Aaron Dennis's Blog - Posts Tagged "arrows"
Eternus Continued
Hello again, everyone. It seems like every time I get a little steam going and start to move forward on this story, I get sidelined by something else...not a complaint, really, just an update XD
Anyway, last time I provided the first page or so of Eternus. Here's what happened just after the brash Urdu was killed by our protagonist, Scar.
“Did you have to?”
Scar did not reply. Instead, he produced a cloth from the small pack hanging off the back of his belt. Running the rag through the holes, he cleaned his blade of blood. Many of the warriors turned their weapons-swords, axes, or spears-at Scar. He simply looked at the setting sun. The sound of nocked arrows being drawn followed curses.
“You won’t win,” Scar said.
The men passed glances among each other then at Dumar.
“We will not attack you. It was self defense,” the old man announced. “There is little time for this as it is. Soon, the sun will set, and we will march. Scar, you will lead, as was the order of Zoltek.”
Scar finished cleaning his sword. There was time still to walk over to the tributary. He gazed at the rippling water flow for a second. While cleaning the bloody cloth in the cooling water, he pondered over his orders.
Zoltek had arranged the small force for two tasks. The first, and more difficult task, was to storm one of Satrone’s many outposts. They were tall towers made from the native brown stone. Square in shape, and slightly tapered as they reached the sky, the outposts held dozens of men with telescopes and long range weapons.
Three men guarded the top of every tower. One worked as a lookout, and rang a gong in the event of an attack. The other two worked the ballista, a large weapon designed to pivot and rotate. Though one man was sufficient, Kulshedrans were intelligent. So, they utilized a second man, a loader; a man to load the huge bolt while the other aimed.
It was due to this arrangement Zamajans required a stealthy approach. Attacking an outpost during the day was suicide, and though the Zmajans were strong, many risked a brutal death in this manner, as well as alarming the remaining Kulshedrans. There were many towers rounding the perimeter of their territory, and the city within was highly populated with some of Tiamhaal’s finest warriors. Furthermore, taking the tower by surprise allowed the Kulshedran’s to continue running their supply wagons, horse drawn carts with goods for the men at each station. Therein lay the second portion of Zoltek’s attack strategy.
With the supply wagon cut off, storming the adjacent outposts was a much easier task, especially after Scar made his suggestion to the Zmajan king. It was one of careful deliberation.
****
In the nation of Usaj Scar knelt on the brown strip of carpeting before Zoltek’s throne. The soft fur of deer pelts complemented the gray stones comprising the palace. Zoltek, a figure clad in purple and gold robes stood. Lithely, he made his approach towards the kneeling mercenary. The King’s hood was pulled low, and word was, no one had ever seen his face.
Scar looked up, seeing only the shadow cast on the tribal leader’s face. Braziers burned dimly behind the throne. Many guards in black, leather armor stood resting against their spears.
“You agree?” Zoltek asked with a voice like rustling leaves.
“I do, but I have to make one change to your plan,” Scar replied unabashedly.
“You think it flawed?”
“No, I think it can be improved,” Scar corrected.
“I’m listening,” he said.
“The supply carts, they come by about once every week. We know they have at least two running at all times, but the Kulshedran territory is large. This is my proposition,” Scar explained. “After we storm the outpost, we wait for the supply wagon to come by. Because a portion of your men will not join the first charge, they wait for us to attack the carriage, and when we do, they rush from the south.
“Successfully taking the carriage, we hide the enemies’ corpses inside the outpost, and continue making the rounds as suppliers. This way we can easily ambush tower after tower. With enough men, I can certainly take them all down within the month.”
Zoltek nodded, his hood dangling about.
“Yes. It is a well thought addition to my plan. You are indeed smart, Scar,” he complemented.
“So, we are in agreement?”
“Of course. I’m already having men waste no resource in finding your origin. If you succeed, I will personally ask Zmaj. After all, he has created us all, and he must have a special use for you,” Zoltek replied.
A special use for me, Scar wondered. He stood, and walked out of the throne room to ready himself for the upcoming journey.
Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for reading.
Anyway, last time I provided the first page or so of Eternus. Here's what happened just after the brash Urdu was killed by our protagonist, Scar.
“Did you have to?”
Scar did not reply. Instead, he produced a cloth from the small pack hanging off the back of his belt. Running the rag through the holes, he cleaned his blade of blood. Many of the warriors turned their weapons-swords, axes, or spears-at Scar. He simply looked at the setting sun. The sound of nocked arrows being drawn followed curses.
“You won’t win,” Scar said.
The men passed glances among each other then at Dumar.
“We will not attack you. It was self defense,” the old man announced. “There is little time for this as it is. Soon, the sun will set, and we will march. Scar, you will lead, as was the order of Zoltek.”
Scar finished cleaning his sword. There was time still to walk over to the tributary. He gazed at the rippling water flow for a second. While cleaning the bloody cloth in the cooling water, he pondered over his orders.
Zoltek had arranged the small force for two tasks. The first, and more difficult task, was to storm one of Satrone’s many outposts. They were tall towers made from the native brown stone. Square in shape, and slightly tapered as they reached the sky, the outposts held dozens of men with telescopes and long range weapons.
Three men guarded the top of every tower. One worked as a lookout, and rang a gong in the event of an attack. The other two worked the ballista, a large weapon designed to pivot and rotate. Though one man was sufficient, Kulshedrans were intelligent. So, they utilized a second man, a loader; a man to load the huge bolt while the other aimed.
It was due to this arrangement Zamajans required a stealthy approach. Attacking an outpost during the day was suicide, and though the Zmajans were strong, many risked a brutal death in this manner, as well as alarming the remaining Kulshedrans. There were many towers rounding the perimeter of their territory, and the city within was highly populated with some of Tiamhaal’s finest warriors. Furthermore, taking the tower by surprise allowed the Kulshedran’s to continue running their supply wagons, horse drawn carts with goods for the men at each station. Therein lay the second portion of Zoltek’s attack strategy.
With the supply wagon cut off, storming the adjacent outposts was a much easier task, especially after Scar made his suggestion to the Zmajan king. It was one of careful deliberation.
****
In the nation of Usaj Scar knelt on the brown strip of carpeting before Zoltek’s throne. The soft fur of deer pelts complemented the gray stones comprising the palace. Zoltek, a figure clad in purple and gold robes stood. Lithely, he made his approach towards the kneeling mercenary. The King’s hood was pulled low, and word was, no one had ever seen his face.
Scar looked up, seeing only the shadow cast on the tribal leader’s face. Braziers burned dimly behind the throne. Many guards in black, leather armor stood resting against their spears.
“You agree?” Zoltek asked with a voice like rustling leaves.
“I do, but I have to make one change to your plan,” Scar replied unabashedly.
“You think it flawed?”
“No, I think it can be improved,” Scar corrected.
“I’m listening,” he said.
“The supply carts, they come by about once every week. We know they have at least two running at all times, but the Kulshedran territory is large. This is my proposition,” Scar explained. “After we storm the outpost, we wait for the supply wagon to come by. Because a portion of your men will not join the first charge, they wait for us to attack the carriage, and when we do, they rush from the south.
“Successfully taking the carriage, we hide the enemies’ corpses inside the outpost, and continue making the rounds as suppliers. This way we can easily ambush tower after tower. With enough men, I can certainly take them all down within the month.”
Zoltek nodded, his hood dangling about.
“Yes. It is a well thought addition to my plan. You are indeed smart, Scar,” he complemented.
“So, we are in agreement?”
“Of course. I’m already having men waste no resource in finding your origin. If you succeed, I will personally ask Zmaj. After all, he has created us all, and he must have a special use for you,” Zoltek replied.
A special use for me, Scar wondered. He stood, and walked out of the throne room to ready himself for the upcoming journey.
Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for reading.
