Hist. Ref. - Summer 1006 - Siege of Silence - Preparations 2

{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Summer 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - Preparations 2{n{n

{c{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Summer 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - Preparations 2{n{n|/|/|/|-|h|!WThroughout the siege, the Dominus of the Faith Aldwin has been a calm, reassuring force in the city. He's a far cry from the last Dominus, who was distant and imperious, and Aldwin along with Legate Orazio and Archlector Vayne perform constant outreach, bolstering the spirits of a rattled populace and convincing them that the sun will still rise tomorrow.|/|/|-|h|!WGrandmaster Armel Godsworn of the Silver Order of the Knights of Solace has been overseeing the disposition of the largest gathering of Knights of Solace in any one place in a generation. A full five thousand have answered the call during the siege and are guarding, but Armel with the assistance of Mathias and Stefano has not stopped there. He's been helping to train and organize militia working with the Knights to prepare strategic points in the city, recruiting a fair number of swords for the coming battle. It's reassuring, all in all- though some of the population wonders why a full third of the knights are focused on the Lower Boroughs, and particularly the Pit.|/|/|-|h|!WThe knights of the Oathlands stand ready for the coming battle. The Dragons of the West array themselves through the three different wards, guarding the walls of the Wards of House Valardin, Grayson and the Lyceum, under command of Count Frederick Steelhart, Marquessa Dominique Wyrmguard and Lord Ansel Telmar respectively. Nobles of the west are diligently working with Prince Edain Valardin for the coming battle, with Marian, Eirlys, Percephon, Alis, Dulcinea, and Fiachra all assisting in preparation and ready to stand by him when the hammer falls.|/|/|-|h|!WLady Khanne Halfshav has been leading the Spirit Walkers in preparing for the eventual attack. Charms to ward off evil have been made and hung around the city, which many northlanders with their firm beliefs in shamanism greatly appreciate and draw comfort from, and unexpectedly Lady Khanne asks the Dominus of the Faith Aldwin to bless the arrows of the Northlanders manning the Redrain walls. It's appreciated by the far more numerous membres of the Pantheon who find the shamanistic charms strange and worrisome, and greatly helps to reduce tension. Luna, Rowan and Cybele were all seen helping with the construction of the charms and different rites for the Northmen, and the one known as Shadow managed to recruit some prodigals to help man the walls alongside of the Northmen.|/|/|-|h|!WThe Physicians Guild led by Benjamin and the Mercies of Lagoma under the leadership of Princess Sophie have spent a great deal of time preparing medical supplies for the impending attack. In addition, Princess Sophie spent enormous sums of silver to see to the upgrades of the House of Solace, increasing its capacity and ability to deal with the likely flood of the wounded. Twenty dogs have been trained to attend to Mercies of Lagoma while doing their rounds in the city, both for protection and to identify bringers, and the mastiffs and war hounds have become a common sight- though one unlikely one, Rufus the Pug, did knock a Bringer off of Sovereign Bridge. It was impressive.|/|/|-|h|!WHalsim Duskweave spent much of the siege investigating domestic enemies for the Inquisition. In a city of a half a million there's always a few yahoos, and a number of malcontents got the bright idea that if they could kidnap his Majesty Alaric Grayson IV, they could then welcome their new overlord, Tolamar Brand, with open arms who they figure will win the coming battle. Halsim discovers their plans and informs Lord Commander of the King's Own Leona Thrax. She is there to greet their arrival at the palace. Predictable satisfying violence ensues, and the king is safe.|/|/|-|h|!WLady Niamh Greenmarch of the Champions Guild has been offering free training during the siege, for anyone who wants to learn to fight with style and look good doing it. This is unsurprisingly popular. There is a lot of well dressed individuals ready to do battle in fabulous ways by the time the attack comes. The Champions appreciate the free advertising arguably more than saving the world.|/|/|-|h|!WPrince Talen Velenosa, the Sword of Lenosia and the Mirrorguard, strategically positions his mirrorguard in a second wave of defense around the city for when the walls fall. It is an appreciated gesture to know that some of the Lyceum's finest stand ready, even if some might not take heart from the implications of what that means for the first line of defense.|/|/|-|h|!WUnder Leola Allenatore's leadership, the Lodge of Petrichor provides skilled hunters manning the walls as expert archers and providing instruction on how best to rain down on armored targets. This is mostly what individuals talk about, in appreciation of Leola's contribution to the defense of the siege. They don't talk about rumors of her meeting in the Menagerie supposedly with a stoat, a bear, a few ravens and crows, a particularly large rat, King Alaric IV's horse, a goat, and a surly looking badger. That would be silly. Just talk about the archers.|/|/|-|h|!WPrincess Freja Redrain leads a ritual for Northern warriors before the battle, the shamanistic blessing giving courage to many before the impending fight. Whether it serves as proof against Bringers, none could say, but that's the nature of faith.|/|/|-|h|!WPrincess Eleyna Velenosa and her trusty harlequin Blacktongue have been busy during the siege preparing clay pots filled with the Harlequin's Kiss, a special something that supposedly will poison bringers. Many of the pots are stored carefully on the walls, even if troops aren't particularly eager to get close to it. But they largely assume that a Velenosan princess knows what she is doing when it comes to poisons.|n|/|/{n