Last Battle
The Last Battle of the Elderwars took place over several days in the region now known as the Dark Lands. It marked the end of the Dark Elder upon the Lands and their flight from our shores.
The Conflict
Prelude
The decade of years leading up to the Last Battle were filled with fire and blood and iron. The forces of Man, led by Rhuanon and the Companions of Rhuanon, moved steadily eastward fighting against the DARK ELDER for every inch of ground. Elder fortresses were torn down, the inhuman overlords of tribes and lands pushed into retreat as the mass of Mankind organized and fought against them. East and east these dark forces were pushed out of the lands of Man.
It was only the strength and spirit of Rhuanon that convinced the forces of Man to push into the swamps of the Dark Lands in pursuit of their Enemy. Guided by Ienule's wisdom, Rhuanon knew that there would be no defeat of the Enemy without destroying them at their greatest seat of power, the Heart of Darkness. So he pushed, prodded and cajoled those amongst his Host to take the battle all the way to the Heart and there end it for all time.
The Engagement
The First Day
On the 1st Day, Mankind in all its glory swept out of the fogged and swampy lowlands to surround the Heart of Darkness in a semi-circle. Buttressed by the Eight Companions amongst them and their Blades of Wonder, the forces of Man drew themselves up against the misshapen and foul forces of the Elders. There, in serrated ranks of evil, formed up the entirety of the Dark Elder and their foul servants. Abominations of shape and conscience, pale warriors garbed in studded manflesh leather, cruel and hooked weapons of wa—all of them braying and screeching for the flesh of Mankind and the return of their dominion.
Into these odds, the radiance of the Blades led the van from all sides into the Enemy’s ranks. The dark fog and foul smells no deterrence from danger for these heroes; all of these men and women who fought against the Enemy. The entire day was the length of the battle. So bloody that just walking in the boggy undergrowth was to be soaked in the crimson of Man and the milky blue of Elderblood. Bodies fell only to be dragged beneath the morass; whether by some foul denizen or simple trampling it was not known.
On this day, Mankind was a sight to behold. The blazing Blades of Rhuanon and his Companions as they forged the way, carved the way even, through the ranks of the Elders led the way. Before them, and the massed host of Mankind behind them, the foul wretches and abominations of the Dark Elder were like wheat to a scythe.
As day, or what passed for it here beneath the miasma, fell into night the ranks of the Elderhost broke and ran to the shadow of their fortress in the gloom beyond. The ranks of Mankind, torn and bloodied, could only watch in exhaustion as the Enemy fled into the misty darkness. With the wise counsel of Naeras, Rhuanon’s warleader, a pursuit was called off as the host of Mankind was near exhaustion and yet jubilant at the day’s victory!
The Second Day
As a weak Dawn awoke on the 2nd Day, the lines of Mankind were ready and inspired by their war wages from the day before. Though depleted in numbers and tired in arm, they were strong in heart and sallied onto the battlefield as the Elderhost returned to the field. As the two sides exchanged howls and cries intended to shake hearts and weaken arms, the warlords of each side took quiet counsel to ensure that this day went the way of their cause.
The bloodshedding began in the mid-morning and it was clear that, today, the Elderhost had been reinforced to an extent that allowed their lines to hold against the inspired host of Mankind. It was in that mid-afternoon, after several hours of fighting, that the horrors wrought by the Elder made themselves known upon the battlefield. Abominations of scale and wing, of fire and soot, pale things that grasped for the life all around them. The Elderhost vomited forth a torrent of monsters that required the Companions efforts to stem at each eruption. Draigs, giants, Foul Folk and more swelled the ranks of the Elderhost; although the most reviled of all were those of Mankind that sided with their slavers.
At each appearance, one or more of the Companions would race to bolster the hearts and swords of Mankind. The battle teetered like that for some time until the late afternoon and then the tempo changed to the detriment of Man. Dark things, born of old hates and great eldritch power, strode out amongst the battle. Wielding Malice in one clawed gauntlet and Power in the other, they reaped souls aplenty amongst Mankind. Creatures of shadow and horror they were, even the Companions and their Blades were hard pressed to stem the death that was wrought by their fellblades.
In time, these Fell-Lords seized the initiative and drove fear deep into the hearts of the Men. Their ranks, even with Rhuanon and the Companions, began to falter and yesterday’s victory seemed far away. It was only through a great showing of strength and cooperation by Rhuanon and his Companions that the Fell-Lords and their minions were driven back. The slaughter had been immense and, once again, Mankind was in no shape to pursue all the way and had no heart to do so either.
As night settled, the host of Mankind shivered and sweated in terror over the day’s events. They had fled the battle but not the field and only stopped when they were safe in their encampments on the edge. Silent faces, covered in blood and ichor, looked about and noticed how few of their friends were left after the day’s slaughter.
That night, in the command tents, the scene was tense. Rhuanon and his faithful stood against the disheartened chieftains and tribal leaders that formed his host. Though he stood strong and spoke eloquently, he could not banish the dark from their minds and from their hearts. Many of them spoke for a retreat, claiming that the Enemy had been reduced to these Dark Lands. That there was no further need to pursue this conquest as they had freed their people and that the Enemy would not regain its power.
The night was dark when the council broke up amongst dissension and dismay. Rhuanon strode from the tent, alone and worried, as he sought solace to consider his response to those claiming the need to retreat. Even the words of his Companions, strong in their belief of him and the need for a full victory and destruction of the Heart, could not lighten the burden upon him.
It is said that he walked into the dark, sodden trees around them alone and was unknown to all for many hours. It is here that historical records pale in summarizing the events of the next few hours though some things are known. As is her wont, the enchantress Ienule came to him then and spoke to the wounds in his heart and his soul. She restored his confidence and his drive. And, even moreso, she returned with him to the encampment of all Mankind to hearten them.
Rising like an aurora over the tents and bedrolls, she spoke in a voice that none could deny. She spoke of the darkness that had weighed them down all these centuries and of the light that was just there… within reach. She inspired and pleaded with them. In the end, she sang a song of home and glorious future such that all slumbered and dreamt of days of light and warmth. This song continued throughout the night and blazed with such aura as to banish even the Elder ambushers that slunk through the night to ply deadly craft.
by Victor Rossi
The Last Day
On this day, the Last Day of the Last Battle, the host of Mankind awoke from a dream with a song of victory upon their lips. They smiled, they howled, they beat the rhythm of victory into the very ground that they walked forth upon to form up once again.
When the Elderhost appeared amidst the confusing mists and dark auras of their heritage, the host of Mankind was not cowed. The Fell-Lords were taken aback; the Enemy was taken aback. They had wounded the very spirit of Man on yestereve and thought to find nothing but cravenly fools on this day. Instead, they looked out at a sea of iron and determination.
The spirit of Man is, and will always be, the undoing of those who would master and enslave us. It is indomitable and unstoppable. Though it may gutter and slink into sullen embers, only the faintest of breezes may fan it once again into the weapon that cleaves all. The Enemy learned that on this day; this last Day.
The heroism and feats of war that were witnessed that day have no equal. When Asmera removed the head of a Fell-Lord with her one good hand, the toppling of a doom-tower by the charge of Myceras’ brothers upon his death; so many Heroes and so few to remember them.
This time, when the Elderhost could stand no more and fled from the field; Man did not allow them respite. The maddened cries of Rhuanon’s Host harried them all the way to the walls of the Heart and there began its destruction. An edifice of mastery and dominion that had stood for centuries was undone in a single day by the fury of Man. It is written and therefore is the Truth. Mankind was triumphant.
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