Kattra Quando - Assault on Bezil Kug

44 Harvest, 449 T.A.

The Haven contingent, along with our Tayledras escort, arrived at the advance camp around mid-afternoon. It was a series of orderly tents with picket lines on either end. At a guess, I would have put the number at around 300 souls. How could so many be needed to take out this Bezil Kug? Supposedly the Tayledras are shielding us from being scryed upon. I hope that they are right.

The reports said that he had found a source of magical power and had been raising the dead, but the Tayledras have been vague as usual in giving any details. At least they are more forthcoming with their battle plans.

As it seems we were the last group to arrive, after dinner a runner came with a message inviting a few of us to a briefing. See the minutes I’ve included for details. It was a surprising array of individuals who gathered for that meeting. It was the first time I have ever seen one of the Swordsworn for example, and yet here were four of them. Two dressed in black and two in white, so alike I would be hard pressed to say which were Tayledras and which Shin'a'in if not for the hair color. I'm told that those in black are sworn to Kal'enel and those in white serve Dar’rael. I shall have to find a way to speak to one of them. I do not believe there have been more than a handful of encounters in our records… all of them brief.

Anyway, back to the problem at hand. It seems Bezil has been rearranging the ley lines and creating a pool of mage energy that he is using to corrupt the land. The good news is that there is nothing living left with the dark fortress except Bezil himself. The bad news is that our forces will be facing an army of undead and quite a few fiends.

The primary assault will be in 2 days time. The plan is fascinating in its simplicity… and some might say brutality. The keep is in a small pocket valley with a narrow mouth and steep walls. The pool of magic (the mages kept referring to it as a node) is underground at the center. All the soldiers are being asked to do is keep the monsters penned into the valley. The clerics and the mages have a plan that will "purify the land and the magic of any taint as well as taking care of the Undead and Bezil as well." As you can see from the minutes I pressed for more information, but those elves are quite good at giving an answer that is both factual and tells you nothing.

I spent the rest of the evening wandering among the various campfires listening to the rumors and gauging the mood of the camp. For the most part the mood is somber, but confident. Most of the Haven troops are a little uncomfortable with all the magic, but the Wexwood folks are more used to it, having worked with the Tayledras before. That it will be both wizards and clerics is also reassuring.

Otherwise listening at the fires proved of limited use. I was able to confirm most of what we had already learned. This alchemist or wizard has been raiding the hills, capturing every person he could find. In the last fortnight alone, he has emptied two entire towns! No one is quite sure what he is doing with them, but clearly he is making more undead with at least some of the captives. I overheard one Tayledras scout saying that Bezil was torturing and killing them to raise magical power for himself. Truly no one could be that depraved? Could they?

45 Harvest, 449 T.A.

Blessed Walker, I will have nightmares for weeks. This Bezil Rug is a monster! At the morning briefing a couple of the Tayledras mages shared memories of flights over the fortress. It was a most unsettling feeling having someone’s mind suddenly invade my own. And what I saw...if I could scrub my mind clean of those images. I now understand what that scout meant and why this has drawn the attention of the gods. He has piles of bones in almost every courtyard and on the top of every tower. Banners made from human skin hung from the battlements with his sigil (An upside-down ziggurat of three steps surrounded by a ring of fire) drawn in something dark red/brown.

Even the land is hurting. We may be at the end of Harvest right now, but the plant life around that keep was blighted and rotting on the hills. The barren soil had turned a grayish color. I don’t believe there is a single thing left alive within that valley. The taint has started to spread into the surrounding hills. The mages assured us that everything outside of the valley was salvageable and that this was no worse than the damage caused by the War of the Mad.

As the meeting broke up, I managed (with careful planning beforehand) to leave the tent at the same time as one of the Sworn, in black leathers, with the long black hair and strong aquiline nose of their people. As we stepped outside, I quickly spoke up and asked for a few minutes of their time. They gave a curt nod and we moved over to one of the tables outside the mess tent.

I started to introduce myself, “I’m Kattra, Kattra Quando. I’m a ….”

“A Wayfinder,” interrupted the Shin’a’in. “Yes, I know. I recognize the ring and amulet. My name is Josh'en Liha’irden.”

With a wan smile I tried again, “Oh, well in that case can I ask you a few questions?”

“I assumed that was what you wanted. Your kind always do,” said Josh'en, with a smile and a bit of a laugh that seemed to soften her a bit. “But be warned, there are some things I am oathbound not to say to Outlanders. I know of your Ban and I would hate for something to come between us before tomorrow’s battle.”

Brightening a bit, I started with something safe, “You wear black, I’m told that means you are sworn to your goddess, Kal’enel. Is that correct?”

Josh'en laughed again, “You are correct, I am bound to the Star-Eyed in her face as Warrior.. My sibs in white are similarly bound to Dar’rael in his aspect of the Guardian.” With a third little laugh she added, “good research skills.”

Phrasing my question carefully, I asked, “What can you tell me about being Swordsworn?”

Josh'en stopped to think for a few moments before replying, “I can tell you three things.

First, our gods have forbidden us to war within the clans, but occasionally something may happen to someone, a tragedy or wrong that must be avenged, be it among clans members or Outlanders.

Second, when that happens we can petition Kal’enel or Dar’rael to take us into their service. But They must accept you and that is not something that can be faked in the presence of the DrumRiders.

Third, if you are accepted you are usually given aid, both material and divine, to complete your quest. Assuming you survive it, you become the Hands and Swords of the gods. Often that means finding your own way in the world, helping where you can. But sometimes you are tasked with a specific job”

As Josh'en finished the last of that speech she stood up. “Speaking of which, I am needed on the practice field. As the cousins say, Zhai’helleva.” and with that they strode off purposefully for the other side of camp. I had wanted to ask more questions, but perhaps I can approach them after the battle tomorrow. 

Speaking of the battle, I have cast a chart for tomorrow [see Chart 449645] and I must say it looks fortuitous. Tellus is invigorated by it’s time in Tyto, but is also being prodded by Ingiuc to move into action. Rilar is moving out of Ropho and will join Tellus in Tyto which should amplify both. Olrade has turned stationary and will be moving out of it’s humbled state and beginning to rebuild as it moves into Hes. Maenn on the other hand has only recently reached Ceak and the upcoming battle will certainly throw things into chaos regardless of tomorrow’s victor. May all the gods protect us.

1 Sov'van, 449 T.A.

Rousing roughly three hours before dawn, the main force headed to block off the entrance to the valley. Meanwhile a smaller force, made up of the commanders, those who would be casting this great spell, and an impressive number of elven scouts gathered near a small grove of large trees. I must admit I was curious about this, the Tayledras were unclear on how we were all going to get into position on the heights.

As we approached the grove most of the company split into five groups. Four of the groups were significantly larger, consisting of one Swordsworn, six mages and clerics, and eighteen scouts...all Tayledras or Shin’a’in. The fifth group included the commanders and their staff as well as the observers like myself. Of course the elves moved into place with practiced precision, leaving the few of us non-elves to stand looking around looking confused until we were gathered up into the command group.

Each squad lined up in front of one of the trees. All that we were told was to run when it was time...whatever that means. In unison five of the elvish mages stepped forward and did something. It looked almost like the tree was ripping open in layers, but at the center was another rocky landscape....they created a portal in the tree!

As it opened, a voice suddenly called out “Run!” and everyone started jumping through the tree. I must admit to stumbling a bit as we started moving forward, but when it was my turn I jumped without hesitation. It was a bizarre sensation; a flash of greenish-white light and the smell of pine sap and I stepped out onto a shelf about three-quarters of the way up the largest hill overlooking the entire valley with a good view of the entrance as well.

After we had all settled into position, two more mages stepped closer to the edge and did something. There was a bit of chanting and some hand waving and suddenly the view of the valley gained clearer focus until I could almost make out faces.

We watched as the four groups of elves spread out around the rim, taking up positions at various points with one primary participant and the rest spread out to protect them. One of the clerics, a youngish looking male with long black hair braided into three tails, dressed in colors of reds and yellows took station in the east. The two Swordsworn in white took up places in the northeast and southeast.

Another cleric, this one clearly an older woman with white hair in a long braid down her back, dressed in greens and blues claimed the west. The two Hands in black took up station on either side, mirroring their counterparts.

In the north and south were two of the Tayledras mages, both with long white hair braided with feathers and small stones. One was dressed in shades of yellows and greens and had a peregrine falcon on their shoulder, while the other flew a giant raven and was dressed in red and blue.

As all the parties took their positions, I quickly looked over towards the valley mouth, but it seemed the force gathered just outside hadn’t been noticed yet. Everything was quiet, even the forces of evil gathered in the valley had not begun stirring.

Distracted by looking over the scene I missed the two clerics stepping forward and striking their drums in unison. I couldn’t have missed the sound however, it rolled over the valley like a thunderclap. As if called, the sun crested the eastern horizon as the beat died away, tho it was quickly replaced as both clerics began beating a simple 4-2-4-2 rhythm on their drums...at a more reasonable volume, tho still audible from our vantage point.

This beat was quickly picked up by the other clerics spread around the rim of the valley. As the drum beat began echoing through the valley, the four Swordsworn all drew a blade and then began dancing! I have no other word to describe it; all four moved in harmony, their bodies flowing like water, the swords an extension of their arms, feet sure as they moved through a series of complicated steps.

The mages for their part looked like they had begun chanting, but were otherwise still. The valley on the other hand was now boiling with activity. Zombies and skeletons were moving to take up positions as, what I can only describe as beasts twisted into monstrosities, dashed around howling and snapping. Luckily, it appeared as if none of them could climb. They were now trying to get out the valley mouth to move up into the hills, but that narrow, defensible opening is now working to the foes disadvantage.

This went on for about 10 minutes or so as the sun began to climb up into the sky until the two lead clerics changed their drumbeat to a simple heartbeat rhythm. At that que, the Sworn ones all cut their hands on their blades, smearing the blood along the weapon. Almost instantly however the blood on the swords burst into flames! For the servants of Dar’rael in the east, the fire looked like mostly normal fire, mostly bright yellow with hints of reds, oranges, and the occasional blues. The swords of those bound to Kal’enel on the other hand burned with the silver/white light of the distant stars shot through with light greens and blues. As the fires spread to envelope the blades, each of the Swordsworn pulled a second blade. Touching it to their first blades, each of them continued their dance, now with two flaming swords trailing fire through the air around them.

As I watched I could actually SEE energies of the same colors coalesce around each of the warriors to first envelope them and then begin to spread out to each side of the circle. The same light had taken shape around the clerics and as the various energies mixed the light brightened and grew.

Oddly enough, the light didn’t seem to touch either mage. They stood as an invisible wall between the two halves of the circle. Their chanting seemed to have increased and they were waving their hands before them making arcane signs of some nature. There also seemed to be some kind of shimmer over the keep and the valley below.

As the energies of both halves increased, the clerics once again changed their drumbeat. Now it was a single beat by the cleric of Dar’rael followed by a response from Kal’enel’s priest, repeated, while all the other clerics scattered around continued the original 4-2 beat.

As they did so the mages threw their arms out to the sides and began channeling the energies of both sides into the other. The mage in the north was moving the silver/white energy in the flames, while the one in the south did the reverse. This set up almost a current to the energies captured by that circle as it flowed around and around gathering speed.

The beats of the clerics started to speed up as well, until the sound was echoing back and forth and it was impossible to tell which side it had come from. The circle of light grew and brightened until I had to squint to look at it.

The beats of the drums came faster and faster, until I thought I saw two figures step out of the ring of light and fall into the valley below. I say I thought I saw that because at that moment one of the Tayledras pulled me down and pushed my head into the dirt.

In retrospect, it was probably a good thing because in that moment the valley erupted into a pillar of flame, or so I was told when I got back to camp. I certainly felt the heat on my back and heard the roar of the fire…..it was indescribable, but it almost sounded alive!

After what felt like a lifetime, but was probably more like a minute or two the roar of the fire ceased and all that could be heard was the creaking of stone as it started to suddenly cool in the fall morning air. Finally my elven hero let me up and I sat up a bit dazedly to look around.

It seemed that all of the non-elves had been pulled down by someone and were slowly getting to their feet. The mages had dropped their focus spell, but as I looked down I could already tell that there was nothing left in that valley but bare rock, not even the stones of the keep still stood. Never have I seen destruction on that scale. May the Walker grant that I never do again.

We made our way back to camp and being only an hour or so after dawn I went to take a nap. Most of the rest of the camp seemed to do the same. Upon awakening I found a message that we would have an initial debrief at noon. Coming out of my tent, I saw the sun was already almost at its zenith and so I hurried to the meeting tent.

Arriving, I saw that only about half of the group had assembled and that the Tayledras had provided a buffet Gathering a plate of food pretending to be pieces of art I made my way to the table. Listening to the gossip around me I learned that a lot of the Cites militia are in shock at what had transpired. I also learned that although there were some injuries, there had been no casualties. One fool had burned his eyes out when he tried to look at the pillar of flame.

The meeting stated and the elves attempted to explain what happened. When you stripped off all the flowery language it was, “we asked the gods for help and they answered.”

One of the Wexwood captains who had been up on the bluff asked about the two figures who had seemed to have fallen. Several others also spoke up as having seen the same.

The response was direct and a little shocking, “That was the cost of the divine aid. The clerics knew the price and went willingly to end this monster. We will not allow another Kelvern to rise in power .”

With that we moved into what came next. First, the Tayledras asked for the militias to stay for another week or so and help them scour the hills for any undead creature that may have escaped the cleansing fire. And second, they warned that this wrecking may have caused disturbances in the weather in the surrounding areas and that it would take half a season or so before it would settle down again.

After the meeting I went looking for Josh'en, but they were nowhere to be found. Asking around I learned that all four had survived, but were exhausted and were presently resting in their tent.

The rest of the day/evening I spent meandering through the camp listening to conversation. Most were glad to have gotten through the fight so lightly. Word of the sacrifice had gotten out and most of the soldiers seemed to honor and respect that. I heard more than a few toasts to their names as the beer flowed around the campfires.

Type

Journal, Personal

Authoring Date

44 Harvest 449 A