Dwarf battle sketch: Gotta have a hook challenge on Artorder

This was the brief for art challenge @ artorder:

Setting - A cavern
Characters - A Male Dwarf Fighter and a Hook Horror
Scene - The dwarf has just delivered a mighty smack to the hook horror and knocked it backward through a stalagmite and/or stalactite.
Details: The dwarf is wearing heavy scale mail armor. Wielding a warhammer and a heavy shield.

Size
11.25" w x 4" h @ 300 dpi, RGB
Yes, it's a wacky size, but with a challenge comes an opportunity to create something unexpected.

So this is a sketch I've been working on. I still have to nail the rendering and create a solid foundation for myself before moving onto the colour. I want to have the composition, details, tones all solid first. Trouble is the deadline is looming, I have commissions to finis.

Well I didn't manage to finish the image due to commission commitments. I have carried on with it in my spare time. Nearly there now. A few final touches and exploding parts etc. Watch this space, in meantime have a look at my newest update.