Dan Căpitan de Plai (Field Captain Dan) is a Romanian poem by Vasile Alecsandri. The poem tells the story of an old soldier from the medieval Moldavian army who returns to the battlefield (along with his old comrade in arms, Ursan) during a Tatar invasion.
This poem contains examples of:
- Action Girl: Fulga, Ursan's daughter shows up during the fight to save her father an take him home when he gets injured.
- Bitter Sweet Ending: The Moldavians are victorious but Dan is taken prisoner and later executed for refusing to submit to the Khan.
- The Cavalry: The Orhei archers show up at the climax of the story and turn the tide of the battle in favor of the Moldavians.
- Circling Vultures: Dan realizes that there's trouble when he sees them.
- The Hero Dies: Dan is executed by the Tatars for refusing to bow down to the Khan..
- Hordes from the East: The Tatars
