The Tale of Ducim CrestedfenceDucim was a man of few words. When he had an idea, he spoke it bluntly. He was quick to make his decisions, but always made sure everyone had a voice. No one disliked him, although some thought him rude at times. Nevertheless, he was elected king of The Theater of Trammels in the year 66.
The dwarven kingdom had, for nearly 30 years, fought in a series of successive disastrous wars against The Grim Imperial Fly. When an uneasy peace was established, it would quickly be broken by the treacherous goblins.
The goblins had no reason to fear war, either. Every battle they fought against the dwarves invplved hundreds of goblins fighting a few dozen dwarves. A common battle would include 200 goblins fighting 30 dwarves, with the dwarves being completely annihilated and the goblins suffering only a few casualties.
The most current war, named The Scorching War by dwarven scholars, was no different. The previous king, Erush Dikesun, taken prisoner by the enemy and settled into goblin society. The few remaining dwarves, panicked at the advancing army, hastily elected Ducim as the king.
Ducim had no combat experience and never fought in an actual battle. It was his calm demeanor in the face of adversity that led the dwarves to place their trust in him.
The goblin army marched forward, murdering and pillaging as they went. In a last desperate attempt to force a peace settlement, Ducim organized the last army the dwarves could muster. 18 able-bodied dwarves were all that was left of the once proud army. They would battle for the fate of the kingdom at The Just Hill.
Ducim looked around. Only two dwarves, Cerol Laborjudged and Unib Cyclonelenses, had any actual military experience. The goblin army marched over the horizon. Over 250 goblins, humans, trolls, and various other creatures stood before them. The new recruits stared in shock. Ducim, too, was terrified, but you could not tell from his appearance.
Between the dwarves and the goblins lay a river. The dwarves hoped the river would halt the advance of the army and allow the fighting to be limited to only those who swam. They were correct.
Dozens of goblins and humans dove through the river to engage the small squadron of dwarves. Cerol and Unibl led the dwarves to fight those who had just left the river bank, while Ducim stayed back to pick off any stragglers.
To the south, he saw five goblins riding giant olms leave the river. Ducim quickly rushed forward to face the attackers. The goblins, with weak copper weapons and armor, were easily cut down by the steel-clad king as he fought.
But with its dying breath the last olm knocked Ducim into the river. Despite being unable to swim, Ducim struggled and kicked, and eventually pulled himself out of the water.
On the wrong side of the river.
150 goblins stared at Ducim. Realizing help was futile, he raised his steel battle axe above his head and charged into the mass. Ducim never spoke of what happened, but the survivors of the battle claim that his ferocity was unmached. Every swipe of his axe cut through his foe No goblin could stop the lone dwarf.
Eventually, a human, Thep Fissurebuttons, engaged Ducim. What the human lacked in armor and weapons he made up for in raw talent and skill. The human and dwarf fought a great duel, Thep unable to pierce Ducim's armor, and Ducim unable to match Thep's abilities.
The duel took them back to the river, where Ducim decided to jump into the water. He climbed out on the safe side, where he gathered the surviving dwarven army and retreated.
The goblin army declared victory in the battle as the decimated dwarven army ran away. Of the 18 dwarves who fought in the battle, only 6 would return home.
Ducim would die in a troll attack later that year. Despite only ruling The Theater of trammels for a mere 8 months before dying, he is considered the greatest king of the dwarves. Ducim was the king who ruled in the most trying period of dwarven history. He was a king who brought about a lasting peace with the goblins. He was the dwarf who, when confronted with 164 enemies standing before him, stood his ground and slew them all.
Author
Topic: The Cyclopean Realms: A legends mode game (Read 746 times)