Hist. Ref. - Spring 1006 - Siege of Silence - War Stories 8

{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 8{n{n

{c{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 8{n{n|/|h|!W|/|/|-Three disguised bringers and six sell swords invaded the Hart, seemingly intent on taking out the Princess Valencia. They appeared in the guise of lovely women and seemed particular drawn to the princes - Luca and Barric. The brunette had eyes for Lady Juliet. Eventually they were revealed to be bringers! Master Rickard fought the sell swords working with the bringers, taking out two and showing great skill. Master Tallius fired his arrows while behind the bar while expressing concerns for the level of danger in Compact. Prince Luca took on the howling bringer, silencing her with a stab to the lungs. Prince Aurelian and Lord Edward protected the Princes Valencia. |/|/|-|h|!WPrince Aurelian was badly injured when he took a blow meant for the Northern Fox. Lord Edward got creative and fought sell swords with a bottle. Lady Viviana fought a giant bringer, the sword having great skill. Prince Barric was close at her side, displaying why he is the Sword of Bastion. Lady Juliet fought the tempting brunette. For a moment it seemed like they flirting, but Lady Juliet, along with the help of Lord Ansel was able to take her down. Lord Ansel fought well in that battle, protecting the Valardin, like he so often does. Prince Remi cut down the sell sword who injured Prince Aurelian, keeping him and Princess Valencia alive in the process.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-A white banner of truce is flown by a pair of shavs approaching the Seawatch Gate, who come bearing terms presented to the Iron Guardsmen manning the gate before they depart once more. The terms read:|/|/t"To the mortal rabble of Arx,|/|/|-You cannot hope to stand before Tolamar Brand, the Voice of the Silence. You have under two weeks to open your gates, lay down your arms, and allow the herald to access the thinnest point, or every man, woman and child will die screaming within Arx's blighted walls. The world around you is a cruel, loud cacophony of suffering, a cancer that has long festered, and we shall cut it out. All will become silent, and blessedly at peace, at long last. Stand in our way, and we shall show you what suffering truly is."|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-It was not the assault on the gates that, where the Grandmaster of the Knights of Solace held her shield in the air and sheltered a young soldier with it during an arrow storm. Nor did Grandmaster Lyra Godsworn fall during the repelling of Bringers seeking to infiltrate the Pit. Nor was it while escorting Mercies to wounded soldiers on the Wall during an assault. None of these events could take down the Grandmaster of the Knights of Solace. Lyra was set to be a fixture in the siege of Arx, her silver armor a beacon to all who saw her on the field; her clarion yells on the battlefield bolstering flagging hearts.|/|/|-|h|!WNo, it would be something quieter that finally removed Lyra from the defense of Arx. As the sun rose over the city and Lyra did not arrive at her morning appointment, a knight was sent to fetch her. Shortly after, rumor began to spread... and by midday, a procession of Knights of Solace, in full garb, carried the body of Grandmaster Lyra from the House of Solace to the Great Cathedral for final services.|/|/|-|h|!WGrandmaster Lyra Godsworn continues her journey as a traveler on a road without end. May death guide her to the next path.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-As the siege drags on, King Alaric Grayson IV still stays out of public view. It becomes common knowledge that the king has woken, but still suffers from deep trauma related to his coma, often being incoherent, rambling, demanding days of being left alone when lucid, and clearly in no position to yet rule. Rule still falls to the regent for the time being, as many try to help Alaric overcome his trauma but with limited success at present.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-The Lower Boroughs is handling the siege better than might be hoped, with a sharp decrease in crime such as Dust trading except in one regard- a spree of robberies and vandalism against Thrax shipping, including a major theft of trade goods and weapons from a Thraxian merchant cog named the Happy Minnow. Some evidence suggests it may have also been the nefarious work of an Inquisitor named Ferdinand Ras abusing his position, and trying to become something of a new crime lord himself by taking advantage of the suppression of the existing crime families. He confessed to as much before expiring in the House of Questions. The goods, unfortunately, were not recovered.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-As the Siege has gone on, frequent gossip has arisen at court about the odd feud between a well known merchant Lazarus Mercier and House Grayson. Most assumed nothing much would arise from it, that seemed to come from some dispute about grain and alcohol or... something? It's a little fuzzy, and most are unconcerned, but then two days pass with no sign of Lazarus Mercier, until his body is found in the Lower Boroughs near the dockside warehouses, with his throat cut. |/|/No witnesses of the murder have yet been found by the Inquisition, but they are hoping some will come forward.{n