He managed a hint of a humoured grin at Elandris' parting comment, then gave Longstep a pat on the neck before sliding from the saddle, chain armour clattering loudly yet still unnoticed by the approaching Orcs.  Mounted combat was less then ideal in such close confines.  Once dismounted, he rested a hand on the leather wrapped bundle that held his shield, before giving it a dismissive tap and tugging a warhammer and a thick bladed shortsword from their hoops and sheathes on the saddle.<br/><br/>With a final glance at his mount, Longstep let out a derrisive snort and moved further back to remain out of the way in the upcoming fight and Karrlandren positioned himself in the opening of the trail under some of the heavier branches of the trees above then tucked the blade under his arm and rested the head of the warhammer on the ground, waiting for the arrival of their uninvited guests.<br/><br/>It wasn't long before the reek of the Orcs reached him, and not long later that they came into view boasting and laughing and causing all sorts of raucous.  But, all three came to a sudden stop when they spotted the armoured man standing on the trail ahead of them, their simple minds flying into high gear to decide just what was going on.<br/><br/>Briefly, one pointed at him, all three's jaws hanging open.  Then their beedy eyes narrowed further and great grins split their spit stained lips, great toothy maws opening wide at the prospect of another fight.  Then one shoved another out of the way and came lumbering forwards, an eager warcry splitting the air and axe rising high to strike the stationary knight down in one fell blow.<br/><br/>Once they started for him, Karrlandren readied himself, shortsword held forwards in his off hand, warhammer held near the head and behind him.  The first Orc came charging in, long arms already carrying the heavy axe down in a brutal swing that would split the human shoulder to groin.  Karrlandren wasn't nearly as strong as an Orc, but he was faster and quite practiced at using an opponent's momentum against them.<br/><br/>The axe fell and in a blur of motion Karrlandren's shortsword swept up to catch the forwards blade even as he stepped back.  The axe angled and smashed the ground sideways and to his left, sending the Orc off balance as it continued to bowl forwards even as the Knight brought the heavy warhammer head forwards in a powerful jab, using shoulder and hip for strength.  The spike at the warhammer's tip punched into the Orc's eye, the heavy weight smashed occular bone and shattered one over large tooth, and the Orc's feet flipped out from under it, crashing the brute to it's back in a spray of green ichor and bone chips.  Then he was planting one foot on it's chest to end his own forwards momentum and the shortsword dipped into the downed Orc's throat.<br/><br/>The other two stared blankely, their simple minds still processing just what had happened.  Individually, Orcs were neither terribly smart or brave, but in groups, with a good fight going, they gained cunning and a crude intelligence.  The remaining two hadn't yet reached such a stage of motivation; slaughtering a few woodsmen a few hours ago was hardly enough to get them properly fired up for long.  The same Orc as before raised an arm to point, jaw hanging open and a great gob of slobber hanging from slack lips.<br/><br/>Then those tiny eyes beeded up in growing anger, the two shared a look and charged forwards to put an end to the lone human.  And Karrlandren just grinned that cold grin and stepped back from the fallen Orc, leaving it's body between him and the other two as an added obstacle to break their charge, readying his weapons once more.