Battle of Angrath: Antebellum

The sickly-sweet stench accompanying the rites of the Barma-speakers hangs as a palpable miasma in the air all over Angrath. The Barma-speakers have been performing their rites daily now for the last month, though with much less blood and flesh to give to their voracious draconic patron. Lord Factor Haldarin Bal has opened much of his coffers to save vagrants and ne'er-do-wells that are later discovered to be old war heroes, veterans of various battles against the Bloody Hand across Grakis and the rest of the world. These he seems to have taken under his personal command. It is said, though, that despite this, many of them still can be seen drinking in a tavern in lower Angrath called the Frothing Otter, where a mysterious maiden rumored to have the hands of a healer can often be seen serving them. An old ghost of lower Angrath's past, a brigand and a ruffian, one Tirrik Blackshield, is also rumored to own the Otter, but no guard dares venture into the Otter to chase ghosts with the Bloody Hand pressing so close.
Public gatherings in the city have been banned except under strict military command or the watch of the Dragonspeakers. No one walks the streets for fear of being seen by the guards...except for Bal's Irregulars (as they have named themselves). Lord Factor Bal has made it clear that his men are there to help keep the peace in lower Angrath, which, to their credit, they do. They can be seen on the streets giving food - from Lord Bal's stores - to the starving poor of lower Angrath, winning the favor of these desperate people. Upon Lord Bal's orders, the refugees languishing at Angrath's gates are moved inside. Those who can fight are immediately recruited into the ranks of the army, while others - the old, the young, and the infirm - are taken to an old, abandoned warehouse in lower Angrath said to be haunted. Ser Eagan of the Ebon Thorn has taken charge of protecting these folk and providing for them.
There have been no traders from the village of Willowweep in several months, some merchants realize. It is a small village of little consequence, a de facto district of Angrath, paid little attention or notice.
While the Ebon Thorn presents a strong outer face, there has been some inner turmoil over the return of the Knight-Commander, who was gone for several days. Some of the other Knights believe, for some reason, that he is an imposter; it is only after many tests that they accept the man as their leader once more. He can be heard muttering about a woman named 'Lady Ferren' in private chambers.
The Wispbane, the order of rangers protecting the roads, have been overwhelmed by the refugees along the road to Angrath. Never many in number, they struggle to keep the horrors of the Fens from finding easy prey upon the road. Refugees who have survived the journey say that the Fens have become malevolent and the rangers, without further support from the Crown, will be overwhelmed and unable to protect the roads. He also speaks of a nightmare creature he calls Dragoneater - a monster shaped like a man that devours the hearts of Dragonspeakers.

Conflict Type

War, Theatre