(Use as example, I guess?)
Setting
Town: Konozkezat, Brassdangers
Dwarf: Rigoth Bomrekkogan, Rigoth Whipboats
Occupation: Light Infantry
Notable: Best combat skill level: Adept
Background
My fortress armies are divided into Heavy Infantry (Swordmen, best armor) Light Infantry (Spearmen, medium armor) and Support (Marksmen, light armor).
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"Ambush!"
Rigoth heard the call from the top of the citadel; within the past five years Brassdangers has actually seen very little danger; at least, very little danger that couldn't be handled with some good old dwarven construction. Last year was the most harrowing, when a Naga scout force successfully infiltrated the first layer of wall before being stopped by the First Sharpshooter Division, narrowly avoiding a bloodbath in the Trader's landing.
Apparently, the invaders this time were Pandashi, which looked like large, bipedal, weirdly colored bears. Pandashi riding on giant weasels no less. The first group that had attempted to infiltrate from the south was routed by a joint effort between the fortress' heavy infantry (To this day Rigoth can't understand why they would forgo the trusty axe in favor of the short sword) and the guardsmen of a timely human trade caravan.
The Fence of Lashes is the name of their dwarven civilization, but the past years of war has left them with no home, and a king without a throne. Brassdangers, established in early 126, became the first true dwarven settlement for many of its current residents. Rigoth himself was a wanderer before arriving in 128, and earned himself some experience with a spear, taught to him by a trusty friend. Because of his experience (despite having no real military experience, commonly known as kills) he was selected to lead the First Light Infantry Division, when its previous commander was squished under a drawbridge in an unfortunate incident.
Rigoth fully never expected to see action; after all, the Light Infantry Division was expected to support Heavy Infantry during major military operations, and taking down an ambush was definitely not a major operation. Also, he was lacking in some pieces of his listed uniform, and was in no mood to charge into battle without a shield. With those thoughts in mind, he went about his business, seeing to the fields of sunberries the fort had to offer, before a second ambush call grabbed his attention. He was called to mobilize.
A second wave of Pandashi (also on giant Weasels) had been found on the opposite side of the river that ran near the fort, found by one of the less experienced soldiers, who also happened to be carrying a baby. As Rigoth heard the general mobilize order, he sprinted across the bridge to assist the unfortunate woman, who was - he reflected later - doing pretty well for herself, actually. He charged at the closest Pandashi Weasel Rider [that sounds like a bad insult].
Rigoth let out a mighty roar and skewered the giant weasel where it stood, throwing off the rider with its death throes. Rigoth wasted no time in pulling out the spear and skewering said rider before it could regain its balance. This initial assault confused the Pandashi and terrified their mounts, as Rigoth took this opportunity to bring down two more riders and their mounts before the bulk of the fortress's army had arrived.
Not seeing any more targets, Rigoth turned and made his way back to the bridge, when he saw the sharpshooters raise their crossbows at one Pandashi dressed in light blue. It was a Pandashi Swordmaster; the sharpshooters had brought down his mount, but he was closing in on them, fast.
Before the Swordmaster could fall upon the Sharpshooters and deliver raw panda justice, she heard the thundering of footsteps and turned around, swinging her sword at the side where she expected the owner of those footsteps to be.
Rigoth was in a full charge and didn't expect the swing, but was able to break his charge and dodge the swing, but lost his footing. The seconds he took to regain his footing was enough for the swordmaster to bear[
] down upon him.
With a swift roll, he dodged the swordmaster's strokes and counterattacked, but his spear only reached air, and he paid for his overextended attack when the swordmaster scratched his nail.
Slightly confused now, Rigoth and the swordmaster Pandashi woman traded a few more blows, when a wide swing left the Pandashi slightly off balance. Seeing his chance, Rigoth stepped in, hard, and stabbed her chest, piercing a lung, causing her to falter and gasp for breath. Dodging one last swing of desperation from the marginally more skilled opponent he stepped in again and struck her on both legs, before ending the now unconscious Swordmaster's life with a final stab through the head.
Seeing their leader fall, the rest of the Pandashi Macemen turned tail and ran, and would've made it, if now for the sharpshooter laying down heavy fire, wounding their mounts. The last action of many ambushers was to fumble with the straps that secured them to their animals as the Dwarven Heavy Infantry of Brassdangers went to work.
The call to arms has ended, and Rigoth took a break, enjoying some fine artwork, like he always did.
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This ended up being longer than I thought.
Author
Topic: Short Stories of the Fortress (Read 1247 times)