Tradesmen vs. Whitemen

Gobtober 2021: Prompt 9

Within the last several years, in 4E 2699, a group of Ironback Tradesmen hiked high to find a pass to Morangl. These Tradesmen were predominantly dwarves with some half-elven scouts. They traveled light and swiftly. It was Ereautumn and the snow of the Manduskians melted and already deposited ample boulders down the slopes to their camp, useful for shelter.
Further up the mountain, a raiding party of Whitemen traveled down the mountains' slopes, seeking game to bring back. They shed their furs in the heat and gasped for water in nearby streams. Before long, they navigated to the gentle slopes that give way to the foothills, the Ironbacks.
One of the Tradesmen noticed a large elk. Being suppertime, he stalked off toward it. The others set up a small camp. The Whitemen noticed an elk running across their path. It would feed several of them, but they had to act quickly....
The half-elf let loose an arrow. Just at the last second the elk darted away. Perturbed but not to lose his quarry he notched another arrow and let it loose. The Whiteman sprinted after the elk, handaxe drawn back to throw. Just as he let it go something struck his neck and pierced his throat. He grabbed the arrow shaft and snapped it, spinning round, blood pumping through him in a fury.
The Tradesman yelped as the goliath Whiteman leapt into the air and brought his battleaxe down upon him. He jumped out of the way just in time. The goliath, warrior through-and-through yelled a battlecry and swung again. Deftly the Tradesman evaded his blows.
At this point the Tradesmen scurried off to aid their friend, and the Whitemen poured down the hill like an avalanche. They crash into the screaming Tradesmen. The Tradesmen had numbers, but the Whitemen had size. On the slope, the dwarves had an advantage on the downhill, positioning themselves to trip and throw the goliaths over to tumble down and down. Many did. The goliaths on the upper slope where it leveled had the advantage, keeping a large distance between themselves and the fighting dwarves and half-elves.
As night drew up, both parties retreated. Several from each side died, and the bodies were lost. The Tradesmen stalked back to the safety of their homes and the Whitemen climbed the treacherous cliffs to their mountainous home.

Conflict Type

Skirmish