STORY TIME
Continuation from page 102!
With news of the approaching Dojo army the men of Rawr set to work. After conferring with his engineers, it was decided that they would not be able to hold the village against a large and disciplined war-host as they had so aptly proven only days before. The walls were too wide with not enough men to man them, the village itself was undefendable as once the enemies were over the walls the street to street fighting would allow their greater numbers to swarm the defenders. With that in mind the village was put to the torch and the army moved to a more defensible position.
For weeks the men toiled to cut down lumber from the nearby forest and erect a log fort. The freshly cut oak was impervious to all but the hottest of flames and even a swing from a great axe could naught but chip it. Before long on what used to be an empty plain now sat a formidable barbican, with four high towers and a gate of iron banded logs it would take a mighty host to breach its walls. But it was a mighty host indeed who now camped before its stout gates for the Dojo emperor had not been idle since their last encounter and seeing the barbarian threat Emperor Doomicus had gathered to him a large army as his agents scoured the realm for news of the barbarian chief and his band.
“You better go get Matt, looks like things are going to get interesting” Calis told a messenger who sped off to the keep, as a group of riders rode from the enemy camp. All along the wall men watched as the procession made its way towards them, “about bloody time those goat shagging whore-sons got here, I swear I was in danger of dying from boredom” grumbled Gerhart as he shoved his way next to Calis. Motioning for the gruff warrior to be quiet Calis waited as the riders came to a halt before the gate. “Who here commands this rabble who dares to encroach upon hereditary Dojo land?” the speaker declared as he dismounted and peered up at the defenders with a look of disdain in his eyes and a sneer upon his lips.
Lord Payne, sovereign of the southern marshes, major of the imperial army, cousin to the emperor, may he live forever, stood before the barbarians crude defenses wondering why he was conversing with such scum “filthy animals, I doubt whether they can understand civilized language, the fact they haven’t already run off back to the hills is clear sign they have not the intellect to comprehend their impending annihilation”. Pulling out the proclamation he called out “You are now on Dojo land, bestowed upon the emperor may he live forever by the gods themselves as is all the land within Calradia, if you quit the field and return from whence you came you will be spared, but to resist will mean certain death for non can stand before the might of the empire” then pulling out a ceremonial axe he slammed it into gate and mounted his horse.
Turning to his Lord; “well Matt, what do you propose?”
Hefting a throwing axe, Matt replied “Well Calis, i think we should respond in kind” and with a grin his arm snapped forward hurling the axe from the wall. Like a comet it spun forth, striking the speakers horse in the head, pitching its rider to the ground.
Surprised by the sudden show of violence the other riders turned and sped back to camp, leaving the now unhorsed and rather bruised Major to limp back to his own lines with the defenders laughter on his heels. “Looks like they’re not waiting for monkey face to get back” shouted Matt as the laughter quickly faded out for those upon the wall could now see the enemy forming ranks and readying for battle.
With a shout the Dojo army surged forward, the sound of a thousand boots pounding across the plain like the thunder from a distant storm.....
Stay tuned for next weeks action packed post
"the battle is joined"! will the men of Rawr be able to repel the attackers or will the Dojo empire prove too strong and oust the barbarian horde!?! All will be decided this Sunday!
Those who do well in the match will earn their place in history and their deeds will be detailed in the next post! so there you go, another incentive to do well

(this applies to Dojo as well, the next part will introduce readers to some of the characters who make up Dojo's illustrious army)