The Fight At Last Pine - Adunian Legend

[Snake Plissken 637]

 

 

The day after departing from Maroch Castle the two Adunian travelers came upon the Last Pine, a massive tree that stood alone next to the river Dun. There were no more trees between the lone pine and the rising Irthgard Ranges in the East, hence it’s name.

 

“This is where Mercator Varmir killed Garrus Othran, is it not?”, the scarred Adunian inquired to his elder, looking up at the towering tree in awe.

 

“You know of the Last Pine Brawl?”, replied the older Adunian, green cloth draped over his right eye, a hint of surprise in his voice.

 

“Gavin mentioned it once or twice, apparently an old ranger called Deschain told him about it”, said the traveller, looking down from the pine once more and casting his gaze over at the river, “Can't say I truly remember the details, though.”

 

“You understand the premise of an Ildician Honour Duel?”

 

“Didnt know an Ildician Honour Duel differed from a regular one.”

 

“You’d be surprised how different they are”, announced the old ranger, “A lot more honour in an Ildician Duel than what those knight boys play at back in Oren.”

 

“That right?”, said the scarred one in an almost sarcastic tone, seeming to be more or less offended by the statement.

 

“The way it works”, the old one began, slumping himself down at the foot of the pine and leaning his back against it, “Two men face off against each other, they shake hands, then take maybe ten, twenty paces back. Then each man is handed an unstrung bow, a drawstring, and one arrow. At this point they begin the phase known as ‘The Waltz’; the men decide their spacing for the duel. They take turns, each time one steps forwards the other must do the same, and the same goes for steps back. They mirror each other’s movements until they agree on their spacing, then cast their weapons down at their feet. Then the ‘Stand-Off’ phase begins, each man waiting for his opponent to make a move. They stand staring across at the other man for as long as it takes, and eventually one will drop into a kneel.

 

“When the first man kneels, the ‘Rush’ phase starts. Each man tries to string his bow as fast as he can while kneeling and proceeding to raise the bow and nock the arrow. Then comes the final stage, the ‘Choice’, a man can either choose to take his time aiming to assure he hits his target, leaving him an open target for his enemy, or shoot quickly before his adversary can and hope for the best. The best duelists are the ones who can keep calm as to not fumble when stringing his bow, and then aim quickly as to not rely so much on luck to meet his mark. Each man looses his arrow, unless one was fast enough to strike his opponent before he could do so. If both men miss, they can choose to settle the duel with another handshake, or repeat the entire process from the Waltz. If a man is hit but not killed, he can choose to submit if his opponent will not settle and he is unwilling or unable to repeat the duel. Upon submitting the man’s life is entirely in the hands of his opponent, who may choose to kill him, spare him, or demand some form of appeasement.

 

“The system was often used to settle disputes in Al’Ildic, and even as a system of court trial when the accused demanded his right for a trial by combat. Icarian Delmar was killed this way in a duel against Ranger Chief Thorenir Elendil at the conclusion of the Great War. The system was originally invented by the bowies, hence why it incorporates the use of archery so essentially.”

 

“Quite the well-thought-out system”, the scarred Adunian observed, nodding his head in consideration while chewing on a clump of Caelliac tobacco, “And that’s what happened here?”

 

“That’s what started it, at least”, replied the old ranger, using his bowie knife to cut up an apple while beneath the shade of the tree, “In the Summer of 544 Mercator Varmir, a veteran Adunian Ranger born to a family of bowies, and Laochru Garrus Othran attended a duel at Last Pine north of Maroch Castle, Ildicia. Varmir supported duelist and fellow ranger Arrentus Burd, while Othran favored Baenlin Joral, Tsvelmir of the Ildician Order. About 16 men were present. Burd had also brought supporters, including Regner Wynsehn, Earl of Teragh, and former ranger Dairihill. Joral was supported by Thurindil Culloch, the son of the Earl of Dunwic, Aenvir Orrin and Felen Orrin, Ildician Drochs, and several unnamed others. Othran was late, and had not yet arrived when the duel began.

 

“The duelists each fired two arrows, and, as neither man was injured, resolved their duel with a handshake. As the duelists turned to leave, Varmir came forward to meet them. Seeing this, Joral's friends ran forward to join the group. Dairihill, who had previously fought with Culloch, is recorded as having called out to him, "Thurindil, this is a good time to settle our difficulty." Culloch nocked an arrow and loosed it at his foe, missing Dairihill but striking Varmir in the hip and knocking him to the ground. Dairihill and Culloch proceeded to loose several arrows at each other, with Culloch sustaining a flesh wound in the arm and Dairihill dying from an arrow to the chest. Varmir, rising to his feet, drew his bowie knife and charged at Culloch, who struck him so hard with his bow upon the head that it broke and sent Varmir to his knees.

 

“Othran appeared, nocked his own bow, and shot at the fallen Varmir, missing. Othran then drew his sword cane and stabbed Varmir in the chest, but the thin blade was deflected by his sternum. As Othran attempted to pull the blade free, Varmir reached up, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him down upon the point of his knife, gutting him. Othran died quickly, and Varmir, with Othran's sword still protruding from his chest, was shot again and stabbed by another member of the group. As Varmir stood, pulling the sword cane from his chest, both Orrin brothers loosed arrows at him, and he was struck once in the arm. Varmir spun and cut off part of Felen's forearm. Aenvir shot a second arrow at Varmir, but missed.

 

“As the brothers fled, Aenvir was shot and wounded by Earl Wynsehn. The Fight at Last Pine lasted more than 10 minutes, leaving Dairihill and Garrus Othran dead, and another four men - Felen Orrin, Aenvir Orrin, Thurindil Culloch and Mercator Varmir - wounded. Culloch helped carry Varmir away, with Varmir recorded as having thanked him, saying, "Young Culloch, I do not think, under the circumstances, you ought to have shot me." One surgeon reputedly said "How Varmir lived is a mystery to me, but live he did." The surgeons who had been present for the duel managed to patch Varmir's wounds. The story later became legend throughout Al’Ildic due to Varmir’s part in the Nivinese War and the extreme determination and prowess as a warrior he showed in the brawl. He’s now considered one of the most renowned rangers ever to have lived, matched only by Cirimas and Thorenir the First.”

 

That night the Adunians made camp at Last Pine, lighting a fire from dead branches that had fallen near the tree, listening to the water of the River Dun rush past, cold and clear as it streamed down from the snow capped peaks of the Irthgards. The following morning they traveled back South a distance to a ford across the river, making their way to the opposite bank and then turning West again. Now in the old province of Nivinor, the travellers started towards Ar’Norian, the forest that held the ancient home of their family within it’s borders - Ildon.

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

Rymeul did not expect the pine to be that big. The Last Pine, iconic that it is the only tree in a five-mile radius, was truly a sight to remember. Hovering nearly four-five stories tall, with branches appearing to reach the heavens themselves, it was no reason why rangers would have honor duels at such a place. And it proved to be a great shelter for a night's camp.

 

Under the stars that shined on the empty plains of Ildicia, to the soft moving Dun River, Rymeul felt somewhat at peace. It almost felt like home, a home he never was able to experience, and he finally understood why stories embellished the greatness that was Al'Ildic. Mayhaps in a different world, Rymeul would have been able to grow up in the forests of Ar'Norian, to ride across the plains of Nivinor, Ildicia, and Teron. To live the life as an Ildician Knight of ole, or a ranger like how his father wanted him to be.

 

But, it was not meant to be.

 

Yet his dreams denied it.

[Malaise 1570]

((These are really good.

[Dohvi 622]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.