The Speardwarf charges The Elf Spearman.
The Elf Spearman looks surprised by the ferocity of The Speardwarf's onslaught!
The Speardwarf stabs The Elf Spearman in the head with his -iron spear- tearing the muscle and shattering the skull through the ({rope reed fiber hood})!
A tendon in the skull has been torn.
The Speardwarf collides with The Elf Spearman!
The Elf Spearman is knocked over and tumbles backward!
The Speardwarf stabs The Elf Spearman in left upper leg with his -iron spear-, fracturing the bone through the ({rope reed fiber cloak})!
A tendon has been torn!
The -iron spear- has lodged firmly in the wound!
As you can see from this, just because you've stabbed them in the head, shattering the skull, does
not necessarily mean that they are dead yet.
Oh, and stabbing them in the nose, and having the severed part sail off in an arc is just wonderful humor.
For those wondering, this was the first ambush by the elves (embarked close enough to an elf civ that was at war with the dwarf civ I selected) in the spring of the fortress' second year. Four dwarves from the first migrant wave have been sparring with training spears and shields for 6 months, then iron spears for another three or four months prior to the elves showing up. No danger room, just sparring between four dwarves that all started with zero skills. As of the start of this fight they are all either Adept (7), or Expert (8 ) speardwarves, and Competent (3), Skilled (4) or Proficient (5) shield users.
A danger room might have had them at legendary by now, but it just doesn't seem to be needed.