War

 "Halt who goes there?" Came the reply.

"I am David! Commander of the remnants of the Human Confederacy. Please let us pass we flee a terrible foe?"

 No reply came. Minutes passed by and still no word. So David shouted out to them again.

"Hello the fortress! Please let us by we simply wish to continue on south."

This time there was a reply.

"We know who you are David. Your women, children and elderly came to us seeking aid and we granted them it. By all means come in." With that the metal gates opened.

 The men rode in. David surveyed his surroundings. The fort was like nothing he had ever seen before. It had been made out of metal yet it appeared strange and had hints of different colours in it. The men were stranger yet. They were attired in blue coats and wielded strange weapons. Most of their weapons appeared to be long metal staffs with odd crystals on them. A man stood there patiently.

"Please if you and your men would like to follow me I will show you to suitable quarters."

 David followed him. They were led to a big barracks of a sort, he quickly got the men bedded down then returned to their escort.

"Please could you take me to your commander I have grave news for him." The man nodded and motioned for David to follow him.

 David spent many hours in council with their commander. It turned out that these men were not of this world but from another. They were peaceful explorers and meant no one any harm. But they understood when David told them of the war and that they must flee or be overrun by the Orcs. Their Leader a man named Shamal just nodded. David was then told of there plans of defence. Shamal impressed upon him their ability to defend themselves and that if David wished to stay would show them a demonstration. David was weary of there constant plight and elected to stay.

 The next day he inspected the defences with Shamal. There were no battlements instead on the walls there were circular holes for the men to fire their strange staffs. David pointed out that the Orcs would just climb over the top. Shamal motioned to a guard stationed at some controls. He flicked a switch, at the top of the wall sharp metal spikes shot out with alarming speed and force. These spikes were four feet long. David then pointed out that the Orcs would just climb in between them. Shamal motioned again. The man flicked another switch. Instantly there was a faint humming sound then bolts of lightning spread out along the spikes acting as a lightning barrier. Shamal then picked up a nearby stone and threw it at the barrier. The stone imploded and only faint traces of it could be seen floating down.

"Go on test it. Throw your sword at it." Seeing the look on David's face he quickly added. "We will supply you with a new one but of a better quality trust me." Without further ado David drew his sword, pulled back and threw it hard at the barrier. It too imploded and only the handle managed to escape destruction. David was impressed.

"See we can protect ourselves. You shall see these Orcs fleeing in terror tomorrow."

"Wait a minute how do you know they will be here tomorrow?" David asked

"Oh! We have our ways. Some advance scouts just came back now they report that the way through the ravine is clear but they have gone back to their camps for tonight. But I can assure you they will attack tomorrow." They both walked back into the compound. The Orcs attacked that night.