[HQ Ignorance] Scene 60: The Angel of Mourning

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene 60: The Angel of Mourning

As dawn broke across the battered cityscape of
Seguarane, the silence was deafening compared to the
cacophony of the night. There were only the cries of
the wounded and dying, or that of their relatives and
the cawing of crows who had already began to feast
upon the eyes of the dead.

In the dungeons the Vampires and their ghostly allies
sought had confusion among the people of Seguarane
through their possessions. Anzhur and Jareena brought
the people together in prayer and peace against the
vengeful essences. It was not an easy task, as many
were motivated by more than just the summong and
control of the vampires. Whilst many did fall to
possession, eventually the solidarity and faith the
people (who cried to whatever God or heresy that was
on offer) provided the protection that they so dearly
needed. 

When it was clear to the Vampires that the night was
lost they fled to the surface,  where they were set
upon, not only by Dwarven crossbowmen, but also by
Karala who released fire spirits against them.  A
carnage of a different sort had occurred there. The
horde of mindless undead and the mercenaries had been
largely destroyed by the Dwarves, still in the
unbending military formation, and the savage Telmori
and their brothers who had given chase to the Beastmen
and were now absent from the grounds.

Overlooking the battlefield, Anzhur felt the gentle
hand of Marianne upon his own, although there was not
much joy in this moment. An observer called from the
battlements that three score armoured knights
approached, bearing the banners of the Barony of
Gilboch and that of the Kingdom of Seshnela. Marianne
cried with joy with the arrival of her brother and
rushed to met them.

The party of knights were indeed Baron Silverdale and
knights from the House of Gilboch. The ruddy-faced
knight (in modest, even rustic garb), greeting the
Fellowship and remarked to Anzhur "It has been some
time since the Regalia of the King of Seshnela had
been in such good hands". The party included Theonara,
Knarl and Wilkairtha, along with some other Telmori,
exhaustion evident on all their faces.

Also present was Lord Tierre and some Beastman. Whilst
some were confused on how the Telmori and Beastman
could stand side-by-side when hours before they fought
tooth and claw, Karala nodded in understanding.
Neither rejected the other because of their nature.

Also supported in the party was a half-dazed Icthya
and a handful of his companions who had been rescued
from the Deu River, and Aalmon and his companions.
Incredibly Aalmon had managed to bring a force
together and had headed, in his delerium, northwards
questing for Theoblanc.

"Theoblanc, ever cunning", explained the Baron, "has
signed a surrender of Leplain to the forces aligned
with the Railos petty-Kingdom of Borin. So they hold
him captive, but I suppose from what we've seen here,
he's being well looked after. I would not dare
confront their forces in fear of turning the entire
confederacy of Ralios against us."

The Baron looked at the heralds worn by Anzhur and
Marianne's hand in his and nodded. "After we are done
here, you must travel with my to Gilboch. There are
some ... people ... You must meet them. They will aid
you on the journey that Providence has marked out for
you."

Wilkairtha approached Anzhur with Talor's axe. "You
came to me requesting this icon, and said that you
would lift the curse laid by your Saint. I had good
reason to doubt you at first, but you have proven your
worth. Take it. It is yours; and God-speed that you
can lift the crimes of your forebears."

Lord Tierre spoke next: "For many years the Baron and
I have worked together in hope of re-establishing the
old Hrestoli faith to the lands of Seshnela. It
appears that you have done as close as we could
possibly want and, thanks to your prior missives, the
forces of Railos will not enter this new forest,
although I imagine their expansions into the Duchy of
Tanisor, the Counties of Voi and Eastaurencic and
other lands are indeed great."

"We have a great opportunity here. The remains of a
broken kingdom, a great forest, a mighty city, many
different races and peoples who have worked together.
Let us not waste this opportunity! We must negotiate.
What are we do with these lands in our possesion?" 


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