From: hutch@ibeam.intel.com (Steve Hutchison)
Subject: [DQ] Week 13 Lancos: Battleground (Part 1)-- To a Battle I Ride
Organization: Intel Corp., Hillsboro, Oregon
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 08:12:40 GMT

[ADMIN]  I'm the only DQ'er with time and facilities to post right now.
Therefore, here's another one.

-----

The pyracubic Diamond was demonstrating some unusual features this time.
It seemed to be concentrating on ONE memory, and one more pleasant than usual.

* * * *
Lancos woke as the sun made its way into view.  Today would determine
everything for what he considered his world.  Either it would be preserved
for the future or else ground under the heels of the evil that had been taking
over much of the area.  Here all would be decided, and regardless the sun
would rise again tomorrow.

Lancos sighed on the thought, before mounting his horse and moving out with
the squad of troops.  There were only two strategic spots to halt the opposing
army before it reached the city, and this menagerie had been chosen to man
the one closest to the city, while a group of bowmen were prepared to use a
seperate wooded area as a source of surprise.

The area grew quiet as the forces settled in for the events to come.

Then came the sounds of the approaching army -- feet pounding ground, cries
being emanated in several languages, horns blowing as a seperate source of
encouragement.

A mild look of worry crossed Lancos' face.  The enemy forces were larger than
what had been expected, and more spread out.  Soon, their tactics also proved
surprising.

With no warning, several hobgoblins ran towards the first woods, torches in
one hand and weapons in the other.  Obviously, they were going to set the
woods on fire.  But they could not know there were archers within -- it had
to be a pure show of evil.

But the invaders' lack of knowledge about the archers was short-lived, as a
volley of arrows found their way into the charging enemies.  Hobgoblins fell,
but were quickly replaced, and reinforced with counter-fire.  Soon they had
penetrated the forest's boundaries, setting the trees ablaze.  The bowmen still
shot, but they were surrounded by fire.

This normally might have caused Lancos to charge out -- despite the strict
orders to stay put until the enemy was within inches of them -- if not for
the tunnels that had been built, connecting the two areas with the town,
for just such a purpose as retreat.

The arrows slowly thinned and eventually stopped.  There was a cheer from the
invaders, who obviously felt the bowmen were meeting a torturous death.  But
Lancos allowed himself a smile, knowing that nearly -- if not completely --
all the causalities were for the opposing side.  But the smile was wiped away
unseen as the enemy advanced, some of them turning their attention to the
weald his forces were in.

Well, not HIS forces -- Lancos would be considered second-in-command at best.
In fact Kolar -- the leader -- spoke up at that moment.  He had decided to take
half of the forces -- which was about the number of cavalry their foes might
expect, not knowing of the recent reinforcements -- and head out.  The others
were ordered to remain in place as long as possible, serving as either a
second wave or defense for retreat.

Lancos only viewed as the forces ran out, catching part of the enemy off
guard.  Other dark forces continued to the town, and its defenses, ahead.
The charge was initally devatasting, but soon its effect was dampened.

However, the daring move did seem to attract the invader's leader -- an evil
knight --, as he led orcs mounted on worgs to face the threat.  Lancos was
shocked to see Kolar ride off to face the other leader.

And it seemed a smart move at first, as Kolar's blade found the mark before
his opponents'.  But the hometown hero was soon hard-pressed by the larger,
likely more-experienced man.  And Lancos could see the forces start to lose
confidence as Kolar started to struggle.

The cavalry were still holding their own versus the orcs, but Lancos knew
that it would not last long.  Despite his "low" standing, he knew it was time
to take command and...

"Charge!" came the order, and the riders moved as one.  As Lancos stormed into
battle, the deeper, less-focused part of his mind observed the surroundings.
Orcs with seige ladders and ogres attempted to breech the town walls, fended
off by dwarves and the archers from the woods.  The hobgoblins were trying to
go around the wall, but were being held back -- although not easily so -- by
the townsfolk.  And of course, the mounted battle lay ahead.  All in all, too
much confrontation to note, let alone focus upon.

After the initial clash pushed back the enemy somewhat, Lancos' attention
shifted to the battle of leaders.  He was desperately trying to close the gap
between himself and the combatants, without sacrificing the overall position.

Wounds were evident on both mean, but Kolar was weakening quicker.

And Lancos flanked to the right side, chopping into an orc's stomach.

Kolar's swings became less patterned and more desperate.

Lancos receives a scrape to the left arm, but returns the favor with interest
by finishing off his opponent.

Kolar connects in the waist, but...

Lancos rides over a downed orc, just in time to see...

The evil knight knocks Kolar down, and stands towering over him, grinning in
the throes of victory.

Lancos thrashes into two orcs, mentally near a breaking point.

A sword penetrates Kolar's back, imbedding him into the ground slightly with
its force, and causing a brief gasp that serves as Kolar's last breath.

Lancos could feel the forces nearby lose confidence.  They had been led by the
hero of the first attack.  Now their closest thing to a leader was a man who
was lucky to survive that lesser strike.
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Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu