Story By Character

Setup

Book 2 takes place in the year 4E 987 through the fall and into the beginning of winter; covering a time of three months.


Terragar: Much of Terragar’s forces remain in the pale, but it seems there is a strife in their leadership as John is about to betray the Sanctum and Olin knows nothing of this.

Sanctum: The great city Mora is on the verge of being surrounded and the Sanctum doesn’t even know it. Their position seems to be dire.

Glattian Empire: Their forces move in around the Sanctum, but some of their leadership seems to have longer planned goals than simply showing strength.

Clan Telgori: Vhrashess has risen on top over his older brothers and with the Support of clan leader Molgree he has been crowned king. He now seeks to gain other clans to his side.

Fel Weavers: Yullana is ambitious and has gone on the full offensive against the Sanctum and Glattii, and they don’t even know it yet.

Enclave: the northern nation of felk begins to stir, and one tribe begins to make plans in response to the war in the south.

Renmulus

Ren and the party travel west across the Pale. With him there are 12 others. Turloc is the mission leader, and besides him Ren is familiar with only two other members of the party; Quistal, his good friend, and Fayelin, whom he had meet briefly before. Before too long they arrive at the Pale Hall, the Sanctum’s greatest fortress. There they are greeted with open arms by Kel’Thum, a battle marshal and current commander of the fortress. That night in the dining hall, Kel’thum informs them about the current situation. The Lutum have begun to raid and raze villages in the Pale and Mora has been breached by the Glattii. After the news there is discussion between the party of whether or not they should turn back, if the Den and Order are in danger. Fayelin approaches Ren and the two talk the while the other argue. Turloc ends the argument, and says that they will continue with the mission. They must pass through lutum territory and arrive in Udon through the great wall.

They arrive to the end of Sanctum territory and must now pass through the lutum lines. While the party discusses strategies to get past lutum territory, Ren thinks about Fayelin, and his meeting with Aevum and Proaditor. The party decides on a path where they will be wading through a muddy river to avoid detection. Half way through a patrol passes by the party attempts to hide but one member at the back slips out and is noticed by the patrol. Ren realizes what has happened and yells run. He grabs Fayelin’s hand and makes a mad dash through the jungle. Quistal is just behind him. The moment is both exciting and terrifying for Ren. Is this what he had been searching for, this feeling? Before he knew it they made it out of the jungle. Ren had no idea how long he had been running, he was too caught up in the rush. Hours later the last of the party arrive. Turloc approaches Ren and hits him the face and scolds him for being so reckless. Fayelin helps Ren up. They do a head count; one is missing, Jorwroth a felk, the one who had slipped out in the river. Another member, Oiuk, speaks of his demise in the dash. Ren sees a disgruntled look on Quistal’s face as Oiuk explains how it happened to Turloc.

Days later they arrive at the great wall. It takes Mori some convincing before they let the party through to the top. The Mori have little love for the Order but an old agreement allows the Den to pass through their territory. Ren looks at the wall which must be hundreds of feet high and the two great statues that stand at either side of the gate are as tall if not a bit taller than the wall. This place is ancient he thought to himself, the Mori are reclusive and barely allow any to traverse their lands; they have been here for thousands of years.

The party gets some much needed rest in the city atop the wall, Rin’Kiro. Quistal approaches Ren and tells him to watch out for Oiuk, something is off about him. Quistal doesn’t think him slipping out was an accident, there may be a traitor in our midst. That night Fayelin approaches Ren and wants to thank him for helping her out of the jungle. What a beautiful night Ren thinks to himself.

Sha’Nitauss

Sha wakes up on a beach with a thick jungle not too far from the shoreline. He tries to get his bearings. He grasp for the place where his swords would be, one is missing but at least he has one weapon. He begins to scour the coast in search of his blade-brothers. No luck on the first day. Two days later he finds their crashed ship. Inside, to his surprise are 5 of his Blade-Brothers. They spend two more days waiting and three more arrive. Sha decides they should move out before any lutum patrols discover their presence. Sha has them leave the dead at the ship without funeral rites, so the lutum will think the whole crew died.

Sha tells them they will continue with the mission. A couple of the glattii want to abandon it and make way to Viper’s Lagoon so they can return and get another crew. One blade brother or rather sister names, Ulara Shol, agrees with Sha. She was Peitor Shol’s little sister. Sha could relate to her, both of them had older siblings in the spotlight and much had always been expected of them. She argued that they are still alive and the plan will move forward, despite losing three quarters of the team. Sha puts any thoughts of returning home to rest they will make their way to what Sha believes to be the closest of the great clans, clan Golgan. They spend a week of getting lost before they cannot pinpoint their location in the Hissthiss Jungles. Soon they arrive at the, somewhat hidden capital of clan Golgan, the city of Shade-Hollow.

They gather information spying on patrols and eavesdropping on the outskirts of the city. After days of this they find out that this is not actually Shade-Hollow, but the Clan leader Molgree is in the Capital, Black Temple anyways. Sha informs them to move out they will accomplish nothing in the territory of clan golgan.

They make their way towards the capital of Clan Hrashess, fort Rainhold. This was a prime target. The hrashess held the largest army of all the great clans and larger than some of them combined. If they could turn their leadership against each other it would significantly reduce the lutum threat. Sha orders three of his blade brothers to scout the fort and gather any information they could. Sha takes a break for the night, his scars on his right cheek were throbbing, and he instantly though of his sister and ailing mother back home, and would Peila even know his ship crashed. Ulara sits next to him ask what he is thinking. Sha decides for once he could unwind, and he talks about his worries, something he never does except with his sister, but Sha felt like he could trust Ulara.

They next day Sha gets a report from his brothers. The hrashess leadership is already in disarray. Split on a decision to whether or not to join the new King, Vhrashess. Sha decides they should split the divide even further before the Telgori ambassador arrives. First they need to do away with the current clan leader who is against joining vhrashess. The leaders name is Krahh..Krahlla….Krahlahgh, or something like that. Sha had difficulty pronouncing these odd lutum names. That night Sha procures a dagger from a member of the leader’s opposition. He then sneaks into the Krahlahgh’s room and slits his throat with the dagger, and purposely make a loud noise. Guards rush in and find a bloodied dagger and their dead leader. The next day the glattii spy on their meeting and see an all-out brawl emerge from the death of their leader. Their halls were painted in red that day.

Sha has his party move onto the clan directly westward towards clan Sea snake. A week later they arrive at the edge of their territory and soon learn from spying that their leader, Quoloc, will be leaving soon. Making way to Black Temple. Sha tells his squad that they cannot allow her to reach Black Temple. The rain begins to come down hard, and keeps going for days. When one blade brother spies Quoloc’s caravan moving North, Sha quickly decides to set up an ambush along the road. What Sha could only describe as a mud river he has his squad hid in it and wait for the caravan. Hours pass and the signal is given by Ulara, hiding in a tree. Sha and his brothers slowly peek their heads out of the mud and see the caravan’s line in the distance. Sha spies what looks like to be a palanquin. He rises out of the river and makes a leap to land and sprints for the line. Ulara joins him in the rush. The rain hides the noise they make. Before the alarm is raised Sha’s blades are slicing through the lutum lines. He leaps over a crowd of them and onto the palanquin. He bust open the side and cuts the female lutum’s head clean off. About an hour later the fighting stops. Over a hundred lutum lie dead and Sha lost two of his blade brothers. Sha and the 6 others dump all the bodies in the mud river before the next patrol sees it.

Sha enjoyed that fight very much, the rush of adrenaline, the smell of blood and rain. They make their way north towards Black Temple, the young King Vhrashess is next.

Allena'Vel

Allena and Sylla spend a week analyzing evidence but the trail has run cold. The only clue they have is that he was making arrangements for transportation to Therlussa.

A week later Wyst arrives in Puhlo’um and informs Allena and Sylla that their investigation is over and any members of the Valkar corps are to gather at Pale Hall. Allena questions this the order and Wyst informs them that the war taken a turn for the worst. The glattii have breached the walls of Mora. The leaders of the Sanctum not caught inside Mora are gathering at Pale Hall. The two of them make way to Pale Hall. They make travel with Wyst and his group.

Half way to the Pale Hall the group is ambushed by a brood of lutum ravagers. The battle is messy and bloody. Many die, but Allena’s skill in essence weaving and sword-play allow her to prevail dirtied but unharmed. Over half of Wyst’s group was slain in the battle but they survive none the less. Allena confused and angry about the whole situation shouts out at Wyst. What were the lutum doing here, why now of all times?

Allena and Sylla have arrive at the pale hall, the group is met with medics and by Vyruk himself. She is also met by her sister Wela, who is relieved to see her. He questions Wyst. Allena, Sylla, and Wyst are in a meeting with Vyruk and his brass later that day. Vyruk seems very bothered by the ordeal. He was the head of the army, if he was distressed the Sanctum was not in a favorable state. Vyruk expounds further on the state of Mora. Terragar have turned traitor, one of their leaders named John Barion opened the gate for the Glattii and fighting still continues within the city. Most of the Sanctum High council remained in the city, and have no way to escape. Only Haron and one other councilor are at the Pale Hall. Allena ask permission to gather a party to rescue the council. Allena actually makes a sound plan and it seems to impress Vyruk. He allows her to take this mission. He plans to take the fight to the invading Lutum in the meantime.

Sylla is worried about her family but is assigned to gathering information with Wela’Vel on the invading Lutum. However her brother Nolan is placed on Allena’s team. Allena says her goodbyes to Sylla, hoping they will meet again.

A week later Allena’s mission team arrive at Mora. The place is swarming with lutum broods and glattii soldiers. But there doesn’t seem to be much order along the western walls. Allena and her team approach through a lesser gate that has been broken down. On the way through the city Nolan ask to stop by at a house. Allena knew what it was, the home of the Soryls, she what was likely waiting inside. It reminded her of her father, Cirus. She wondered if he would be in the House of Councilors or colloquially called the Verdant Tower, the main government building in Mora. Nolan finds his parents dead and no sign of his younger sister. He is angry and sad, and Allena takes him into his arms and calms him. Nolan says he has to go though, he has to find his sister Nim. Allena lets him go.

It takes a week and several skirmishes before her group is able to reach the councilor building. She runs into an issue, as the building is surrounded by a camp of glattii sieging the building. Allena and her group spend days gathering information and trying to figure out how to get in. She wondered how her sister was doing. One team members finds some blueprints of the sewer system in a nearby building. Allena and her group make way through sewer. They slip past several groups of lutum patrolling down there. They arrive inside the House of Councilors and are soon greeted by guards and by Pelok’Lev, an osa that is the Master of Magical Arts. He shows them to the Chamber of Sanctity where the rest of the High Couniclors are, including Yoran. Allena first ask about her father, Cirus, Master of Academics. None of the Councilors had seen him. A sinking feeling and gaping whole sickness fell over her. If he wasn’t here, or at the Pale hall, then. She didn’t want to say it, or think it. She recollects herself and informs the council on the situation. They agree to go with her.

All move through the sewers. There are too many of them to get by without being noticed and they are ambushed by lutum and thorinai ravagers. They prove too much for Allena and her rescue party. Pelok’lev decides to make the sacrifice and uses essence weaving to take many with him and cave part of the sewer. A day later their path is blocked by a cave and are forced to surface. They are not but quarter mile from the gate. But they are soon surrounded by Glattii. They don’t attack though, just standing guard. A high ranking glattii steps out and approaches Yoran and hands him a letter. It reads about a ceasfire and that the Matriarch of the Empire wishes to meet with him to discuss terms. Yoran agrees, so long as the rest are free to go and that he takes his own guard and ship to meet the Matriarch. The glattii agrees. Yoran thanks Allena and her team for their bravery and leaves. Allena and her group are escorted out of the city and allowed to return the Pale Hall.

Olin’Vor

Olin is troubled by the letter he found. He ponders on it for several hours, but he ultimately decides to open it. His heart sank and gut churned. Orion had gone around the backs of all the Lord-Governors and made an alliance with the Glattii. This made Olin determined to get to the bottom of this. What exactly were the plans behind this alliance? He turned the office inside out looking for other clues. A letter from Kenneth Galent, Lord Governor of the Greywater, had mentioned something about preparations being on schedule. But the more devastating piece was the one sent by John Barion, Lord-Governor of Peirat. It was informing of John’s enacting on the Plan.

Olin rode to Peirat to confront John’s wife. She claims to know nothing about it. The look on her face says most of it, was telling the truth. She doesn’t know why John and Orion would betray the Sanctum but she agrees something must be done. They convince themselves that it must be Orion’s doing.

Olin is convinced there must be more to this than a betrayal of the sanctum and an alliance with the Glattii. Olin comes to the conclusion it must have something to do with Lord Galent. But for Olin must find more allies. Olin may not like the Order but he doesn’t wish for the damning of the whole Sanctum. He rides back to Seraco.

Olin is in the middle of planning a meeting with those he thinks he can trust when Orion suddenly returns to Seraco. Olin is almost discovered but barely eludes Orion’s prying words. Where had Orion gone to? A meeting with the glattii perhaps. Olin sent secret messages to three of the Lord-Governors: Lewyn Belment of Wulfarl, Jorrel Paulron of Cauldro, and Nerwyn Hoster of Brom; to meet in two weeks’ time.

The time passes and only two of three he sent messages to arrive, Lewyn and Nerwyn. Jorrel had sent a message back informing that he was unable to meet do to a skirmish with Drokxus. Olin had suspected that might have been the case, but the odd thing about the meeting was the arrival of Braelash. He was the only non-human Lord-Governor in all of Terragar. The Lutum Lord-Governor of Djarge. Lewyn had invited him. Before anything was said about the purpose of the meeting, Olin had a sinking feeling. Had he been alone in this, the only one not to know about the betrayal. Olin grit his teeth and spilled the gist of the meeting. The others were shocked and angered by it. Olin was relieved by their expression. And so they planned a coup.

Olin learns of what John did in Mora. He secretly sends a message to any place in the Sanctum. It outed Orion and John as traitors. Orion has been arrested, and John and his commanding officers were to be exiled. Olin also requested that the armies of Terragar reconsolidate at Fiyov and break the Glattii siege there.

Weeks later Olin and the other Lords had gathered enough loyal supports in quiet to stage the coup. Lewyn went to arrest Kenneth Galent while he was traveling to Seraco. He had been beckoned there by a false letter. Meanwhile Olin, Nerwyn, and Braelash went in for the coup in Seraco. Olin wanted to make sure as little amount of people got hurt as possible. It needed to be done quietly and quickly. Nerwyn went to physically arrest Orion while Olin gave a speech to the Ministers and other government leaders about Orion’s treachery. By the end of the day Olin had been mostly successful, very few died, all the proper arrest were made, but Orion did not survive. During the arrest Orion had attempted to escape, but an accident occurred and he ended up with a spear tip through his neck. Olin had wanted him alive. He needed to know more about his Plan. As a formality he placed John’s wife under house arrest. But for now Olin would take charge of Terragar. He sent word of Orion’s and John’s betrayal throughout the land.

Sean Fray

Sean dreams of when he was a kid, about 7 years old. John was teaching him how to fight and use a sword. Sean became upset while practicing. He hated swords, swords hurt people, and Sean didn’t want anyone to get hurt. When he exclaimed to John that he didn’t want anything to do with swords or any weapons, John took him to the side. John unsheathed a knife and stabbed it into the table, just next to Sean’s hand. John explains that a weapon has no will of its own, on its own it can do nothing. It is at the command of its user. Weapons are not dangerous; people are dangerous.

He wakes up in a tent and tied to the cot. A thousand things begin to swirl about in his head. Where was he, why was he here, what had happened how did he survive, did John go through with his plan? So many questions and no one there to answer the. He screams out from the pain, both physical and emotional. The look on john’s face when he fell off the cliff; that face of genuine despair and caring. It contradicted with what John was planning to do. Sean continued to thrash about. A nurse came into the tent to calm him.

A bit later Vyruk, Master-Field Marshal of the Sanctum, approached Sean. He informed Sean of his situatatio. He had been arrested on the sins of John Barion, and his possible collusion with him. Vyruk began to interrogate him on what John’s or Terragar’s plans might be. Sean’s answers honestly, he doesn’t know anything about it. Vyruk is not satisfied but he leaves it at that.

Days later Sylla arrives at the camp and goes to see Sean. She is distressed to see him arrested and hurt. She tells Sean how he came to be in this camp outside of the Pale Hall. An Osa physician and couple terragar soldiers had carried been carrying him across the greens when Sylla and Wela’Vel had come across them. But he had not been arrested when she last left. She kissed him and was glad to see him awake, he had been asleep for weeks. She informs him about the Sanctum’s grim situation. Sean tells her what happened after he left Mora. Sylla is gladdened that Sean had nothing to do with Mora’s downfall. The healers say it will be some time before Sean will be back to full health, possibly months. Sean falls into a bit of a despair. So much is going on, the Sanctum has been wronged so much. But there is nothing he can do.

Sylla is able to convince Vyruk to at least unchain Sean. Sylla leads Sean around camp. His broken leg keeps him from walking on his own. She gets him some good food. Several of the soldiers and camp workers walk by and give him nasty stares. Sean feels outcast, this reception was completely different from when he arrived in Mora. People had greeted him as though he were their savoir. But now, now he was the Villian. Sean asks to return to the tent he was being kept. It was too much being out in the public. It all weighed on him so much. He thanks Sylla for still being kind to him. She says, “I love you”, and kisses him goodnight. Sean wanted to say it back but the words got caught in his throat. How could she still love him, after all that had happened?

Days later Sean meets with Sylla in her tent and apologizes for not saying the words. Sylla wasn’t mad. From her point of view, Sean had been wronged as much as the Sanctum. To be betrayed by those closest to you, is a horrible thing. Sylla soon laments over the possible fate of her family who were in Mora when John opened the gates to the glattii.  Sean tries to comfort her. She ask Sean to stay with her that night.

Weeks later word reaches the camp about Olin’s Letter. That Orion and John are traitors and do not reflect the allegiance of Terragar. Orion has been arrested and John is to be exiled. The letter also ask that all Terragar forces gather at Nature’s Grasp in order to break the glattii Siege of Fiyov. Sean thinks it over and decides he should return to Terragar. He isn’t capable of doing anything as he is right now. He longs to return home and see his family. He also will greatly miss Sylla, but His duty is to Terragar. He says his goodbyes and hops on a caravan heading to Fiyov. Sylla hates to see him leave.

Vhrashess

Vhrashess is still getting used to being King. He acts without delay and begins to set up advisors he can trust. He Makes a speech to all those relevant. In this he declares his intentions of reuniting the Lutum Empire and retake all their lands from the Glattian Empire. Currently he only has 2 of the 7 great clans under him, his own clan and clan Golgan. He speaks with his sisters and clan leader Molgree about which clans they should go after next. The two clans in the Fel weavers will be difficult to turn to their side so they put those off for now. Clan xraash is firmly under Glattii control. That just leaves two more. Clan Hrahsess has the largest army, and Clan Sea-Snake has a massive fleet. He sends emissaries to both.

Vhrahsess had the Telgori armies consolidate around the capital and has Molgree send spies into the Fel weavers so they might learn what they are up to in attacking the Sanctum. Vhrashess also wonders if they might find allies elsewhere in the eventual fight against the Glattian Empire. He remembered his father had gone on and on about a human named John Barion. He had greatly assisted Jahvress during the war with the Fel weavers Nearly 30 years ago.

A thorinai from the Fel weavers arrives at Black Temple. He claims to be there on diplomatic relations. Vhrashess decides to entertain his notions for a little while.

Weeks later he gets word from his emissary who visited clan Hrashess. Their leadership has fallen into disarray at the assassination of their clan leader, Krahlahgh. His relatives all vie for the title of clan leader. Vhrashess speaks with his sisters and Molgree about this situation. Clan Hrashess will not be a viable option until their power struggle is put to an end. Vhrashess has tells his sister Alveress to make way to their capital Fort Rainhold, and begin supporting a likely candidate that is pro joining Vhrashess’ empire. Vhrashess believes something suspicious is going on. It may be the fel weavers at work.

Days later Vhrahsess announces that he cannot wait for a response from clan Sea-Snake. He will travel there himself in order to persuade them to join his empire. The Fel Weaver ambassador is starting to become a thorn in Vhrashess’ side. He is poking too much into his business, even though he continues make mention that he is there to deepen the relations between Clan Telgori and the Fel Weavers so that they may stand against their common enemy. Vhrashess announces his departure date quite vocally.

The night of his supposed departure; someone creeps into his room. But Vhrashess is not in his bed and is quite awake, watching in the shadows. A bluish light glows in the dark. A mage perhaps? It approaches Vhrashess’ bed. His sanguine eyes watch trespasser. The light turns to a deeper yet more prevalent blue as it hovers over the bed. Now Vhrashess can see the trespasser, the thorinai, just as expected. A grin grows across the young king’s face. Vhrashess lights a torch next to himself. The thorinai is now revealed and is startled to see vhrashess in the corner of the room. He turns and about to cast his spell at Vhrashess but a dagger is thrown into right hand and another into the back of his knee. The thorinai buckles. Shaeliz steps out of the shadows and holds a knife to the thorinai’s neck. He exclaims he will never talk. Vhrashess tells he has no desire to hear the words he has to say, as no doubt each word would be poison to the mind, as is their entire race. The thorinai are a scourge, a corruption on the lutum. And the corruption must be purified, burned out. All Vhrashess wanted to hear were his screams.

The next day Vhrashess gathers his people in the main square of the city and has the thorinai tied to a stake. He makes a short speech about the Lutum Empire being rebuilt, and being purified of the thorinai scourge and the glattii invaders. At the end of the speech he has the thorinai burned alive. He screams loudly as his fur burns and his skin boils. A fitting end for those that would seek to destroy the lutum way. After the burning vhrahsess makes his way to the nearest port and sets sail to Sea-Ire, capital of Clan Sea-Snake. The roads may not be safe, more assassins may lie in the shadows. He leaves his sister Olgasha in charge of Black Temple while he is away. Shaeliz and Molgree accompany him.

He arrives at Sea-Ire after a few days of sailing. He is greeted by Reshoss Red-Scale, younger brother of Quoloc, who is leader of Clan Sea-Snake. He is confused to vhrashess there and explains that his sister had already left to make way to Black Temple. And tells Vhrashess that his messenger had left weeks ago to relay her coming. That messenger never arrived at Black Temple Vhrashess explained. Something suspicious is going on. Reshoss quickly sends out a messenger. Quoloc had only been gone two days, she may not have gotten far yet.

Days pass before the messenger returns. He bears grim news, Quoloc and her accompanying warriors had been found dead at the end of a mud river. Reshoss is angry and exclaims that he will have his sister’s murderer. Vhrashess explains that someone had made an attempt on his life. All these assassinations may be connected and likely are attempting to break the lutum apart. Reshoss assures Vhrahsess that he can expect his support in the coming war. Reshoss says an old saying, one that Vhrahses had not heard since he was barely able to walk. His Father had said it once. “An attack one Clan, is an attack on all Clans!”

Yullanna

Yullana and her army move north of Naleon. While traveling Yullanna begins to take an interest in the book that Zraolog had given her. It tells of something hidden deep within the earth, below the silver citadel. Her reading is interrupted by Zilam. He says word has just reached them, Black Temple already has a new king. A frail, sickly, young lutum named Vhrashess, the last male heir of Jahvress. Zilam recommends sending an assassin, in order to keep clan Telgori in disarray. Yullanna agrees.

As the army approaches the Greens, Zilam suggest that they cannot trust Butcher, he may be planning something. Yullanna protests at first, citing all that he has done for them so far. But Zilam has never done her wrong. He has always been there for her, ever since her parents were killed by John Barion. She agrees and orders the Butcher to take Puhlo’um and sack the Sanctum countryside.

Soon they arrive outside Mora, but find the city already thrown into chaos. They set up plans to breach the western walls. While waiting Zraolog approaches Yullanna and speaks with her about the book. He tells her about the vast networks beneath the city of Mora. Something stirs down there. His words have a certain resonance with Yullanna. She is enticed by this story. She feels even stronger desire to take Mora now.

Yullanna’s horde breaks through the walls and enter the city causing even more destruction and rampage. Her horde begins to spread throughout the city. She changes their plans. Instead of assaulting the House of Councilors, they will attack the silver citadel. Zilam opposes this plan, but Yullanna rejects his complaints. They move onward.

After weeks of Yullanna learns that John Barion is in the city, and he too is working towards the Silver Citadel. She is filled with anger and desire to kill John. She demands that her horde find him and bring him to her. Zraolog whispers into Yullanna’s ear as she reads the book. Zilam protest yet again, Zraolog continues to whisper in Yullanna’s ear. Zilam demands that Zraolog be sent away, he is poisoning her mind. Yullanna reminds Zilam who the leader of Fel Weavers is. She sends Zilam away, task him with helping the Butcher take Puhlo’um. She is left angry and confused.

John’s location is discovered, she orders everyone to surround him. He was last seen right outside the silver citadel. By the time she gets there, john had already found a way through the wall. However there were still about 500 men waiting there. Yullanna had them slaughtered. One man was brought to her, claimed to be an advisor to John, Richard Herrington. She has him tortured, asking how John got through, and why is he here. Richard says nothing, and eventually dies at Yullanna’s hands. What a useless human, she thought. She orders her horde to break the gates of the Silver Citadel.

After a week her forces break into the citadel, she orders that everyone in there be slaughtered. The day is long and bloody. Yullanna herself takes part in the killing, she uses it as a relief of her anger. John is not found, he must be deeper in the Citadel. Zraolog meets with her one last time, he tells of the greater power beneath the citadel. It is something so vast and otherworldly, as described in the book. He tells of something that isn’t in the book though, it can be hers. Yullanna exclaims that she had a vision of this and it will be hers. Zraolog says one more thing, John is trying to take it from her. Yullanna took a group of only thorinai and descended in the Silver Citadel. Zraolog stayed behind to command the army.

She descends inside the great library below the Silver Citadel. She is caught off guard by the vast knowledge in there. She hears rumblings below though. A group of John’s men search through the Library. She has them slaughtered, but still no John. Down, down, down, she goes.

At the end of the Library she comes to a tunnel made of roots and vegetation. She and her group travel for what seems like days. They ran out of food, and have been eating the bark of the tunnel. Madness begins to set in, a voice talks in her head. The anger fades, and a longing remains. They eventually come to an opening, a chamber. At the center there is a woman in the shape of a flower. A child is talking to her. The child runs off. Yullanna approaches the woman and tells her that she had visions of her and has been waiting for this day for a long time. She beseeches the Flower-woman to grant her immortality. The woman smiles, and palces her hands on Yullanna’s cheeks. Yullanna see’s visions of her future, it is grand, she does so much, and the world becomes hers. She smiles at the sight of her glorious future. The visions cease. Yullanna feels warmth as the flower woman smiles at her. Out of the shadows comes a giant Beast covered in white feathers, the head of an eagle, two giant wings and four limbs. It speaks “I am Proaditor, prepare to face judgement.” He grabs Yullanna and holds her up in one hand. The Beast looks her straight in the eyes, she feels both fear and excitement. This is it, she has been deemed worthy. The Beast’s grip tightens, bones begin to break. Dread, dread is the only thing she feels right now. She lets out a chilling shriek as she is crushed to death in the Beast’s hand.

John Barion

It wasn’t unfortunate that Sean did not agree. Kaljoro is gone as well, probably dead. But the mission must continue. John has his forces march towards Mora. Before he reaches the gate he sends the majority of his soldiers to meet and camp with a 1000 of his other soldiers in the northern Pale.  He enters the city with just under a 1000 men. And a few of his officers: Martin Cerox, his chief guard, Tormun Stone, personal guard, Richard Herrington, advisor, and Norywn Quinn, his right hand.

John enters the city and expects to be meet by Vyruk. However Vyruk has left for the field and is likely on the way to the Pale Hall. John tries to mentally prepare himself for what is coming next. John takes his force and positions them near the southern gate. John makes his way to the gate house with a few dozen men. Cirus’Vel shows up. He is glad to see John, the Glattii have pushed through the eastern lines and are just a day away from laying siege to Mora. Cirus wasn’t supposed to be here. The mission cannot be delayed. While Cirus is talking, in one swift motion John pulls a knife and stabs Cirus through the neck. Open the gate and break the winch.

John’s forces are able to hold the gate until the Glattii arrive. John is met by their commanding officer, General Shavok. She thanks John for his service. John tells his men to ready to go home. Shavok, tells John that he is not done yet. She wants John to assists in taking the market district near the Silver Citadel.

John has his force take a roundabout way through the city to reach their objective. It takes longer to get there but they met quite a bit less opposition. John holds the market for weeks, waiting for the glattii to make way to them. John finds their lack of progress in taking the city outputting. He takes a scout party and travels to another district. He is ambushed by a group of lutum and thorinai. John and his party barely escape the fight. He makes his way back to his men. He leaves half of his force to guard the market while he takes the rest to deal with what appear to be Fel Weavers. John meets them on the field. Some of the fel weavers get away. But John manages to capture a few.

After he has the prisoners interrogated for information he learns that their leader is Yullanna, a newly appointed leader and is after the Silver Citadel. The glattii forces finally arrive in the market district. John expects to be able to leave but he is given a new order. Find a way into the Silver Citadel.

John finds a group of sanctum soldiers stationed outside the Silver Citadel’s walls. He engages them in combat. John is victorious and sets up camp on the eastern side of the wall. With the city in chaos hopefully his small force can go unnoticed. He has his sappers begin work on the wall. Later that night, John and his right hand Norwyn are discussing the current situation. John seems more relaxed here. Norwyn has been a good friend for a long time. John talks about Cirus. Why did he have to be there, at that time? It haunts John. Norwyn tells him, it’s what needed to be done, the mission comes first. John says, but you’re not the one who stabbed him, a friend. Norwyn, ask John if he really thinks their plan will succeed, with the boats, and the new weapons. John answers, as long as Orion keeps everything on track in Terragar. Norwyn ask, what about Olin, what if he does something, we should have told him about everything. John answers with, Olin would not be capable of going along with our plan. He may hate the Order, but he would not wish harm on any of the citizens of the Sanctum, all for the sake of Terragar. His allegiance isn’t to Terragr alone.

Weeks later John’s sappers make some progress, but the Citadel’s defenses are proving stronger than previously thought. General Shavok strolls up on her wave rider (an amphibious steed), and a small accompanying force. She ask John why aren’t they through the wall yet. John explains, and tells her that it will be done, when it is done. John turns away and heads back to his tent. Shavok shouts “I AM NOT DONE TALKING”. John looks back, a soldier of his next to him has cranked a crossbow. John grabs it and shoots Shavok in the shoulder. She had the most aghast look on her face when the bolt hit her. She shouts again, “BRING ME THE CUNTS’ HEADS”. John draws his sword and his men begin to surround Shavok’s small force. A battle ensues.

John pulls his sword out of Shavok’s torso. John ask for a casualty count, and a head count of abled men to fight. He goes to his tent and wipes the blood off his armor. Richard Herrington enters. John says something about the tenacity of the glattii, and that battle took way longer than it should have. Richard gives John an update on the wall. But ask if they should continue, seeing as they just attacked a group of glattii. John tells him, “There is something in there that both the Glattii and the Fel Weavers want. I intend to find out what it is”. Norwyn comes in and gives John the numbers he asked for. Only about 600 able men left, with about 150 wounded and unable to fight. John clenches his jaw, he thinks to himself, time is running out.

Days later John gets word from his scouts that Yullanna’s horde is closing in on the Silver Citadel. The glattii will also notice that their general is missing. John goes to visit the sappers site himself. He tells them that they will have to use their last resort, time is of the essence. He has a barrel, with a wick sticking out of it, brought to the site. It ignites and blows a small hole through the last part of the wall. It leads to an underground tunnel. John rounds up 200 men, including Norwyn, Tormun, and Martin. He gives orders to Richard to guard the camp until his return. Once inside, John task Norwyn’s group to find an alternative exit, he task Tormun’s group with scouting the above levels, and Martin is to accompany John’s group.

John and his small group of about 30 men move through the tunnels looking for anything that looks worth something. They spend days in there looking. He eventually comes upon what appears to be the Den’s headquarters. Although it appears to be empty. No one is around.  Until they find a great antechamber, it leads into what looks like a church. Only one person is there, kneeling before the altar. It looks like an Houlune. John has his men hang back. John approaches the Houlune. He tells John that the female thorinai is only moment away from breaking into the Citadel. John ask what they are looking for in here, why are so many obsessed with what lurks in the Silver Citadel. He smiles at John, and says “there are things here that would shake the foundation of the world, that would destroy the Faith of the Order”. Who are you? John asks as he turns the Houlune around. The Houlune answers, I am Yeshvos, leader of the Den. That’s when John notices the dagger in Yeshvos’ belly. He points to a door off to the side. He says one more thing before he dies “please, protect her”. John doesn’t quite know what to think about all of this. He signals his men to the door, and they proceed. Martin ask what that was about. John tells him that something dark is going on here, there is a rift in the Den of Guardians; that was their leader.

John and his men come to the Great Library. John had only heard rumors about it. It goes down for what looks like an n eternity. Hundreds of levels. John, wondered to himself, is this it, maybe it was the library they were looking for. Maybe a book. But how could they find it, There must be hundreds of thousands of works here. It would take a lifetime to sort through this. As they move through the levels, no one is found. The library is empty as well. They spend what seems like days pouring over the books, looking for anything that could be useful. John hears rustling in the floors above. He orders his men to hide. John spies a group of thorinai coming down the stairs. They move through the aisles of bookshelves. One soldier makes a noise and is found. Martin signals John to escape. Martin jumps out and attacks the thorinai. John thinks about joining. But what good would it do for him to die here. He continues to hide and watches the fight, unable to help those so loyal to him. He watches as Yullanna herself plunges a dagger into Martin’s chest. John had put his life in Martin’s care so many times. John has risked and sacrificed much to get this far. He waits for Yullanna and her group to pass. He then proceeds to follow her group.

He loses them when they begin to travel through a tunnel made of roots and vegetation, the path closes off as roots grow to cover the way. He needs to see what she is after. Behind him he hears what sounds like the snort of a giant beast. John turns around slowly only to find himself face to face with a giant bison. It smiles at John. “My name is Praeturim. Please follow my lead” John doesn’t know what is going on. Is this an ancient he thinks? They are real then, right? But Yeshvoss had said something about the Order being false. A thousand thoughts swirled through John’s mind. Every time he tried to ask the bison a question. The bison would just go “shhhhhh”. John had no concept of time down here. He followed the bison for what seemed like days. John’s stomach growled, he had run out of rations.

They come to a perch overlooking a great chamber. Below is a woman in the form of a flower talking to what looks like Yullanna. John can’t really make out what is being said. A giant white eagle beast walks out of the shadows and grabs Yullanna. A few moments later, Yullanna is crushed and dropped to the round. A pile of blood and bones. The rest of the thorinai move into attack the eagle beast, but they are quickly crushed and tossed aside. The flower woman looks up and straight at John. Voices. A thousand voices in one shout and whisper in his head. Images, visions. Glass, Thorns, Bones, Coral, the Old. The West. The East. False enemy. Traitor, Traitor, Traitor. The Traitor King. Two. One below, one above. Enter the Void. John ran trying to escape the voice. It continued though. Gyre. Helix. Order. The true enemy. Thrones. Beyond the Shroud. Of the old blood. The old Kings. Chosen five. Of both black and white. The old world. L’oth. I am Aevum.

John comes to in the lowest level of the Library. He tries to process what has just happened. But before him lies a book on a pedestal.

Nimera Soryl

Nim is wandering the streets of Mora. She sees a lot of people running about but she doesn’t know what is going on. She feels a hand grab her shoulder. She lets out a little yelp. But low in behold it was just Cirus. He smiles at her. Cirus tells her to make her way home things aren’t going to be safe soon, the city may come under siege. Cirus walks her home most of the way. He explains how he may not be able to see her for a while, so their lessons will have to stop for the time being. Cirus wants her to continue studying though, and to keep practicing her weaving. They arrive at her house. Cirus gives his greetings to Nim’s parents and then leaves.

A few days pass and Nim and her parents make a short trip to the market. The city is tense. There are a lot of people talking about the coming siege. Some are excited. News of John Barion’s forces arriving, have given some high spirits. Nim remembers her lessons with Cirus about the Fel Offensive. It happened nearly 30 years ago. The Sanctum was losing against the Fel weavers but John came to their aid and completely turned the tide of that war, hopefully he will be able to do the same here. Nim hears the voice again. It is soothing, and it is calling for her. She gets separated from her parents. But she continues to follow the voice.

She walks for some time and then there is an uproar in the city. The voice disappears and Nim panics, she wasn’t so familiar with this part of the city. She tries to make her way home but is caught off guard by a platoon of Glattii infantry bull rushing their way through the street. Nim makes a noise and one of the glattii break off from the group to check it out. She is spotted by him. Nim makes a break for it running in any direction she can, and the glattii chases after her. Then out of no were a flash of burning metal. All Nim hears is the glattiis cries for help. She turns around, the glattii has a searing dagger stuck in his face. She quickly looks around, her father. He had come to find her.

They rush to their home to meet her mother and then try to leave the city. But when they get there, a group a glattii have the house surrounded. Nim’s father attempts to fight some in order to make an opening. Nim runs inside and finds her mother hiding behind some furniture. A couple glattii followed Nim inside. Her mother steps in front to protect Nim. She draws a short sword and is prepared to fight. The standoff continues for a few more seconds then the action starts. The mother ducks and dodges the first few swings and brings her sword into the back of a glattii’s leg. She throws a brick at anothers head and knocks him down. She begins to channel her essence and steals the life from all the candles in the room create a funnel of fire scorching another two glattii. But she is stabbed in the lower back by the first glattii who was just wounded. More Glattii enter. Nim just tries to hide. Her father enters and begins to fend off glattii here and there. This was like a dream come true but a nightmare at the same time. Nim finally gets to see her parents fight, it was awe inspiring, but the moment her mom was stabbed the feeling broke, and suddenly it was utterly terrifying. This was a life and death struggle right before her eyes. There was no way to hold them all off. Eventually her father is felled, stabbed over a dozen times. Nim’s mother yells at her to run, and don’t stop. Nim is frozen in fear, she couldn’t move. Not until she heard her mother’s shriek. It was horrifying. Nim ran with tears running down her face.

Weeks maybe months pass. Nim is surviving off the street. The initial scare of the first few days had worn off. It was now a war of attrition, a word she had learned from Cirus. She wondered if he was still alive. She notices a group of lutum and thorinai making their way north in the city. Nim finds this odd and disturbing. What are they doing here? Then the voice calls again. Nim had not heard it since the first day of the attack. Nim can tell the direction the voice wants her to go in now. The Silver Citadel. She has nothing else now, she doesn’t know how she could leave the city. She decides to follow the voice.

NIm is lead to a whole under a tree near the base of the Citadel’s walls. She has to crawl through. If she were any bigger she couldn’t fit. She crawls through the tunnel for hours until she comes out in a library. She sees a lot of people scrambling, heading up. But the voice is down. She waits for all the people to pass before she proceeds. She looks over the edge of the level. Pitch blackness, nothingness. The voice wants her to go down. No way! She thinks to herself, not into the darkness. The voice reassures her. Nim continues down the levels. Stairs and books. Stairs and book. Does this go on forever, she thinks. She decides to rest, for a bit. She sleeps under a desk on one of the lower levels.

She wakes up hearing a commotion coming from one of the upper levels. She looks at the opening in the middle and just sees a body fall into the abyss. She is frightened half to death. She immediately gets up and runs down, and down, and down. She keeps running until she comes to a door. It had a mural carved on it. It showed what looked like a baby in a circle and a tree sitting atop the circle. Beneath the ball were a thousand hands reaching for it, painted in red and black. A single pair hands painted a multitude of colors reach down from the top, surrounding the tree. It looks as though they are sculpting the tree. The voice calls from a side passage, Nim gives one last good look at the Mural and then goes through the side passage.

She eventually comes out into an underground grove. The voice is now not in her head. It is in the room. She spots a woman in the shape of a flower in the middle. Nim walks up and ask why she was called here. The woman introduces herself as Aevum, the tree of Beginnings. Nim is confused for a second. She has looked at the tree of Beginnings her whole life, but just as a tree. Nim never really saw it as anything more than a giant tree. “You have suffered much these last couple months, my dear child”. Aevum embraces Nim and lowers herself to Nim’s level so now they see eye to eye. Aevum has a favor to ask of her. She ask Nim to hold out her hand. Aevum places a seed in it. “This is my last seed, take good care of it. Tell no one of it except those you absolutely trust.” A few thorinai walk into the room. Aevum tells Nim to run away, take the seed far away, and hide it from the Order.

Novolk Xoh

Inside the House of War (building where felk warlords meet), Novolk is meeting with his dozens of warlords. Novolk is siting and listening to them argue. Many are there to argue for war. They have had their hearts ignited by word of the Glattii invasion of the Pale. Many exclaim that the Sanctum is their Ally and they should help them any way possible. They should go on the offensive some think. Others point out their weak position in the Enclave. If they go to war again without the Capital’s consent, they could face expulsion form the Enclave. Novolk continues to just observe the meeting. His mind wanders, and he no longer hears the words his warlords are saying. He gets up and leaves. The room goes silent as they all see their Chieftain walk out on a War meeting. Janolk, Novolk’s eldest son, tells the warlords that his father isn’t feeling well and then follows.

The next day Novolk is walking in the gardens with his wife Thera. This quietness was all Novolk felt like he had left. His dreams of making the Xoh great again had been crushed during the Nntorok initiative. Janolk approaches them. He ask for his mother to take her leave, he has something to talk to his father about. He ask Novolk why he doesn’t even try listening to his warlords, most of which had fought in the Nntorok Initiative. Novolk replies with, he just wants to live in peace during his twilight years, he tried and failed. When Janolk becomes Chieftain, he can try again. Novolk tells him that he is a fine man and will make a great chieftain, but he must wait. There will be no war. Janolk becomes angry and storms off. Later that day at dinner, the air is stiff and silent. Novolk watches his family eat. Thera looks peaceful, the things he wants to preserve. Janolk looks eager and ambitious, the man he once was. His younger children, Merra and Earolk, daughter and son respectively; they whisper too each other. The two are unaware of might happen soon, so innocent, but they could be the future of the Xoh. Novolk thinks to himself: he may not want to promote war, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming. Janolk looks as though he is about to say something when a messenger enters. He exclaims it is urgent. Novolk is a little perturbed about the interruption, until he looks at the message. The leader of Terragar, Governor-Commander Orion will be arriving in a week’s time to discuss matters of the war.

Orion arrives. Novolk doesn’t quite know what to say when Orion just hands a letter with the insignia of a Ram’s head, sigil of the Lord Governor of Peirat, Lord John Barion. Orion implores Novolk to read it first before they talk. Novolk hastily opens it and reads it. Why would John send him a letter? It talks of a plan to stop the glattii. It requires the alliance with the Xoh. Novolk is excited by the whole thing. A letter from the man who he once tried to model himself after. But NO. Peace is what the Xoh needs, not another war. Novolk tells him he appreciates his coming all the way here, but he will not throw his people in any more wars. Orion, thanks him for his consideration, and ask to stay a couple nights before he departs again.

Novolk looks over the garden at night. His son Earolk approaches. He ask if he will accept what Orion brought. Novolk explains why he won’t. Earolk then tells him he use to have ideals of their tribe being great again. He missed that dad, he was inspiring, someone to look up to, and someone you could place all your hopes in. A pillar for all of us. After s bit Earolk goes to bed. Novolk stays up for some time. He thinks of his father who had been taken away from him, of his children’s future, and that it may be impossible to stay out of this war.

On the morning of Orion’s departure. Novolk walks out of his manor. He is dressed in full armor. Janolk is surprised. Novolk walks over to Orion, and tells him that the Xoh will ride to war once more. He calls to Janolk to rally the warlords and assemble the armies. Before Janolk leaves, Novolk grabs his shoulder and tells him he expects much of him in this war.

Novolk prepares to leave but is delayed by his son Earolk who wishes to join. Novolk denies him. Earolk doesn’t let him leave that easily. After a bit Novolk explains in full. He tells Earolk that he is smart, but is terrible in combat and would only get in the way. Earolk ask him to think on it for a day. Earolk tries to prove his fighting prowess the next day in simulated combat. But he is knocked on his ass each time by his father. Novolk says he has wasted too much time with this. He is approached by his wife Thera. She ask at least give him something else then, he feels as though you don’t love him. She explains that Novolk has put a lot of stock in Janolk be very little in Earolk. After a little deliberation Novolk decides to leave Earolk in charge of matters in their city Xoh’Tok, he will sit in the Chieftains chair while they are at war.

Weeks later at the sacred meeting place of Warlords in Sea-Spear (the land the Xoh live on in the Korhan Steppe), Novolk makes an announcement of the Plan. The glattii colony here has had it warrens emptied as they go to fight in the Pale. They will take their chief city of the colony, Nih’vilass. They make plans for it. Janolk will lead the initial raiding party on the city while the other warlords cause distractions at several known glattii outpost. They will then charge the city in full force on the following day of the raid and take it for good. Novolk wishes his son good luck, and not to disappoint their ancestors.

The day has come and Novolk attacks a small outpost. His battle is short and decisive. He then heads to the place where all the war parties are to meet after their objective is complete. Within two days all show up except for Janolk’s force. It was expected that he would arrive last but this is taking too long.

Another day passes and they see his army running towards them. But they are being chased by a glattii army. Novolk orders his army to attack to save Janolk. The battle is brief but bloody. Once Novolk secures his son he orders a full retreat, they must regroup and react to this new situation. After a hard day of riding. Novolk ask Janolk what happened. He tells him that the Glattii army had literally returned hours before they attacked. While the initial surprise had victory in sight. The galttii eventually become to organized and beat them back. They are being led by the Governor’s son, Ashak Torosh. Janolk explains how he crossed swords with him and he is fierce.

The next morning scouts report that the glattii are on their trail again. Novolk orders the whole camp to move, they need to cross the Korhan River before the end of the day. They almost escape but they are slowed down just enough when trying to cross the shallows of the river, that the glattii catch up and a battle ensues in the river. Novolk orders to turn and fight. The battle is long, unorganized and bloody. Both sides were tired from riding for days. Novolk realizes that it isn’t going in their favor and orders a full retreat again. He looks for his son. He finds him just in time. But Janolk is engaged in combat with what looks like a glattii commander. He begins to fight his way over to them. But then the worst happened. Novolk is shot with a bolt from a glattii great bow. The bolt sank deep and broke all his armor. Indescribable pain. But his gazed never steered from his son as he now watched him fight. Novolk was helpless to save him. He watched as his son was decapitated by the glattii and then his head held up over the crowds. A roar of cheers came from the glattii. Novolk is grabbed by his men and pulled from the field. His vision then goes to darkness.

Lish’ah Torosh

Lish’ah walks along the battlements of her father’s palace in Nih’vilass. She imagines herself as her brother fighting against the enemies of the empire. She tries to mimic the soldiers training in the yard below. She couldn’t wait for her brother to return from the war in the Pale. He usually brings her home a gift. She continues this for hours, seemingly without exhaustion. She accidently knocks of a potted fern. She tries to clean it up but her father catches her before she can hide the evidence. Lish’ah’s gleeful smile from before disappears. Her father, Volsh, scolds her. He then tells her to change out of the clothes she’s dirtied andget ready for dinner.

Dinner without her brother is always quiet. Just Lish’ah and her father at the table. Here she was expected to act like a glattii lady. She hated it though. The dresses, the face paint. She didn’t like how it felt on her skin. And the cowl covering her tendrils made her feel claustrophobic. The air was stiff. She wished her brother was here, dinner would be fun again. She thought maybe mother could come back to. She quietly brought asked about what her mother was doing. Volsh replied with a brief statement and saying no more. Lish’ah asked if he thought she would come to visit anytime soon. Volsh just said “not likely”. She then ask why he wants her to dress and act all ladylike. Volsh replies briefly again “because you are a lady”. Lish’ah is quick to respond with “but there are lots of females in the army and navy. Like admiral Iphalia. She commands the Royal fleet. Why can’t I do something like that?” Volsh seems flustered for a moment. He says “I am your father and you do as I say, Now go to bed! And no desert”. As he slams his first onto the table. He signals for a hand maiden to take Lish’ah away.

Weeks later Lish’ah is eagerly waiting on the docks. She can see her brother’s ship coming into the bay. A greeting party including her father is also waiting at the docks. She can’t stand the wait as the ship docks and runs up to the gangplank. But the first thing off the ship is quite the surprise. The largest thing lish’ah had ever seen. It stood well over nine feet tall. It was accompanied by six guards and covered in irons. The next person off the ship was her brother, looking cocky. He walks over to Lish’ah and tells her about the monster she just saw. A glat that he fought and beat in the Pale. It was his prize. He tells her that she will get her present later, father may not approve. Ashak, her brother goes to greet their father but is scolded for letting a glat beast enter the city. He apologizes.

Later Lish’ah is curious about the glat and sneaks into the dungeons. She watches him in wonder. She ask him a multitude of questions but gets no answer. Lish’ah wanted to know why glats were bad. She had been told all her life, and now she has the opportunity to ask a glat personally. A guard finds her returning from the dungeon and brings her to Volsh. He scolds her and tells her not to go near the glat again. They are dangerous and not to be trusted. She ask him to explain why the glats are bad. She gets angry at his half-answer. She runs off to her room.

Ashak visits the next day as she is confined to her room. He presents her with a gift from the pale. A feathered helmet from a dragoon rider and an intricate ceremonial commander’s knife. He pats her on the head and leaves. This temporally uplifts her.

After her punishment is lifted she resolved to learn more about the glats, but not from glattii tomes. She wanted to hear it from a glat. She studied the guard patterns for the dungeon. She visits the glat and ask him a question but this time she throws a piece of meat into the cell. She makes a deal with the glat. She brings him food and he tells her something either about himself or about glats. The question she asks today is, what is your name? He answers, “Kaljoro”.

Over the coming weeks she learns more and more about glats and Kaljoro. She found the whole thing fascinating. Yet it was also sad at the same time. From the glat’s perspective they had been driven to near extinction. Their very existence was on the verge of being snuffed out. All at the hands of the Glattii.

Lish’ah is at dinner with her family. A messanger enters and hands a letter to Volsh. He reads it aloud. Most of his soldiers sent to help the pale would be returning home at the command of the Matriarch. The campaign in the pale is nearly over. A truce will be signed with the sanctum. Matriarch Peila Shatirr will oversee the treaty herself. The soldiers will get some much deserved rest. The letter was signed by the High Mother (a more common title when refereeing to the Matriarch) herself. Volsh looks over at Lish’ah and ask her if she would like to meet the High Mother. Lish’ah lights up. Volsh tells her they will make a trip to Giilora once the whole war is over.

Later that week, after the army arrives, Lish’ah decides to meet with Kaljoro again. While sneaking through the dungeon at night she sees and hears many soldiers move and yell with a purpose. In the distance a crackle of fire could be heard along with screaming. Lish’ah was curious about it but she wanted to tell Kaljoro about her trip. She reaches his cell and he is acting different. He ask about what was going on. Lish’ah just says something about the soldiers acting weird. Kaljoro stands straight up. The sheer size of him still shocked her. He normally just sat on the floor. He walks close to the iron bars, grabs them, and begins to bend the bars. Lish’ah is scared silent, such strength. How did her brother take this hulking mass down. He steps out of the cell and stands before Lish’ah with a menacing look. He grabs the back of her neck and squeezes. She feels herself getting tired. The last thing she remembers is being grabbed by giant hands and the passing of flames.

Earolk Xoh

When Earolk hears that his father has called the Warlords to meet at the War Tree (sacred meeting place for the Xoh), he goes to him ask what he will be doing in the war. Novolk breaks it to him that he won’t be riding with them to war. Earolk is devastated by the rejection from his father. After a bit Earolk decides not to let things go that easily. He goes to his father after a few hours when he is about to leave for the War Tree. Earolk demands that Novolk explain himself. He tells Earolk: You are not a fighter, never have been, you read books, you are smart, there are better things for you to do. Earolk lays out that it will be good experience for him.

The next day Earolk suits up and challenges his father, that if he can hit him once he will take him on the campaign. Earolk tries his hardest in the duel but his father treats it like child’s play. Earolk is knocked to the ground repeatedly. Novolk walks away and prepares to leave. While treating his bruises Janolk approaches Earolk. Janolk lays it out flat, war is not your forte; he explains to Earolk. The two sit down and talk for a bit. They laugh about some old times when they were kids. At the end Janolk tells him to forgive their father, he hasn’t had the easiest life.

Earolk, his sister and mother go to bid Novolk and Janolk farewell. Novolk comes over to Earolk, he says that he may have been too hard. He tells Earolk that he has Xoh’tok while he is away. His mother, Thera, walks over to him a pats him on the shoulder. She tells Earolk “your father will be proud of you one day, just wait”. They wave the army goodbye.

Weeks pass. Earolk hears out people’s problems and solves them the best he can. His sister Mera is surprised by the creative ways he handles the problems of the city. She mentions that she can hardly recognize him, he’s really coming into his own. She tells him, see you don’t need to hold a sword to be useful. He meets with his mother and ask if there has been any word about his father. She replies with no. But it is not unusual. Campaigns can last for months. She tries to rest his fears.

The next day, one of the Xoh patrols found a glattii scout. Earolk doesn’t really know what to do in this kind of situation. He ask the head of the city guard, Darruk, what to do. He suggest to Earolk to have the scout interrogated. They need to know if he knows anything. After a couple days there is no progress made on the prisoner. Earolk questions Darruk if there is anything else they can do with him. Earolk is still nervous about the whole thing. He tries to think of what his father or brother would do.

Later that night Earolk enters the prison were the glattii is held. The bruised and beaten glattii laughs at the scrawny felk. Earolk holds a knife in his hand and approaches him. Earolk nervously tries to interrogate the glattii. After the glattii’s incessant taunting Earolk jams the knife in his knee. He screams shocked that Earolk actually did something. He yells threats. Earolk is surprised to at the whole thing as well. The next day Darruk suggest ending the prisoner since they are getting nothing out of him. Earolk agrees. Earolk still unsure about having someone killed watches as Darruk has the glattii brought to the chopping block. The glattii panics and yells out random locations of outpost, and swears that he doesn’t know anything else. Darruk looks over at Earolk, and he nods for the beheading. Durrak goes ahead with it. The whole thing doesn’t quite sit well with him. That was the first time he had seen someone beheaded. He walks away, his nerves are racked.

Later that day while he sits in the main hall, he thinks over what he had done. ‘Even if he was a glattii, he was still a living thing, and I had his life ended’. His mother comes in and sees him shivering. She walks over to him. She tells him that it had to be done, ruling isn’t always sunshine. She reassures him that he is good at this but I does get ugly from time to time. Earolk seems to cheer up a bit. Just then a messenger burst into the room and tells them that Novolk and his army are on their way back. However things have gone really wrong.

The following day Novolk’s force arrives. Earolk and his family hear from warlord Brynjar. The battle was lost. Soldiers bring Novolk in on a stretcher, he has a large bolt poking out of his gut. Brynjar tells them the bad news that Janolk did not survive. They couldn’t even retrieve his body. The healers go to try an aid Novolk. Earolk stands a gasp; his brother is dead. Thera and Mera are in tears. After an hour of the healers tried their best with Novolk, Earolk and the rest of his family gather around him. They get the news that Novolk will not likely survive the night. If they remove the bolt he will die. He seems somewhat delirious. Thera tries to talk to him. But he just calls out for Earolk. Earolk goes over to him. He apologizes to Earolk for ignoring him so much. Earolk doesn’t quite know what to feel. He is still incredulous about the whole thing. Novolk grabs Earolk by the collar and pulls him in. “I have failed the tribe, I made a mistake. *weezing sound*. The tribe is yours, I should have taught you better. *weezing sound*. Novolk looks to be in great pain. Earolk nods to him and says “I will not let the tribe fall father”. He is filled with so much emotion and begins to shed a few tears. Earolk walks away as his mother goes over to Novolk stays beside him.

Earolk is in the hall holding his father’s spear, contemplating the whole of the day’s events. Brynjar comes in and approaches Earolk. He bows first, and greets him with the title Chieftain. It felt odd the Earolk, it felt odd to be called by that. Brynjar informs him of his father’s passing, and that he (Earolk) is now the Chieftain of the Xoh. They will need new plans now, the glattii will not take this attack lying down. Earolk stops him in mid-sentence, and ask if it can wait until tomorrow, his father just died. Brynjar leaves. Earolk sits in his father’s chair and mourns his death.

Peila Shatirr

Peila arrives at E’sharr and has Iphalia prepare the Royal Fleet. She has a bit of anger in her. Just the idea of possible discord in her ranks is unsettling. She readies to leave for the Vashael Isles. Before she leaves the Palace she is stopped by Grand Arbiter Giishaer. He tells her that there have been whispers in the colonies. The Enclave and the Fel are moving. Gii ask that they expand their invasion to both the Northlands and the Deep-Glint Marshes. Peila looks at Gii in a bit of disgust. She tells him they will do no such thing. But the colonies do need to be protected. She ask him to send reinforcements to Nih’Vilass and Viper’s Lagoon. She makes her way to the docks. Vrotok, who has been guarding her ask if they can trust Gii. Peila says she doesn’t know, things will have to change when they return to E’sharr.

On the way to Vashael Peila speaks with Iphalia and Vrotok. She has thought more about Gii and possible dissension of her generals. She tells them that something needs to be done about Gii when they return, he has been a thorn in their side for too long. And they need to find out where they sent her brother. They need him back, incase Gii tries anything. Peila dismisses Vrotok for the night. Peila ask Iphalia advice on what she should do about the whole situation. It all just seems to be going to shit. Iphalia tries to comfort Peila.

They arrive at Avarous (main port and city in the Vashael Isles). Peila is greeted by Peitor Shol right away. He begins with formal pleasantries, but Peila pushes it aside and demands that the general in question be brought to her as quickly as possible. Later that day Peila is in a meeting with Peitor and several other generals. Peila argues with Peitor Shol about how he could have let this happen. The army was not to attack the city of Vol. She ask who the general in question was. Peitor answers, Zelox. Peila demands that he stand trial for treason the day he arrives. The generals seem to be against something so hasty but Peila shoots a stare at them that could kill a shark. The generals back down and agree to the trial. Peila then ask for an update on Mora. The generals explain that General Shavok is overseeing the siege and the Sanctum has yet to buckle. And that the Fel Weavers have invaded the Pale as well. Peila dismissed the meeting. Peila tells Iphalia that they need remind these generals who is in charge around here.

The next day at the Trial. Peila makes sure things do not go Zelox’s way at all. She ask him what made him think that he could disobey orders and take the city of Vol. It was not in the plan. They are not here as conquerors. Zelow tries to refute it. He explains that Vol needed to be taken so the road to Mora would be clear. Peila explains that they are not there to destroy cities, not there kill civilians or remove them from their homes. Zelox yells out that they are lesser beings and that they should know their place. Peila states that the trial is over and “I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment for the crime of treason”. Zelox becomes flustered and tries to escape, he knocks out a guard and steals his sword. The other guards are about to go after him, but Peila tells them to stand down. She nods to Zelox and tells him to speak. He demands a trial by combat and if wins he is absolved. Peila agrees and has a big smirk on her face. She calls over Vrotok. She tells Zelox that Vrotok will be her champion. Vrotok walks over to Zelox. He has more than a foot on Zelox, and holds his giant Warhammer in his left hand. Zelox swings at him with the sword, but he catches the sword and tosses it aside. He punches Zelox in the head, knocking him over and a couple teeth out. He grabs hold of his hammer and brings it down in full force upon Zelox’s head. In an instant blood splattered all across the floor, the body still twitching. Peila looks over the rest of the generals in the room, and then at Peitor Shol. She ask him calmly that they declare a ceasefire with the Sanctum, and contact High Councilor Yoran, she wants to meet with him.

Weeks later she meets with Yoran on an island off the coast of the Pale. She had meet Yoran before, she felt somewhat akin to him. The whole meeting is pleasant for the most part. The learning of the true state of Mora was disheartening to Peila. But they come to an agreement. There will be a more permanent ceasefire between them. Trade will be opened up between the two. Glattii will be allowed to make pilgrimages to Mora. In exchange the glattii will help repel the lutum from the Pale. Yoran agreed to the terms and he is sent back to the Pale. Peila looks over to Iphalia “Let’s go home”. Peila, Vrotok, Iphalia, and Peitor Shol prepare to return to E’sharr.

On the way back to E’sharr Peila is looking pretty exhausted. She complains to Iphalia at how war is just one big headache. She ask how Iphalia does it. They are interrupted by a messenger. The Black Marauders have been spotted just north here and are raiding the coast. Peila orders Iphalia to take the majority of the fleet and take care of it. Peila, Vrotok, and Peitor go on their way to E’sharr.

They arrive and the masses are there to greet them. Peila exclaims over the crowd that they are victorious. After greeting the crowds she moves to the Palace. Peitor Shol goes ahead of them to make sure the guards are ready to greet her return.

Peila, Vrotok, and her personal guard walk down the main hallway to the throne room. As usual the hall is lined with members of the Lunic guard. Peila notices that Vrotok seems a bit off. He tells her that it may have just been the long journey but these guards seem off, he doesn’t recognize some of these gaurds. Peila also notices that his color looks off a bit. Vrotok stops and looks at one of the guards and ask what his rank and name are. No answer. Vrotok gets bit angry and demands he answer. Peila looks at the end of the hall and sees Peitor and Gii. She then looks behind and sees the doors close. A sudden sound of shuffling feet and spear thrust, piercing metal. She quickly turn around to see Vrotok impaled by over a dozen spears. Peila has a look of horror and dread on her face. She thinks to herself quickly ‘I should have known’. Vrotok is still moving somehow. The rest of her guard moves to surround her to protect her from all the others. She just keeps looking at Vrotok as he rises, space around him begins to warp and he looks back at Peila. His neck his suddenly sliced open by Peitor shol from behind. Vrotok drops to the floor dead. Peila screams as her guards are systematically slaughtered around her. She falls to her knees. Peitor walks over to her and without saying a word he puts his sword into her chest. Peila’s last thoughts were that of her brother and her daughter as she bled to death in the hall.

So ends Empire's Hammer.