Silvanost - A Declaration of War

01 Newkolt 349 AC

As soon as Grotto heard of Lorraine's awakening, he headed to the temple. It greatly upset him to see his friends and mentor so badly wounded but he felt joy that she was alive. The battered dwarf went to her with a chair in hand and told her to rest. His students bandaged his injuries then supervised the treatment of the inflow of the injured. He gave the healers vials of his alchemical mixture. "Give a small bit of this to those beyond help. Do not let them die alone. These drugs in this undiluted form work quickly," Grotto told them solemnly.

Shadow commanded his two elemental “friends” to help put out fires and remove rubble as long as the spell binding them to his command lasts. He soon learned of the House of Healing being destroyed and hurried there. He found his way to the makeshift temple and offered his three healing belt powers to save three on the brink of death. His magical belt’s powers used up for the day, he left to find the others.

As Respen was pulled from the wreckage, Kysek took the boy by the hand, leading him away from the carnage. “Your Father and Mother? What of them, Respen? Do they still draw breath? If I can help them I will!” He continues to speak with him as he leads him around the corpses of the two slain dragons, where elves from House Magus are hard at work harvesting blood, organs, scales, and claws for later use.

As they walk, Respen looks up at Kysek, "My father pushed me into my mom's arms and she put her ring on me. Then everything went dark."

Kysek crouches down, looking the boy in the eye. “Did you feel any movement after your Mother placed her ring upon your finger? Anything at all?”

Respin shakes his head. "No, sir. The building fell down and the next thing I knew, the workers from House Shaper were pulling me out of the wreckage."

Lorraine takes charge of Respen, promising to look after him. The elderly healer's arm is bound in bandages and rests in a sling. Soot covers her face and she moves slowly but her gaze is resolute. As each new patient arrives, she assesses them with centuries of honed skill, directing them to various tents and lean-to's where what remains of her corps can either tend to the wounded or offer a gentle transition free of pain into their next life.

"Now work quickly! Save all we can!" Grotto says to the healers trying to raise their morale in the grim scene.

After secreting his talisman away and out of sight, Ra’ziir seeks out the others. The Black-Robed Elf offers aid where he can while navigating the devastated streets. He searches the ruined city’s triage areas for Cedron or any other familiar faces. He calls out mentally to Raven.

The swordsman responds instantly, providing the bladesinger with his location. He adds, "That rider, did you hear him? He was praying to his god like he expected a response... this world may not be as bereft of divine magic as we were led to believe."

In a matter of hours, the fires are brought under control and the haze of smoke dissipates, born away on a gentle wind.

Singly and in pairs, the adventurers arrive at the temple and makeshift hospital. Lofty towers overlook the surrounding buildings. Gold plate covers the exterior with no visible seams, giving the entire structure the appearance of being cast from a single piece of the precious metal. As the rays from the morning sun strike the building, it shines, radiating warmth and light on everyone nearby. A sense of compassionate vigilance washes over those the light shines upon.

After the announcement requesting terms of surrender; Kysek states, “This may not be the head of the snake; but we should cut it off anyway. Have we enough magic to protect the place of the wounded?”

Romulus shakes his head. "No, at least not by ourselves. Not unless these elves of House Mystic can bring considerable might to bear. And I need to return to the Tower of Wayreth to make use of their laboratories."

Raven frowns, "Head of the snake or not, if we kill the envoy, we would be no better than Lord Ariakas." He pauses, "We slew two dragons last night and sent four more away bearing grievous wounds. It's likely the Dragonarmies have a limited number they can use in battle. This call for a surrender, it could be a bluff to avoid fighting more...conventional battles."

Kysek surveys the city, “What more destruction could they bring? The city lays in ruins. Once they’re done here they will surely move to the next," he nearly barks in frustration.

Raven nods, "It is likely. Still, the city is quite large. I suspect that the damage was limited to the direct path of the dragons. Many buildings should still be intact. If the Dragonarmies want to subjugate Silvanesti, they will need to capture the outlying regions first."

Grotto pounded a fist into his opposite hand. "They will pay soon enough! Don't let the evil of our enemy break your resolve! Tend to the wounded. Little does this enemy know that they are already dead!"

Arthur stands near Agnes, shield balanced at his side and his hand resting on Lawbringer’s grip. His eyes tracked the armored envoy across the river, calm but unwavering, as though weighing every word and gesture. He held his silence, letting his presence speak in place of any declaration, prepared to act the moment duty demanded. Agnes begins to speak but her words are cut off by Chomax's announcement. 11q

As the dragonman's... master(?) arrives and makes his speech, Shadow listens and shakes his head. “That’s it. I hate him. I don’t even know him and I hate him.” He stares at Raven as he speaks about the dragons and there projected numbers. “I need to brush up on the dragons of this world and how to kill them quickly and efficiently.”  Shadow informs the others, "I travel back to the towers with Rom and look into killing $%@&# dragons."

Agnes, for her part, remains silent, eyes downcast, especially following the dark elf's declaration.

Speaker of the Sun Lorac Caladon meets with the envoy, accompanied by a contingent of elves from Houses Protector and Magus. The two forces remain on the riverbank for less than a minute before parting, with Chomax and his troops falling back into the forest and Lorac returning to the walls of Silvanost. He climbs to the top of the battlements and looks out over the still burning buildings. He takes a scepter from his belt, grasping it in his right hand and holds the jeweled rod in front of his mouth and speaks into it. Magic carriies his voice to everyone in the city.

"Elven brothers and sisters of Silvanesti, hear me now: The enemy gathers upon our borders with hunger in their hearts and steel in their hands. But we are the descendants of Silvanos Goldeneye — swift of foot, keen of eye, and true of spirit. When the shadow falls, we will not bow; when the blade is drawn, we will not flee.
We shall fight in the moonlit glades.
We shall fight beneath the soaring spires of our ancient trees. We shall fight at the river’s edge and in the Bay of Balifor.
We shall never yield, and never surrender.
Side by side, we form an unbroken circle of courage. Like the branching limbs of our great oaks, each of us reaches out to the next—one arrow loosed by many hands, one voice raised in a single vow: to defend our woodland home. In the heart of the enemy’s darkness, we will be the blade of silver that strikes true."

"Remember those who have gone before: our fathers who held the line in the First Dragonwar, our brothers who fought against the Empire of Ergoth, our mothers who healed the wounded by starlight, our children who dream of peace. We carry their hopes on every step, their songs upon every breath. When dawn breaks upon the battlefield, it will shine first on you — on us — on the Elven host that will not be broken.
So stand firm, silver kin! Let valor guide your arrows, and let unity steel your hearts."

"Together we march into the breach. Together we shall triumph. Together —forever — unaltered by fear.
Raise your banners, lift your voices: For Silvanesti! For Freedom! For the Light that cannot be dimmed!"