From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Aaron Humphrey)
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1992 20:26:54 GMT
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [KQ] Maleiu[Factory/Warehouse] Pummel, Pummel!

As the KronQuestors melee with the Elite Guards, suddenly a voice rings out
from inside the barracks-room.  "Night Squad!  Execute Scorpion Maneuver!"

The guards still sparring fling themselves against the wall, and a rank of
crossbowmen is revealed, weapons levelled at the 'Questors.  They let off five
bolts.

Maleiu trips one of the guards with his spear as he dodges, and he regains his
balance too late, and one of the bolts lodged in his throat.  Then Maleiu and
Colin, apparently thinking similarly, dive and roll forward into the barracks
room, Colin knocking a crossbow bolt aside.

Maleiu looks back over his shoulder briefly to see Azzar knock down Rhoan and
Captain.  Rhoan is only grazed, Captain receives a bolt in the shoulder, and
Azzar knocks hers aside as Colin did his.

Colin's eye is caught by the apparent leader of the Guardsmen, and he leaps
forward to match katana with sword.  The rest of the Guardsmen unconsciously
clear a space around the sparring pair.  Their eyes turn to Maleiu.

Maleiu thrusts his spear at one, and the Guardsman blocks it with his shield
and then lops off the point with his sword.  Maleiu curses himself for not
having gotten a spear with a metal guard.  Okay, so it's a staff fight now.

Maleiu stands up and starts spinning his staff about in his hands.  The
Guardsmen near him have shields and real swords, if only padded armour still.
Maleiu feints at the leg of the nearest, and when the shield comes down he
twists the staff and raps him on the side of the neck with the shaft.  Then he
tries an identical trick with the next Guardsman--except that he doesn't bring
his staff up.  The Guardsman, clever enough to see the trick coming, whips his
shield up, only to fall when the shaft crushes his knee.

The Guardsmen drag off their wounded comrades, and a new rank replace them...
their numbers have become depleted, but they are still more than a match for
the 'Questors.  Maleiu is forced into a defensive posture, blocking sword-blows
with the haft of his spear, which is getting more and more notches with every
blow.

Colin had the right idea--it will be difficult to get past them without taking
out the leader first...

--
---Alfvaen(a.k.a. Nysinra, rot13 Psycho)
"While we talk, I will hit your head with a nail to make you
 understand me"  --Ivor Cutler
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