As the siege progressed, King Broyan scrupulously performed the rites, ceremonies and sacrifices of the Orlanthi religion and his priests could not find any fault or error in his deeds. He often consulted the many holy folk present at Whitewall as to how best please the Orlanthi gods and gain their aid in the defense of Whitewall.
Below the cliffs of Whitewall, the Lunars had constructed camps and erected a wooden wall around three sides of Ililbervor. The western side, which steeply abutted the Gavren River, had no walls or Lunar scouts.
Dorasa the Cat was stung by Brenna's words, and found several ways out. There was obviously the winds. Dorasa found a path that a brave and nimble person could climb down to the western cliffs to the Gavren River without being seen by the Lunar camp below.
The King held a council to come up with a strategy to harass the Lunars besieging the great fortress. Korlmhy Lightning Ram compared this siege to the Sacred Immolation of Rastalulf and the Battle of the Verge, and warned that all the defenders - including King Broyan - must be prepared to die to defend the freedom of the Orlanthi. Manabrar the Ram scoffed at this, pointing out that the Lunars could not take the fort. "They cannot bring their engines up to the wall and none can best the Orlanthi fighting in the Middle Air." He felt that it was unlikely that the Lunars would send the Bat against Whitewall since that great demon was as dangerous to the Lunars as it was to the Orlanthi.
King Broyan told his councilors that if this was to be another Immolation, then he wanted no man or woman with him, unless they freely chose to be there with him. The King said that there would be no surrender.
When asked by the King for his opinion, Herger Warbringer said that rallying the warriors and bands that had hid in the wilds of Sen Senrenen to attack Lunar foragers and food wagons would be the most effective way to harass the Lunars. Herger told the King that Kallyr Starbrow would be the logical choice to lead from outside of Whitewall. Kallyr protested and said that she had come with her Sartarite supporters to defend Whitewall. The King told her that this was not the Sartar High Council and that he would listen his councilors, not be ruled by them. When Kallyr apologized, the King told her that she had nothing to apologize for. He told those present that he expected that all of his councilors should speak their minds without worrying about diplomatic niceties. However, since he was the Last King of the Orlanthi, everyone must agree to accept his leadership or leave the city. Even Brenna agreed. King Broyan then said that Kallyr was best suited to rally support outside of Whitewall and encouraged her to pick Herger as her spearthane, but she chose Orngerin Thundercape.
Kallyr and her supporters conducted many quick raids against the Lunars and their allies. When the first snows fell, Kallyr returned to Whitewall.
The night of the first full moon after the first winter snows, Brenna saw two columns of Lunar soldiers coming up both roads to Whitewall. The Bronze Shields, fearsome hoplites from Pelanda, supported by Sartarite mercenaries were coming up the switchback. The Granite Phalanx was moving up across the pasture, preceded by 100 Shadzorings wearing their demon masks, and accompanied by their drummers and howlers. They were supported by the Drenthi Grims and others. Not only was the moon full, there were weird clouds in the sky. And Brenna made out five Shadzoring Hell Captains, riding fiery rocks that had been hurled down from the Red Planet and screaming down straight for us.
Herger called on the Arming of Orlanth that Korlmhy had prepared, and met the Shadzoring Champion on the Other Side. The very proximity of an avatar of the demon Jagrekriand was making pits in the walls of Whitewall. Herger invoked his great ancestor Umak Redshot who called upon Orlanth to strike Jagrekriand hard at Red Peak Battle, and the Shadzoring missed Herger and crashed into the wall in a gout of flame. Brenna leaned precariously out over the wall to stab a Hell Captain. Nisk also called upon the sacrifice of Umak Redshot and flew into the air to strike down a Hell Captain.
Korlmhy called upon the restless souls of the Vostangi to aid him against their ancient enemy. Brenna called on the ancestors, and struck down her foe, thrusting through his shoulder with Red-Painter. Like an avenging Thunder Brother, Nisk flew over to another Hell Captain and caught him by surprise, striking him down. Then both of them rushed to help Herger fight Jagrekriand. Together they overwhelmed Jagrekriand. However, Brenna was taken aback when the Star Captains revealed their demonic inner spirits and continued to fight from the Underworld.
Then Korlmhy called upon his ancestor's sacrifice to Orlanth to guide the army against the Hellmen of Alkoth. Jagrekriand avoided Herger's attempted death strike and rose back up. Dorasa tried to distract the demons, but her opponent was far more fearsome than she had expected. As Herger took on Jagrekriand, Brenna slipped around and thrust through his belly with Red-Painter. This released his demon form. Herger tried to blast it with lightning, but Jagrekriand showed that he was a master of lightning as well!
Brenna led the Lightning Rams against the Hellmen, but the Shadzorings were now led by a demon, and rallied. But Brenna was relentless. She rushed to the front of the army and led it to crush the Shadzorings against the Granite Phalanx behind them. At the same time, Korlmhy called on Orlanth's fury, and smashed the great demon.
After their defeat in front of the gates of Whitewall, the Lunar assault forces retreated; many units fled in disarray. It was clear that it would be some while before they would trouble us again.
We had defeated the best heroes that Alkoth could muster against us! The other gate held as well: we had defeated a force ten times our size! King Broyan offered thanks and made splendid sacrifices to the gods. However, our victory did not come cheaply. We had lost lost almost half of the Lightning Rams, and many of the Humakti met final death.
After making sacrifices to the gods in thanks for our victory, the King addressed the gathered defenders. He told the defenders that all that would stay and defend Whitewall must swear to follow him into Hell. Those who could not make such an oath must leave Whitewall, without rancor and disappointment from the King. Korlmhy and Nisk immediately swore upon all the gods to follow King Broyan into Hell if that is where this battle must lead. Brenna was unwilling to die before her child was born. King Broyan gave rich gifts to anyone who left and said that gold and silver would be useless for those who remained. The King also ordered several key leaders, including Kallyr and Leika, to leave Whitewall until he summoned them back. Few defenders remained in Whitewall - only those who were willing to follow King Broyan into Hell.
In Truth Week of Dark Season, a red glow was seen on the horizon. All knew what that distant glow must be: the Crimson Bat, the Destroyer of Runegate, the Demon Steed of Shepelkirt. Our certain doom.
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