The first day of Autumn marks the beginning of the Autumn Festivals in the South of the Overworld. Traditionally this was a holy day of the Creed of ORIL. Across Taur Galen the Elves informally celebrate the coming of the season of fruitfulness and changing leaves. In the Grasslands it is a time of celebration for the various tribes, but the major festival of the Gathering comes later, on Midautumn Night (12 Garrack). 19 Lastra is a day of public holiday for the Autumn Festival in the Southern Cities, and a time of carnival by night, especially in Tehmor. The Festival is also celebrated in Kuntax, but the Merchants' Guild does not believe in public holidays. The biggest Festivals are held by the Desert Nomads, at the Druidic Oases and at Quthar on the Great Oasis, where a service of remembrance is now held on this day every Autumn at the Tomb of ORIL. In the Desert it is the end of a period of fasting, so the celebrations go on for several days (and recovery can take a few days longer).
McAndar leads his light cavalry through the fringes of the Pennwold, seeking to evade Arril and Hugran’s Valdrean army by outflanking them on their left through the North West Forest. But they are unable to evade the Valdrean scouts, and skirmishes break out between WindWalkers and Children of AMON hippogriff winged cavalry.
The Emperor Arril I announces to the people of Valdran that last night a force of Valdrean elite troops and Noble Champions captured a Clan Stronghold in the Badlands in a surprise assault. They are now embarked on a series of retribution raids in the heart of the Badlands, aimed at killing their livestock and destroying their food stockpiles. Together with the raid by their former ally, Glersh and his orcs, the Badlander homelands will be facing famine this winter. A great cheer goes up from the Valdrean populace at this news.
Glersh's orcish army is moving out of the Badlands, leaving a trail of destruction in its path, and is now approaching Hobbit Country. The hobbits are evacuating towns and villages in his path, and mobilising their defences. The word is that another army also approaches rapidly from Clan Omechar territory to the North East.
The Valdrean foothold at the Clan Chayvin stronghold in the Badlands has been reinforced, and raids extended across the territories of the Southern Clans as far as Waters' Meeting. But there has been dogged resistance. The Badlanders know their own territory, and are masters of this kind of skirmish warfare, inflicting casualties upon the Valdreans.
A new Dwarven offensive opens in the Dungeons against the approaches to Heaven. Heavy casualties are reported, on both sides.
A Valdrean raiding force in the territory of Clan Ogar in the Badlands is taken by surprise by the sudden appearance out of nowhere of Glersh's berserking forest orcs. Despite taking (and inflicting) heavy casualties, they fall back in good order. The threat to Hobbit Country has somehow disappeared, but the hobbits remain vigilant.
Glersh the Dread continues his attack upon the Valdrean invaders of the Badlands. But the Valdreans have been quietly building up a large elite force in the area, and the orcs are decisively defeated. Glersh escapes once again, though it is rumoured Harrek was there challenging him to combat, and now pursues him.
The Valdrean Emperor Arril I announces the successful conclusion of the Badlands campaign with the capture of the renegade Valdrean noble Stirros III of Satril, handed over as a peace offering by Ephraim McOmechar, Shaman-Leader of Clan Omechar, whose Clan stayed neutral in the recent war. Stirros will stand trial. The Clans who attacked the Empire have been punished by retribution raids on their territories, leaving them in a sorry state for the coming Winter. The Valdrean forces will now withdraw. But stories begin to circulate that the announcement glosses over a secret deal between Arril and the mysterious Dark Ones, Glersh's former allies in the terror raids. Wilder (and even more treasonous) claims are made in some quarters that the Empire even used the force of Chaos to defeat Glersh. Saner voices point out that it is more likely that Glersh's own use of Chaos backfired upon him.
Stories are emerging from the Dungeons that the dwarves are using a new secret weapon in their assault upon the approaches to Heaven. Thorgrim Bloodtaster has got the mysterious dwarven Druidic Cult of the Tunnel Rats to convert prisoners and deserters into Black Puddings, Grey Oozes and Ochre Jellies, and is using them to attack the orcs, with some success. Thorgrim has been rewarded with promotion to overall command of the sector.
King Zorgar of Kyr announces the recovery of his son, Crown Prince Kargax, by Analisa, an adventuress from the Land of Hulmo in the Underworld, who found the boy in the Realm of Wolves, where he was apparently being cared for by a she-wolf with her own cubs. The people are most impressed by this story. Analisa receives the promised reward, of the Barony of Ravö in Kyr, including an hereditary title, a seat in the Kyrian Parliament, a large estate and a magic weapon of her choice (commissioned from Nima). She will have to rebuild her new Barony after the devastation of the fighting last Spring (and there are rumours of a resurgence of Wolf Cultism in the hills). The Baroness immediately becomes the most eligible woman in Kyr, and young men flock to join her guard.
After further dwarvish attacks, some backed up by Organisms, the defences of Heaven are reported to be crumbling. Balrogs have been sent in to shore them up, but They in turn have been slain by dwarf paladins. In other places the defenders have resorted to using Chaos or Earthquaking tunnels.
The new Kyrian Baroness Analisa of Ravö puts out a call for adventurer volunteers to defend the town and her estate from the wolves and Cultists in the hills. A silver dragon has also been spotted flying over the area. An attack is expected at Full Moon (4 Garrack). She cannot afford to pay the volunteers, but can promise combat experience. Everyone who joins up will become a Knight of Ravö.
The survivors of McAndar’s warband break out of the Midro Gorge in the North West Forest into the North Western Gap, defeating a small Valdrean scouting force still in the area. Hugran sends a larger force of cavalry to pursue them towards the Clan Territories and pick off any stragglers.
The Valdrean Attorney General announces that the trial of the renegade Stirros III, formerly of Satril, on various charges of high treason, armed insurrection and Demon summoning, will begin in Valdran in two weeks' time, on 12 Garrack.
Last night, the werewolves of Kyr attacked Baroness Analisa of Ravö's estate - a night earlier than the Full Moon. The few "Knights of Ravö" who had answered the Baroness's call for assistance were overwhelmed when a Silver Dragon attacked as well, and the estate was overrun. The surviving defenders fled, and the Baroness herself has disappeared - taken by the werewolves, some say. The town of Ravö itself was left untouched, as the werewolves disappeared again into the night.
In the High Northern Dungeons sector of the War on Heaven the Dwarves, backed by Druidically-controlled Black Puddings, achieve a major breakthrough. The remaining parts of the Dungeon complex fall into their hands, leaving a few isolated strongpoints and a large number of orcish deserters to mop up.
The following night (of the Full Moon) there was another ferocious werewolf attack, but this time out of the old Heavenly security fort in Strawberry Heights, where the Dwarves were drawing closest to Heaven in a more open area of the Dungeons. The Dwarves were driven back down the Heights.
McAndar makes his last charge against Hugran’s cavalry. Hopelessly outnumbered, he is defeated and killed, but goes down fighting.
Hugran of Tarm takes the severed head of McAndar to the town of Basren in High Yarmen Province (captured by the Badlanders earlier in the year), where it is displayed on a spike above the town gate. Despite this inglorious end, songs of the former Warlord's exploits begin to be composed by Badlander bards.
Last night the Dwarven port of Barrakizdîn (through which runs the Dwarves' only non-Magical supply line to the Dungeons) suffered a surprise attack by sea-orcs, a swarm of Giant Wasp riders, and orc commandos, who emerged from rented warehouses. A number of ships and warehouses full of supplies on the docks were torched before the raiders withdrew. In the aftermath, there is much recrimination between the Mountain Dwarves (who are leading the war effort) and the Hill Dwarves (who are held responsible for the security of their town). Relations remain good with the Valdreans, who quickly sent adventurers to the town's aid under a mutual defence pact, and lost a number of Wind Walkers to the Wasps.
The troops in the Dungeons are put on reduced rations (despite assurances that the supply line remains open), and wild rumours sweep the front line. Amongst these is a widespread story that the Wasp rider bodies included a number of Elves.
Another tale going the rounds is that the Great Black Boar of Barrakizdîn, the town’s prize fighting pig, disappeared amidst the commotion. Depending on which version of the story you hear, it was variously seized by the Wasp riders (and now appears in boar fights in Hell), abducted by a Mountain Dwarf betting syndicate from Gabilkhazâd-Dûm (who supposedly stood to lose heavily on an accumulator bet if the boar won its next fight), stolen by hungry Gnomes, or made its own bid for freedom.
The latest betting for the Temple of TIPRE Trophy in Iklaron on 13 Garrack, the last big horse race of the season, is as follows:
| Golden Arrow | 3:2 favourite |
| Shadowrunner | 4:1 |
| Desert Wolf | 4:1 |
| Fine Delusion | 5:1 |
| Call Lightning | 6:1 |
| Storm Is Coming | 8:1 |
| Morning Mist | 10:1 |
| Mirror Image | 12:1 |
There are 12 other entries. The turmoil of the Summer's races seems to have passed, and betting is once again heavy.
The trial of the renegade Stirros III, formerly of Satril
begins in the Sacred City of Valdran, amidst tight security. Stirros had been
outlawed in Numist 2501, after his
attempt to impeach the Emperor Arril I before the Rainbow Court failed, and
Arril accused him of a failed assassination attempt. Arril has now turned
the tables, by bringing Stirros before the Rainbow Court, where he will answer
charges of high treason (for that alleged assassination attempt), armed
insurrection (for his part in the Badlander attacks) and Demon summoning (going
back to his alleged abuses when he was Director of the I.D.S.). As a
captured outlaw, Arril could just have had Stirros executed, but there are some
legal difficulties with his not having been captured within the clear borders of
the Empire, and it is important that the Emperor is seen to do justice.
Tonight is Midautumn Night, when the annual Gathering of the Grasslander tribes is held at the Gathering Place, at the confluence of rivers that forms the Lightwater. It is a sacred time, and for 24 hours from noon to noon no man may harm another, and all must come and go in peace.
Gather your ivy whilst you may...
On the eve of the Temple of TIPRE Trophy horse race in Iklaron, the prize racehorse of the Valdrean House of Aven and favourite for the race, Golden Arrow, is stolen. Bookmakers are besieged by angry punters, demanding their money back. Shadowrunner and Desert Wolf are now joint favourites.
The race goes ahead without Golden Arrow. Shadowrunner retires early. The race is won by Morning Mist, from Desert Wolf and Fine Delusion.
After an angry confrontation with adventurers from the Valdrean House of Aven the previous night, the Thieves' Guild of Iklaron puts out an unprecedented announcement that the theft of Golden Arrow was the work of outsiders, believed to be Chaotics. A reward of a pair of Gauntlets of Dexterity is offered for information leading to their capture. In addition the House of Aven is offering a reward of 10,000GP.
There are reports of fighting in the Badlands for the remaining resources after the Valdrean incursion. Clan Omechar are generally resented, for having stayed out of the War, then supposedly sided with the Valdreans at the end.
The Attorney General has completed the prosecution's case against Stirros III in the Rainbow Court of Valdran. The evidence has been presented 'in camera', as it relates to matters of Imperial security. But it is understood Arril described the assassination attempt against him on 6 Lastra 2501, the abuses by the Inquisition into Demon Summoning under Stirros' Directorship were detailed (rumoured even to include Summoning Demons), and veterans of the recent wars gave damning evidence of Stirros' participation in the Badlander invasion.
Stirros III has opened the case for his defence. The proceedings remain secret, but the word is that he has denied the assassination attempt, accusing Arril of framing him in order to outlaw him, and defended his record as Director of the I.D.S. as having acted within the law, much of the prosecution's evidence being further attempts to frame him. The charge of armed insurrection is harder to deny, but it is said he is mounting some legalistic defence based on his right to defend his name or suchlike. He will be subpoenaing a number of witnesses from amongst the Valdrean nobility.
Baroness Analisa of Ravö has reappeared in Gorreth, capital of Kyr, to claim her magic weapon and take her seat in Parliament. She is answering allegations that she deserted her Barony by saying that she did so to save it from further attacks by Wolf, who was just attacking her because she had rescued Prince Kargax from his wolves. She seems to have the support of the King.
The Dwarven / Fort Venture Allied forces in the Dungeons launch a new offensive in Strawberry Heights. They hold the line at the bottom of the Heights whilst attacking out of isolated strongpoints higher up. They meet fierce resistance from the Evils.
An Evil counterattack in Strawberry Heights, led by berserking orcs and werewolves, retakes much of the ground lost the previous day.
Stirros III has completed the case for his defence, and the Rainbow Court has retired to consider its verdict. It is generally believed he will be found guilty on the charges of armed insurrection, and executed. But the question is how much of the mud he has thrown at the Emperor Arril will stick. The Noble House of Satril is said to be preparing another challenge for the Lion Throne, and Kyarlin of Heaven still waits in the wings.
A further Allied attack in Strawberry Heights seizes a significant bridgehead at the top of the chasm, threatening to cut off the Evil forces lower down.
There has been further fierce fighting in Strawberry Heights, high up in the Dungeons. The Evils are using werewolves, berserkers, orcish veterans with flaming mithril weapons, trolls, Balrogs and dragons. The Lawfuls are using dwarvish Paladins, Valdrean Noble Champions (Houses Satril and Heaven have been prominent), Lammasu and Black Puddings. (The Angels of SARAN stay out of the offensive when Valdreans are committed.) But the key factor is the greater quality and morale of the ordinary footsoldiers of the Lawfuls over the Evils. The Lawfuls are making rapid progress up the Heights, as the Evils retreat. The brunt of the Evil counter-offensive is against the Lawful strongpoints that threatened to cut off the retreating Evil forces. The strongpoints have been thrown onto the defensive, and there are insufficient of them to cover such a broad front. The Evils are escaping to Heaven, but are taking heavy casualties.
Some are now talking of Heaven falling again, but it will still be a long hard fight. Heaven has never been successfully invaded from below, and its defences are intact. The next line of defence is the old Heavenly Security Forts that defend the Teleport Block. These will not be easy nuts to crack.
There are stories that a vicious pack of monsters, possibly manticores, have emerged from the woods to terrorise Three Rivers Province in the Southern Valdrean Empire. Many Noble Champions are heading to the area to deal with them.
The Rainbow Court of Valdrea has delivered its verdict in the case of Empire v Stirros III (outlaw). On the charge of high treason for the alleged assassination attempt on the Emperor he has been found Not Guilty. On the charge of armed insurrection for his part in the Badlander attacks he has been found Guilty. On the charges of Demon Summoning when he was Director of the I.D.S. he has been found Not Guilty. On the separate charge of constructive Demon Summoning whilst with the Badlanders he has been found Guilty. Stirros has been sentenced to death for armed insurrection, with a concurrent sentence of 20 years' imprisonment for constructive Demon Summoning. His request for an appeal by Trial by Combat has been denied, due to his status as an outlaw and obscure changes in the legal system under the Fourth Empire. A public execution is to be scheduled, and the security arrangements are already in place.
The dead carcass of a Black Dragon has been hauled through the streets of Bjarmigen, accompanied by two very attractive young women adventurers, from the Temple of Peace on Earth to the shop of Orlando the Alchemist, causing quite a commotion; not least in the TPE.
The Forces of Law have triumphed in the Battle of Strawberry Heights in the Dungeons. The rout of orcs up the Heights was caught in the bottleneck commanded by the Heavenly Security Fort at the top, and what discipline that remained below collapsed. The Evil leaders seem to have escaped. The bloody massacre of the orcs trapped in the Heights continues. Some have attempted to surrender, others fight on desperately, or have attempted to break out into the Dungeons. Meanwhile there are rumours that the Dwarves have penetrated the Teleport Block around the Heavenly Security Zone, and are into the Dungeons above the Fort. The Battle for Heaven has begun.
Stories are circulating that the Dwarves and Valdreans are recruiting volunteers from captured Evil/Lawful orcs into suicide commando units. Their failure to issue a clear, categorical denial has served only to fuel the rumours.
The public execution of Stirros III, formerly of Satril, took place today in the Emperor Kostof I Arena at the Temple of SARAN on Earth in Valdran. Heavy security was in place, and a number of arrests were made. But there was no major trouble, and the execution took place as scheduled. Stirros made a short speech before he was executed, saying that he had only ever intended to clear his name and become Emperor by Lawful means, and that he regretted his association with the Badlanders. He warned that there are Dark Powers at work Who hate what the Empire stands for, and are misleading those who should be the Empire's allies. Some now say that it was just a stooge of the Emperor who made this speech, and was executed, and that Stirros himself either escaped, or was never captured and tried in the first place. Of course, they don't say this in the Empire, as it might be considered treason.
As from today, smoke can be seen rising from Heaven, as if Mount Anar has become a volcano. It is generally believed that the Gods of Heaven and Hell are razing Heaven in preparation for its evacuation. Another battle between the Gods is feared.
The Temple of Peace on Earth has announced that the Gods of Peace on Earth have no intention of intervening in the war sadly raging around Heaven. The Temple of KOROS on Earth have announced that KOROS remains neutral, but will defend the House of Karma against aggression, from either side. The Temples of SARAN and ESCUS on Earth have pointedly declined to comment.
There is a row in Gabilkhazâd-Dûm between the King of All Dwarves and the High Priest of KOROS Among the Dwarves, after the former apparently announced to his Court that only SARAN (and possibly ESCUS) supported the Dwarves in their war against the Forces of Evil, and that he would be urging Dwarves to take their Faith out of KOROS. The High Priest responded by saying the King was well into his cups, and didn't know what he was saying. This was then taken by the King as a personal insult - that he couldn't hold his drink (a serious slur amongst Mountain Dwarves). The High Priest is protected by law, but the King has started purging KOROS-worshippers from his Guard and entourage (Peace-worshippers having already been purged some time ago). He has however stopped short of actually making any Royal Proclamation against KOROS worship.
A black cloud now hangs over Heaven, at the summit of Mt. Anar. Prophets of doom forecast that dark sorceries are being brewed in readiness for those foolish enough to attack the Gods of Heaven and Hell.
A rising young star in the Valdrean Noble House of Aven, Aldor has taken the Championship of the House from Marcus, after rising up the ranks on the back of experience gained in constant fighting in the war to recapture Heaven. He also has the assistance of a particularly fine Magic Flaming Broadsword he has acquired. In a surprise move, he has not challenged Arril of Tarm for the Emperorship as predicted, but instead challenged Kyarlin of Heaven for the Command of Fort Venture. The Duel will be held in the Fort on 1 Weven. Aldor has young friends in the other Houses, who are also rising fast up their respective Championships whilst fighting in the war, and a co-ordinated challenge is forecast on the old guard currently in power.
There are stories of fights between packs of wolves in the forests of Kyr. There has also been at least one fistfight between the Nobles in the Parliament of Kyr, as old tensions between the North and South have resurfaced, in the aftermath of the suppression of the Wolf Cult.
As the Dwarves prepare for the final assault on Heaven, and the Angels of SARAN and ESCUS gather, the Valdrean adventurers and troops in the Dungeons are relocating to the lower front against Hell, to guard prisoners or to hold positions in the Dungeons below Heaven protecting the Dwarves against outflanking. Kyarlin says the Dwarves have earned the glory of recapturing Heaven, but most observers reckon he is just trying to avoid any rival Houses trying a Constructive Demon-Summoning court case against the House of Heaven.
Ephraim McOmechar of the Badlands is visiting King Bjørn XVII of the North, in a plea for aid to the famine-threatened Badlands. There is much politicking against his mission by the Valdrean representatives at the Northern Court, but McOmechar (a KOROS-worshipper) is appealing to the charity of the Church of ESCUS, who did much to relieve the famine in the North in the hard Winter of 2501. Whether the hardline Northern ESCUS-worshippers will assist a predominantly Evil nation remains to be seen.
Aldor Champion of Aven Duels Kyarlin of Heaven for the Command of Fort Venture. Boosted with Magical Protections and with the new Magic Flaming Broadsword of the House of Aven, Aldor is clearly winning the Duel. Kyarlin therefore concedes, and Aldor grants him his life and takes Command of the Fort. Kyarlin announces he will not immediately be challenging for another post, as he wishes to devote more time to the affairs of the Valdrean Noble House of Heaven. The House is in something of a crisis, as a number of its Champions are now renouncing their Valdrean citizenship in order to join the Army of Liberation of Heaven. Kyarlin himself says he wishes to remain Valdrean, though it saddens him he may not take part in the Battle for Heaven due to the Constructive Demon-Summoning legal issue, which he is attempting to resolve.
The Host of SARAN takes flight from the Temple of SARAN on Earth island site in Valdran. Amongst it are a number of former members of the House of Heaven, as well as other former Men of Heaven (such as Alador’s Team Phoenix) who never became Valdrean citizens. Led by SARAN Herself, the Demigods, Angels and Men fly up into the sky, and then disappear (into the Ethereal Plane it is said).
The Host of SARAN reappear above Memorial Park in Bjarmigen, where They join the Hosts of ESCUS and SHELDA, gathering at the Temples of ESCUS and SHELDA on Earth. A number of human adventurer volunteers, mostly from the Kingdom of the North, are joining Them. Notable amongst these are Harrek, Lord Protector of the North, his wife Sabrina, Angel of ESCUS, and some of his leading followers. A large area of the park is cordoned off as the great Host gathers.
Meanwhile the Archbishop of Bjarmigen announces that the Church of ESCUS and the Temple of Peace on Earth will be sending a number of cornucopiae to the Badlands, in response to Ephraim McOmechar’s plea to King Bjørn XVII. Adventurer and clerical volunteers are also sought to help in this charitable mission, especially with distribution of food and maintaining order. Harrek is sending followers on this mission too.
The dwarves launch the final assault on Heaven from the Dungeons beneath and around the House of Karma. The King of All Dwarves, Thráin VIII, takes personal command of the attack. The dwarvish soldiers and Paladins are supported by a few former Valdrean Noble Champions who have resigned from the House of Heaven, together with Angels of SARAN, Lammasu, and Black Puddings. Aldor Commander of Fort Venture is in charge of what is presumably a diversionary offensive on the lower front against Hell.
Thráin’s dwarves are driven back by a berserk counterattack from orcs, werewolves and an assortment of Monsters. Much Chaos is used by the Evils, and the Paladins are kept busy Dispelling it. Thráin urges his dwarves to remain steadfast, as this is the last death throe of an exhausted foe, and their duty is to prepare the way for the return of their Goddess SARAN.
As the Sun sets into the dark cloud that shrouds Heaven, the combined Hosts of SARAN, ESCUS and SHELDA take wing above the City of Bjarmigen. It is a fine Winter’s day and over a thousand Gods, Demigods and Angels shine resplendent in the dying rays of the Sun and the bright Light of Law shining from the hand of SARAN. They sound trumpets as They rise high into the sky, SARAN’s Light illuminating the City brighter than day. Then as night falls over the rest of the Overworld the trumpets sound once more, the Light of Law winks out, and the Host is gone - Its destination Heaven.
During the night a terrific thunderstorm begins, and several stars fall from the sky towards Heaven. Multicoloured lights now glow up on Mt. Anar, partly obscured by the gloom of the dark cloud.
Today the final Battle for Heaven was fought.
The Sun rose above the Chaos of Heaven as the dwarves continued their dogged attack, in what had become almost a three-way battle, now that the Host of KOROS was involved in defending the House of Karma from the combatants spilling over or fleeing into it. Then at 2:00 (just as everyone had begun to think the Gods of Law and Good would not be appearing today) the blinding White Light of Law shone out above and to the North of Heaven, and SARAN led Their combined Hosts out of the Ethereal into Heaven.
As the White Light of Law met the Multicoloured Lights of Chaos, there was a cataclysmic explosion that reverberated right across Anarea. Even in the Underworld it was felt as a light earth tremor. The top of Mt. Anar was shattered like an exploding volcano, raining down rocks, a few body parts and the odd Heavenly treasure or bit of Chaotic debris across much of the Overworld. KOROS managed to maintain the integrity of the House of Karma, but its top was blown clean off. The earthquake was worst in the Dungeons, which collapsed upon the dwarves and orcs still fighting below.
The Gods and most of the Higher Powers were (of course) left standing amidst the smoke, dust and shining shards of Chaos. They had managed to protect many of Their followers, but there were still significant casualties amongst the lesser Beings, and many more in the Dungeons below. The Gods of Evil/Law had pulled out days before. TERRIK, HAERIM and much of The surviving Host of Evil had disappeared into Chaos on detonating the Stars. ZAKEL and ALTIS now led an elite band of Evils, including Tomec the Terrible, in a sudden attack upon ESCUS and those He had protected, including Harrek and Alador. But the fight was short and inconclusive, ALTIS withdrawing when SARAN blew away the Chaos-fog, and approached with Her rallied Host, and ZAKEL led the remaining Evils away into Chaos. Alador restrained Harrek from following, as SARAN, ESCUS and SHELDA unfurled Their banners above the broken remnants of Heaven.
Today We retook Heaven. The war has been a long and costly one, but especially for Our foes. We wish to thank all Our allies, without whom this victory would never have been possible, and especially the Kingdom of All Dwarves, whose great persistence and sacrifice eventually forced the Gods of Evil Themselves into a desperate and cowardly retreat. All of those Who gave Their lives for this great cause will be remembered and honoured forever.
We also wish to apologise for the damage caused today by the final battle. By the Evil of TERRIK much Chaos was brought into the World. The only way to destroy it was by the power of Law, but We all paid a heavy price for this. Heaven itself was destroyed in the explosion. The House of Karma was also badly damaged, but KOROS has asked us to reassure You that the process of Reincarnation will be unaffected.
What has been destroyed can be rebuilt. A New Heaven will rise from these ashes, greater and more splendid than before. Even now work is starting, under the guidance of MIORA, Demigoddess of Reconstruction. Unlike its predecessors, the Third Heaven will not be a closed sanctuary of Gods and Their immediate followers. It will belong to all those Who have helped in its recapture and rebuilding. Those Men of Heaven who wish to return may do so. Any subject of the King of All Dwarves may visit, as may anyone else who participated in this great enterprise, and their descendants. The Gods of Peace on Earth may return if They so wish.
As from today the Temples of SARAN, ESCUS, SHELDA and KOROS on Earth will be known again as the Temples of Heaven on Earth. Our Temples on Earth will remain amongst you, even after the Gods of Heaven return to Their homes in Third Heaven.
(copies circulated clandestinely in the Overworld)
Heaven is Destroyed! Victory is Ours!
The Great War in the Dungeons is over. Many brave orcs and men achieved the ultimate karma of a glorious death in battle. A few cowards who turned and fled will be reincarnated as worms.
The dwarves and Goods paid dearly in blood as they died in waves against Our valiant defenders in the narrow passages and up the steep stairs. And all along it was leading them into a trap! When the few remaining Gods of Good and Law Who still have the guts for a fight were eventually shamed by the sacrifices of Their followers into turning up and attacking Heaven, We, TERRIK, ZAKEL, ALTIS and HAERIM, were ready for Them, with Stars summoned to Earth by the Power of TERRIK.
SARAN, in Her arrogance, tried to dispel the Chaos, and Their precious Heaven was blown into tiny pieces! You will have felt the force of the explosion even here in the Underworld. Pieces of debris and bits of bodies are scattered across the Overworld like an ash waste. Let them serve as reminders to the Goods and Lawfuls of Their folly in seeking to challenge the Might of Evil!
Our victorious forces have escaped, and will return to Hell as heroes. SARAN and Her lackeys are left with nothing but a smoking crater for all Their efforts. Rejoice in Their Despair!
The aftermath of the Second Battle of Heaven is still being felt. SARAN, ESCUS, SHELDA and KOROS and Their Higher Powers remain in control of the ruined summit of Mt. Anar. The smoke and dust has been blown away, and MIORA has started work on the rebuilding, using rock cleared from the collapsed dungeons below.
Down in those dungeons, the dwarven mining teams are frantically digging to rescue trapped comrades and open up new stairways to Heaven. Many dwarves are rescued by their efforts, but many more are still lost in the miles of passages and caves, behind rockfalls and flooding. Some orcs have survived, of whom a few fight but most try to surrender. The angry dwarves kill these out of hand, but where disciplined Paladin commanders are present Lawful orcs are taken as prisoners. The plunder is good from the many bodies, and this acts as an added incentive to some in their digging efforts. Rumours begin to circulate of dwarves being dug out alive, only to be murdered for magic items, but the Paladins dismiss such tales as the work of DALA.
Outside the looters are busy too, scrambling to check the bits of debris that rained down across much of the Overworld, into the Great Ocean and coastal lands. It is said many items of value have been found, but this is mostly rumour, as the finders are keeping quiet. A large number of pieces of debris Detect as Chaotic, either being shards of star-stuff or having been contaminated by Chaos. A few Detect as Lawful, and all of these shine with a white light (making handy Light items). The Valdrean authorities are much exercised by the rain of Chaos, and the Emperor has issued a Proclamation that all Chaotic or Lawful debris must be handed in to the nearest SARAN Temple. Cash rewards will be paid: silver for Chaos and gold for Law. The response has been disappointing so far.
In the Mountains of the Dwarves prospectors are cracking the fallen rocks apart, searching for veins of mithril and the fabled adamantine (of which legend says Heaven was built). Others speculate that the fusion of Law and Chaos may have created even more fabulous metals. There are no officially confirmed finds as yet.
A side effect of the fall of Chaos is that it tended to be attracted to Chaotic Sanctified ground. A number of Secret Temples of DALA and other Chaotic Gods have been exposed in Valdrea as a result. Riots broke out again on the Hapral waterfront when the City Guard attempted to move in on a suspected DALA Temple. Outside the Empire there have been a number of Chaotic incidents at DALA Temples.
There has also been much property damage and a few casualties from the falling rocks, but they were spread over a wide area and most of them were quite small. The worst damage was suffered along the coasts, where tidal waves hit ports facing Mt. Anar and a number of ships were sunk. The port of Bjarmigen was particularly badly hit by a tidal bore rushing up the fjørd. There is rebuilding to be done elsewhere than just in Heaven.
Remember, says the rumourmonger, you heard it from me first!
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