The Reavers Attack

See Also: Bardic Knowledge

As the first rays of the sun reach the city several thousand Reavers mount their first probing attack against the east wall. Nearly simultaneously a large quadrupedal demon with six-arms standing over 15 meters tall rises from the forests north of Bornheim. A whip in its right hand snaps into the ground as dozens of demons charge the north gate. It is a desperate battle with no retreat or surrender. By mid-day the last of both the Reavers and demons are killed, leaving hundreds of the defenders dead as well.

Xarth, Brizanthimus, and Gia Sojourner were all on the east wall facing the Reavers. Even after facing such threats some people still find time to argue. Xarth goes over and stops a “disagreement” between Mirwen and Merrick Stonearm before it escalates to drawn blades. Both antagonists leave, neither of them happy with the outcome or Xarth's interference.

Briz and Xarth decide to speak with the Guardians of Order about the Bloodstaff. Their absence on the wall was noticeable, so this is a good excuse to find out about that as well. When they reach the Grand Cathedral of The Light nobody is walking around the holy grounds. They eventually get the attention of a priest inside the cathedral and he explains that the Guardians have been placed under arrest following their corruption. Some of them have fallen under the influence of Danshi, killed a priest, and set fire to the archives.

Briz pulls together a wisp of magic and summons an illusionary writ from the Lord Marshall so they can speak with the Guardians. The soldiers have fortified the building in the event they need to defend it - without ever mentioning against whom. They learn from Father Rothbard that the Bloodstaff is an elven artifact said to have forged during an unspeakable sin. He suggests they speak to the elves.

Before they leave Alanna asks if they would help them. They are not a religious order, but stayed as guests of the Temple of Light. If the Lord Marshal requests it they can serve under his banner for the duration of the war against the Reavers. Right now it is unlike the church will release them otherwise until the walls have been breached. Briz agrees to speak with the Baron.

Belenus reaches Kernwerk. He does found the town unharmed. Even the demonic dogs hounding his trail turn around when they get near. He goes to speak with Yswa, who is meditating outside of the great donjon. The stone carver is sitting in front of a pit of coals genuflecting before the building. Belenus tells him of his plan to widen the tunnels under the city allowing the people to escape. Yswa agrees to send Roza, she can make a large enough space to move one-thousand people through the earth. It will be slow, but should be safe. Belenus will have to select the people himself, he will not ask Roza to make that decision.

Belenus speaks with him about the keep. Yswa explains that every stone in this village is from the mountain. He people were being killed by Daughters of Ice and Wind. In his anger he took the stones of the great elemental of the mountains and tried to force it to serve him - to kill his enemies. Instead Horenski the Winter Witch locked the elemental behind a barrier of ice and wind. Mortal flesh can enter, but the elemental can never touch stone. It is trapped forever.

Belenus agrees to go inside to speak with it, to beseech any aid it can offer. Yswa will pray his last rights.

Gia is determined to speak with Gwyndolen and hopefully end her. She convinces the guards to let her out the River Gate. Unfortunately the Reavers notice the activity and attack. The attack is repulsed, but the gate is jammed and cannot be moved. Gia does manage to slip away during the attack and makes her way along the banks of the Zaber River.

On her way along the riverbank she saw dozens of concealed campfires along the ridge to the south. She is finally forced to stop, her body wet and cold. Several of the nearby Reavers must have seen the fire, but none of them took notice of her. She made her way to their supply train, hiding among the wagons and livestock. After a brief respite she picks up a sack of vegetables and heads into the encampment.

The camp is laid our haphazardly, but with clearly defined borders that snake their way through. Like all camps the men and women fight for position and blood stains the churned earth. Bodies are left where they fall, torn apart by the dogs. Near the center of the camp is a wooden palisade surrounded by two rings of sharpened stakes. A single rope bridge allows the Reavers to cross over into the yard inside.

Gia crosses over the bridge, seeing a dozen Reavers inside about their tasks. There is a large tent, a pair of lean-tos, and a horse nearly identical to Xarth's Nightmare. As soon as she sets foot on the ground inside the yard, all of the Reavers stop what they were doing and look directly at her. As she moves, they move with her - steadily getting closer. She considers crossing back over the bridge, but it is blocked by a Reaver that came behind her. She moves aside and the Reaver goes about his task of filling the horse's trough with water.

Before she can leave the yard a man wrapped in fur cloaks with skin as deep as bronze comes out of the tent. His name is Tazeed and he serves as Vizier of Sultan Abob Hakim. The stars have charted this war for many lifetimes and he has come to bear witness for his Sultan. He invites her into the tent, which has the effect to sending the Reavers back to their previous tasks. Inside the tent are two very large mastiff gnawing on a bone.

Gwyndolen comes out from behind a tapestry that divides the tent. She looks stunningly beautiful yet unkempt. Gia asks to see the Bloodstaff and cuts her thumb as an offering. Gwyndolen scoffs as such a paltry offering and tries to dominate the old woman with sheer will alone. Gia struggles to defy the stronger mind, but in the end stumbles conceding the fight. Gwyndolen summons the Bloodstaff her her hand, which bends as if living and issues a proclamation.

Peacemaker, Field of Battle, Drenched in Blood. Warrior, Doomed to Die in Battle. Sin of the Past that cannot be forgiven. Bedecked in the city's gold. Faith-healer who speak in honeyed lies. Forgotten child, song of sorrow upon his lips Gwyndolen, Blood Priestess of Danshi

Gia leaves the encampment unmolested by the Reavers as she passes through them. The guards of the east gate are incredulous that she survived and quickly get her inside the city before she catches her death in the cold.

Xarth goes to speak with Inquisitor Valten Scholz about finding a path forward for both of them. Valten is not ready to confront the heresy committed by Xarth and his companions - or even his own sins. Their conversation becomes more animated and louder, eventually leading to a shouting match outside of the cells. Xarth feels that he finally roused enough anger in Valten that he will more forward. Unfortunately Inquisitor Valten has Xarth banished from temple grounds forever.

Briz speaks with the Lord Marshall's seneschal about a writ to put the Guardians of Order under his personal retinue for the duration of this war. Once done he goes to the Elven Quarter to seek out out answers. He finds the same elf that helped him and Fidget. They exchange information about the cursed gladius and the Bloodstaff. Briz can banish the staff from this realm if an innocent person willing gives their soul - it can be unmade if Briz, and those pledged to him, sacrifice ten thousands lives.

The elf also warned Briz about Oswald and the damage he will cause in the city. The Karashites consider this city their holy land. The growing interference by the Temple of Light has led to animosity. The Karashites will see the anointing of Oswald as a sign from Karash to sweep the heretics from this city. With so many defenders on the wall retribution will be knives in the dark. If he should kill Lady Hapsteng the results will be catastrophic.

Belenus reaches the ancient elemental at the center of the donjon. He asks for a boon should he free it from its prison. As his word and bond of his true intentions he offers up his swords. The elemental returns to him two living obsidian blades engraved with Word and Bond.