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warriorcripple · 6 years

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The Battle of the Iron Pass

Well, since this was rejected I am just putting it on here. I didn’t expect it to win, and it was a part of a much larger story so I don’t feel bad just releasing it.

Prince David of house Lowenherz stood in front of his tent. His camp was a sprawling thing, their size and number hidden by the thick forest. The Green and Gold colors flew all around, Tents, armor, but the green and gold flags were what David noticed the most. A golden bull on a green field stood every few feet, a constant reminder of him and his family. David looked up at a flag with a bit of scorn and pride, it was the symbol of the family that had refused David his place within the family, but it was also the symbol of the soldiery that had followed him in three, and soon to be four battles. For half a second David thought about flying the Red and Gray of House Ironmountain since that’s whom he was fighting for but David decided against it. After all, he was the one representing Lowenherz interests in Northern Michigan. General Vendix stood quietly behind him with the other eight of David’s party, “My Prince, we must discuss the upcoming battle.”

“Tell me Vendix, do you think the soldiers would dislike me flying the Red and Grey?” David asked, the notion not letting go inside his mind.

“I would rather fight under the Green and Gold I pledged my life to, but I swore my oath to you only, so I wouldn’t mind.” Vendix replied without hesitation.

“Our army wouldn’t be so understanding my Prince.” Another spoke up, General Saber by the sound of the voice.

“I won seven battles with this army, I think I could do something like that with without too much fuss.” David replied.

“But what of your family? Rumors will spread that you’ve turned traitor and are siding with another family over your own kin.” General Liam said, a beast of a man who stood higher than most other soldiers.

“My liege,” said General Vivien, “time is not on our side and if battle happens tomorrow, we need our commands.” David turned his head at the sound of her voice. She was about the same height as David, if not taller, but her dented armor and scarred skin singled out her with one of the more storied careers of David’s generals. She had the right of it, David thought as he turned around to his tent and motioned to the inside of it.

Inside sat a simple bed, a chair, and a heavy table with maps scattered all across the surface. “My Prince we need to think about our place of battle. These woods are too thick for the cavalry and possibly too hard to fire arrows to and out of.” General Vendix said, following David in. David beelined to the chair and sat, he wanted as much time off of his feet before battle as possible. “Could someone get me a coffee mixed in with Willow Bark if Vendix wishes to continue to talk about the woods.” The General’s staff laughed nervously aside from Vendix. David continued, “I understand that you don’t want to fight in what looks like such a bad position, but we’re on top of a hill leading into the pass to Ironmountain. They will need to fight us here or else be trapped between the walls of Ironmountain itself or our army.” David rubbed his head, it was starting to hurt and he knew he was going to need that coffee soon. General Domonic stood forward, “Do you think out infantry could hold the ground against the Dubois infantry alone?” he said. David sat still for a few seconds, it was a valid question. Lowenherz armies have nominally faced off against smaller and poorly armed armies. But the Dubois army matched the mail and half plate of the Lowenherz that was a revolution that David’s father ushered in. And the Dubois numbered in a thousand if the scouts could believed. The Lowenherz lines alone were only four hundred in strength, with fifty cavalry and fifty archers making up the non-infantry parts of David’s army. But Ironmountain stood at it’s rear, and there is possibility that the sound alone could draw them to battle. But what if they think it’s a trap David’s mind whispered, knowing what he was doing was a massive gamble.

“General Saber,” David said, the name sounded silly when he said it aloud, but Saber chose it for himself and David would abide by that, “do you think you could hold the line for long enough for reinforcements?” as David looked to Saber, a Ward handed him his coffee. Saber paused for a long time. “I cannot say for certain yes or no. But me and General Noah could possibly delay a center push for long enough to regroup if we’re nearly routed.” There was truth to that statement, Saber and Noah were some of the strongest soldiers in his host and he had seen them personally hold ten men off at once during a route. But the army they were fighting wasn’t just ten men. David sipped the hot coffee and felt the headache leave, Lets hope to the divines it doesn’t flair up tomorrow he thought with his seemingly constant headaches. David made up his mind. “General Saber and Noah, you will hold the center. General Domonic, you will hold my left with all you can and you will anchor the army behind the end of the Ironriver, you will not let a soldier cross that river. General Vivien, you will push on the right like you did at Abrams.” General Vivien was a good commander, better at the management of the troops than the fighting. But she had won the day like this at the Battle of Abrams when they were outnumbered four to one. General Vendix shifted and was about to ask before David spoke before him, “General Vendix, I will charge you with finding a route around and hitting the army from the rear. Once you do, go for it. General Isaac, you will be in the reserves with me and all our archers. General Liam, you will send words back and forth between the Ironmountineers and us throughout the day, most importantly you need to tell me how quickly they’ll be able to get to our side in the battle. You’re all dismissed for now.” David leaned back into his chair as his staff left, looking over the maps.

They had studied the maps for months. David had joined late in the war, finishing up the campaigns in the east against the Drachen clan that clung to the lake. His father had ordered the Drachen clan campaign, but not the one to support the Ironmountian clan even though the Lowenherz were the allies to them (and were in line for succession). David joined with his own host when the Escanaba leader Rolf Ulfberht joined for the Dubois’ under James of Marinette. David led his small army in the Second Battle of the Ironwoods, securing victory out of a defeat. The Third Battle of the Ironwoods he couldn’t join in because his armies were too far away, and they broke the Ironwoods back to their holdfast the Ironfort. God these Yoopers love their Iron David thought, looking over the maps. Copper Harbor to the north withstood a naval invasion, but it seems it was supposed to draw the Iron armies out to support the bastard house. His gaze look south to the Lowenherz territory scribbled on the map. It was constantly expanding, with him and his older sister Elizabeth jockeying for succession rights by conquering more and more land. If there is a victory here, I could potentially be named heir to the Ironmountain throne David liked that notion, but the “if” in that sentiment worried him greatly. Should I write to the Hodinoshoni? Would the message even make it to them before we are broken and the war is lost? Could the Empire of Memphis send a legate in time? David’s mind continued to swim with ideas but none of them would mean he could get reinforcements before the battle happened. The Iron Pass would prove to be a graveyard to a great many soldiers, and possibly himself. He left the table, hoping to get sleep before the battle.

The next morning brought no pain relief for David. Standing was tough, his head throbbed and pain shot to all about his body when he just thought about moving. For a few seconds his mouth felt like it was sewn shut, but after a while he found his voice. “Guards! Get me the Willow Bark Coffee! Large!” He yelled, throwing his legs over the side of his bed and letting his body get used to being up, it would take at least five minutes before the coffee was ready, and another ten before the coffee was making it’s way through David’s body. Bloody fucking brain I have he thought, opening his eyes he saw his general staff standing over him. Noah already had the coffee in hand. “How long have I been sitting up?” David asked.

“Just now.”

“How long have you been waiting?”

“Five minutes.”

“Good, reports from our scouts?” David asked, sipping the concoation slowly and carefully.

“The Dubois’ camp is six hours march north, mostly cavalry it seems. They’re sitting in a field at the moment. I have found a path around, we’ll be going through the more treacherous and shorter eastern pass, but it will take a few hours to get around.” Vendix replied stiffly.

“Go do it and don’t die on the march, our enemies are probably on the march already.” David replied, sipping more. “Have the Ironmouinteers been notified?”

“Yes,” Liam replied, “They said they’ll join us but it will take a bit before the battle. They’re sending out their entire garrison minus the Ironguard. If I was willing to guess the Cavalry will be here first to enter the fray.”

“Does my grandfather think they Dubois will risk going around us? I mean the Drachen army is just to the west and would be able to trap them between two of the three peaks.”

“I personally don’t know, but he is convinced they will.”

“Damned old bastard. You know they said that in the old days he charged his cavalry out during siege and broke an Escanaban army. Where is that man when I need him?”

“He’s old David. You can’t expect a man to be as brave in his youth as he was in his youth as he is in his old age.” Saber replied.

“May whatever gods see that my sword doesn’t rust.” David replied, standing up. “Vivien, have you picked your soldiers?”

“I have.” She replied without hesitation, “I have picked the Drachen Shield breakers. Even though they’re from another clan, they’ll be useful to us in this battle. And they do not hold particular love for the Dubois.”

“Good enough choice, are you taken the Shield Maidens as well? If not I might place them under Domonic’s command.”

“No sir, the Drachen will be enough for me to push the right I hope.”

“Sir,” Noah interjected, “If I may, who will we be commanding?” He pointed to Saber.

“You’ll command the Rockfort Light infantry, and the Wausaukee light foot. The David Defenders will be placed under mine command and will reinforce the center if you start to route.”

“Hold the center with no heavy infantry? Do you wish us to die?” Saber asked.

“No, unless you decided you’d have better plans than serve your friend.”

“I am sorry again for asking, but do you mind if I try something?” Noah asked.

“What is it?” David replied, intrigued.

“So I had noticed last night that the leaves around are getting quite dry. It’s been two weeks since a good rainfall, and with fall in full swing they’d burn easily. If we could control it, possibly during a route, we could blind and trap the enemy in the smoke.”

“How are the winds today? Will they be favorable?”

“The smokestacks last night had a northward preference. But by the time of battle, the winds might change half a hundred times.” Isaac answered before anyone else can speak, his soft voice striking at the right time to enter.

“We could use barrels or maybe fans to shift the winds northward.” Noah replied.

“And pull more soldiers off the lines? We’re already fighting close to two to one at best and four to one at worst, we need to throw everyone we can into holding the lines.” Saber spat.

“What if our lines break? Our victory is far from guaranteed and we could blind our enemy for long enough to crush them.” Noah replied.

“Noah, how many soldiers do you need?” David asked, intrigued and wanting to stop the bickering.

“For the fire? Four maybe. Collection will take a bit longer and will need more soldiers.” Noah answered without pause.

“Do it. Take every freehand you need, use barrels and take as much kindling and fire materials that you need. If we win, we will collect more. If we lose, we won’t need fires. Someone call my wards, it’s high time I started to get suited for battle.”

The two Drachen boys came in soon after, having been kept outside during the battle preparations. David didn’t quite trust them enough, but they were essentially hostages for the Drachen lords to not rebel. They helped David from his bed and began to dress him into the padded leather pants and thick wool shirt he would be wearing under his armor. Then came the mail, he crafted it in his youth and had his armorer continue to make sure it was strong enough. After that the simple iron plate he had commissioned in Racine, dented and with a golden bull painted on the front. The arm grieves David got on himself, but the leg greaves the boys had to do, along with the plate and mail boots. Then his sword belt, with the self-forged short sword during his stint as a blacksmith in the Free Cities. Finally the great Enclosed Helm he had also commissioned, it was mostly green with golden flanges. Putting it on it felt heavy and weird, and every part of David’s body wanted to take it off. But it was vital to survival in the coming battle. “Any questions before we leave?” David asked his general corps before leaving the tent. None rose to answer so David finished, “Nobody die.” Before leaving the tent.

Outside was a great warhorse, a great black beast of horse David named Electus. Mounting it was a challenge. In full plate and mail, it took three men to hoist him up to the horse and strap his legs in. Not because he was too heavy, at least not normally, but because all of his weight was dead weight. And as soon as he was picked up from the ground he went limp because his disability. But once upon the steed he was able to ride as good as any man, using the tips of his toes to tap the horse forward. His commanders went to their respective quarters to do their duties for battle was soon upon them.

An hour passed as soldiers and generals got to their positions. Behind the forward most line led by Saber and Noah were a group of four, setting down leaves and preparing for their ruse. Both the Drachen boys, Tim and William, stood next to David upon their own warhorses. Although neither were as old as David, both were easily larger and stronger than him, and they would act as his bodyguards during the fight. Devines I hope it doesn’t come to that he thought, looking out of the small pinholes in his helmet to the lines of soldiers in front of him. David looked back, the Defenders continued to form up. They were the heaviest infantry on the field, their armor glinted and their long steel tipped spears like a thousand needles waiting to find their targets. All of their surcoats were from different families that resided in Lowenherz territory. The twin red eagles of the Smiths from who Vendix came from, the grey harp of Saber’s McGregor clan, there were a few gray cogs of the Noah’s Karson, but the majority of the crests were either of the cadet branches of the Lowenherz or the three dragons of the Drachen clan.

Far, far down range Saber and Noah stood. Both of them shouting commands and orders to soldiers to get into position. He had seen them do it half a hundred times, the two were inseparable on the field and here was no different. They worked like clockwork, arms and orders yelled in either tandem or seconds apart. Both of them where David’s oldest supporters, back even before his little half brothers or little step sister came into the mix. The Lowenherz throne has gotten busier since then, but both Saber and Noah never missed a beat. Saber though, was obviously double thinking himself, looking back to positions and he had just set and then back to the older ones. He was panicking, Probably due to being use to heavy infantry David thought looking downrange. Tim asked, “What do you think Saber is doing? I mean sh-” David didn’t let him finish the sentence.

“Tim, you were there at the execution of the last man who called Saber a “she” weren’t you?”

“Uh. Yes m’lord.” Tim replied, shaken by the tone of voice.

“You are young, and so this is a warning. But I would hate to do an execution right before battle.” David replied.

“If I may David, what is he doing?” William spoke up, he was 15 and was older than Tim by a year. An inquisitive boy although not that keen on generalship.

“He is currently panicking. Self doubt and anxiety are the death nails of commanders and he knows it. And he knows that his security blanket of the heavy infantry aren’t here to help him. But, I think we’ll be fine. Worst comes to worst, we commit the heavy infantry early.” I hope we’ll be fine David corrected in his head, but he dared not voice it on the outside.

“Isaac!” David yelled, turning his warhorse around he found his friend mounted behind him. Just a few paces back were the David Defenders, and to the left of them Isaac’s Freemen. A ragtag group of peasants and noble archers alike, plucked from Isaac’s Father’s time as an outlaw and brigand.

“Aye, what is it?” Isaac asked, suited in the rough hewn plate and mail. Dented and scratched to hell and back, the imprint of a calm deer long faded from the countless times it needed to be repaired. Even his helmet, a nasal helm, was dented to the point that David questioned it’s usefulness.

“Get ready to fire into the smoke when it happens. I want you to continue to fire until we plug the gap or the fire runs out.”

“Aye, we can do that. I am not going to be committing my forces to the center if it fully breaks though.”

“I understand, and we need you to guard the camp encase of a rout before the Ironmountineers come and support us.” David turned his horse and watched as the armies continued to form up.

It was nearly two hours before the first signs of the Dubois army could be heard. Marching Songs David could hear “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”, an ancient hymn supposively sung by warriors of old upon returning home from campaign. David’s legs ached from being in the saddle for so long, but it would be a long day for them all. And the last day for a great many of them.

Finally after three hours they could see the first flags of theirs. The Blue Griffin on a golden field started to fly on the opposite side of the clearing. Vendix was probably halfway through scaling the gallery roads to be able to flank the Dubois, but even so the majority of David’s army was already dwarfed by the Dubois’ vanguard. About four hundred Lowenherz soldiers stood in the front line, across from nearly eight hundred Dubois soldiers if the amount of standards are to be believed. Eight flags stood on the other side of the clearing, obviously the Dubois commander thought David would attack into the middle of the field. The offer was tempting since they would’ve completed a march and would be tired, but they would leave their flank open to the rest of the Dubois army. If they came. Suddenly a shout from downfield, and Saber began to motion for him to come over. “God Dammit. Isaac, keep watch over my soldiers.” David ordered, putting his war horse to trot.

Saber had met him halfway through, “David, James Dubois has come with his cavalry and is offering to treat.”

“Is he wanting us to surrender? Or is to threaten us?” David pulled up his visor to his friend, if he was scared now Saber had not shown it on his face.

“He wants to offer you his army for the surrender of Ironmountain. He’s standing in the middle of the field.” Saber replied, his hand on his sword as he pointed to James Dubois.

There James Dubois stood. His armor shining brilliantly in the late summer sun. His breastplate had the great blue griffin emblazoned on the front, golden rivets lined his armor up and down. His helmet was a great helm dyed blue and gold, but off the back of the helmet were two small hussar wings lined with blue jay wings. He sat on the back of a great white mare, similarly inlaid with armor lined with blue and gold. But as David came closer he saw the scars of battle all over it, deep dents hammered out and long scratches covered the breast plate. The scars of war covered over but not totally hidden. The sun shone on him like a king of old. “Tell him I refuse.” David replied before trotting back to his camp. It would be better to fight for his throne with his own soldiers than with a usurper’s army.

An hour after he returned to Isaac than the battle had begun. James had come with his cavalry and only his cavalry, his foot must be hours at the very least away. But so is my own Cavalry the voice in the back of his head niggled. James led from the front, it would seem. His pompous wings bobbed up and down as he charged into the first and then the second lines. His own bastard sword swinging up and over his head only to come crashing down on a shield or to be parried by a sword. Twice in the first charge did David see the sword swing up with the marks of fresh blood only to come down and finish whatever poor bastard it had originally hit. The horses winned over the sight of blood and death, but their riders urged them forward.

Panic began to set in all along the line. Horses and men alike were panicking, the weight of the original charge would be enough to break any soldier lesser than the ones David had forged through the campaigns he had been on. But war was still war, and it is only common for the common rank and file to start to panic while being attacked. David could see Saber whipping his men back in line, forcing them into their positions. Noah was in the thick of it now, but even with that he could still see the bloody longsword he swung so skillfully. David could also hear the two over the thick of the battle. Both were some had some of the deepest voices now, with only himself and Vendix being able to out yell them. “GET BACK INTO YOUR LINES YA BASTARDS!” Saber yelled, slapping man after man on their back to get into the shieldwall to hold it. Noah was yelling various obscenities and yooper centric slurs at the enemy. David could see Noah’s sword swing back up and cut a horse’s head clean in two and a rider fall into the dirt with several Lowenherz soldiers swarming in and cutting the rider down. James kept his cool and continued to fight on in the frontline, his sword cutting more and more down as they pushed harder.

“Isaac!” David called out, “Who is your best shot?” Turning his horse from the battle he looked towards the line of the Freemen. Isaac pointed to a short, thin kid in the front line, he looked no older than sixteen but he had lost his family in the First Battle of the Ironwoods and was allowed to join the army. David had always felt bad for the kid, but here was his time to shine. “Shoot at the man with the wings, don’t kill him, just hurt him.” The kid nodded, notched and pulled back the arrow. Steady he held the bow, and then after a few second let loose.

Turning his head, David watched the arrow fly in the air. It struck true, right between two chainmail links and into the bottom of his arm. It was one of the best shots David had ever seen, and right at the most crucial moment. James called out in pain, and an ambitious soldier stabbed his horse in the neck. This was it, a masterstroke David thought, if he could capture James the entire war could be over here and now. Falling from his horse a thud could be heard all across the battlefield, and then, a lone soldier yelled “GET HIM!” before counter charging. A furious melee started, with sword and lance clashing against shield and armor. The Dubois surged forward to protect their king as the Lowenherz surged forward to capture him. But the cavalry was too heavy to push back, step after step the Lowenherz soldiers fell back and back. Until a Dubois cavalrymen jumped off his horse and gave it to James, letting him off the thick of the battle. More bloody battles are ahead of me David pushed the thought out of his head. He needed to win this one now, and then think about the others.

The line began to buckle. The failure to capture James was devastating, although the enemy must be demoralised seeing their king fall from his horse with a wound grievous enough to leave the thick of battle. With any luck the usurper will die from an infection David hoped. “Ready the fires.” David said, knowing the field of battle will soon change. Four people ran off back into the camp to grab fires. David looked over to his right flank. It wasn’t going terribly but it wasn’t great. Vivien tried to push on the right but was rebuffed by the Dubois cavalry. But, she was pushing, forcing the center in further and further. The left was holding well enough, the cavalry had to push across a small stream and up a small trench. The shieldmaidens were some of the best soldiers in the entire army, and it was easy to see how with their dogged defense of the stream. Not a single inch had been given to the cavalry, and they kept their high ground. The center was breaking, but that was also part of the plan.

And then, it finally broke. The center began to flee back towards the pre-picked spots. Just as the cavalry thought they had what they needed to totally break the Lowenherz here and now, the smoke began to billow from the fires. Shrouded by the smoke they wouldn’t be able to see or breathe, and arrows began to fly out of the smoke. Screams and coughs could be head over the din of battle. A cavalrymen of Dubois tried to shame his fellows in battle, “C’mon is this how you wish to die, forward! Forwar- AGH!” and then his voice fell dead. Chaos ensued behind the fire and smoke. A few tried to run to it only to jump through the flames and into a wall of arrows. More fled from the smoke to join the battle elsewhere. But the majority tried to flee through the sides that weren’t shooting them with arrows. Only to find the Rockfort or Wausaukee men ready to fight back. This time it was our turn to push them back, right into the smoke and arrows. Battle had turned for the Lowenherz and for a moment, David was proud of this plan. But battles turn just as fast as the wind, and this battle it would turn with the wind.

The fierce wind that had pushed the smoke into the enemy now pushed the smoke right into the archers. “Fuck, forward. Men, put out the goddamn fires!” David yelled through the coughs as he moved his horse froward, with his two wards following. The winds would turn again, but the damage was done, the light foot began to be pushed back again. The Defenders began to push forward with David, following their general towards whichever hell will meet them. Finally after a few minutes the fire was put out, and the Defenders could see their foe in the eye. David though, could see a curiosity: Lowenherz flags behind the army.

“CHARGE! FORWARD MEN OF LOWENHERZ! FORWARD BRAVE DEFENDERS! FORWARD TO GLORY!” David yelled, pressuring his soldiers forward into the renewed melee. The noose must be tightened David thought. The Defenders stopped at the ashed of the fire, unwilling to move over. “Forward!” David said again, riding in front of them as the melee happened behind him. “FORWARD!” He ordered. But they did not move. “Fuck it.” David said, “The day shall be won with or without you!” Before he jumped the ashes.

This was a mistake David immediately thought, his head had been pounding all battle. And now here he was, looking to fight much stronger men without company, on a migraine. He couldn’t let it slow him, he needed this victory here and now. Electus neighed as David pushed him forward. His first victim had his back turned, and neck unguarded. Raising his left hand and letting the speed of his horse do most of the work the head came off. But, the jigg was up, and he was in the thick of it now. A stab by a sword clashed against his wooden shield, yellow paint chips went flying. David’s own sword came down, cutting the attacker’s hand to the bone. The attacker yelled in pain and fell off his horse into the underbrush. David never saw what happened to him.

The battle David had been watching had quickly turned to only a few feet of combat, steel armor blocked his view and there was little area to maneuver the great warhorse Electus. Another with his back turned, and David struck without hesitation, the sword went right through the man’s neck and he dropped dead out of his saddle. Another attacker, this time an overhead strike. David moved to block, and he was quick enough to raise the shield enough to catch the longsword. Oh christ it’s a longsword David thought, just a moment too late. His whole arm reverberated with pain, splinters and paint went flying moments after the attack, but David couldn’t focus on that. His right arm hurt worse than it ever had, it felt like he just broke every bone in that arm, but the pain would soon only be a low throbbing pain. David counter, and stabbed through the plates cavalryman's grieves. The point hit home, and hit right through the upper muscles. The enemy screamed out in pain. The scream blood curdling if David wasn’t on the field of battle. Just as David pulled out his sword and took another slash at their sword arm he thought, Why am I not surrounded yet? Why haven’t I been cut down? Looking down for a second he found a person’s head, their helmet was colored Green and Gold. A spear through the throat ended his attacker.

A distant shout quickly became a chorus of “Retreat! The rear! Retreat!” Vendix finally joins the fray David swung his sword clumsy as he pushed further and further in. His body ached from the battle, and he wished to pull out of the fighting. A cavalryman in front of him threw down his sword, got off his horse, and yelled over the din of battle, “I surrender!” David gestured and yelled back, “Let the craven pass through ya lot!” The line behind him nodded and let the cavalryman pass through. Soon it would be a stream of soldiers passing through the lines of Defenders. The battle was all but over now, it would just be mopping up of the stubborn and the craven. David turned Electus and left the thick of battle. It would sicken him to continue to fight in the melee, and he needed to survey the battlefield.

Only two hundred of the eight hundred were in the Lowenherz death grip. But the battle was over, the defeated were already streaming past David. The Freemen were guarding them. “David,” Isaac said from behind David, “What are we to do with the defeated?”

“Sit them down and don’t let them escape. Any sight of the Ironmountineers?”

“No sir. It would seem they were too slow to join the battle. But what are we to do now sir?”

“We are to bury our dead.” David replied, surveying what was left of the battlefield. Dead men and women scattered the underbrush, blood watered the churned ground. The smell of smoke and blood was thick in the air now, the screams and cries of dying men and women filled the air like a terrible orchestra. There would be a lot of dead to bury today, but at what cost is this victory? Was it all worth it? Did you get what you wanted David? He pushed that thought out of his head. It wasn’t wise to second guess decisions already made. His body ached though, and a migraine added drums the chorus of the dying.

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