right while him recovering position."

Bakka knew that this may have sounded complicated to the orcs in his class as they were common clan orcs that have never had to rely upon another orc in battle or help to defend his fellow orc while they got to make the "kill" but this was the foundation of the Horde and why it has held off every attempt of invasion since the founding of Orckon. It was the notion of a orc force acting as one entity that scared most legionaires. The orcs in a horde became an unstoppable tide in battle as long as they held together. Bakka now tried to show this to the students visually by replaying first in slow motion how this works with his partner.

Bakka stood in position behind the right side of his partner then hit him in the rump with his knee to signal that he wanted him to go through the motions with him. "First da measure swing..." The front orc slowly swung from right-to-left with his axe horizontally arcing in front of him. When his axe was fully to the left; "Now lat see if need ta make any distance change din attack!" Bakka slowly executed an overhead strike stopping the swing once his axe head was directly in front of his eyesight. "Din da finishing strike..." When Bakka said that, the front orc swung his axe at the imaginary enemy in front of them completing the Array.

Bakka stood back up normally and lowered his axe looking at his students. "It looks simple an' maybe lat tink dat shara never get killed by such weak attack but when lat hab t'ousands of urk makin' da same attack in a charge, da shara maybe git one urak, but him not hab time ta git two! Da shara lat kill maybe da key position in shara lines dat urak can now exploit! Der any questions? Now lat try an' do it right!"

[Gauls]

Bakka watched each orc in his group then glanced around to see other groups finishing up their classes as well. He knew that his class has at least grasped the concepts he has taught them.

"Lat look like know wud lat doin'. Finishin' dis class mean lat know enough now with Sapat to be able ta stand in da front line of da great Horde. If lat not like being in da front line, Bakka suggest lat practice wud lat learned here today an' din git into da next level of Sapat training. Only din will lat git moved deeper within da Horde ranks. Hell, Bakka maybe think lat will live past one battle if lat learn sapat good enough."

It was an ominous truth Bakka spoke of. The orcs here were now just capable of standing in the front line of the Horde as fodder for an enemy charge. This was no doubt why they were only taught a couple attacks. That was all the time they were expected to live in an engagement. It was now each orc's goal to increase their skill with the axe with the next level of training.

Bakka dismissed his class and walked off toward Orckon's gate.