An error in judgement.

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An error in judgement.

Post by DoS Archive » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:11 pm

From: karenwilder@aol.com (Karen Wilder)
Date: 13 Jan 2004 03:05:38 EST

( This is a story-post only. Thank you for reading. )

They say that when you are about to die, your life flashes before your eyes. 'At least I've somethin' tae look forward to...' Karen thought as an arrow whistled past her ear.


It has all started ordinarily enough... Bishop Rykoff had ordered her to lead a small troop through the Portal and escort a group of minor French nobility home from the citadel at Constantinople. That Rykoff had never requested her for missions before, yet took pains to impress upon her the importance of this mission, seemed odd to her at first. Yet it was true that a Conclave of generals, bishops and cardinals was being convened in Rhy-Din... So the bulk of the officers and troops would be needed for that.
Thus, she did not question her orders. Nor did she think too much about the fact that her troop was composed primarily of new recruits from Rhy-Din, along with a couple of aging French veterans known for their outspoken views on opening the Order, and the church itself, to anyone who wished to join.
As they approached the farm where the Portal was concealed; Anya, a pale-skinned woman from some place she called Hyrule, pointed out towards the fields. "Where are the herds?" she asked, idly. "It's not so cold that they'd bring them in, is it?"
Instantly wary, Karen reached for her sword and started to order a few of the men forward to investigate.
But by then, it was already too late...

(tbc)
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Post by DoS Archive » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:11 pm

From: karenwilder@aol.com (Karen Wilder)
Date: 18 Jan 2004 20:29:41 EST

An arrow struck her hard in the shoulder, nearly throwing her from the saddle. "Ne'er thought I'd be glad o' all those blighters smackin' me shoulders all th' time..." she muttered as she reined the stallion around. The arrow fell from her cloak, having broken against her steel pauldrons. "Keep yer shields up, lads!" she shouted as another volley of arrows rose from near the farm house, reminding her of how this had started.


Just as she'd reached for her sword, two archers rose from the dry brush along the fence-line. "Beckett, Martin... you two" her order was cut off as Beckett and another man were struck with arrows.
"Shields up!" she yelled, spurring her stallion towards the two archers.
Ten more archers rose from the high grass nearer the farm house as she raced forward. "More archers!" she yelled, leaning hard to the left in the saddle... her blade nearly dragging the ground.
Anya's strangled cry drew Karen's attention... she glanced back to see the woman fall from her steed, an arrow sprouting from her throat.
Two of the younger men were falling as well, their horses crumpling from deep arrow wounds of their own. The others had their shields up, one with three arrows stuck in it already.
A quick pull on the reins caused her stallion to rear up, her sword lashing out to slice the bowstring of the nearest archer. His partner had an arrow ready though, and loosed it.
At point-blank range, there's not much chance of avoiding an arrow... so Karen didn't even try. The arrow struck her in the side, glancing off a rib and cutting a long slice through tunic and flesh.
It was the archer's final act, however... for Karen's stallion brought it's hooves down upon his skull, mashing him into the brush.
Then, she saw the enemy's wizard...

(tbc)
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Post by DoS Archive » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:11 pm

From: karenwilder@aol.com (Karen Wilder)
Date: 23 Jan 2004 02:06:11 EST

Her sword knocked one arrow from the sky, but a second slammed deep into her right bicep. She swivelled to face the first archer, but he'd already taken advantage of the distraction to spring over the fence-line.
"Paulie!" she yelled back towards the others. "Ride back!" She felt she could rely on him... old he might be, but few were better horsemen.
She turned her stallion, keeping her left towards the line of archers, and risked a glance towards her troop.

Things were going from bad to worse... the two elves were holding their own against the enemy's wizard, but one had taken an arrow to the thigh and the other was showing signs of strain.
"Cover them!" she cried, wheeling her stallion around and charging towards the wizard...

(tbc)
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Post by DoS Archive » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:12 pm

From: karenwilder@aol.com (Karen Wilder)
Date: 24 Jan 2004 02:00:58 EST

Being nearly immune to magic is a huge advantage when dealing with wizards... Unfortunately, smarter wizards know ways to get around this.
This was clearly one of the smarter wizards, and he'd been told of Karen's immunity. So as she rode towards him with her sword held high... he blasted her horse with a lightning bolt.

Meanwhile, old Paulie was discovering just how thorough an ambush this was. Three men with spears rose from cover alongside the road back to town. " 'ware the rear!" he yelled, just before he was speared from the saddle.

Karen threw herself to the side as her stallion crumpled to the ground. She cursed as the arrow in her arm broke off, driving the remainder further into her bicep. She rose swiftly and growled at the wizard. "Thet trick won't work on me..."
"Oh, but this will." the wizard replied, withdrawing a crossbow bolt from his sleeve.
Karen was momentarily confused, and that was all the wizard needed. A wave of force hurled the crossbow bolt at her with blinding speed. Only luck... good or ill... placed her wounded arm in it's path towards her heart.

(tbc)
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Post by DoS Archive » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:12 pm

From: karenwilder@aol.com (Karen Wilder)
Date: 29 Jan 2004 01:56:00 EST

Karen was thrown backwards by the force of the impact and lay, stunned upon the ground. As she opened her eyes, she saw a rain of arrows falling towards her.
"Give your pathetic God of slaves the warm regards of Lord Anubis when you see him, woman." she heard the Wizard say.

The next thing she remembered was a sensation of... falling again. She felt the impact of another arrow, but not the pain of it as a warm darkness enveloped her.
She heard the sounds of birds singing, then the darkness claimed her.

(tbc)
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