[9.0 Antag] - Recap - Act 1, TYPHOON

[squakhawk 14038]

 

 

 

"They moved as I knew they would. Their walls fell where I thought them broken. This was not victory - it was inevitability."

 

Report from The Western Assault

 

From the shores of Urguan did dwed flock as far north as Nevaehlen, and as far south as Koyo-Kuni, to spread word of landing parties coming upon their shore. A foreign invader, an upstart necromancer ... all theories turned to ash as the Legions, Samurai, and Druids mounted a defense and witnessed the continent fighting against them. A fortress upon the sea standing stalwart as raised souls of those who had passed in the east fought against the defense of Urguan's shores. Gusts of wind and heavy rain battered the shores as the legion stood against endless foe, blood spilt as particularly the dwed suffered the heaviest casualties. After a call for retreat, the beachhead froze over, now fortified by Orsathiael's spawn.

 

It was not long after that the port north of The Vale of Nevaehlen found The Storm had encroached closer upon it's shores. Rallying the legion of Urguan and the samurai of Koyo-Kuni, they sallied out to defend their port as Orsathiael's minions seemed to try and steal or destroy all ships within the harbor. After a brutal back and forth, the wash of the seaport was left with the wreckage of a dozen ships. Just when descendants had thought victory, a hurricane began to brew upon the horizon - though the port was left unoccupied by Orsathiael's puppets, the destruction was immeasureable as descendants were left with a hollow victory.

 

Following the pattern, the Samurai of Koyo-Kuni called to a defense as Orsathiael's scouting parties began to land upon the southern port by old Nor-Velyth. Sallying to the defense of their port, they manned the cannons upon many of the ships and fought back as wood and iron tore apart beneath explosive volleys. Not even the land defenses were safe as sappers scurried above to torch the defensive points along the port, leaving it a smoldering ruin as near-all of the Koyo-Kuni fleet was left as sunken and destroyed wrecks in the harbour, driftwood of the battle plaguing the southern seas.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Report from The Northern Front

 

As the first chains began to rattle on the wind, temperatures plummeted in the north as the first dawns of spring were washed away with wintery night. Ailmere was overwatched with a sense of foreboding from The Mountain as the costs were battered with storm and screaming-song of the wind again and again. Soldiers of The Empire and Norland alike were put on alert as the ground shook, warhorns resounding to the west by New Valdev. Rushing to the warcall, the soldiers marching to find The Mountain's forces preparing a bastion in the city. Given the call to break the entrenchment to keep the enemy from fortifying the position, the armies of Norland and The Empire fought in brutal muddy terrain nearby the riverside to repel the foe from their defense. Suffering bowmen and legions of highly coordinated puppets in heavy-clad steel, the dirt of what was once a kingdom was stained with blood. As both sides suffered heavy losses, the sound to retreat was called by the human generals as the fight was becoming further and further disorganized. Though suffering defeat, defenses were erected and patrols from Veletz to Solgaard began to take place in preparation of the more that was to certainly come. New Valdev lost in entirety.

 

After being repelled, Cerulia was reinforced with soldiers from across Aevos as stormclouds settled over the city. When it came time for battle, the groups split into three. While two fought off forces that went to breach the walls, norland was dispatched to the West nearby in order to buy as much time as possible, and keep the route for retreat open. Unfortunately, as Norland was slowly driven back, the walls too become overran as the enemy forces proved further and further overwhelming with both mortal and magic. Some remained and tried to free someone trapped in rubble, but ultimately had to flee for their lives - though many were not so lucky to escape the bruised stones with their lives.

 

Alerted once more by the presence of the stormclouds which began to roll in, and the destruction of the breakwater monument, The Empire, Norland, and a small detachment of Numendil soldiers created hasty defenses. At Breakwater, Winburgh, and a nearby stretch of road, they set up quickly what was sure to be as brutal a battle as their first in Valdev. Anxiously did each soldier weight, sweat upon their brow as steelen helm and blade watched outward as the legions began to encroach. Attacking from multiple ends, the forces worked with all their effort as many forfeitted their lives for the collective integrity of their defense. Sons and daughters of Horen standing shoulder to shoulder to repel a foe which would only need one crack in their defense to bring a swift end to them all. Those on the road fought valiantly to buy time for Breakwater, though both eventually retreated to the Winburgh and the defenses there to recuperate from heavy initial losses. As the groups arrived and reinforced those defenders, they mounted their horses and quickly charged down the hill to defend the area and slay a large construct of The Mountain, though many sustaining injuries in the process. Despite the bloodshed, the rally was successfully able to drive off the enemies and hold the small fort as the fields of Veletz were once again stained with blood. Though this time, not in the squabbling of Horen's children - but in defense of them.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Report from The Heart of Aevos

 

Long had the waters below Numendil, those that Childeok had settled on in tranquility, been disturbed with energies from the beyond. As chains rattled across the wind, the waters began to gleam as Caurost, Numendil, and Krugmar rallied their warriors in anticipation that they would finally spawn what had been brewing for untold time beneath the waves. As the warriors of Aevos' heart looked to the waters in trepidation, the waters watched back. From them, came swarms of warriors of days past which had risen by The Mountain's call - fighting in the narrows of Childeok as from all sides did the city find itself surrounded in bodies of mortal and undead. As the descendant forces grew more and more squeezed together, they punched outward for a single exit- that which they would make their escape from. Though many would, the dead were left behind as an orange haze rolled over the town, chains bursting from the ground as the area as solidified under Orsathiael's control.

 

Recovering from the first assault, Lif, or ghosts of The Mountain, were seen congregating in the orcish deserts as Krugmar prepared well for their defense. Gathering at the great gates, the blades of Caurost and Numendil alike arrived in bastion to prevent Krugmar's inevitable fall if the gate would fail. The gate was stricken by chains and fists of The Mountain's conjuring, rock blasting outward as Orsathiael's minions trudged again and again into volley of bow, arbalest, and ballistae fire. After many waves and a beginning exhaustion from the defense, the Mountain's forces ceased - a victory for the descendants, the first true one they had played part it. Though, many whispered cautious of celebration - The Mountain's more powerful constructs seen all over Aevos were absent. Surely, preparing for what was next.

 

As the soldiers of the three nations celebrated in victory, Lif had set up a camp near both Caurost and Petra. Throughout the off days, reports of phantoms apparating and skirmishing with passerby's and nearby patrols which would vanish upon those roads. Just in hours prior, stormclouds rolled over Vallagne as doom was sure to follow. Together in arms, Petrans rallied to defend the city they so valiantly had fought in wars past for - Numendil, Caurost, and Krugmar coming to aide as they assisted in construction of hasty and quick defenses. Although they prepared well with orcish and local expertise alike, the assault of Orsathiael and his forces were brutal. Heavyhanded strikes as the eastern and western walls were battered and broken, repeated slams of forces against the stone of the city as both walls fell. The northern wall held strong, although it's numbers grew thinner and thinner as heavier casualties sustained by the minute. A familiar scenario to Childeok, the Duke and Generals like made the call to flee the city to fight another day - else they would suffer at best a pyrrhic defeat. Though many refused the call to abandon their home and city, many more retreated and carried the wounded outward with them. As chains began to break from the sky to the ground, Vallagne had truly fallen as another bastion of descendantkind was lost to the Daemon's forces.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Report from Cinderwatch

 

This is a report we bear pride, and concern, in bringing.

 

With The Eight Gates all across Aevos, it has come to our knowledge that they have begun to open. These gates are sealed by Orsathiael's sorcery - but even him and his minions seem to bear great difficulty in opening them. With so, it was our belief that they cannot be opened unless such seals have been dampened - but truthfully, there seems no clear methodology upon how to open so.

 

The Seventh Gate opened first, in the southern isles nearest Haelun'or - I am told within was a workshop and factory which seemed dedicated to producing models dubbed "M.F.A.S.". These models seemed in intent, to act as a "Host" for Orsathiael upon the mortal plane. All seemed unsuitable, save for one - the only one which could not be located. Though the village of Lichtenwald and Haelun'orians proved unlikely allies, Galadrian and Acal'maehr seemed to quickly come to respect their new blood-bretheren.

 

Shortly after did they leave the vault to find a trail leading out to the southern seas, deep in the heart of the storm where the sea began to boil. I am told they ventured out on three ships, two of which gifted by The Emperor, of which only one returned from a battle with some great-titan. Not but days after did this titan return northward, seeming to claim some "Great Torch", that which we believe to be the southern volcano. It rose up the mountain under cannonfire and spellcast, with the magi of Haelun'or shielding their allies and firing cannons unto it's great stone armour, whilst the sorcerers of Lichtenwald cast their foul-magick which rended The Titan. I came at quick notice - and too did breathe dragonfire upon The Titan as it had just begun to drink deeply of the volcano. We believe it defeated, and though it's ruined body fell upon the city below, it is a cost in which we prevented Orsathiael's goals from being reached. In my eyes - our first true victory.

 

The Eight Gate has shown signs of weakening - it's seals unraveling and the waters between Alba and old Aaun churning with the mana of Orsathiael coursing through them like the capillaries of man. It will breach any day - I only hope the rivers are defended for when such a time comes.

 

The final breach occurred with The Third Gate, and the establishment of The Cinderwatch. We broke open a vault Orsathiael's minions had frequently attempted to breach, and found within an artefact not of his make, but indeed under his protection. We were assailed, the Samurai of Sakuragakure and Shamans providing a majority-defense upon the door - but we held. The artefact within, The Perfect Engine, was shut down in effort to preserve both Thalandir and I's life. Yet, it may still be turned on again, at cost of many-a-soul. Perhaps this may be of use - but it is a dilemma of sacrifice, and it's worth. One we still ruminate upon as we suffer the occasional scouting party prodding at our thin defenses.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

It is to our believe the strategy in this war must change. With scarce victories, and casualties beginning to mount higher and higher, we must hold the line, and strike where Orsathiael has not planned to. At the gates which he has not opened, at the defenses which he has erected.

 

Hold the line, at any cost. Push back to live for the descendant at your side - not to die for them.

 

Knowledge begets wisdom,

Thalandir & Eryndor

 

Spoiler

https://discord.gg/erTMMkwp55

 

[wowj 9747]

A correction would be made on a copy that was plastered in a sewer.

Knowledge begets wisdom,

Thalandir & Eryndor & Nogard