The River War: Battle of Turmus

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Please note that the Gorean Saga is a fictional series, and its world, 

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Gor is Copyrighted by John Norman 

The River War: Battle of Turmus

By Arealius the Sailor, Scribe of Port Olni.

I sat in the dimly lit tavern, nursing a mug of ale as the flames danced in the hearth. The city of Turmus had changed much since I'd first set foot in its streets, decades ago. I'd lived a lifetime since then, and the memories of that day still lingered, etched in my mind like the scars on my weathered skin.

As I gazed into the fire, the faces of the past rose up, their voices echoing in my mind. I remembered the day I'd arrived in Turmus, a young man with a scribe's training and a Rencer's instincts. Juicy, my beautiful red-haired kajira, had been by my side, her spirit and determination inspiring me to keep going.

We'd been working on the riverboats, taking laborer jobs to make ends meet, when the city of Turmus had called upon us to defend its walls. I recalled the sound of clanging steel and the shouts of the Turmus warriors as they stormed onto our dock, grabbing able-bodied men like me to fight in the city's defense.

The captain had tried to protest, but the warriors wouldn't listen. One of them, a burly man with a scar above his left eyebrow, had dragged me off the boat, his grip like a vice on my arm.

"You're coming with us," he'd growled, his breath reeking of sweat and leather.

I'd caught a glimpse of Juicy as the captain promised to take care of her. He nodded to me, his eyes serious, as one of the warriors yanked her away, her hair tangled in his fist. I'd felt a surge of panic, but I was powerless to stop them.

The warriors had thrust me into a group of other men, all of us looking just as bewildered and scared. We'd been handed spears, and I'd felt a sense of dread wash over me. I'd never been in a real battle before. My experience with a spear was limited to the few lessons I'd had as a Rencer in the Vosk River Delta.

 

As we'd been herded towards the city's eastern wall, the sounds of war had grown louder. Arrows whizzed overhead, thudding into the mud and bodies around us. The smell of sweat, urine, and blood had filled my nostrils, making my stomach churn. I'd glanced around at the other men, some of whom looked just as green as I felt.

The Turmus warriors were a different story altogether. They were seasoned fighters, their leather armor and iron swords a testament to their experience. They cursed and yelled, urging us forward as the enemy army approached.

I'd peered over the wall, and my heart had sunk. The enemy army was a sea of barges and canoes, their warriors packed tight like slaves in a cargo hold. The Vosk River was choked with them, and I'd known we were in for a long, brutal fight.

The Turmus warriors had begun to chant, their voices rising and falling in a rhythmic cadence. They'd launched a hail of arrows towards the enemy, and I'd watched in awe as the enemy returned fire. The arrows had landed with a sickening thud in the mud and bodies around us, some screaming as they were hit, others lying still.

I'd felt a nudge from behind, and one of the warriors had yelled, "Get ready! They're coming!" I'd gripped my spear tightly, trying to recall every lesson I'd ever had. My mind was a jumble of fear and adrenaline, but I'd known I had to focus if I wanted to survive.

The enemy had breached the outer wall, and the fighting had grown intense. I'd found myself face to face with an enemy warrior, our spears locked in a fierce struggle. For a moment, we'd stared at each other, and I'd seen my own fear reflected in his eyes.

With a burst of adrenaline, I'd managed to push him back, my spear slipping into the gap between his armor and his side. He'd fallen to the ground, his eyes wide with shock. I'd stood frozen, my spear still lodged in his body. I'd never taken a life before, and the weight of my actions had hit me like a ton of bricks.

But I'd known I couldn't afford to dwell on it – the battle was far from over. I'd pulled my spear free, and caught sight of a Turmus warrior, yelling orders and gesturing towards the eastern gate. I'd recognized the insignia on his armor – it was the mark of the city's leader.

With newfound determination, I'd plunged back into the fray, my spear at the ready. I'd fought alongside the other boatmen, our inexperience and desperation driving us forward. For now, survival was our only goal.

 

But amidst the chaos, my thoughts had remained with Juicy, and the promise I'd made to myself to protect her. I'd find a way to get back to her, no matter what the battle threw my way.

I fought on, my spear thrusting and parrying in a desperate bid to survive. But as the battle raged on, I realized that our contingent wasn't going to make it to the gate. The fighting was too intense, the warriors too entangled. I watched in horror as warriors clashed with warriors, their swords and spears flashing in the sunlight.

But it was impossible to tell who was fighting who. Every warrior wore a red tunic, and their armor and helmets were all similar, bearing the marks of the same artisans. Some had leather armor, others metal, but it was all individualised, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe.

 

"How is a boatman supposed to tell friend from enemy?" I screamed in anguish, my mind reeling with the chaos around me. Men fell bleeding or crushed around me, their cries and screams filling the air.

I stumbled forward, my spear slipping in the mud as I tried to make sense of the battle. But it was no use. The warriors were all mixed up, and I was just a target, a boatman with a spear and no armor.

Suddenly, a massive warrior loomed over me, his sword raised high. I tried to raise my spear, but it was too late. He brought the hilt of his sword down on my head, and everything went black.

I felt a moment of merciful darkness, and then nothing. The battle, the chaos, the fear – it all just stopped. I was out cold, my body crumpling to the ground as the warrior's blow knocked me senseless.

As I lay there, I didn't know if I'd ever wake up, or if I'd be left to rot on the battlefield. All I knew was that I'd fought hard, and I'd lost. The last thing I remembered was the sound of Juicy's voice, calling out to me, and then nothing.

I slowly came to, groggily opening my eyes to the darkness. The sound of someone nearby had roused me, and I was met with the stench of raw meat and blood that overwhelmed my senses. I was soaked, and the shock of still being alive kept me disoriented. As my eyes adjusted to the starlight, I saw movement nearby, and my heart sank.

The sounds of throats being slit and the gurgling struggles of the victims sent a chill down my spine. I looked around, taking in the horrific scene. Slaves were securing the wrists of some, while mercy killing others who were too injured to make good slaves for their masters. I was horrified by what I was seeing – slaves killing freemen, warriors, under the supervision of the victors.

I quickly stripped off my toga and vest, going shirtless to blend in with the slaves. I didn't want to draw attention to myself, not in this nightmarish scene. I worked my way towards the gate, trying to move stealthily, as only a Rencer can.

As I reached the gate, I slipped into the water, silently paddling into the Vosk River. I looked back at the harbor gate of Turmus, and my heart swelled with pride. Despite the city being overrun, the gate still stood, undefeated. The defenses had held, at least in part.

I dog-paddled further into the river, my eyes fixed on the city I'd left behind. Slowly, I climbed out of the water on the far side, my muscles aching from the battle and the swim. But I knew I had to keep moving. I was close to the riverboat where Juicy was being held, and I had to find a way to get to her.

I crouched low, scanning the area for any signs of guards or patrols. The darkness seemed to swallow everything, but I knew I had to be careful. I'd survived the battle, but I still had to find Juicy and get us both out of this alive.

I crept along the dock, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. The commercial river boats were securely tied to the city dock, but they were left unattended. Most, if not all, of the men had been conscripted by the city earlier, leaving the boats vulnerable.

I moved silently, my Rencer training allowing me to navigate the dock with ease. I reached the boat I'd been working on and boarded it quietly, my heart racing with anticipation.

As I stepped onto the boat, I heard the heartfelt cries of "Master" from Juicy's mouth. I rushed to her side, taking her hand in mine. But there was no sign of the captain. I glanced around, and my eyes landed on the city. Fires raged, sparked by fire arrows, and the docks were threatened.

With Juicy's hand in mine, we moved into the city, seeking safety. We navigated through the chaos, avoiding the flames and the sounds of screams and clashing steel. I knew the city like the back of my hand, having studied its layout as a scribe. But now, it was a maze of danger and uncertainty.

 

As we moved deeper into the city, I could feel Juicy's fear and uncertainty. But she trusted me, and I knew I had to get her to safety. I pulled her closer, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. We had to keep moving, and find a place to hide until the chaos subsided.

As the sun rose over the city, the fate of Turmus became clear. The coalition force of Fina, Sulport, Tafa, and Victoria had been repelled, their casualties too great to continue the onslaught against the well-built defenses of Turmus. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I realized that Juicy and I had made it through the night, and were now safe within the city's walls.

But I knew that our journey was far from over. We couldn't continue upriver to the east, passing through the cities of the coalition, not without risking capture or worse. Turmus might not be our home stone, but it was our temporary refuge.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, I knew that we'd be spending a considerable amount of time in Turmus. It would be a long time before we could continue our journey. And so, we settled into a new routine, living in the city, and trying to make sense of our new circumstances.

It would take a full year, but eventually, I'd find an opportunity to head north to Cardonicus, and then further north to Kassau, and into Torvaldsland and Iron Hall. The thought of the journey ahead was daunting, but I was determined to see it through, with Juicy by my side.