The Mongolian Inteligence Test
Maligentia is a beautiful land on the coast of the Eastern Ocean, with beautiful woodlands and coastline, and with animals as majestic as they are wild. In this province each year there is a war that is fought, as it has become tradition. For each year the Maligentians end up on the other side of the battlefield from someone. It was at one such war that the events of this tale occurred.
The commander of the force opposed to Maligentia observed that his foes had a particularly large and strong shield wall, and considering realized that his force would truly be hard pressed to overcome them should they engage directly. Thus motivated this commander formulated a quick plan.For this plan to work he would need several volunteers to form a group of skirmishers. This group would then charge forward ahead of the main force and assault the Maligentian wall as a distraction and screen so that the main force could move into a flanking position to strike the Maligentian force from the side. Thusly he put up the call for a few skirmishers to step forward.
Eight warriors stepped forward each bold and skilled in the arts of war. Foremost among these eight was Lucan, whose armour shines like the mid day sun and whose sword strikes like lightning upon the battlefield. The commander hesitated for one second considering that perhaps sending his mightiest warrior into a position where he would likely be easily killed might be a mistake, yet the horns of battle were already being blown and there was no time to reconsider. Even now clouds of arrows were being launched by the archers. The commander ordered his skirmishers forward, and boldly forth they charged. Meanwhile he ordered the remainder of his force to go right.The eight skirmishers hit the Maligentian force like a hurricane, with swords and axes striking and darting. Many of the skirmishers were killed quickly by spear thrusts through the gaps in the shield wall, yet those who still could fought on as long as their hearts drew blood.
At length the main force was in position and a charge was sounded. The front row of shield men raised their shields high to protect their faces. This obscured their vision, but they were confident that they would meet the Maligentian wall on it’s side and meant to pressing among them knocking their first row down and hacking a hewing as they would charge. There was however one thing that they did not see. Between them and the Maligentian force was one of their skirmishers who yet lived and who still assaulted the wall. This skirmisher was Lucan. Lucan did not see his comrades charging towards him.. he only felt them as he was smashed from the rear and knocked soaring into the air. Up and forward he sailed and then down landing in a heap on the ground stunned, after having bounced off of a hapless Maligentian. Lucan was stepped on several times and brought to his sense in a sea of stomping feet which shifted one way and then the other with the tides of battle somewhere inside the Maligentian force. Realizing that he was in far from an ideal position he scrambled and crawled seeking to escape this sea of stopping feet.At length he finally emerged into the light of day. He got to his feet, and dusted himself off examining himself. He was fortunately unhurt and would be ready to resume the fight if only he had not lost his weapons already. Looking around he realized he was on the Maligentian side of the battlefield. Looking around more a recognized a noble warrior of his acquaintance who was helping to direct the Maligentian force from the rear.
Making his way towards this warrior Lucan shouted “Greeting M’lord! Tis a great day to be upon the field is it not?”Not realizing that Lucan had allied himself against the Maligentains this warrior greeted him warmly “Aye, M’lord indeed it is a fine day to be upon the field!”.
“M’lord, there is something I would like to show you, would you hand me your sword?” Lucan reached forward confidently.Not wishing to appear unfriendly to such an esteemed and well known person such as Lucan this warrior immediately agreed and handed over his sword to see what it was that Lucan wished to show him, hoping it would not distract him from the battle for too long.
No sooner was the sword in Lucan’s hand than Lucan began to strike a blow at the sword owner’s helm. This warrior was indeed a skilled warrior with good reflexes, but in Lucan’s hand the tip of a sword travels like a bolt of lightning and he was not fast enough to block the blow. Defeating this foe Lucan went on to assault the Maligentian force from the rear.When the Battle was over Lucan could be seen with a grin upon his face asking after a friend of his, for he had the most amazing story to tell him. He encountered Alixander Yevshaw, he who told me this tale, and asked, if he had seen his friend for he had the most wonderful tale to tell.
“No I have not seen him.” replied Yevshaw “Yet if it is a story you have to tell, why not tell me, for I am a story teller.”Happy to comply, Lucan explained what had befallen him that day upon the battle field. When he was done, smiling, Yevshaw laughed “What a wonderful application of the Mongolian Intelligence Test!”
Stroking his short beard wondering, Lucan asked “The Mongolian Intelligence Test? What is that?”Yevshaw smiled. “I will show you, but first, pass me your sword.”
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