WR - Gulf War Story

[Gustafson]

Of all of Gulf Wars this year, there was one story that bears telling.

Friday morning, the rain started.  The lightning flashed.  The thunder
rolled.  The Crowns
met, discussed and hoped.  Maybe, the weather would change.  Many brave
fighters stood
armored, waiting.  Desiring the word be given that the war would continue.
That the rain
would slacken.  Rumor would come out that the war was on, that the war was
off, that the
war was on again.  Eventually the inevitable was decided.  The war was off.
The weather
conditions were too hazardous to risk.  Baron Sir Alaric Drake was given the
task of
informing His Royal Majesty Trimaris that the wait was over.  Armor down.

Sir Drake searched and located the Trimarian King under a large pavilion.
His Majesty and
some of his proud warriors were practicing in the enclosed area.  Sir Drake
delivered the
news.  The King stated he suspected as much.  He also had been watching the
weather
grow fouler.  His Majesty stated he was saddened that the Champions battle
would not
occur.  He had been looking forward to seeing Sir Drake face the Trimarian
Champion.
Sir Drake too longed for the battle lost to the elements.  Sadly he left the
area and return
to the Ansteorrian encampment.  As Sir Drake walked in the torrential rain
he considered;
if the Trimarian Knights could fight in the pavilion, so could he.

Sir Drake returned to the pavilion and declared himself Champion to the King
of
Ansteorra.  He then challenged the Trimarian Champion to single combat.  The
rules of
engagement were agreed upon.  Three passes.  Winner was best two of three.
The
Trimarian Knights circled the interior of the pavilion, cheering their
champion and taunting
the challenger.  The warriors faced off and “LAY ON” was called.  Sir Drake
stepped in
and with a single shot, felled his mighty opponent.  Silence fell on the
assembled mass.
Realization that their Champion fell so quickly, struck like a battering
ram.

The second pass began.  Sir Drake and the Trimarian Champion battled like
the powerful
warriors the both are.  The advantage in the battle waxed and waned.  The
Trimarian
observers regained their bravado.  Cheering and crying out in support of
their Champion.
Both men pushed their skill to the maximum and beyond.  The Trimarian
Champion saw
an opening for the killing blow and struck.  Sir Drake fell from a well
thrown shot.  The
assembled warriors roared in primal appreciation.  The competition tied one
to one.

The combatants readied themselves for the third and final pass.   Again the
mighty
warriors engaged.  Their skill surpassed all previous bounds.  Powerful
knights calling on
all of their knowledge of combat, trying to find the minuscule opening that
would bring
honor and glory to their Kingdom and themselves.  The combatants moved
around in the
ring of Knights, attempting to use the allotted space to the best advantage.
Sir Drake saw
a small opening that would bring the combat to an end.  Sir Drake threw a
mighty blow,
striking Earl Bytor square in the head.  Earl Bytor cried “GOOD”.
Unfortunately for Sir
Drake, he was engaged with Sir Odo.  Earl Bytor was one of the observers.
Sir Odo was
still proudly engaged.  Sir Odo observed that Sir Drakes sword now was
blocked by Earl
Bytor’s head.  Sir Drakes defense was hampered and his offense was
devastated.  Sir Odo
pressed.  Sir Drake dug deep into his soul for the strength to avoid the
attack.  Again the
battle raged.  Suddenly Sir Drakes sword struck a killing blow.  As his
opponent fell,
silence engulfed the room.  Sir Drake saluted his noble adversary and
turned.  Without a
word, he left, the awed silence a tribute to his skill.


I hope my telling does tribute to the battle.

HL Gustav Hastings

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