T'was early in the summer of the twelfth year since the foundation of Kilrudlised (the Bronzemark), and only one year since the arrival of Queen Dumat Melbilzaled herself.
Monom Zalisnomal, a humble speardwarf who had distinguished herself from the ranks of the militia (which wasn't hard since the militia then numbered fewer than twenty dwarfs) during a goblin ambush the previous year, had just earned the name Gloved Inferno of Birds, and was justly given the rank of Champion as a reward for her service to the Bronzemark.
Woodcutters and plant gatherers were busy with their appointed tasks in the northern enclosure when word reached them that the infamous Bronze Colossus Axstut Botunodgas had been spotted approaching from the west. Their own safety being of paramount concern, they hastily beat a retreat to the inner layers of the fortress, stalling the Colossus's approach by means of setting their dogs upon it and allowing the militia the time to prepare their defenses.
The drawbridges to the south and west were closed, leaving only the northen passage open as the Bronzemark had been built into the side of a mountain. This path, carefully prepared with traps against the day the local goblins would finally get their act together enough to mount a siege, was also overlooked by an archer tower with carefully placed stockpiles of food, drink and ammunition, whereon were also stationed a unit of six marksdwarves, led by the ever-capable Militia Captain Ushat Tobulmoral, and who were already peppering the abominable statue with bolts, though to little effect.
Suddenly, emerging from the depths of the Bronzemark with a mighty and terrifying battlecry, Monom Zalisnomal and the rest of the militia charged forth to do battle.
Bypassing the traps in the north corridor, as they had been drilled with the locations of the triggers, they engaged the colossus at the edge of the Bronzemark's defensive moat.
Two brave dwarves lost their lives in that battle, though not before the axedwarf Tulon Gikenadil had managed to sever all of the creature's limbs, save for its head. Urist Stukosurmim, who had just been assigned to the squad to make up the numbers, accomplished nothing of note, though maybe his antics distracted the beast while others valiantly fought for their lives and the lives of all the Bronzemark.
Frightened by the ferocity of its restless gnashing, and general flopping around like a grounded fish, they both fell into the nearby moat and drowned.
Now lacking axes or swords, the militia were forced to resort to more creative tactics, and lured the fell creature into the trap-ridden northern passage, wherepon its head was immediately removed by a giant steel corkscrew.
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Topic: Bronzemark versus Bronze Colossus (Read 629 times)