Avalon/Roleplay Section/Hector/Defeat in Norjke
Previous: Victory in Henhower
Defeat in Norjke
Hector rides up to Norjke, he has 18 men. He lost one man in combat back in Henhower. He turns and sees a Noble whom he doesn’t recognize riding up to him. “Lord Hector, I am Antman. We haven’t met yet, but I’m here to help with these Monsters. I know of you through some tales I’ve heard back in Cteduul. I am pleased to finally meet you.”
Hector smiles, and warmly reaches out shaking his forearm. “Greetings, Lord Antman, it’s a pleasure. So, where are our reinforcements?”
Antman looks down at his saddle. “Well, it appears that our General and his 52 men have been caught up and are running behind. And others are not heard from yet.”
Hector’s eyes grow large. “But, the reports I’ve seen says there’s nearly 100 Monsters in that forest heading our way. How are 29 men going to stop that?” He reels around to look towards the back of the field where Arian and Jessica are. She waits in the carriage, hoping for a quick victory so that they can move on to getting the Colony Tree rebirthed. Hector is wildly flailing his arms. “You, there, tell them to….” As he starts to scream to one of his soldiers, a large boom and rumble comes crashing from the forest. Hector reels around, and sees Monsters pouring out of the forest. There are 5 Wraiths above, directing them. They’ve formed into 5 squads of about 19 each. Three squads head straight for Hector and Antman, while one squad on each flank try to run ahead of the center squads to surround them. Hector glances back, his eyes saddened. This will be the end of him and Jessica.
He reels around, and sounds his horn. “Charge men and go to the left Flank!” Antman sounds a similar charge to his men and dashes to the right flank. The two warriors know their only chance is to slow down the flanks, thus causing the middle section to overrun the flanks, allowing Antman and Hector to flank each side… If it can work, it will be brilliant.
Hector charges, and runs dead-on into a Horde of fierce fighters. He feels the wraith hovering above, giving inaudible commands to the Monsters they fight. His men slash and fight and bring down some of the Monsters. Antman is doing the same. The center line does exactly as Hector had wanted and overruns their flanks to now be flanked by both Hector and Antman. They fight hard, but are too outnumbered. Hector orders his men to push. Suddenly, his men start to drop like flies. The undead crush his front line, and send his 2nd line sprawling. He starts to count; of his 18 men, only 4 are left standing. He’s got two large gouges on his arms and legs and is growing tired. He, himself can not hold them off any longer. Antman is faring a bit better. Hector can no longer take it, there are still about 80 Monsters left, so, he sounds the retreat. He runs back to his horse and runs off, leaving his men behind in order to save Jessica. He sees Arian mounting the steed that pulls the carriage, but is having trouble with the horse. Because it isn’t a war horse or has ever been near combat, it is frightened to death.
Hector charges up, grabs the horses reigns and pulls the horse with him. 4 of his men jump onto the carriage, bleeding profusely; they caught up with Hector and are clinging on the sides and back of the carriage for life.
Hector looks back and sees Antman being overrun. But a majority of the Creatures have changed course and are now trailing him. Hector slaps his horse to speed up. Ahead, 3 Monsters have blocked the road, Arian turns, jumps to the top of the carriage and whips out two bags. He waves his hand over it, murmurs something then tosses it ahead. A large explosion causes the Monsters to reel, but the horse pulling the carriage is frightened and fights Hector as he pulls it through the 3 monsters. One of the Creatures regains his orientation and swings his large club at Hector, sending him flying from the horse.
As Hector crashes, one of his soldiers jumps from the back of the carriage, cradling his arm. “Sir..”
Hector turns and screams, “Take my horse and get that carriage out of here!!! Take them to our Capital, I will meet you there. When you are clear, tie my horse to a tree, 30 meters into the woods, and I shall find him… Now Go!”
The Soldier grabs Hectors horse and starts to do as ordered. Hector turns, draws his sword. It glows bright blue now. He looks down at it and sighs… not good!
He starts to swing, but the Monster is too big and Hector is too weak and swipes away his swing like a fly swatter. Hector pulls a dagger from his boot. He glances back and sees the Monsters chasing the carriage. Only one left for Hector to handle. He turns to run, and runs towards a large cliff overlooking a river. He pulls out a rope from his pouch and ties it to his dagger as he runs. The Monster starts towards him, knocking into trees, sending them falling with cracking sounds and loud booms as the trees smash through the forest. Hector sees the gorge. Perfect He runs as fast as he can, limping from the wound on his leg. As the Creature gains on him Hector leaps off the cliff and throws the dagger at a tree. He misses, but catches a branch of another tree. Jerking Hector and sending him swinging out into the air above the river. The Monster lunges for him, but misses as Hector swings around and comes back towards the ledge. The creature flies over the cliff, and smashes into the rocks below. It’s not dead, but it is completely unconscious. Hector swings back to the ledge, and delicately regains his footing up top, and lets lose the rope. He glances down at the Monster as it lies there, motionless.
Hector turns and darts off back down the trail. About a mile down the trail, he comes across two scorched creatures, no doubt the work of Arian. Shortly thereafter, he hears a neighing in the woods. He whistles out and hears his horse call to him. He runs in, about 30 meters and sees his horse tied to a tree. “That soldier is reliable. That’s not an everyday thing!” He says as he mounts up, and heads out towards Cteduul.
Next: Attacks on the Capital
