The Key of Ban
It was dark when Coaldon arrived at the dwarf campsite. The light of flickering fires spread across a large meadow. He knew his friends would be on the southwest corner of the encampment. As Coaldon walked through the sea of tents, he detected a change in the mood of the dwarves. The aura of the silent camp had the subtle feeling of anticipation and tension. He was greeted by his companions with words of welcome and unspoken looks of curiosity.
For a long time he sat next to the fire without speaking.
Finally, he said, “The trogs are only three or four days behind us. We will need to prepare for war.”
Pacer responded, “I think it is important to meet with the War Council this evening.”
Earthkin injected, “I will talk with Rolfe, immediately.”
It was not long before they heard footsteps approaching the camp. When the members of the Council appeared, the shimmering light of the campfire illuminated their grim faces with an eerie cast of foreboding.
In a gruff voice Rolfe stated, “Coaldon, we have waited for your return. Earthkin relayed your message about the approaching trog army. What have you learned today?”
Coaldon looked into the eyes of each dwarf before responding, “I have confirmed a large trog army is rapidly approaching from the north. We either find a place to defend ourselves, or be destroyed. This may sound bleak, but it is the truth. Earthkin told us about a deep, narrow canyon several days march south of here. This location might be an ideal place to build a defensive perimeter. At this point we do not have many choices, so I propose we accept Earthkin’s suggestion. Further, I advise we divide the community into two groups. One group will rush ahead at a quick march and prepare the canyon for battle. The other group will set a slower pace to meet the needs of the noncombatants. A small contingent of warriors should stay with the slower group”
Rolfe responded, “When we decided to travel to Rockham, I never thought we would face such danger. Yet, I know we must be positive. Self pity will only limit our potential to survive. A vision of success will create the power for victory.”
He continued, “Well, what should we do?”
The members proceeded to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Coaldon’s plan. After a full debate Rolfe called for a vote. Coaldon’s plan was accepted with hesitation. They felt their small world was slowly being torn apart.
Rolfe declared, “Turrock, Earthkin and Ripsnout will lead the advanced force. I will guide the slower group. I will call a meeting of the community tonight to share our decision. The advance party will leave at sunrise tomorrow. May the One Presence be with us.”
Later that evening a drum roll called the dwarves together for a meeting. Rolfe stood before the gathering with an air of confidence and determination. In a strong voice he declared, “The trog army is fast approaching us from the north. We are in great danger. Our only hope is to defend ourselves in the tradition of our great history. The council has decided to build a fortification in a narrow canyon several days south of here. It will be necessary to split the community into two groups. The warriors will go ahead to build a wall, while the remaining community will follow. We will only succeed if each of us makes the needed sacrifices. Be strong like the rock of your bones.”
The revelation sent a surge of apprehension through the community. Yet, the dwarves were quick at finding the inner strength to be resilient. Their conquest of previous challenges had hardened their character and filled them with determination. The following morning each group assumed its new responsibilities without question. Coaldon, Brother Patrick, Pacer and Earthkin were assigned to go with the advanced group.
Noel protested not being included in the lead party. She proclaimed, “I believe I can do more good by helping the advanced group.”
Pacer responded to her, “We will need to travel light and fast. Be ready for a tough go.”
With a gleam of fortitude, she stated, “I can do it! It maybe a difficult task for a soft palace dweller, but I am ready for the challenge.”
Pacer followed, “We are concerned about your endurance, but if you can bear the physical stress, please join us.”
The lead party traveled at a quick march for 12 hours. After a short sleep break, they continued their trek without stopping until they reached the canyon. It took 24 hours for the lead party to complete the trip. Several times during the long trek, Noel wondered why she considered going, yet her fortitude helped her endure the demands of the expedition. With pride and sore feet, she walked into the canyon with the large troop of warriors. Her accomplishment was admired by her traveling companions.
Upon arriving in the canyon, the army surveyed the area to determine what needed to be done to build an adequate defensive fortification. The warriors divided into three teams to construct the barrier. The teams rotated their activities between rest, sleep and work. Their strength and willpower could be measured by the rapid construction of a stone barricade. The high, stone wall was built across the narrowest section of the canyon. Ramparts provided protection, while allowing the warriors room to fight. Large stones were lifted into place to form an intricately designed wall. The outside of the wall was relatively smooth, allowing few hand holds. Even though the wall was hastily built, it demonstrated the dwarves’ innate ability to work with stone. The dwarves believed the wall would withstand the assault of many attacks.
Noel realized she was not physically ready to carry large, heavy rocks. Wisely, she chose to gather supplies to make weapons. Using a sharp sword, she cut and stripped the bark from piles of long, straight hardwood branches needed to make spears and arrows.
The wall was not their only line of defense. The river on the north end of the fortification flowed brim full with cold spring runoff. The trogs’ fear of water would stop them from using the river to attack the dwarves. The sheer cliff, on the south end of the wall, created a natural barrier. After forty eight hours of continuous labor, the wall was completed with a small passageway in the center, allowing the dwarves to enter and exit the canyon. The passage would be closed when the battle began.
The final activity was to make extra weapons for the battle. Under Noel’s direction, the warriors gathered thousands of branches from hardwood trees to make weapons. Little time was wasted in transforming the raw wood into lethal weaponry.
Finally, Ripsnout and Turrock granted the warriors a well deserved rest in anticipation of the battle. Scouts were sent out in all directions to detect unusual activities in the area. While the dwarves worked in the canyon, they kept an uneasy eye on the black war eagles flying in lazy circles overhead. Only Coaldon knew the real importance of the eagles. The dwarves also noticed Coaldon would leave his work group and then return several hours later. The warriors were curious about his strange behavior.
Yet, they had little time to think about such a minor detail.
As warriors rested, Coaldon sat on a tall rocky knoll in full view of the camp. The warm afternoon sun massaged everyone’s tired bodies into a sleepy state of relaxation. The camp suddenly came to full alert when a large shadow passed overhead. The warriors leaped to their feet ready for action. A magnificent war eagle flew low over the camp and landed on the knoll with Coaldon. With astonishment, the dwarves watched Coaldon and the giant eagle talk. Coaldon reacted to the eagle’s message with excitement.
When the great eagle flew away, Coaldon ran down the hill and into camp, yelled, “To arms! To arms! The slow group is only six hours’ march from here. The front of the trog army has almost caught up with them. We must take immediate action.” The sound of a horn echoed around the canyon as the warriors gathered their weapons, put on protective leather armor and formed fighting units. The muster only took minutes. At Turrock’s command, the dwarf army ran out of the canyon in an orderly, disciplined manner.
Noel decided to stay in the canyon and prepare for the arrival of the clan. As she watched the warriors leave the canyon, she realized they were a deadly fighting machine. The dwarves inner strength and confidence would create fear in the
hearts of any opponent. She noticed that superiority radiated from the very center of their souls. In her thoughts she described the warriors as a lethal-surge-of-destructive power.
It only took three hours of running for the warriors to reach the front line of the slow group. The warriors did not pause to talk, but maintained their quick march to reach the end of the procession. Coaldon noticed the members of the slow group were at the end of their endurance. Slumped shoulders and pale faces told of their desperate situation.
As the warriors reached the end of the line, they could hear the shouts from the trog army. The dwarf army advanced until they reached a dense growth of trees and underbrush. At Turrock’s command the army dissolved into the forest, setting a deadly ambush. The long line of dwarves hidden on both sides of the road would attack the unsuspecting trogs with demoralizing violence. In the evening light a large group of trogs and geks came into view. Blood lust forced the evil army to look toward the fleeing prey, not to the side of the road.
The piercing sound of a horn sounded when the front units of the trog army entered into the ambush zone. The first unit of dwarf warriors rushed forward, throwing spears into the startled throng of trogs. The wedge shaped lines of the attacking dwarves pinched the trog army into a churning mass of confusion. The second unit of dwarves formed a line behind the spear brigade. Upon command, they released a cloud of arrows into the confused trog army. The destruction of the trogs was massive. The cries of misery grew into a roar of agony.
The last unit of dwarves to attack carried long, sharp pikes. The first two attack lines parted, allowing the pike brigade to rush forward. With the pikes held in a horizontal position the warriors attacked directly into the center of the trog army. After the initial attack, this unit retreated twenty strides and attacked again, driving the long pikes into the panicked trog soldiers. Upon command, the pike unit again retreated twenty strides and held its position. The spear unit then passed through the pike line attacking the trogs with swords. The archers continued to shoot arrows into the center of the trog army with care not to hit a dwarf swordsman. The sudden and lethal attack by the dwarves was so effective the front edge of the trog army retreated in panic and disarray. The geks lost control of the fleeing herd of desperate trogs. The battlefield was littered with the wounded bodies. The black cloud of death covered the area with a foul odor of wretchedness. The geks offered no assistance to the wounded trogs.
At the sound of a horn, the dwarves stopped their attack and retreated toward the procession of noncombatants. The dwarves learned from past experience that fighting 100 to 1 odds was an exercise in futility. It was necessary to use the weaknesses of the beasts to their advantage. They knew trogs were slow witted beasts. Therefore, the dwarves developed a fighting strategy based on lightning fast, surprise attacks. After inflecting maximum damage, the warriors would then retreat from a battle before the trogs had the opportunity to reorganize their massive army. This battle would go down in the history books as the Battle of the Exodus. The Four-Line-Attack-Method, developed by the dwarves, had never been seen by the military officers of the Empire. Many commanders would use this attack strategy in later centuries.
After retreating from the battle scene, the dwarf warriors were not concerned about the trogs’ being able to organize for a counter attack. It would take at least half a day for the geks to round up trogs from their hiding places in the forest. When the dwarf soldiers caught up with the slower group, they provided a rear guard. It was midnight before they arrived at the fortified canyon. The long procession of dwarves filed into the canyon in a haphazard manner. The hole in the wall was filled with large stones and guards stationed on the wall. The turmoil of the battle and escape had created a high stress level within the dwarf community. After satisfying their immediate needs, the emotionally charged dwarves talked late into the night. As the emotional energy drained from their bodies, a quiet atmosphere of sleep finally shrouded the camp.
The confined area of the narrow canyon provided the community with a sense of security. They found it uncomfortable to be surrounded by open space. Dwarves found security in the protection of their tunnels.
The new day greeted the community with bright sunshine and a gentle morning breeze. Even though the dwarves faced immediate danger, a casual environment permeated the campsite. Dwarves leisurely strolled through the camp performing their usual chores. It was midday before they were ready to prepare for war.
When the community gathered for a meeting, the warm afternoon sun showered down on the assembly. Green grass and leaves provided a pleasant backdrop.
The community became quiet as Rolfe stood up. He declared, “We must be thankful for our narrow escape yesterday. Yet, our focus must not be on yesterday, but today. We will soon be fighting a battle that will determine our very existence. Each of you will be given duties to perform before, during and after each battle. Dwarves will be wounded and dwarves will die, but this must be expected. Your courage is an important part of our success.”
Rolfe dismissed the assembly with his personal blessing.
The camp became a beehive of activities. Assignments were handed out, and the preparations for war began. Coaldon and Noel did not approach the wall until late afternoon. The brother and sister did not want to view the opposing army until they had time to reconcile their own feelings. With reluctance they walked up the steps leading to the rampart and stood overlooking the open expanse of land to the east.
The area, in front of the canyon mouth, had been a broad meadow of green, lush grass surrounded by dense forest. With a gasp, both Noel and Coaldon were speechless at what they saw. The beautiful meadow was blackened and corrupted by swarms of trogs moving like a disturbed ant hill. During the past 18 hours the meadow became the center of the trogs’ universe.
The individual units of the trog army were organized around a regimental flag and tent. Geks, with whips, drove the trogs in what seemed like a maddening exercise in orchestrated turmoil. Directly in the center of the war camp sat a large drum surrounded by a small group of geks wearing yellow robes. The Royal Gek, wearing a purple robe, walked around the drum in a stately manner. The beast finally stopped, pointing its arm toward the war drum. Using two large clubs, a gek started pounding the drum at a fast tempo. Without hesitation, individual regiments of the trog army rushed to form rank and stood at attention in front of their company flags.
When the drum stopped beating, the trogs and geks fell to their knees and bowed their heads to the ground. The Royal Gek began to rant and rave in a loud voice, using dramatic body gestures. Upon finishing its speech, the beast entered a large black tent in the middle of the encampment. When the Royal Gek disappeared into the tent, the drummer began to pound the drum at a slow steady rhythm. At this signal, the trogs dispersed to their regimental campsites.
The sun was setting in the west when Coaldon and Noel withdrew their attention from the activities of the trog army. The captivating events of the enemy’s camp had an over powering effect on them. They realized the conquest of Crossmore was a challenge requiring the combined efforts of many people.
The war drum boomed all night long. The constant beat had an unsettling effect on the dwarf community. Within two weeks the clan had gone from the familiarity of their Homekeep into a noisy, chaotic war zone. After a lifetime of quiet existence in the bowels of the Sadden Mountains the constant throbbing of the drum was disturbing. The morning greeted the haggard faced dwarves with a seemingly impossible task - survival. Yet, hope characterized the faith of the community.
In preparing for war, some people made arrows, others shaped spears, still others made bandages for the wounded. Strong women carried rocks to the top of the wall to be thrown as weapons. Several husky women volunteered to work on the wall during the battles.
Midmorning, the drumbeats stopped and an uneasy silence filled the area. After a long pause, it started to beat at a fast tempo. This created a nauseating sense of anticipation in the dwarf community. Th
e trogs started to scream in what seemed to be an endless assault on the minds of the dwarves. From the top of the wall, the warriors watched as the trogs formed attack units. The narrow canyon would only allow small strike units to fight in the canyon. Additional trog assault units waited in line ready to take their turn in attacking the fortified wall.
When the drum beat increased to a steady roll, the first unit of trogs attacked. They rushed up the narrow canyon with a single minded purpose to kill and destroy. As the enemy approached the wall, dwarf archers mowed down the first row of trogs like a blade cutting through grass. Before the first assault unit arrived at the wall, it disappeared into a cloud of black smoke. This method of attack went on for hours. Unit after unit of trogs stormed the wall, causing little damage to the dwarf defenders.
At mid-afternoon the drummers returned to a slow beat, indicating the end of the attack. The canyon entrance was clouded with the black smoke of death. As the dwarves evaluated the results of the day, they took no pride in their success. They knew the trog army was only testing their defenses. The death of a trog meant nothing to the geks. Every trog would be sacrificed to destroy the dwarves.
The dwarves spent the rest of the evening preparing for the following day. After a restless night, the community was ready to face another day of fighting. The trogs attacked at sunrise with a new strategy. Rows of trog archers, without shields, formed lines in front of the wall and began shooting arrows at the dwarves standing on the wall. In return, the dwarf archers shot a steady stream of arrows at the defenseless trogs. The dwarves’ effectiveness was greatly limited because of their need to stand behind large war shields. The dwarf archers were forced to shoot arrows from around the corners of the shields, thereby reducing their accuracy.
Dwarves who carried supplies to the warriors on the wall used shields to protect themselves from the lethal barrage of arrows. The trog archery assault lasted an hour before the infantry units began their attack. At the command of the gek masters, the trog foot soldiers rushed at the wall in unending rows. The strategy of using arrows and infantry at the same time had a devastating effect on the dwarves’ defenses. Their need to protect themselves from the arrows, plus defend against trogs climbing over the wall was nearly impossible. Many times trogs used ladders to reach the top of the wall before they were turned back by the heroic efforts of the dwarves. At noon the trog army retreated to its campsites in an orderly manner. The ground in front of the wall was littered with the garbage of war. The air was rank with the foul stench of evil.
Leaving three sentinels on the wall, the exhausted dwarf warriors staggered into the camp. Eight dwarves died from battle wounds, but countless more had cuts and abrasions needing immediate care. After receiving medical attention and a hot meal, the warriors rested for several hours.
The next attack came late in the afternoon. For two hours the trogs assaulted the dwarves with arrows and infantry. At dark the trog army was summoned back to their camp. The dwarves did not suffer a single casualty in the afternoon fighting, but were faced with a dwindling supply of weapons and reduced man power due to the wounded warriors.
Again, several guards were stationed on the wall while the warriors returned to camp for medical care and food. The violence of war created a depressing mood in the community. After the warriors had time to rest, a council of war was held. The moonless sky was a blanket of stars, when the members of the war council met around a blazing fire to discuss their plan of action.
Coaldon began the conversation, “Why don’t the trogs fight at night? They would have a distinct advantage.”
Pacer responded, “There are several reasons. First, trogs have poor night vision. It would be difficult for them to see the battle field in the dark. Second, the trogs and geks are arrogant. This is a cat and mouse game to them. They expect an easy victory.”
In a more serious vain, Rolfe stated, “Even though we have destroyed regiment after regiment of trogs, they just keep coming with no end in sight. Our strength is limited and our ability to fight is waning.”
The council members sat around the fire watching Rolfe.
Finally Earthkin said, “We must not lose hope. Even though the situation looks impossible, we must maintain faith.”
Turrock added, “I suggest we transfer our attention from doubt to success.” Rolfe closed his eyes to clear his mind from the violent images of war.
He stated, “I agree. My mind is still running on the tension of the day. In fifteen minutes we will declare a time of meditation. Everybody, including children will spend an hour creating positive thoughts about our future.”
When the community focused their thoughts on success, there was an obvious change in the camp atmosphere. The dwarves fell asleep with an attitude of positive expectation for the following day.
The war drum greeted the dwarf community with another day of war, death and bravery. The trog archers once again formed their ranks and began to shoot arrows at the wall. The trogs were not skilled at archery, but rather compensated by shooting a large number of arrows. Volume, not accuracy, was their method of winning a battle. The assault by the archers was once again followed by the attack by the infantry. The trog army intensified their attack by forcing more regiments to rush the wall. The larger number of trogs assaulting the wall forced the dwarves to push their endurance to the maximum. Time and time again, the trogs were on the verge of over running the wall when the dwarves rallied to push them back. During this attack ten dwarves died with many more warriors being wounded. The number of defenders on the wall had dwindled. Several women filled combat positions on the wall. Using swords, they attacked trogs trying to crawl over the wall. The warm noon sun did not offer any encouragement to the weary defensive force.
The trogs pulled back to their campsites to regroup during mid-afternoon. The once powerful dwarf soldiers were at the end of their endurance.
Coaldon considered using the power of his sword to strike a blow at the royal gek, but decided to wait for the appropriate time. For the present, he would depend on conventional fighting skills.
The defenders staggered off the wall happy to still be alive. After a brief meal, most soldiers collapsed on the ground and immediately fell asleep.
The beating of the war drums increased during late afternoon, indicating a new assault was imminent. The dwarf militia, with depleted ranks, once again mounted the wall. Before the army attacked, the trogs and geks stood out of archery range taunting the dwarves with laughter, jeers and screams.
With a taste of victory on their lips they began to chant, “Your end is near! You will die! Your end is near! You will die!”
The trogs increased the speed of the chant until they were at an emotional frenzy. With the archers leading the attack, the narrow canyon was once again clogged with a massive assault by the trog infantry.
The trogs were determined to make this the last attack on the dwarves. Total destruction was the vision energizing the trog army to batter the wall like an angry tidal wave. The attack pushed such a large number of trogs at the wall they literally stood on each other trying to reach the top of the barrier.
Many women mounted the wall to replace the dwindling number of warriors. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the warriors, the women fought with a courage honoring their dwarf heritage. The dwarves pushed trog after trog off the wall until their bodies ached with fatigue. They finally understood their end was drawing near. Only a miracle could save them from the unending number of trogs marching up the canyon.
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A Reunion