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What I did expect to take place, and what did take place, with various disorganized groups of the raiders, other than simple, precipitate flight, was either forming shield rings, circles of shields, which, in effect, immobilizes the group, or counterattacks in which the beleaguered group rushes into the grass, on one or both sides, shields forward, to close with the archers. - (Avengers of Gor, Chapter 32, Sentence #21)

Thus, one might hope that the surprise following a sudden, unexpected attack might burst into panic, which, ideally, would be soon transmitted to their as-yet uninvolved cohorts. Had the enemy been disciplined, and had I assumed command following the attack, and I did not know the nature or numbers of the enemy, I would have ordered the retreat of the double-shield wall, that to reach the beach, my supplies, and additional support. In this retreat both sides of a moving column are covered by shields, one side changing the shield arm. What I did expect to take place, and what did take place, with various disorganized groups of the raiders, other than simple, precipitate flight, was either forming shield rings, circles of shields, which, in effect, immobilizes the group, or counterattacks in which the beleaguered group rushes into the grass, on one or both sides, shields forward, to close with the archers. In this situation the archers withdraw, usually in such a manner as to encourage the now-confident enemy to follow them into a trap, where swordsmen are waiting for them, swordsmen in groups likely to outnumber the pursuers. "Xanthos," I said. The son of Seleukos, headman of the village of Seleukos, recently pillaged and burned, with two of his village cohorts, crouching down in the grass, were within whispering range. - (Avengers of Gor)