Hist. Ref. - Spring 1006 - Siege of Silence - War Stories 7

{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 7{n{n

{c{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 7{n{n|/|h|!W|/|/|-The docks were a scene of activity and bloodshed in the wee hours of the morning. A ship was brought into the harbor by one of the Kennex patrol ships, having been found adrift and full of refugees. Marquis Ford Kennex, Lady Caelis Malvici and Mistress Mikani Tideborne boarded the ship and met with the leader of the refugees, a battle hardened elderly woman by name of Krarstin Tidelord, Jarla of the Tidelord Tribe. If rumors are to be believed, she claims she and her people escaped from the Darkwater Deeps themselves and were seeking refuge.|h|!W|/|/|-Based on what reportedly happened next, those rumors may well be true. When Jarla Krarstin swore her fealty to Ford, an agent of the Deeps King who had been hiding aboard turned into some kind of onyx skinned monster and attacked Ford Kennex, declaring there was only one true king as unnatural darkness blanketed the docks.|h|!W|/|/|-Though Ford was badly wounded in the attack, Caelis raised her blades in defense of the Marquis of Stormward and with the help of Mikani and the Jarla herself, the group manage to kill the tainted attacker. The casualties were not without note however, as what remained of the Tidelord Tribe was lessened by half again in the attack, leaving only about 30 survivors.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-Word spreads through the Ward of the Lyceum that there was an assassination attempt on Archduke Niccolo Velenosa during the charity event House Velenosa was hosted after the wedding ceremony of the archduke and Archduchess Deva Velenosa. The attack was thwarted thanks to the combined efforts of some of the guests present. Patrons of the Hundred Cities inn speak of the bravery of Prince Darren Redrain, the cunning of Princess Isolde Velenosa, the beautiful voice of Mistress Calandra Whisper and the courage displayed by Mistress Joslyn Manicelli as she came to the Whisper's rescue. |/|/|-|h|!WThey also speak of Master Rickard Corsetina's blade, Princess Eleyna Velenosa's leadership, and even claim Master Orathy Culler might have helped directly save the archduke, while Duke Cassius Pravus helped keep the archduchess safe, even though the former Redrain princess once again showed her ability with the bow. The wounded certainly swear by Mistress Malena Black's healing touch, in what by all accounts seems to have been a very memorable gathering, to say the least.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-They came to the Great Cathedral where it all began, where the Pale Man first struck at the Compact and the Faithful. This group, composed of Gisele, Armel, Aureth, Aleksei, Fortunato and Freja, gathered for a desperate attempt to put an end to the terror spree that had gripped the city, and avenge the many innocents who fell to the demon's mad whims. And thus while Gisele, Aureth and Fortunato focused their efforts on a ritual they hoped would weaken the demon, Armel, Aleksei and Freja stood guard to protect them.|/|/|-|h|!WThe attempt almost failed before it had even truly begun. Releasing a deadly poison upon the Templars guarding the Cathedral outside, the demon used the frenzied warriors of the Faith as diversion to attack those attempting the ritual directly. Worse was when fragments of the creature appeared from the sinister gifts he had given to his victims as part of his campaign to break their spirits.|/|/|-|h|!WYet our heroes pulled through. Aleksei destroyed a fragment outright with his blade, Freja preventing the other from joining the demon's efforts in ending the ritual, while Armel kept the demon himself distracted. Gisele, despite being thrown halfway through the Cathedral, despite the demon's obvious intention to kill her most of all, rose up again to complete the ritual, with Aureth and Fortunato rising up to the task, unyielding in their devotion to the Gods and their intention to see the monster destroyed.|/|/|-|h|!WOur heroes threw everything they had at the Pale Man, and yet again, it almost wasn't enough. The beseeching of Gods went unanswered, and though Freja was successful in summoning the Spirits to her aid, they were not enough to prevent the demon from not only nigh crippling Armel, but almost saw both Freja and Aleksei devoured.|/|/|-|h|!WAnd when the moment was darkest, when all seemed lost, when hope died in the hearts of some... The Gods, finally, answered. The ritual was completed by Gisele, AUreth and Fortunato, and robbed much of the demon's strength, banishing it from the holy place that was and remains the Great Cathedral. Their hearts soaring with this show of favour, our heroes fought the demon with renewed fervour. Fortunato was able to light it up with divine fire, while Freja and Aleksei proceeded to stab and cut the Pale Man ruthlessly. Already on the verge of death, it ended when Armel's staff, imbued with essence anathema to the Abyss, struck the Pale Man.|/|/|-|h|!WAnd finally, he fell.|/|/|-|h|!WThough our heroes stepped out of the Great Cathedral wounded and bloodied, they did so with the knowledge that, on this day, they had finally freed Arx from the horrors of the Pale Man. And the sun that met them? Looked just a little brighter than usual.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-Some might consider a wedding in the middle of a siege a bit gauche. Others enjoy the idea of hope and happiness it brings. They must plan for the future even if the entire future of existence is threatened. The wedding of Luca Velenos and Reese Grayson was a wonderful little affair, one that Reese Grayson wished to keep small and private, but her own delight over the wedding drew friends and family from all over the city. Vows were exchanged. Kisses were enjoyed. But before rings could claim fingers... another guest appeared. From the depths of the earth the ground shook, animals started going mad and crazy, and up through the ground a demonic bringer emerged. |/|/|-|h|!WAny normal siege would naturally have tunneling, would it not? What about a siege with the end goal being the catacombs underneath a fortress city? Even more so. The Bringer was a bit disappointed that it did not find the Thinnest Point, its goal and entire purpose. It was even more disappointed when its eyes were gouged out viciously and without mercy by the groom and one of the guests as the other guests scrambled and dodged its massive sweeping arms and found hardened rocks embedded in its flesh used as armor. |/|/|-|h|!WThe Bringer died wailing and flailing as they only thing it accomplished was ruining the ending of a wedding.{n