Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 9 Jan 2002 to 10 Jan 2002 (#2002-11) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 11/01/2002, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There is one message totalling 127 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Part VII ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 15:49:11 +0100 From: Jacob Skytte Subject: War Journal of Bue Geirsteinson - Part VII Missed an entry yesterday, sorry. Will probably miss tomorrow as well. Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk --- The War-Journal of Bue Geirsteinson Vatermont 22nd, the year 1000 After Crowning of the First Emperor of the = Thyatian Empire, continued As we entered the circle a cheer rose from the men watching us. I = cautiously started to circle my brother, looking for a weakness in his = defense and expecting him to strike first. I did not have to wait long. = The first blows fell, I parried them, but was stung by their force. My = brother did not hold back his strength. Blows were exchanged like this = for a while, both of us concentrating on avoiding getting hit. The force = of the blows started numbing my hands and sweat started to fall. I scored the first hit, a blow to Lot's left shoulder. He twisted in = rage and struck at my knee. I danced out of range. "Your skills have = grown," he said, breaking the silence between us. "but you will find = that I am not without surprises myself." With that he struck blows at me in quick succession, hammering upon one = of my fighting clubs. My hand was too numb to avoid the final blow as he = struck suddenly at my knuckles, where I held the club. The blow was = shattering and I dropped the club in pain. He quickly maneuvered between = me and the club. He was at an advantage, but he was breathing heavily = from the assault. I had to act quickly. Launching my own attack with my remaining club, I struck at his right = side, then spun into a swift attack on his left. Winded, he was unable = to parry and I struck hard at his ribs, driving the air from his lungs. = I used this advantage to deliver a kick to his knee, which sent him = sprawling to the ground. As I kicked at him again, he blocked my leg = with a club. The pain was immense, but the force of my kick sent the = club spinning from his hand. As I recovered from the pain, he got back = to his feet. Now we were on even terms again. We were both limping as we continued fighting. The blows came slower = now, but still hard enough to do severe damage should they connect. I = took a blow to my hip, delivered one to Lot's shoulder. My vision was = growing hazy from sweat running into my eyes. I took a moment to wipe my = brow and Lot struck at me, hitting my elbow. I felt immense pain, the = bone had snapped. Sensing victory close at hand, he struck at me again. = I dropped below his blow and rose again, swinging the club so that it = connected squarely with his jaw. Lot fell backwards, his remaining club flying from his hand. As he hit = the ground I felt certain that he wouldn't rise anytime soon. I = staggered, but kept my balance. The sweat was still in my eyes. I wiped = at them with my good arm, when there was a cry of warning. I turned and = managed to twist in time, so the hidden dagger my brother had drawn = merely scraped along the ribs, instead of entering between them. He tore = into me, and we fell to the ground, my remaining club lost. I grabbed at = his hand and got hold of it before he could stab me again. "Geirsteinson!" a woman cried out, and we both looked. Ingibjorg slid = her dagger towards us. I reacted quickly, butting my head into Lot's = face, then kicking him away from me. I grasped hold of the dagger, then = stood. My brother was also on his feet, charging towards me, his dagger = held in both hands coming down towards my face. I stepped into his swing = hitting his chest with my shoulder, and as he stumbled backwards I = swiped my dagger at him. He failed to see the blow and it connected with = his face, slashing through his cheek and across his left eye. Crying out in pain he dropped his dagger and grasped at his bleeding = face, blood dripping onto the cloth beneath us. I stood above it, able = to end it forever with a blow to his exposed back. Instead I stood = before him and asked of him. "Do you yield?" He froze, his hands covering his ruined eye. The remaining eye stared at = me in horror. "I...yield, brother," he gasped. I stepped away from him towards the ropes. "Do what you can for him. We = will march on the clan hall now." "There is no need, Geirsteinson," the retainer said. "The rest of your = family is not here. They left for Norstedt as soon as they got here, = abandoning us to defend Leirbotn. I guess your father did not expect to = survive a stand here. But at Norstedt he has more men and the hidden = weapon stores." "What does he speak of?" Ingibjorg asked me. "My father's secret prize, the Smith. A dwarf that he holds prisoner in = Norstedt, forging for him superior weapons to help him take over the = kingdom. There he has weapon stores and a fort to hold off invaders. It = will be hard work to take him down, but we must." I stumbled. "But first I must rest. My wounds..." "Will be taken care of at once," Asta Katlasdottir finished. She stepped = forward to support me as we entered Leirbotn. She cleaned and bandaged = my wounds, and set a cast for my arm. My brother was likewise given = treatment for his wounds, it was clear that he would live, but his left = eye was lost. "You should rest," Asta told me. "Your injuries need time to mend. = Ingibjorg and I will take care of the army. We will make certain that we = are ready to travel on as soon as you are well." "We travel on tomorrow," I answered. "I will be ready to travel = tomorrow. As will my brother. He is coming with us. I need him as a = hostage. Perhaps I can exchange him for my sister, Lis." "But surely you cannot let him go now that we have captured him. Should = he escape, king Hord will be furious," she replied. "My sister means more to me than king Hord, and Lot is no threat for a = long time to come. His injury will prevent him from taking up arms = should we set him free. It will be as I say. Now please get me my packs = and help me find my journal. I need to put everything that has happened = into writing before I rest." And so I finish another entry in this journal of mine. Another day has = passed. A day of dread, but also of victory. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 9 Jan 2002 to 10 Jan 2002 (#2002-11) **************************************************************