{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 4{n{n

{c{221Hist. Ref.{_-{_{222Spring 1006{320{_-{_{540Siege of Silence - War Stories 4{n{n|/|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|- It was just getting dark last night when there was a din that started up in the Lowers, the music you'd expect from a tavern or a sailing ship out bare for the city to see. A wagon pulled by what looked to be a tipsy mule was the center of it, people taking turns at singing songs of solidarity for Arx and insults for the invading army using it as a moving stage.|/|/|-|h|!WWith all the danger that has been going through the city this might be expected to end in tragedy, yet the bringers and shavs and other dangers never came. On they went into the uppers, still singing, and then through the ward of th compact on through the night. They were under the guard of volunteers from the Crimson Blade, perhaps they were an intimidating enough force to keep the dangers from taking a hand, or maybe it was something else.|/|/|-|h|!WWhen dawn came the music had finally stopped, but people discussing it hadn't. Some complained for lack of sleep, while others praised some of the more creative artists - Leta Broadbent and Lady Tikva Riven both brought original songs that earned praise and lifted spirits.|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|- The Champions Guild are a place where some of the finest personal combatants in Arx, if not in Arvum, gather. Perhaps it's not surprising that the infiltrators, the Bringers and their Abandoned allies, chose to attack it.|/|/|-|h|!WBy all accounts, it was a quiet morning; the grandmistress Niamh Greenmarch performing practice bouts on stage against any comers, while a few friends lounged about. Deception was used by the Bringers to gain entry, masking themselves as a retinue of merchants, and offering untold riches for guards. One of the doorwardens died quickly as they revealed themselves.|/|/|-|h|!WBattle was joined; a full four bringers and a score of their Shav'arvani minions, blocking exit and with murderous intent. Guildmistress Niamh raised the alarm as Leola Allenatore pinned one of the bringers to a wall by shooting it through the chest with that elf-made bow, the Crimson Seed.|/|/|-|h|!WThe silence spread, and Lord Rowan Greenmarch rose to challenge the intruders, with a ritual dance and earth-shaking stomps! Even without sound, he raised the spirits of his comrades in arms.|/|/|-|h|!WJoslyn Manicelli made quick work with dagger and sharpened hairpins - they say she caught one of the Abandoned in the eye from across the room. The battle was joined, and the Saiklands Animal Trainer Leola called for her trusty steed, moments before the silence swallowed her words. Reinforcements arrived, and together the near-dozen champions (and friends) and a brave war-horse fought the small war party to a standstill. Rowan Greenmarch cleaved two Abandoned with his axe, and buried it so deep in a bringer's chest, he could steer it around, though his arms were clawed up something fierce. Joslyn Manicelli and Lady Greenmarch danced among Abandoned and Bringers alike, and apparently, the Champions teach a standard way for dealing with the creatures now; take of their heads. Vaulting off their backs is optional, though encouraged.|/|/|-|h|!WIn the end, it was a hard fought battle; nary a one without a scratch, and with three brave champions dead, while Lord Greenmarch had a deep wound to his side and only the archer Leola Allenatore left unscathed. She and Joslyn Manicelli claimed a bringer kill each. Lady Niamh claimed two, though arguably, she owes a lot of credit for the second one to Lord Rowan.|/|/|-|h|!WThe Champions stand unafraid. And to the enemies of the Compact? They say "Bring it on!"|/|/|h|h|!X-----|/|/|h|!W|-Shavs  led by Bringers of Silence were attempting to infiltrate the city by means of a passenger boat when they were caught and dealt with by the Crimson Blade and a quick thinking group of heroes. Orathy, Harald, Dulcinea, Shadow and Acacia managed to rescue passengers from the boat that were being kept as hostages by the forces of the Silent Army|/|/|-|h|!WMikani, Costas, Freja, Haati, Tobias, Mira, and Eirene ventured from the Outrage into an old building that served as an unholy chapel for a group of cultists worshipping the Silence. What happened next is much debated, but people tell stories that Freja, Costas, Mikani, and Haati, took down two Bringers with a hard fought effort, sustaining grievous wounds from which they are still recovering. Some say how the deadly scout Freja managed to sneak up on a Bringer in a room full of Cultists, with nary a sound, and how Mikani and Costas fought tirelessly in a melee until the last cultist fell, and how Haati's arrows flew with accuracy to take down a cultist and distract a Bringer.|/|/|-|h|!WThe cultists who had been serving the Bringers were taken into custody by Tobias and the Crimson Blades, while Eirene is said to have separated the Master of Ceremonies' weapon hand from his body, without killing him. She was even said to have taken her time in healing the wounds that cultists received, so that they might survive to be questioned. The Crimson Blades managed to subdue without much violence a large portion of the cultists. However, not all would be allowed such a simple fate, and when a man who was to be sacrificed, stabbed Mira in her side, Tobias separated his head from his body in an execution, after the fighting was all said and done.|/|/|-|h|!WThough the situation was cleared up better than expected, rumors still abound that a woman clad in white, that does not speak, who disemboweled one of the cultists, is still on the loose.{n