Chapter Four: Retribution Dawning

Retribution Dawning

- Chapter Four: Raiaera -

Synopsis

It was early in the summer of CP 1804 when the great necromancer Xem’zund gathered his forces at his fortress in the depths of the Lindequalme and struck against the High Elven realm of Raiaera. After his failed assault upon the capital of Eluriand five years previously, the Forgotten One had been carefully gathering to him like-minded lieutenants of great power, at the same time as stirring up strife and discontent to distract the High Bard Council. At long last judging that the time was right, he unleashed his legions upon the peoples of Raiaera, causing much destruction and devastation as they swept across the fertile plains.

The sentinel city of Carnelost was the first to fall, annihilated nearly to the last man by the overwhelming undead armies. From there, Xem’zund’s hordes pushed towards the ancient port of Anebrilith to the east and the great fortress of Valinatal to the west, even as the Elves rushed to contain the threat and to prevent the Forgotten One from gaining a foothold within their lands. Barely had the High Bard Council managed to contain these initial advances when unexpected annihilation rained down upon Valinatal, obliterating it and its defiant garrison from the face of the continent and resulting in the entirety of the surrounding area to be renamed Narenhad, the Place of Burning. Before long, the remainder of the Tel Aglarim had been swept from the field of battle and Anebrilith, New Aurient, and Eluriand were all under siege. Nenaebreth, Amon Lungan, and Tilgonar had all been sacked, and the human town of Trenyce writhed in the throes of a dread plague. Flocks of refugees seeking to flee the war streamed through the Pass of Niadath and aboard the vessels of the Raiaeran Navy, carrying with them tales of dreadful atrocities and hideous monstrosities.

As Eluriand and Anebrilith both withered under prolonged encirclement, scattered groups of resistance began to strike back at the undead armies. The Lady General, High Bladesinger Nalith Celiniel, gathered the reigns of command to her and began to fortify the villa of Tirinost, renamed Eluceliniel in her honour. The cities of Galonan and New Aurient heeded her words and fought their besiegers to a standstill, even as Timbrethinil Forest was desecrated before their eyes. Brave bands of saboteurs raided the undead strongholds and assassinated their leaders, even bringing down the Obsidian Spire itself in an attempt to disable the undead hordes. In the east, an alliance of man, Elf, and Dwarf landed at Anebrilith and drove off the attackers, buying the beleaguered city some much-needed breathing room.

Throughout the winter the desperate fighting continued, besieged and besieger alike falling prey to starvation and exposure in one of the harshest chills in recent memory. The valiant defenders of Eluriand were rooted out from their protected halls by human mercenaries in Xem’zund’s employ, and only a handful of survivors still take shelter in the protected recesses of Istien. Anebrilith, corrupted and beleaguered beyond all hope, witnessed the rise of dark forces intent on piracy, slavery, and destruction. Galonan and Eluceliniel were the centre of numerous skirmishes, warbands clashing in violent conflict as they each sought to harry the enemy or to sanctify/corrupt the surrounding lands.

As spring approached, new rumours began to filter through the cold ashen air. Some said that Nenaebreth had been liberated, and that Xem’zund’s thrust towards Galonan and Anebrilith had been blunted at a single stroke. Some said that Nalith gathered her forces for an offensive towards Eluriand, in the faint hope that others of the High Bard Council had survived the winter. Some said that the forces of Xem’zund, angered at the loss of the Obsidian Spire, worked to raise a replacement amongst the ruins of Narenhad.

Some whispered that numerous Dark Elves had been seen crossing the border between Raiaera and Alerar, their purpose and intent as yet unknown…

As the winter snows melt and the early flowers bloom, however, only one thing is known for sure.

The war for Raiaera’s future is not over yet…

***

Chapter Four
Retribution Dawning

The barren ground cries
Soldiers contend for glory
There is nothing left
But retribution dawning
Only the fates know why

~ Inscribed in blood upon Eluriand’s inner walls

Chapter Four of the Featured Quest takes place during a period of approximately six weeks (circa twelve weeks OOC time) in early spring, CP 1805. The war has been ongoing for nearly nine months now, although the fierce winter blunted the movement of large armies and forced both sides to rely upon small bands of warriors and indecisive skirmishes to continue the confrontation. Now, with the heavy snows in full retreat, the fires of conflict are sure to light up once again.

The situation is described in greater detail elsewhere, but a brief summary is as follows. The defenders of Raiaera have clung to their cities as best possible, battling starvation and cold as well as the sieges. Anebrilith and Galonan are on the verge of collapse and New Aurient, despite desperate attempts at reinforcement, is not far behind. The resistance to Xem’zund is largely based out of two locations – the hidden stronghold of Eluceliniel in the west, where the Lady General Nalith Celiniel is based, and the island colony of Tor Elythis to the east. The old capital of Eluriand, however, has been largely reduced to barren rubble, and only a handful of hardy survivors still cling to life amongst the deepest sanctums of Istien University.

Xem’zund controls the vast majority of the countryside, including the forest of Lindequalme in the south and the ruins of Timbrethinil in the northeast. His lieutenants, the dreaded Death Lords, operate mainly out of the ruins of Narenhad or the various siege camps encircling embattled Raiaeran cities, or else roam the lands in search of prey. Their numbers, however, have been greatly whittled down by the superhuman efforts of a dedicated few, and those that survived the winter have become extremely paranoid and cautious about their safety.

There is hope for the defenders of Raiaera, for the lack of fighting during the chill has allowed them to spirit the last of their refugees to safety across the borders. Their forces are largely united now under the command of the Lady General, and what they lack in numbers they more than make up for with skill and righteous wrath. The war has whittled away at the High Elven armies until all that remain are the strong and the brave; Elves and Half-Elves and the occasional Dwarves who have seen homes burn and loved ones die and the worst of the horrors Xem’zund can throw at them, and have survived to tell the tale.

Xem’zund’s armies are as powerful as ever, but they begin to falter with the virtual decimation of the upper echelon of their command structure. The Necromancer himself still lives to direct his forces, but the destruction of the Obsidian Spire and his wounding at the hands of the wizard Caden Law have reminded him that though he is immortal, he can still be hurt… or even worse, banished or bound. The Forgotten One knows, however, that there is a power above him that he cannot afford to ignore, and it is for the sake of this if for nothing else that his armies continue to ravage the High Elven homeland.

And on the horizon, poised to strike at the first opportunity, is the elusive nation of Dark Elves… waiting… always waiting…

For the unforgivable desecration of hearth and home, and for the murder of dear friends and family…

For the perceived misdeeds of dark upon light, for hatreds long simmered but rarely acted upon…

For the ancient wrongs of millennia past, almost forgotten by all but the Thaynes themselves…

The Winter of Untold Agony is over.

Now, it is the Spring of Retribution Dawning.