A blurb from the winter of 1618-1619

From: Jeff Richard <richaje_at_Gm5ea80Gq1A9gWMHiA7I0cNgVdJQtXGa5kzYX9fRZvoKRKvuDqGhrNSo_DC5M1Db5WFh>
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:45:22 -0000


Here's a blurb about the situation in Volsaxiland and Sartar during the winter of 1618-1619. It is from the perspective of Sartarite mercenaries in the service of High King Broyan:

"During Earth Season 1618 word came that the Crimson Bat itself was in Dragon Pass. The monstrous demon had been sent by the Emperor to help his Warlord reduce the Sartarites to slavery. Each week, the evil priests who served the demon demanded two score sacrifices. The clans and tribes in its path rounded up troublemakers, rebels, outlaws and strangers to feed the demon's terrible hunger - chiefs violated hospitality, kinsmen betrayed their kin, and men were sacrificed to appease Chaos.

The omens were bad, and the harvest was poor. Dark season was cold, but with little snow. The tribute sacrifice to Valind was rejected, surprising many of the priests, who had to perform exceptional sacrifices. A number of ceremonies during Dark season were disrupted by unexpected occurrences.

News came that the monstrous Crimson Bat had been sent into the Dundealos Valley to feast upon the enslaved survivors of the Dundealos tribe. With slow beats of its monstrous wings, the awful screams of the terrible Steed of Shepelkirt caused the bravest men to turn coward. The glow of the Bat could be seen at night and the monster had a dozen tongues, its mouth a hundred tentacles, and it had a thousand eyes that could see any form of being. No feat or talent affected the Bat or its twisted priests.

In Whitewall, arrogant emissaries from the Red Emperor demanded to address High King Broyan. The leader - a haughty Dara Happan named Muhardavu - rejected the High King's hospitality and refused to bring a herald. Instead, Muhardavu rudely presented King Broyan with an ultimatum: present tokens of the elements of "earth, darkness, water, fire and air," along with tribute and loyalty and submit to the Emperor's rule, or face the wrath of Warlord Fazzur. The High King reacted with rage and threw the emissaries off the wall, saying that during his fall the emissaries could gather all the tokens that the Emperor sought.

After wiping out the Dundealos, the Lunars moved in foreign settlers, and decreed a new tribe of Lunar-worshippers, the Enstalos. Former Dundealos slaves built a stone fort and shrines to foreign gods.

Word came that Warlord Fazzur had built two great camps for his army - one outside of Wilmskirk and the other at Duck Point. Countless soldiers from all throughout the Emperor's domain were gathering there. Warlord Fazzur demanded that the tribes of Sartar increase their tribute to support the two armies that were assembling. Lunar soldiers placed a toll at Roadend and Lunar patrols of horsemen and rangers were often seen in Volsaxing lands, although they would flee from our warbands if spotted.

More refugees from Sartar came into Heortland seeking freedom from the Lunar oppression.

In Stasis week of Fire Season, a panicked rider arrived from Whitewall carrying a black arrow. A column had been spotted marching across the Crossline at Hallfort. It was said to be more than a mile long - and with more men that followed Rikard the Adventurer. Worse yet, another even greater column had passed the Centaur Cross and was marching south into the Dreven Vale. King Broyan was calling upon every chieftain and warrior who was willing to die for the freedom of the Hendrikings to join him at Whitewall immediately. The Lunar Empire was bringing its armies to enslave the Hendrikings."            

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