Extinction (Certain Death)

[Chance]

The Citadel and the Grimjall Abbey have been destroyed.

Starting things off by fielding one of the most formidable Sages and most capable Demon Lords, the Demon King began strong in his conquest of Meranthe. The Night opened with a stalemate between the two forces, as Abath of Ash conjured a shadowed smog that stole heat and warmth from the region, granting a temporary ice age. Galvanizing their troops even as men became statues of ice, cannonfire continued to volley against the battleships of the Atrellyan invasion.

And soon enough the real fun began, after humanity stood its ground. The Demon Lords Hak'tor, Valdis, Syndria, Delaynie, and their respective legions, were tasked with keeping the Ruby Empire occupied as Abath weaved her spell of Destruction. Optimistic and prepared, the unfortunate reality of the difference in strength became clear; countless kaor-level demons and seasoned imperfects, the Ruby Empire was outmatched.

In the midst of the Citadel, carrying the wounded and dead, a hard choice had to be made...

Make one final stand. Regroup and make to prevent Abath from completing her spell, or forfeit and take what remains of the army, and flee south. Cleald signals the horn of retreat and Miyumi follows; with arrows upon their back and demons chasing them, they choose to live rather than die fighting. Some twenty minutes or so later, a booming shockwave takes harsh, cutting winds that shatters all windows in the region, and a scarlet mushroom cloud is seen where the fortress once was, taking it away in another display of devastation and lighting the north up.

In the ashen remains, the Atrellyan forces make their war camp and preparations for the Conquest of Meranthe.

The Citadel of Ash stands at 20,000 strong, from 30,000.

The Ruby Empire has been reduced from 33,000 to 10,000.

Short-term event schedule:

The Ruby Empire has the chance to take the initiative, given the unfinished business. What they do now is up to them to determine.

A second major force headed by a Demon Sage, travelling by land rather than the sea, looks to the Final Frontier. Date TBD.

The Demon Lords of Abath are looking to the smaller, vulnerable nations. [Mini-events throughout the week]