[@LeeRoy]

[i]Something was very, very wrong. At first it mightn't be apparent. Everything happens so fast when you're fighting for your life. Ansgar was a professional though. He'd probably figure it out, but likely too late. What was the problem?

Zande hadn't swung when he was supposed to. He had wound up, he had rushed in screaming, poised to attack... But he hadn't yet brought the axe down. Therein lay Zande's method. He used the threat of his fast approach, of his terrific offense to goad opponents into reacting hastily. First off came what Ansgar had probably expected. After the lead right axe clipped the shield and during Ansgar's attempt at an elbow, Zande dropped his weight so that the elbow would impact and skid across his thick chestplate instead of his solar plexus, right arm flexing up so that Jancro could guard his head and neck from spike or sword.
 
Chances are Ansgar was, at that moment, using his right leg to push forwards for maximum power delivery as pertaining to his elbow strike. Zande had more weight and much more momentum, as so Ansgar likely intended to use that leg as a kickstand to support the impact as well to stop the jungle man cold. That rear leg would probably be, at least briefly, locked straight as Ansgar pushed forwards. Zande was counting on it. The cannibal's long left leg swished out, heel plowing into the ground on Ansgar's right as Hot Steppa whipped in with an electric vibe of power at a low angle to just about take the knight's right leg off at the knee. Zande's dark features contorted into a rictus of capering ferocity as he surged into the blow, a loud groan of pure inflammatory emotion wheezing out from clenched jaws. So broad was the blade of the bearded axe that even if Ansgar had the last second foresight to try and bring his right knee up at the cost of his stability (resulting in him being bowled over by Zande's charge), he'd still be struck. His chainmail might prevent the leg from being fully severed, but it'd absolutely be rendered useless should the axe land, the kneecap thoroughly crushed and lacerated.[/i]