Checkmate (part 1)

Some two months ago, on www.reddit.com/r/writingprompts, a heaven for all aspiring writers, I saw a prompt entitled "Describe Chess Like A Grand War Story" by user Haerdune. This is an idea I already toyed with, since I'm a veteran chess player. Back then I wrote a story in about an hour, but decided it didn't do chess justice and discarded it and in the end I didn't post anything. Now as I just recently read The Art of War, the time could not be more apt to start up this again.
I love the Age of Empires theme songs, so naturally I listened to this while writing.

Lure with bait,
strike with chaos.
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Words to me perfectly describing the philosophy of playing the Sicilian Defence ( white e4, black c5 as in picture).

One last word before I begin, because I cannot stress this out enough. I despise war, though I love strategy and tactics both throughout history and in games.

In peace, sons bury their fathers, in war, fathers bury their sons.
- Herodotus

Checkmate - a short story in two acts - PART 1

UNDEAD = black figures (yeah, unrealistic, but judge after reading)
HUMANS = white figures
Word count: 1014

In the humans encampment the air was restless. They were marching for days upon end, tired, but at least acquired a favorable position. The enemy was pressed to the slopes of a mountain, too steep to be traveled effectively. If the enemy tried to escape, they would have been easy targets for the expert archers. But rumors were starting to spread. Why is the enemy army out there, just waiting behind the palisade? They can't run, so why don't they attack? No chance for victory, but it would be far better than just resting. Are they perhaps plotting something?

On the other side of the battlefield, in the shade of the mountain and a quickly set-up encampment, there seemed to be no wind at all. No air even, with the undead creatures having no necessity for such puny mortal needs. Sentinels standing at their posts, all could be seen from outside were masks of horror. Underneath was even worse, as many of the soldiers that now joined ranks were fallen comrades of people standing a field away. The plan was working, luring the enemy into pursuit of the tireless undead.

The king was sitting inside the most pompous tent to be found in the encampment. Together with his most trusted advisers they were studying the map laid down on a massive wooden table. "Sire, we have to strike at once!" the tallest man in the room brought an iron-fist down the table in an effort to scare and impress the others. Receiving no objection he continued: "Our man are tired, sire. And damned be these creatures that defy God's will that don't seem to be ever exhausted! Time will wear us down if we don't act now." The sovereign, a man nearing his forties, having seen too many battles and things deemed impossible pierced his most aggressive general with a deadly look:"Patience. We canno-" his voice was interrupted by the arrival of a spy: "I bring great news!"


At the foot of the mountain, stillness continued to prevail. Death waits for no one they say, but the united array of skeletal creatures didn't have any reason not to wait. Their enemy was made of flesh and bone, ready to decay, while they will forever be bones, kept alive by the magic of their leader, a great Necromancer. With the difference of the human king, the Necromancer had no desire for earthly goods, though he did chose to inhabit the small cavern, mostly for protection from eventual fire. He didn't care much if he was slain, but failing to survive meant his whole army was going to break free from the spell and rot to dust. Floating in midair, he was completely free of any tissue whatsoever, only bones remained and a long robe to cover it. He used his thoughts to call forward to his army:"The time has come. Prepare for battle".

Half an hour later, the king was standing on a appositely created podium, and all of his armies gathered around: "Soldiers! Brothers and sisters! Today God smiles in our favor at last. We have found a weakness in their ranks! The enemy that we pursued for so long, and who showed to be indestructible appears to be at a mercy of a simple person - or being! Our spies have learned that there's a powerful spell keeping this beings walking and fighting. If we manage to strike them at the heart, killing their regnant, a skeleton vested in a black-green robe, the fight will cease immediately and we will emerge victorious! So man up your arms, assemble in troupes and let this aberration of nature be done with forever!" His speech was greeted with a round of outstanding ovation, soldiers screaming and bumping each other, ready to cleanse the filth of the unnatural.

Finally some movement in the undead encampment. Only long enough to reorganize the archers directly behind the palisade, and assuming once again a frozen pose. Near them were some snake-like creatures, with bat's wings at the side of their heads - deadly predators emerged from the depths of earthly caverns. The only creatures that possessed any kind of eyes had a gaze to be scared of. Ready to fly into battle. The endless ranks of common skeletons piled up near the entrance and at the same time, unearthly cries were heard throughout the air. Huge piles of bones, forming towering shapes were screaming, screeching and breaking. In the cave, where the Necromancer was meditating, there materialized a Lich. Had it not been for the tiara she was wearing, nobody could guess her to be a female in her time: "The army is ready to strike at your command, my liege." The words, spoken telepathically, had a chilling sound, quite the opposite of a lovely maiden she once was. "Let them come," was an equally cold and calculated response.

Meanwhile, the humans have positioned themselves accordingly. Generals leading groups of soldiers in the front, archers and cavalry behind, eager to fight. This was a day to emerge triumphant! Echoes of encouragement could be heard and there was no sign of an early tired army. Not altogether differently, materializing with a blue glow inside the king's tent was the Queen, a powerful magician in her own merit. She walked with an air of conviction and was greeted by "Mylady" and the King's polite inclining and kissing her hand. Not in the slightly perturbed, she updated him: "The men are ready for your command. I have just finished casting spells on giant mobile war fortresses." The king straightened up. Afterwards, he took in a deep breath and silently offered his companion an elbow, which she willingly accepted. Locked in a mutual affection of love, they departed from the tent. Upon arriving outside, they were greeted by all bystanders, who quickly lowered their eyes, or bowed in respect. They continued until reaching the generals who were standing ready, with their heads bowed. The king dismissed the formalities with a hand and spat:"These creatures have no business on our lands and earth. Give them Hell!"

- End of PART 1

I hate cliffhangers, but in writing these lines, I realized the following needs an equal amount of words to be tackled properly. I guess this will happen often if I'll find myself too enticed by a story to let it go after a single entry.