Recent Battles and Rumors

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Reports flow into various towns along the roads of the battles that have taken place in the valley. Word varies from one to the next, but most seem to corroborate with one another on the basic facts.

First, Avanthyr met with Sestran patrols in the southern portions of the valley. Despite the skill of its vanguard, its troops were defeated in battle by the Commander Tehk's forces. Clad in golden armor, he left the Avanthyr heroes by the wayside and returned to his garrison victorious. Avanthyr has taken a hard look at its ground forces, and is now currently doubling the training regimen for its scant militia. Its navy has also been practicing war games on the open ocean, while hunting down Luskan pirates.



However, farther north the Legion forces were on guard. Their Myrios reportedly led her troops to victory against the Black Hand, but at a terrible cost: the fields of the battleground were set aflame. While not a large portion of the food that does make it into the City, it was still a heavy morale blow, only lessened by the victory of the Legion forces which many have considered inept and useless since the Second Sundering. Rumor has it that there is research being conducted in the City for a type of ancient granary, common during the Age of Netheril.



Whatever the truth of these rumors, the valley seems to be spurring itself into action once more after the Second Sundering.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

A March

Rumor has it that the Blackwood have been gathering at Mirakus Post. They further state that the warriors and mercenaries have been gathering resources enough for a siege, much less a battle. Despite the trouble on the roads, they have managed to make it to Mirakus in one piece.




That being said, some of the Exigo Sentinels have spoken of the cold ruthlessness of the Blackwood in their mission. Forgoing any semblance of morality, some say that the group led by Lord van Hellstrom abandoned a squad of Helmite prisoners to Bloodmaim torture and death.



Some even whisper that they've allied with the Black Hand, as they passed unharmed through a destroyed village with the Black Fist waving in the smoke filled air. However, that's likely just embellishment of an already astounding set of rumors.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Word spreads across the valley of a battle at Mirakus Post. The site of some truly horrific conflicts in the past, the Post saw the clashing of its current occupants, the Blackwood and Exigo forces, against the forefront tribesmen of their Aurilite foes. The brilliant tactician and commander of the Blackwood, Bryun van Hellstrom, led his forces to victory through good planning, and insight into his enemy.

What was most disturbing, however, was the presence of the undead at the back of the Aurilite forces. Nightwalkers, young vampires, and several undead champions of Bane were present at the fight and quickly turned the flow of the battle. The Blackwood's numbers dropped dramatically, and things looked grim.



When all else failed, Commander Byrun's insight into the nature of his enemy served him well. He gathered his forces at the gate where the enemy would likely show, intent on wiping him and his soldiers from the face of Faerun. With a rousing (some say depressing beyond all words) speech by the Guild Elite Kyle Rendell in their ears, the Blackwood turned their blades on the surprised Banite and Aurilite forces and culled them like the weak dogs that they were.

The Blackwood lick their wounds, but gather their siege engines and golems for the march upon Aquor. Which, in turn has begun fortifying its own borders for the evental clash of forces.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Battle of the Northern Gates

Battle raged, and men fell.

The Blackwood Company tested its mettle against the forces of the Ice Goddess, Auril yesterday. Their troops pushed upwards towards the gates of Aquor, siege engines in tow. Blocked by walls of ice, the Blackwood used their mechanically gifted might to shatter each wall while being pelted from above by Aurilite warriors and Ice Giants from the far reaches of the Spine.



Finally, breaking through the front lines, the Blackwood broke into the town with swords drawn and war horns blasting. The battle raged for the better part of a day, with lines clashing against one another in waves of enemies. From the north, the deep war calls of the Whurest dwarves resounded through the hills as Thane Eriak Bristlebeard joined the battle with his Hold. None could stand against the might of the dwarven king, until he reached the town proper and the battle raging there.

Tragedy struck, and Moradin wept.

An ice giant struck Thane Bristlebeard, crushing his armor and sending him off to the side of the battlefield. His dwarven warriors, not realizing the true damage at the time, struck back at the giants and Aurilites, killing them all in a haze of bloody frenzy. But it was too late. Eriak Bristlebeard, Father of Whurest Hold, fell in the Battle at the Northern Gates.



The Blackwood and the Whurest Hold gathered around the fallen king to pay their respects for one of the greatest dwarven leaders this side of Mithril Hall.

But before the Blackwood could claim the town, or the Whurest Hold mourn for its lost king, scouts reported movement north and south of the town. The Black Hand had fled the battle at the beginning, only to appear now in a pincher movement around the town. Undead swept downwards towards the battle-ridden town, and up through the passes that the Blackwood had cleared itself.

It was a trap that the Blackwood were woefully unprepared for, and unable to fight against. They fled, leaving the town in the Black Hand's grasp. Cursing bitterly, the remainder of the Blackwood forces moved into the hills, living to fight another day.