Dusty Path Score: 0 Moves: 0
A Desperate Battle
Copyright (C) 2006 by Eric Eve
Release 1 / Serial number 060422 / Inform v6.30 Library 6/11
Your horse went lame five miles back, so you had to leave him at some peasant's farm and continue the journey on foot. It would have been tempting to rest awhile, accepting the peasant's rustic hospitality, but the king's orders were explicit - make for Swineback Ridge with the minimum of delay. Weary though you are from battling against rebels in the east, the king insisted that he needs you here, to take command of the hopelessly outnumbered army up on the ridge ahead, an army that's your homeland's last, best hope to turn back the barbarian hordes and avoid the fall of night.
For the tenth time today you wonder about the urgency. The last you heard General Chorza was in command of the army up on the ridge, and you know Chorza of old, a fine soldier and a good commander. So what is it that Chorza cannot handle himself?
The long dusty path leads through untended fields up towards Swineback Ridge to the north. To the south it leads back into the heartlands of the Kingdom of Lorayne, the land you are determined to defend at all costs against the barbarian hordes of the Phartipu. A narrow lane leads off across the fields to the east.
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