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Imladris · 03-09-2004, 06:14 PM

Jinan absently pried the dried mud that had slowly accumulated onto his clothes from days of travel and hindering showers; with equal absentness and melancholy, stagnant amusement, flicked the pieces into the fire where they disintegrated into ash with a satisfying hiss from the flames that ate them.

Beside him, huddled like a child in a weathered blanket, crouched Frôzhal. Ever since that trivial incident on the bridge, the little man had replaced his own shadow. With a disgusted sigh that perhaps was intended to smother a growing unease regarding the Frôzhal, Jinan thought about their “competent” general. They had come within striking distance of the towers that were the eyes of the Poros settlement, and the all knowing captain had, naturally, decided to attack them at dawn’s first light.

Besides the fact that they would more than likely suffer heavy damage because of the lack of a warrior’s spirits in their wilted troops, if they attacked the watch towers the Poros would certainly be aware of them, if they weren’t already. If they attacked the towers, the enemy may become acquainted with their poor, measly, weak, languid numbers. In an instant they could be hurrying back towards Harad, beating a hasty retreat and striving to preserve their courage by making it as orderly as possible, which, of course, would be impossible because these “soldiers” did not know how to placidly retreat in the face of an enemy. But, he thought to himself with a toothless smile, if they knew how to do that, then they wouldn’t need to fear the possible need for a retreat. It was a continuous circle -- a circle that could only be broken by competent troops.

Jinan himself thought that they should completely bypass the towers and continue toward the Poros on foot. They would be leaving the enemy behind their back, but it would not be a major problem if they could march swiftly towards the Poros settlement and attack them in the midst of their unease and uncertainty. And they could easily sneak by the towers. The weather had been bad, the silvery, traitorous light of the moon would be smothered by heavy thunderclouds. If they did not light lanterns to guide the way into the night and if they padded their weapons, they would pass between the towers like a serpent: with deadly, swift silence.

But the captain -- a sneer twisted itself onto Jinan’s face -- had said otherwise and, in the process, had made Jinan look like a bumbling fool. He said that to leave enemy at your backside was inviting an ambush, as well as leaving threads untied.

So there they were: waiting for morning’s light to attack the towers. Jinan shook his head. It would not well for Harad -- of that he was sure.
~~~~~

Jinan scrutinized his phalanx of men with a critical eye. With grudging reluctance, he gave them an approving nod. The first tower that would meet its doom in the flames of fire (the captain had made it clear that no enemy buildings would be left standing), would be the south tower. The captain had already appeared to the front of the tower, while Frôzhal hid himself to the east of the tower and Jinan himself waited some distance behind the tower. It seemed as if the Harad forces and the Gondorians were locked in a staring contest, as if they were each apprising the other’s men. With a disdainful snort, Jinan folded his arms and glared malevolently at a figure he thought was the Harad captain. It was idiotic to think that the Gondorians would not be suspecting the plan of attack. It was an old trick, attacking from all sides at one (except they didn’t have somebody to cover the remaining wing of the tower since they only had two corporals and not three), but that minor detail was besides the point. The Gondorians had experienced this sort of play many times in their lives and they’d be ready for it. And --

The booming call of a brass horn broke Jinan’s train of thoughts; it was the signal of attack. With a blood thirsty, Jinan ordered the charge and he led it with sword drawn. The horn was a herald of the death, and he was determined that it delivered its message to the Gondorians alone.

03-09-2004, 06:14 PM	#31
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	Jinan Jinan absently pried the dried mud that had slowly accumulated onto his clothes from days of travel and hindering showers; with equal absentness and melancholy, stagnant amusement, flicked the pieces into the fire where they disintegrated into ash with a satisfying hiss from the flames that ate them. Beside him, huddled like a child in a weathered blanket, crouched Frôzhal. Ever since that trivial incident on the bridge, the little man had replaced his own shadow. With a disgusted sigh that perhaps was intended to smother a growing unease regarding the Frôzhal, Jinan thought about their “competent” general. They had come within striking distance of the towers that were the eyes of the Poros settlement, and the all knowing captain had, naturally, decided to attack them at dawn’s first light. Besides the fact that they would more than likely suffer heavy damage because of the lack of a warrior’s spirits in their wilted troops, if they attacked the watch towers the Poros would certainly be aware of them, if they weren’t already. If they attacked the towers, the enemy may become acquainted with their poor, measly, weak, languid numbers. In an instant they could be hurrying back towards Harad, beating a hasty retreat and striving to preserve their courage by making it as orderly as possible, which, of course, would be impossible because these “soldiers” did not know how to placidly retreat in the face of an enemy. But, he thought to himself with a toothless smile, if they knew how to do that, then they wouldn’t need to fear the possible need for a retreat. It was a continuous circle -- a circle that could only be broken by competent troops. Jinan himself thought that they should completely bypass the towers and continue toward the Poros on foot. They would be leaving the enemy behind their back, but it would not be a major problem if they could march swiftly towards the Poros settlement and attack them in the midst of their unease and uncertainty. And they could easily sneak by the towers. The weather had been bad, the silvery, traitorous light of the moon would be smothered by heavy thunderclouds. If they did not light lanterns to guide the way into the night and if they padded their weapons, they would pass between the towers like a serpent: with deadly, swift silence. But the captain -- a sneer twisted itself onto Jinan’s face -- had said otherwise and, in the process, had made Jinan look like a bumbling fool. He said that to leave enemy at your backside was inviting an ambush, as well as leaving threads untied. So there they were: waiting for morning’s light to attack the towers. Jinan shook his head. It would not well for Harad -- of that he was sure. ~~~~~ Jinan scrutinized his phalanx of men with a critical eye. With grudging reluctance, he gave them an approving nod. The first tower that would meet its doom in the flames of fire (the captain had made it clear that no enemy buildings would be left standing), would be the south tower. The captain had already appeared to the front of the tower, while Frôzhal hid himself to the east of the tower and Jinan himself waited some distance behind the tower. It seemed as if the Harad forces and the Gondorians were locked in a staring contest, as if they were each apprising the other’s men. With a disdainful snort, Jinan folded his arms and glared malevolently at a figure he thought was the Harad captain. It was idiotic to think that the Gondorians would not be suspecting the plan of attack. It was an old trick, attacking from all sides at one (except they didn’t have somebody to cover the remaining wing of the tower since they only had two corporals and not three), but that minor detail was besides the point. The Gondorians had experienced this sort of play many times in their lives and they’d be ready for it. And -- The booming call of a brass horn broke Jinan’s train of thoughts; it was the signal of attack. With a blood thirsty, Jinan ordered the charge and he led it with sword drawn. The horn was a herald of the death, and he was determined that it delivered its message to the Gondorians alone.