Call in some help.

You regard the injured orc for a moment. He is spitting with rage but is slowed by the grievous wound. Thick blood is streaming down the arm, dripping from the knuckles that still grip the cleaver. Troubled though he is, you must not underestimate him now.

The though strikes you - where is Ramos? The hunter is surely close by and hoping to aid you. He won't be attempting to loose more arrows at the shielded orc. Perhaps he cannot shoot the one you are fighting for fear of hitting you. Slapping aside a swing with the axe and dodging the clumsier one that follows it with the cleaver, you take the opportunity to withdraw, leaping back a few feet. Even if no help materialises, you can use the thicker trees at the edge of the clearing to your advantage.

But you are relieved to see first one and then another arrow punch viciously into the orc's body, mere moments after you gave the hunter enough room to make the shot. Your foe stumbles and turns away from the archer, and you step in with a full-**** overhand strike that splits his skull and bites deep into his shoulder.

You have no time to collect yourself before the brute with the shield barges around a tree. Your heavy blade comes away from the dying orc with a tug not a moment too soon, as you scramble over the body just as the huge mace smashes the ground where you had been standing. You run a short distance, not even taking the time to look over your shoulder, trusting in your agility to put you out of harm's reach for long enough to get your guard up. Behind you there is a snorting and bellowing but, oddly, still no words or warcries.

Flicking the blade up as you turn, the monstrous orc is closing the distance. With that shield you have little chance of penetrating his defence, and a mis-step or deflected blow will undoubtedly be fatal as that mace will shatter you like glass.

From the corner of your eye you can see Ramos, bow slung across his back, approaching cautiously with his dirk at the ready. If you could somehow turn the orc to face away from the hunter, you may be able to give your friend room and time to get an arrow into its back. The monster will expect that, though, and you can see that he is already trying to **** you around, back to the clearing, where he can keep you and Ramos in front of him.