Fog of The Underworld - 1669 AC

[Chance]

Fog of The Underworld - 1669 AC

The Seven Trumpets of Malziel sounded out throughout the Imperial City of Osrona, beckoning those that enlisted for the war efforts to begin the march to the southern lands on the orders of Her Majesty The Queen...  Soon after, a flurry of magical fireflies move like leaves caught in the window, glowing silver throughout the forest enclave of Moonfall. A druidric signal for the town's defenses to assemble.

With the deliberations set for a clash, the fog the First Light had travelled through to reach the gates of Moonfall thickened even more. Like a great storm set upon the ground, billowing clouds of smog made it difficult to see and navigate, and screams, either real or fake, cried out in the distance. At the wood-woven gates of Moonfall, the demands are put forth once more: The immediate surrender of all occult-inflicted. They were rejected by the Druidric Seer, Cairn, and the newly anointed Supreme, Camillia, and a battle was inevitable.

As if a nightmare had descended upon the two sides of this war, terrors and hallucinations that played off of personal fears and tragedies danced within the now foggy landscape. Non-magi soldiers on both sides found it difficult to bear, and a true battle within this space was nearly impossible. A defensive measure crafted by the magic of the underworld. Throughout the darkness and cloudy fog, the battles raged. Swords and spells lit up the night, and the disorganized legions scrambled from skirmish to skirmish. Torches were lit by the knights who had come, and together they found their companions again, albeit bloodied and hurt. The call for retreat echoed from all sides, and as they ran, the blue, ethereal eyes of the Moonfall were always staring back, watching and waiting for the next time they'd meet. The losses of Osronan forces were heavy.

Despite the damage they'd taken, on the orders of Radaint Valero lux Montclaire, no one was to be left behind and the First Light was not to retreat until they could endure no longer. Those still capable of conjuring might and magic did so, well into the dark, fog-filled night. Several hours of hardship continued on and despite the relentlessness of the Osronans, the signal to regroup and disperse was reluctantly given.

... If there were any doubts before, they were surely dismissed with this. Moonfall was protected, and Witchraft is as deadly as the stories say.

[Chance]

Further details come to light following the battle...

• A messenger is immediately sent to Moonfall to negotiate for the release of the captives. 25,000c is offered per person, as well as a request to state their terms if release of magi captives is possible. The movements from within Esshar hint that a strike force is ready to assemble should Moonfall be lax in their reply.
  
• The head of Clancy Osshor, a young knight and captive, was impaled on a spike on the outskirts of Osrona.
  
• A sabbath ritual occurred shortly after the battle to celebrate the victory. A captive, Beri Wisely, was sacrificed. All of Esshar will undoubtedly miss her fashion tips in the Magnolia Monthly. 
  
• The orders from the highest authority, Queen Ariadne Petrakis, is to continue the pursuit of all occult-inflicted. A public statement mentions that witchcraft being used within Esshar is unacceptable, and all witches belong burning on a fire of pyre or hiding in fear. Additionally, she floats the idea of calling in a Lightbringer from another City if the newly appointed Radiants are unable to deal with it themselves.
  
• Knight Nerin was promoted to Exarch following his valiant display in the battle. 
  

[Chance]

Skirmish in The Vale



A squadron of First Light headed into Moonfall, sweeping beyond the thick greenery and towards the underground where Sophie Duran was said to be held captive. Within just minutes the quick footed magi spread out and conducted their search, but the trees have ears, and they whisper to one another. The Moonfallen met them in battle and while they came close to rescuing their fellow Knight...

...They did not succeed. 

The continued successes of the Moonfallen soon became apparent throughout the land. They're beginning to find themselves with interested stakeholders, from foreign investors that would like to destabilize Esshar to highly influential crime organizations. 

It is their move next.

[Chance]

The Heavenly Bout

In the winter of 1701 AC, a tournament was held in an ancient temple by Andromeda Grimmore, bordering near Moonfall, with the authorization of its shrinemaiden, Sina. This was a show of united force by Osrona, and the location was specifically chosen to make it clear that they do not feel threatened by the recent victories the Occultists have taken. The victors of the tournament were Cristovan, an Exarch Knight, and DeSean, the head of the Bean Company.

... Though, the Moonfallen certainly aren't biding their time while all of this is happening. Talk of an expedition with acquired knowledge from their growing influence after consolidating themselves as a true threat. (This weekend - Thread to come!)

[Tattles]

You wanted blood.


1671

Gone are the days of heads cowardly placed on spikes on the edge of the city's border.
The body of a drakanite woman bearing some cloth of a Watchman's cloak torn and purposefully shoved into her pocket dangles from the railings and scaffolding of Osrona's southern bridge by mossy rope and dirty rags.

Assessing the body will find a broken and bruised neck as the likely cause of death.

Attached to her front is a note,
a simple message written upon it in far to fanciful handwriting for such an occasion.

They didn't care about her.

They won't care about you.

More will follow.