Sir Montcalm reins up at a vantage point. Gondioque looks and says We shall see. If opportunity offers, I'd like to see the Hun leader of this group a prisoner.

The Entangle spell slows and hinders, but does not trap completely.

However, it is a deadly supplement to Tugdual's attack.

The combination gives the Ogre and Orcs extreme incentive to get through the door and into the comparative safety of the amphitheater.

Usually, that kind of desperate effort to get into a theater involves a "boy band" and 10,000 screaming teenage girls.  But the Orcs manage it, without the level of screaming.  They have left some behind, struck down by the lightning, but the survivors pour into the door once the Ogre gets through it.

The cavalrymen look at each other in some dismay.  They cannot pursue with the Entangle spell active, and going in there would negate the advantage of their horses.

Tavi hastily tries to undue her spell.

  note that the lightning targets only a 5 foot radius (so one creature) and Tugdual targets exclusively the ogre.

 After the first few lightnings called down on the armoured ogre, it seemed that it would not be nearly enough to stop it from breaking through the doors...

 Tugdual came down a few dozen feat to be more reactive if he had to perform an emergency landing.

 He continued raining lightning bolts on the monstrous giant, hoping to slow it down at least, until the horsemen caught up and dealt with the orcs.

Gondioque shifts in her saddle.

Maki aproaches others in a tighter formation. "I'm glad Mr. Tugdual is on our side. He's quite impressive." He commented as he watched lightning strike.
Patiently he waited for the orders on their next move.

Impressive indeed, but remember that we are neutral. As in gray between black and white...though there are at least fifty shades of gray.

The ogre probably was affected by magic which enlarged him. The von Bourgones ran into an orc similarly enlarged in Lingones about a year ago. When the rest of us, plus Sagrem, were traveling to Nanciacum, we came across orc-tilled fields planted with such things as wizards use. Wizards are very smart. That's one reason I'm surprised that, so far, the Hunnish forces don't seem led by one with command of strategy. She turns to Maki. When one is in one's own country and can be supplied, and is facing an enemy that is passing through, especially when it's retreating, get between that enemy and its supply base. Then harass them until they make a stand in a place favorable to you. In my view, they should have nudged them west by having forces on the other three sides. If the allied forces attack, the Huns should give way opening the possibility of a surround. in possibly hostile territory, remember to look around. (If Maki does so, he will observe that Sir Montcalm, Geoff, and Windreid are indeed watching, each covering one-third of a circle.) Have you heard of the Battle of Cannae?

Maki nodded. "It was indeed a great battle from which Romans never fully recovered. It teaches us that a weaker army can still defeat a foe if they use tactics for them. Also just how important a flanking might be. Like the battle earlier, for the hill. Had a Hun detachment laid hidden nearby... i wonder how it would end for us. I guess we were a bit lucky that time."

Maki was still young. He knew his history well, and many tactics. But it still requires a lot of practice, training and self discipline, to act correctly in a battle. As young as Maki was, he lacked on those fields and still had a long way in front of him.

Gondioque, mouth about ready to "teach," subsided...with a smile.

The group looks at the doorway.  The Orc and Ogre survivors of the attack have fled inside, leaving only the bodies of the fallen behind.

"Whatever the cause of the his girth, he looks to be hard to kill," Montcalm says of the Ogre.

"And that was a main door," says one of other warriors.  "He'll have a nasty time squeezing his rump through any of the smaller doors."

"Disgusting animal," Tavi says.

 Tugdual is still flying quite high above the group of riders. He assumes that there will be no roof on the amphitheatre structure, and thus keeps focused on his thunder calling stunt. He still directs the bolts at the oversized ogre, hoping to bring it down for good with the powers of the storm.

 If this plan proves impossible, the druid will land on the upper steps of the amphitheatre and resume his human shape to bring a more physical stop to the monster's infiltration.

Most of the theater is open air, but the small rooms along the sides and perimeters are not.

That is where the Orcs have gone, although one peers out every now and then, just to see if the lightening attack is still keeping up.

Tugdual can also see that up on top, there are three Human warriors- sentries.

It has become something of a waiting game, with the Orcs pinned in the right side chamber.

 If the orcs want to play hide and seek with a druid, they clearly have not idea what to expect...

 Tugdual remains a vulture for a short while, just enough to find a good vantage point in the amphitheatre. He does not wish to play this out as a solo, but communication is always tricky on a battlefield, and even more so when one of the protagonist is a speechless bird.

 From his seat in the middle tier, Tugdual has a nice view towards the right chamber. He resumes his human shape and forms the words of power that will summon a rolling sphere of scorching flames.

 The ball rolls down the aisle and right into the chamber, with the intent to burn everything inside, but a jumbo ogre with a side of orcs.
  "Riders !" he bellows gutturally. "Ready your bows !"

 He is hoping the hunnic  soldiers will not come out towards the amphitheatre. Should they, he would receive them with the appropriate honours ; greatclub and perhaps a few summoned creatures.

 Outside the amphitheatre, alongside the riders, the mighty  auroch is waiting. He strides left and right, scratching the ground with his heavy hooves, and ready to charge and impale the ogre if it tries to come out.

PM

Maki remained quietly watching what was unfolding in front of him. While he did pay the most attention to the amphitheatre, he did take Gondioque's advice, and watched his flanks as well.

As he watched Huns tremble against Thugdual, he understood why Huns hated Elves and any magic wealders so much.

Tugdual uses a flaming sphere to flush the Orcs out of the Amphitheater “lobby” area.

This does force the huge Ogre out into the open… back the way he came.  The route into the seats was where the fire came from, and he can’t fit down the narrow side passages.

He is immediately bombarded by missile weapons from Maki and all the others assembled there.  Just one big Ogre… an easy target.  Very soon, punctured in about a dozen places, the Ogre rolls down the hill away from the Amphitheater.  Several riders turn to chase him.

Inside, the remaining Orcs have fled down the passageway that circles around under the mezzanine seats.  It is impossible to judge how many remain, and how many have fallen, as the survivors are now deep within the interior passageways.    There are a number of them, on several levels:  not only is there a main and upper gallery passage for reaching the seats, there is an underground passage for reaching the stage.

Seated in the theater, though, Tugdual can hear a few of them running beneath him!

There is a shout from the men watching from the uppermost seats, the ones who were posted here as sentries.

”The Huns are giving up, they’re retreating from the upper city!”

Gondioque, with any who go with her, rides around to where she thinks the ogre will be. (She probably riding in an arc with the southwest toward the perimeter.)

Maki puts his bow away. The Huns in the ampfitheater were more or less cornered and not a threat to the others in the city.
So the Skald joined others as they chased the large ogre down.

 Tugdual was satisfied with the way things had unfolded, but the battle was not over. He let the riders take care of the ogre, and decided to hunt orcs.

 With a powerful roar, the druid resumed his might feline shape. He moved from his seat in the second tier to the front stage, signalled the beginning of the hunt in a dramatic howl and started running.

 He dove in the pit, sprung from passage to passage, reached the backstage, and stopped only to slash and bite through orcish flesh. The skirmish could last for a while, Tugdual was ready to pounce, fall back, spring and attack again in the narrow corridors around the amphitheatre.

 If he encountered difficulties or was ambushed, he could always summon a handful of nature's warriors and fly away.

Things are happening in the city.  The watchmen shout down from the high wall of the theater:  "They're on the run!  They're breaking!"

And after that, it is only a matter of time.  Maki and the riders take the Ogre down, and any others that try to flee, as Tugdual routes the last of the holdouts from the corridors.

A few put up a stiff fight.  A desperate Orc might retreat, or if he thinks it is plausible, bargain for his escape.  But up against a beast, they know, there is no bargaining.  If a desperate Orc has no other way, it will fight to the death- at least the lords of the next realm will know it is a fierce fighter and therefore deserving of honors and power in the afterlife.

They make an effort to introduce Tugdual to the afterlife, too.  When it is over, he is exhausted, battered and bruised.  But the day is won, not only here, but throughout Nasium.

Gondioque calls out Well done! to Maki and the riders.

If any orcs are left alive, Gondioque (if possible) suggests (possibly through Sir Montcalm) to the riders that the orcs be allowed to surrender, with the riders taking due care.

Gondioque, if possible, rides to Tugdual. She looks at Windfreid, who also dismounts. Gondioque takes a canteen and digs out a bottle. She goes to Tugdual, working out the cork. A swallow or two of this heavy wine (brandy) might help, and here is water.
Windfreid approaches with first aid supplies and asks Would you like the Princess and I to patch you up?

Rested and recovered, the group can meet up with Arctos, Anakri, and the others in charge of the "allied army" up the hill, in the Homeward Ho, Dwarves Elves and Burgundians thread.

 Tugdual had encountered more resistance than he had expected to, which had resulted in a series of bruises and cuts, but also a few more severe wounds : a few arrows to the flanks, a deep cut on his hind leg and his hairy ear cut in half.

 When he returned to his human shape to meet with Gondioque and the riders, some of these injuries had diminished, but he was still badly beaten.

 At the offer, he offered an intrigued and concupiscent smile. He considered the young captain and the princess with a lewd eye and suddenly realized :
  "Oh ! You mean... healing, right ? Yes, sure. That works too. Probably better ; I'm in no shape to fool around..."

 After an awkward and silent healing procedure, Tugdual stood up and cleared his throat.
  "Thanks." he called his aurochs with a long and strident whistle, and rode to the centre of the small town in search for Arctos.

Geoff takes back the wine when Tugdual is done with it and hands it to Windfreid. Pricess Gondioque, even as she and Windfreid are tending Tugdual's wounds (Windfreid says, "This may sting a little bit," as she rinses the wounds (but the honey balm is soothing), says to Sir Montcalm Please change to Burgundy; and he obediently changes the pennons.

When she has time, Gondioque asks Where will I find the Lord Heolstor? I hope he came through this unwounded.

 "Milady, I'm afraid Lord Heolstor is not presently with us. Duty called him, I am not a liberty to say where."

 The tall druid stood up and donned his armour and his tunic, his short fur cape and his belt.
 "Come with me, you should meet Pater Arctos and Lady Anakri."

Gondioque blinks when she hears the news about Heolster. Her face is still when she hers "Patros Arctos" and blank when she hears Lady Anakri.

Thank you. I have words stored not meant for all ears...and there will be wounded to care for and probably some from Burgundy dead to record. She turns to her party Mount up, and you too, please, freeman Maki.

As they ride, Gondioque speaks to Maki. From now on until you wish to go your way, I shall treat you as one bound to me...and myself as one who owes you your due. That will simplify matters. Privately, speak to me freely.

[To Homeward Ho: Dwarves, Elves and Burgundians]