Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: [KQ] Maleiu[TGMOAB 2.2]: The Art of Battle
Message-ID: <1992Oct21.143031.22261@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1992 14:30:31 GMT

ADMIN:  The last post, with Kron, should have been TGMOAB 2.0.  For you KQ
fanatics who want them all numbered correctly...


To the Loxorians, combat was like chess.  There were a limited number of
accepted moves to be made, and yet there were an infinite number of games that
could result from that limited set.

Of course, the number of moves in combat were much greater than that in chess,
each with minor variations, but the Loxorians, with their great memories, knew
them all and could often recite them on command.  Maleiu's knowledge was much
scantier--somewhat like playing chess without knowing what queens or rooks or
knights did.  Possible to win, but difficult.

One of his teachers when he was in Loxor had said, "A'aa perfected our system
of combat.  Since his time, there have been very few innovations."  Growing
impatient with Maleiu's poor memory(by Loxorian standards), he had taught
Maleiu only the basics of A'aa's combat.  And as a result of his poor memory,
his friend had died to save him in a challenge fight.

Now the memory of that fight returned to haunt Maleiu.  He had made a standard
opening, and A'aa had responded in a standard way.  But soon A'aa was making
unfamiliar responses to his moves, and Maleiu was fighting just to stay on
balance.

To make matters worse, the combat that Maleiu had concentrated on had been
Pa'a'axor, the spear-to-spear combat.  Spear-to-sword combat, A'axorna'a, was
another matter entirely, for there were a totally different set of moves.  It
was like playing against checkers against chess pieces.

"Please, master," Maleiu gasped as he feinted at A'aa's legs to forestall a
downswing, "show me the proper way."  That had been the ritual phrase he had
been taught to use in friendly combat with a Loxorian, to allow them to stop
and demonstrate moves for him.  He had little hope that it would work with
A'aa, but it was worth a try.

It failed.  A'aa's trunk curled back in the Loxorian smile and he said, "Alas,
in another time I would.  But this time we are met as foes on the battlefield,
and the last thing one wants is to teach foes to be better.  Sad, but true." 
And he swung low, forcing Maleiu to leap upwards to dodge.

That would have been a good move, if Maleiu had had a sword.  The Loxorians
were clumsy leapers, and the leg-swing was rarely used in polite combat.  But
Maleiu didn't know how to fight with a sword, and didn't have one anyway.

He blocked a sword-blow with the haft of his spear, saving his left arm at the
expense of almost losing his spear.  He couldn't keep this up much longer. 
A'aa could wear even his iron endurance down.  He was toying with the silly
human warrior who knew enough to avoid a fool's mate but not enough to avoid
checkmate in the end.

A three-legged creature from the pool leapt onto Maleiu's back and sank teeth
into the flesh of his shoulder.  A'aa reached out and plucked it off, throwing
it back whence it came.  "Of course, even on the battlefield, there are some
fouls not to be stood.  I will give thee a short time to rest."

That was another characteristic of A'aa in the tales, Maleiu recalled--his
honor.  He was steadfast and loyal, and would not tolerate treachery against
even his darkest foe, even on the battlefield.  He had slain his own lieutenant
for such treachery.

And his honor bought Maleiu a breathing space.  How to defeat this monstrosity?
He looked around the battlefield, but all of his comrades were too beleaguered
to help.  Except for Kron, but he wasn't paying attention to the battle and
neither was it to him.  He would have to defeat the Loxorian hero on his own...

--
---Alfvaen(Canadian SF Quasi-Activist)
"Does it ever seem like the brain disorders you have just aren't enough to keep
 you amused anymore?"  --Dr. Strychnine
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