Hist. Ref. - Spring 1006 - Siege of Silence - War Stories 2

{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 2{n{n

{c{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 2{n{n|/|n|!CMarch 10th, 1006 AR|/|/|-|h|!WA tale is told at the Hundred Cities Inn about a group of Mirrorguards that left the city during the siege. Where did they go? Who did they fight? Who were these Mirrorguards? Names are tossed around left and right. Acacia Culler, Lord Franco Gilden, Costas Voducce and Lord Inigo Malvici were witnessed returning, all of them led by Prince Talen Velenosa. They returned with their lives, although not without injuries. And many that hear the tale of it wonder what they managed to learn by risking such a feat.|h|!W|/|------|h|!W|/|/|-Among the refugees who have taken shelter in the city, tales of heroism take root and spread. While tales always grow in the telling, there must be a core of truth to it, for the children to spin from: that Princess Reese Grayson, Prince Luca Velenosa, Lord Michael Bisland, Lord Killian Ashford and Mistress Zhayla saved a runaway wagon full of terrified kids from a swarm of Bringers and tainted Shavs, with acts of derring do. Some of the stories sound pretty wild! Could Killian really have held off an army of shavs all alone while the children fled to safety?  Did Zhayla really launch herself from the ground to put a shining trident through a Bringer's eyes?  Could Luca really have run up the back of a Bringer to cleave its head? There are more stories: a runaway horse almost trampled them all, but Michael saved them! Princess Reese boldly led them all with courage and compassion before throwing herself into the battle and impaling a Bringer right through the guts! It's hard to keep spirits up in camps of refugees, but the tales these children bring are tales of hope for the hearts of many as the terror of the siege stretches on.|h|!W|/|/|n|!CMarch 12th, 1006 AR|/|/|-|h|!WTragedy befell the Great Cathedral of the Pantheon. The people that gathered in worship and hope in this holy place of the Faith instead found horror awaiting them. Trapped in unnatural fog and darkness, they were cut down by the revived corpses of recently-slain Templars, or worse, were slain by mistake by their own defenders. Though heroes such as Knight-Captain Armel, Brother Aleksei, Gisele, Sir Miles and Fortunato rose up, it was not enough. A cruel and hidden figure made sport of them, mocking their efforts to save the innocent. Only glimpsed at by Gisele, she paid the price by being pinned to a pew with arrows, and would have died were it not for the efforts of Fortunato and Miles. The hidden man left once his undead soldiers were destroyed by Armel and Aleksei, his purpose accomplished. Corpses strewn about, their blood covering the floor, and the food and supplies held in the Cathedral burnt to ashes. It's with such crushing failure and horror that the survivors must now live with, even as the one responsible wanders the city free, and able to strike again...|h|!W|/|/|n|!CMarch 14, 1006 AR|/|/|-|h|!WIt will be said on this day, the 14th day of the 3rd month in the year of 1006, that amongst the terrors of a siege, people had begun to lost faith in the Upper Boroughs. They will hear how there was discord sewn between those who lived in the Uppers and those who were refugees from the Lowers, and how that discord nearly lost the crowd to violence and selfishness. However, amongst the tides of discontent, greed, worry, fear, discrimination, resentment, and all other poorly harbored feelings, comes the story of hope, of faith, of a passionate display of a few to remind the masses to work together, stand together, for that is the only way to win against the Silence!|h|!W|/|/|n|!CMarch 16th, 1006 AR |/|/|-|h|!WAmongst them, is heard the tales of Merek Black standing in a ray of sunshine, a prominent figure in the unraveling events, poised with the conviction of the Gods to quell rioters whose shouts for Food had over run the square, answering that all he had to give would be granted the good people of Arx! They will speak of sister Umay bringing the words of the Gods back to the people who had it in their minds to forget and then, she took them in to forgive their wayward paths! They will speak of Lazarus Mercier, a man who stood up strong in the face of the angry mob, rallying the reminder that merchants should not fear to walk with their goods down the market streets, that all had to stand together. They also speak of his Mercier Guards keeping the peace and rescuing the Tailor Lyiana from crownsworn gone mad in their cries for hunger. In the end, the crowds dispersed and peace, for now, holds.|h|!W|/|------|h|!W|/|/|-A daring crew of volunteers risked life and limb in a mad dash near the River Arx: Princess Reese Grayson, Prince Luca Velenosa, Lord Artorius Malvici, Lady Eirene Malvici, Mistress Leta Broadbent and Guardsman Sparte lit a cart aflame and charged into the Shav'Arvani lines, providing cover for a stealthy team led by Captain Magpie Grayhope of the Magpie, although reports suggest he wasn't sailing the Magpie at the time, to escape the blockade past the efforts of the foe to dam the river, and was able to collect a group of refugees, including several nobles of Bastion, and return them to the city safely, along with a cacheload of grain and other food supplies desperately needed for the siege.|/|/|-All was not well with the group, however, for almost as soon as the gates had shut, disguised Bringers among them were spotted! Lord Killian Ashford immediately raised the alarm, and the revealed foes were fought and eventually slain by him, Prince Ainsley Grayson, Sir Armel Godsworn of the Knights of Solace, Agnarr, and Magpie Grayhope! Tales of their daring spread amongst the city. Rumor has it that Guardsman Sparte saved Prince Luca from drowning (before Prince Luca claimed another Bringer head for his collection) and that Prince Ainsley took a Bringer's head after being nearly sliced in half! Among other things, including tales among the archers on the wall of a throw by Sir Armel that /has/ to be an exaggeration.|h|!W|/|------|h|!W|/|/|-As dusk settled upon Arx, brave members of the Compact went to investigate rumours about Brand's forces hiding within Shav communities. Viviana, Reese, Halsim, Mae, and Calaudrin, in addition to a masked man who spoke not his name, have been whispered about in the Lower Boroughs.|/|/|-Tensions were high, and it almost came to blows, but a rough alliance was made. Not all was well however. Multiple Shavs that were hiding in the community that had secretly served Brand, and infiltrated, held hostages, including Viviana. However, with keen insight... |h|!WAxe, bow, knives, blade, |h|!Wand sheer force of will prevented much more bloodshed than the initial confrontation started with. Still... |n|rThis is not the end.{n