Re: Intense Struggle! (Round 6 - Frozen Destinies)
01-03-2012, 05:36 AM
Originally posted on MSPA by Aryogaton.
Rook to c2.
Checkmate.
By then, the outcome of the game was clear, but the crowd erupted into applause and conversation nonetheless. A famed strategist and wizard, to be defeated by a peasant boy of such youth? And look at the honorable man, bearing such warm a smile even after a defeat. From whence does this boy hail? Such talent is worthy of none but the company of the king! Send a hawk at once! Tell him a lad of vast potential has emerged! Tell him to send his scryers, his alchemagi, his scholars, his advisors…
The boy, quiet as he was, simply stood and began to walk home. His challenge to this odd man was just a bout of play, and he had many responsibilities still awaiting completion.
“Lad.”
The boy turned, not wishing to appear rude. The king’s men were generous people, so long as one obeyed proper conduct. As softly as he spoke, the boy could hear the words well over the crowd’s uproar.
“I would like to offer you a little… thought experiment.”
With a slow wave of the magus’ staff, the two found themselves in a valley, on horseback, and clad in armor. A glance behind them revealed to the boy a thousand warriors and archers, young and old, human and otherwise, awaiting directions. Among them was a chariot carrying a crowned figure in clear representation of the noble king.
“From the eastern side of this deceptively serene valley approaches a formidable army. Messengers from towns ransacked by this army have estimated its numbers to be the greater part of five thousand strong and its speed to exceed our own. Our goal and sole objective is to transport the king to the safe and secure walls of Hafenheim, where we can make a defensive stand. Indeed, the shortest path to Hafenheim is west, along this valley. As mentioned before, however, we lack the ability to outrun them. My question to you, lad, is simple: what shall we do?”
There was something missing from the magus’ explanation. It was obvious, maybe too obvious.
“Why don’t we fight?” Aegis said.
The magus blinked, his smile faltering slightly.
“They outnumber us, and in this valley there the outcome of a battle would be measured by strength, not by cunning.”
“So? It’s possible, isn’t it?”
“Y’have to weigh the risks, lad! Escorting the king to safety is our greatest concern, and—”
“Enough with the ‘lad’. My name is Aegis Cupris,” Aegis dismounted his horse, “and I know how to fight. Sure, it’s a risk, but every opportunity not taken is a failure. Put the crown on someone else and put the king in the back line if you have to. Anyone have scrap metal lying around?”
“No, you’re not listening. The best course of action is to split our forces in two, one with a decoy, the other with the real king and our fastest movers. They do not know the size of our forces, so they would not be expecting a greater resistance. The escape army runs to Hafenheim while the decoy moves more slowly, fools the enemy into believing they have defeated us as well as slowing them down enough to let the king escape to safety.”
Aegis turned around and gave the magus a bewildered look. “You’d be willing to let half these people die for no reason?”
“There is a reason: sacrifice. Like in chess, even sacrificing the queen is acceptable if it guarantees the king safety.”
“What? That’s a board game! I don’t even know what you mean! Here, nothing is set in stone until it happens. We set camp here so that we are the most ready when they arrive. And when they do, we fight.”
The magus’ smile finally faded, and with a motion not a fraction as swift as the one he made before, he broke the illusion. Aegis was sitting in front of a grey chessboard once more.
Come back when y'rethink your rash decisions.
Aegis stood and walked towards the exit. Stupid board game.
Rook to c2.
Checkmate.
By then, the outcome of the game was clear, but the crowd erupted into applause and conversation nonetheless. A famed strategist and wizard, to be defeated by a peasant boy of such youth? And look at the honorable man, bearing such warm a smile even after a defeat. From whence does this boy hail? Such talent is worthy of none but the company of the king! Send a hawk at once! Tell him a lad of vast potential has emerged! Tell him to send his scryers, his alchemagi, his scholars, his advisors…
The boy, quiet as he was, simply stood and began to walk home. His challenge to this odd man was just a bout of play, and he had many responsibilities still awaiting completion.
“Lad.”
The boy turned, not wishing to appear rude. The king’s men were generous people, so long as one obeyed proper conduct. As softly as he spoke, the boy could hear the words well over the crowd’s uproar.
“I would like to offer you a little… thought experiment.”
With a slow wave of the magus’ staff, the two found themselves in a valley, on horseback, and clad in armor. A glance behind them revealed to the boy a thousand warriors and archers, young and old, human and otherwise, awaiting directions. Among them was a chariot carrying a crowned figure in clear representation of the noble king.
“From the eastern side of this deceptively serene valley approaches a formidable army. Messengers from towns ransacked by this army have estimated its numbers to be the greater part of five thousand strong and its speed to exceed our own. Our goal and sole objective is to transport the king to the safe and secure walls of Hafenheim, where we can make a defensive stand. Indeed, the shortest path to Hafenheim is west, along this valley. As mentioned before, however, we lack the ability to outrun them. My question to you, lad, is simple: what shall we do?”
There was something missing from the magus’ explanation. It was obvious, maybe too obvious.
“Why don’t we fight?” Aegis said.
The magus blinked, his smile faltering slightly.
“They outnumber us, and in this valley there the outcome of a battle would be measured by strength, not by cunning.”
“So? It’s possible, isn’t it?”
“Y’have to weigh the risks, lad! Escorting the king to safety is our greatest concern, and—”
“Enough with the ‘lad’. My name is Aegis Cupris,” Aegis dismounted his horse, “and I know how to fight. Sure, it’s a risk, but every opportunity not taken is a failure. Put the crown on someone else and put the king in the back line if you have to. Anyone have scrap metal lying around?”
“No, you’re not listening. The best course of action is to split our forces in two, one with a decoy, the other with the real king and our fastest movers. They do not know the size of our forces, so they would not be expecting a greater resistance. The escape army runs to Hafenheim while the decoy moves more slowly, fools the enemy into believing they have defeated us as well as slowing them down enough to let the king escape to safety.”
Aegis turned around and gave the magus a bewildered look. “You’d be willing to let half these people die for no reason?”
“There is a reason: sacrifice. Like in chess, even sacrificing the queen is acceptable if it guarantees the king safety.”
“What? That’s a board game! I don’t even know what you mean! Here, nothing is set in stone until it happens. We set camp here so that we are the most ready when they arrive. And when they do, we fight.”
The magus’ smile finally faded, and with a motion not a fraction as swift as the one he made before, he broke the illusion. Aegis was sitting in front of a grey chessboard once more.
Come back when y'rethink your rash decisions.
Aegis stood and walked towards the exit. Stupid board game.