The First Land Herald/450-05-18

Article Number: 115

Dateline: 450-05-18

THE IMMORTALS STIR: THE LIBERATION OF DIRGE To increase the effectiveness of our rescue efforts, Ezerak proposed a multi-pronged strategy utilizing multiple locations for casting in order to increase sorcerous magic concentration without drawing as much attention to any single location, but hopefully still having an effect on the enemy and the encasements. He instructed us to form groups, as small and even as possible, and spread out to Dirge, Tiger Clan, Wolf Clan, and Knife Clan. "I've gathered you all here as it has become increasingly clear that sorcery appears to be the best weapon we have against the enemy, who I assume are the Heralds," he said. Sir Madigan led a response force to protect the casters and if necessary other cities or towns. I joined this group at the Knife Clan encasement. Saragos led the group at Wolf Clan, Sir Imroth led the group at Tiger Clan, and Zynell led the group at Dirge. All groups engaged in sorcerous casting for a while until Ezerak called us back to Arhat's Tower to reconvene. There was hardly any time to debrief, but none of the groups reported any results. Most of us then traveled to Shard for the vigil. ~ The Expanding Light of Dawn ~ Briaen convened a vigil at the Alcove of Berengaria in Shard's Temple of Light. After a powerful sermon honoring Berengaria, he formally inducted Nawain into the ranks of the Holy Inquisition. Nawain swore an oath of service, and Briaen asked for a moment of silence. However, Kethrai blurted out that we had to go to Dirge. Avrenka and Briaen confirmed having similar visions, and Nawain added the importance of blending mana. In the ensuing chaos, there was little time for explanation, so the following details were obtained after things had settled down: Simultaneously, several individuals received divine visions of a weakness in Dirge's encasement. Each vision revealed a vision of Dirge, showing the dried vines and brecciated rock incorporated into one side of the encasement that made for a weakness, and emphasized the importance of sharing this information with others and acting swiftly. Kethrai received a vision from Hodierna, Avrenka received a vision from Rutilor, Briaen received a vision from Berengaria, and Nawain received a vision from Enelne. The vision recipients quickly explained about the weakness in the encasement, and most of us there joined Briaen to journey to Dirge. As we departed the Temple of Light, we saw a golden beam of light pierce the sky just north of the Crossing. ~ The Battle for Dirge ~ Just as we arrived at the Dirge encasement, the golden light atop the enclosure seemed to build, and suddenly lashed out and downward, slamming against the encasement. The vine wall shuddered and slowed momentarily. Karthor, who had been tending to the vela'tohr plant in the Crossing Temple, asked if anyone else had received a visit from Kertigen a moment before, and I realized that he had also received a divine vision calling him to Dirge. An exposed section of the vine wall was suddenly raked by the golden light and faded to a dull brown as it died, falling to the ground in a thick coil, exposing a weakness in the enclosure. Seeing the weakness in the enclosure revealed, Kethrai grabbed a nearby axe, hefting it at the tangled vines. The axe landed a solid strike against the vines, cutting into them with a thunk. A voice roared "ENOUGH! You interlopers are a blight!" and I was momentarily overwhelmed with a foreign feeling of disgust. I could not recall what the voice sounded like, though it echoed all around me. Suddenly, a company of drakes slammed into the ground, and roaring in fury, began to attack. We followed Kethrai's lead, hefting axes at the vines while simultaneously fending off attacks from the drakes. The battle for Dirge was a protracted affair, marked by heavy casualties. The pristine and immaculate drakes proved to be formidable foes, decimating adventurers with their lightning attacks. We established a triage location southwest of the enclosure to treat the fallen. The Therengian and Zoluren regiments arrived early in the battle and fought bravely, trading volleys of bolts and arrows with the heraldic regiment. Despite heavy losses on both sides, their relentless attacks helped us deplete the enemy's numbers. Throughout the battle, the golden light atop the encasement seemed to react to our efforts, flaring, roaring with brilliance, and slamming against the encasement. The light burned the encasement, causing the vine wall to smolder as swaths of leaves scattered into ash and embedded stone chips and shattered. After what seemed like a long time, the desiccated vines began to shatter as large gouges were hacked throughout the length. As the hundreds of disorganized drakes still filled the valley to the southwest, the golden light raked across the area, highlighting the remaining drakes, as if marking them for divine retribution. Taking the cue, we traveled down the trade route finishing off drakes as we found them. ~ The Liberation of Dirge ~ When the final drakes were defeated, an ominous crackle ripped across the sky, and the beam of golden light atop the encasement flared, calling us back. We arrived at the encasement in time to see the golden light dim slightly, as if gathering strength, and I was left with the impression of a great force taking a deep breath in anticipation. The golden light atop the spire erupted with a blinding fury, burning the vines and shattering the stone of the encasement. The light intensified, and I threw my hands up to shield my eyes. Suddenly, I saw Them, striding forward, heads held high: a serene woman in shimmering robes that radiated like the first rays of morning, riding atop a muscular cow. A craftsman clad in tools, a raven perched upon his shoulder, scrutinizing everything. An armored soldier, his visor closed though his eyes piercing and intent, a hissing mongoose scurrying at his feet. A beautiful woman, holding a sickle in one hand, her other placed on the shoulder of a magnificent unicorn. A butterfly fluttered across the area and exploded in a golden haze. As one, they blurred, and erupted with golden light, vanishing. The encasement slowed, the vines browning and fading to ash, the malleable stone crumbling to fine sand. The golden light expanded in a radiant explosive shockwave, sweeping the encasement away and knocking me back. As the golden light faded, to the north I saw the familiar trace through the lava fields. I felt a strong hand grasp my shoulder in encouragement, and then withdraw. A voice roared, "You have learned nothing! You do not understand what it is you destroy!" and I was momentarily overwhelmed with a foreign feeling of fear. I could not recall what the voice sounded like, though it echoed all around me. ~ The Cabalists' Revenge ~ Thinking everything was clear, we headed to the Darkstone Inn in newly-freed Dirge for a round of well-deserved drinks. However, our respite was interrupted by an influx of cabalists inside the inn. We quickly discovered they were swarming the area around and outside Dirge, forcing us to engage in combat once more. Our group swiftly dispatched the errant cabalists, after which I ventured to the Arthelun Ruins to investigate the root cause of the invasion. Amidst the ruins, I found a massive charred and tattered banner with jagged lettering in the middle of the ruins. Different materials had been stitched together to form the banner, creating a patchwork of dark colors and materials. While the edges were severely singed and crumbling away, enough space remained in the center for a dire warning in dripping, white paint: "You mortals have reached beyond your station, again. You brought ruin and suffering, again. Your atrocities here and beyond will not go unpunished, again." After a grueling battle against the drakes, chopping through thick vines, and facing the enigmatic heralds, the skirmish with the cabalists was almost anticlimactic, like a minor footnote at the end of a long narrative. As the golden light faded, revealing the liberated Dirge, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of awe and wonder. The battle had been arduous, the sacrifices immense. We had succeeded in freeing Dirge, but the fight was far from over. Three clans remain encased -- Knife Clan, Wolf Clan, and Tiger Clan. Yet, in the face of such devastation, a glimmer of hope remained. We had learned how to defeat the Heralds, and what's more -- we have the gods on our side. What more could we need? Keep going, Illiya Assistant Reporter of the First Land Herald

Real Date: Unknown Date

Subject(s): Wild Magic

Author(s): Illiya