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Game synopsise 15 October 2004
The strange man spoke in heavily accented Sartarite, ‘I am Tothus Seven-Seventh. Barbarian, your death is imminent is three moves – are you prepared to die?’
He took up a strange stance, but he had no weapons that Arya could discern. He even lacked any form of armour that was apparent, although Arya well knew about the enchanting of woad and of holy tattoo’s that could deflect a blow as surely as any byrnie. Arya gripped the hilts of her twin blades, ‘No. It is you who should be prepared to die.’ So sure was she and matter of fact her reply, the strangely clad stranger frowned, raised one leg and then the other. He was sitting cross-legged in mid air seemingly deep in contemplation! Arya moved to advance on the foe. Before she could move he moved, almost faster than the eye could follow, ‘No!’ And with a gesture of his hand and a thrust of his arm, snap, Arya was hit by a blast of force that threw her back against the stone wall with tremendous force. She hit the floor semi conscious, bones broken from the impact. At that moment the door flew open with a massive blast of air as wild umbrolli swirled inward. It was Kallyr Starbrow, Insterid, Offir, Gyffur and other warriors of renown. They had taken flight the moment Kallyr had realised the gates were open.
Outside Aren had seen the stricken Olend fall from the sky. Striding upon Orlanth’s breath, barely, he dived to rescue the falling Olend. Accelerating he caught the falling Helering in a feat that would have amazed the most devout Vanganthi. Calling upon Orlanth to aid him with all his might he managed to return with Olend to the walls. Miraculously though bruised, the lo metal scale of Culbra (1) had saved him from being pierced many times by the javelins of the foul solar champions he had sought to taunt, although the healers were required to restore him.
The assault continued. However, the tides of battle favoured the Orlanthi. With the great cloud that hung above the city, the magic of the Orlanthi magicians was inflamed to heroic levels as blast after blast of lightning and crashing thunder wrought ruin amongst the moon boats.
Meanwhile Kallyr was hard put trying to deal with the Seven-Seventh. Insterid received a spinning back kick that verily knocked her clean across the room into the wall. He caught Offir’s sword between his hands, and with a movement had disarmed the Humakti. With a head butt the Humakti fell stricken. Every one of Gyffurs boon companions had fallen to the mighty Lunar hero when Kallyr called upon the power of her Starbrow to smite Seven-Seventh. His riposte was to perform the most incredible series of back flips, dodges to evade her attack. Eventually Kallyr and Gyffur proved too strong for Seven-Seventh, for Gyffur was a mighty man of arms, possessed of a deep hatred for all things Lunar. ‘Surrender, you are overmatched!’ Called Kallyr through the eddying swirls of air and howls of wind and Umbrolli that she and Gyffur let loose during the melee. ‘Surrender?’ Tothus tilted his head to one side, ‘But why?’ With that the crimson clad Tothus leapt threw a solid stone wall. Indeed, he passed through it as if were not even there. Kallyr tapped the rock with her trusty spear. The wall was solid. (2) Kallyr and Gyffur looked at each other, blinked and made to tend to the fallen and close the gates.
The men of Arya’s company were finally succumbing to the weight of numbers despite their heroism. The Phalanx was pushing the Orlanthi back. The Hidden Gale, reviled amongst the natives of Dragon Pass at times as well as by the Lunar invaders showed forth their mettle and joined the battle for Tarkalors gate. They gave respite to Arya’s troop and bought time to give Kallyr and Gyffur time to close the gates.
The men cheered when with a clang the gate was closed. Dismayed the Lunar Phalanx retreated in good order, their attempt to push into the city foiled. However, things were to take a turn of further worse for the men of the Shepelkirt. (3)
Kurash Ingardsson, Steward of Whitewall made his way through the paved and cobbled streets of the city. Sounds of combat rang all about as he went to seek the High King. When he arrived at the Earth temple he found a number of Larnsti(4), lead by Darold the Champion. ‘Hail Kurash. We keep the King. Good news! The King stirred and became restless at the sounding of the horn. ‘Tis true, ask of Scathaca.’ ‘Verily it is so Kurash. The King began to become restless, and became very hot when the Horn of Little Big Wind (5) was sounded.’ Spoke Scathaca. Kurash went to the bedside of the King. He resolved to put his self to the hazard and invoking the power of the Grey One, probe the High Kings mind for sign of recovery. Something strange happened. Kurash closed his eyes and rested his left hand upon the brow of the King. Broyan’s forehead was clammy to the touch. When Kurash opened his eyes as he found himself all in blackness. He felt someone looking at him. He turned suddenly.
There, he fancied, in the blackness was a door. The door was closed but Kurash could see an eerie crimson glow peeking though the edges. The scholar summoned up his courage and advanced. Never let it be said that one of those who treads Chernan’s path dare not venture into the unknown. The door did not wait for the scholar’s hand, but slowly opened as he neared. The crimson glow was too much for his eyes, but he felt strangely drawn. He squinted as he passed through. He found the High King, wreathed in red flames. He seemed in great pain. All around he saw Lunar vecors and could hear many screams. So far all seemed unaware of him. He reached the King but could approach no further for the heat was too great. He called to Broyan to no avail.
Then summoning up all his piety and might and calling upon Lhankhor Mhy to grant him aid, as indeed Grey One had provided aid unto Orlanth and the lightbringers in dark hours. He thrust through the flame and grabbed the King, shaking him though he felt stabbed by many knives, ‘Wake up O King, thy people suffer without thee!’ The pain stopped, the flames went out. Broyan stirred and looked up. ‘Ingardsson? Kurash, what hap…..the Bat?’ ‘There is no time we must away!’ Vecors now swooped upon them. The King raised his hands aloft and invoked the powers of storm to come to him. There was the sound of shattering glass and the vecors faded as all became blurred. The next Kurash knew Darold, who fair glowed in his hero light, was helping him out of the rubble. ‘Arise Kurash in happy hour! The King is among us look!’
Above them a mighty vortex raged. Riding it was King Broyan, but he seemed grown large and was wreathed in lightning, voice booming with storm tongue imprecations. (6) The final straw, the Lunar heroes, champions and priests all fled before the onslaught, falling back with great loss. A great cheer was taken up as the redmen fled.
The good folk of Whitewall forgetting the defence eagerly crowded around King Broyans hall. The King appeared with Kallyr at his right hand. Gyffur was there, as was Elmalandti. Those of the Larnsti that remained were about him. Many soothing words did the King speak, honour he heaped upon the Chosen Ones, declaring a great feast to celebrate the victories.
(1) Lo Metal Scale of Culbra – Famed heirloom of Olend’s house.
(2) Travelled and well versed in the ways of Lunar champions, the mystics feats surprised even Kallyr.
(3) Shepelkirt – The Heortling word for the Red Moon. A derogatory term.
(4) Larnsti – King Broyan’s personal warband.
(5) Horn of Little Big Wind – The mighty horn of Whitewall who’s legend dates pre-history.
(6) King Broyan returned, and his coming was like the coming of Orlanth himself.