As the rumourmonger predicted, Krell McAndar addressed the Badlander clans at the Clanmeet at Horning Crags in the North-West Gap. He spoke of their invasion of the Valdrean Empire two years ago, of their valiant stand at the Battle of Meldiron (which they had so nearly won), and of their desire to be avenged upon the Empire. He claimed to have a plan for a new campaign, but he could not reveal it to them, as there were Imperial spies amongst the audience. He reminded them how close they had come to succeeding last time, and told them they now had new and powerful allies, who shared their hatred of the Empire. He then introduced Black, the Harbinger of Change for the Worse, Red, the Apostle of Imposed Change, Tomec the Terrible, the legendary champion of TERRIK, and Stirros III of Satril, the exiled and disgraced former Noble Champion of Valdrea, all of whom spoke against the Empire and promised the Clans revenge. Some in the crowd questioned the wisdom of attacking the Empire when it was strong, and had already raised and sent an army against them, pointing out their success last time had been when the Empire was engaged in a war against the Kavaleri, and torn apart by rebellion. The speakers assured the doubters they had a plan, and that the Western Provinces would rise again if the Badlanders gave them an opportunity, just as they had done when Zergal and his Kavaleri attacked. As is their custom, the Clans put the matter to the vote, ten of the Twelve Clans voting to support McAndar, and appointing him Warlord once again. The other two Clans left the Meet, and returned peacefully to their hunting grounds.
The Badlander force decamped from Horning Crags. Unusually for a Clan Warband it left most of the non-combatant Clan members behind, just taking the essential supporters and camp followers. They headed East across the Gap, towards the River Midro, and the forest beyond that leads onto Caldrick Moor. This territory now forms part of the Valdrean North-Western Gap Military Area. Arril's opposing army is reported to be somewhere to the South, between the Dyke of SARAN and the River Nivran (a tributary of the Midro), protecting the direct route into the heartlands of the Empire.
Valdrean sources put the Badlander fighting force at over 10,000 strong, including the reformed elite hippogriff cavalry, the Children of AMON, who feast on the blood of their vanquished foes. There are also reports of new recruits brought in by their Evil allies, including Balrogs. The size of Arril's army is classified, and he is mobilising additional forces to the East.
The Badlanders crossed the Midro, entering the forest on the western fringes of Caldrick Moor. The Imperial Cavalry has shadowed them to the South, but Arril's infantry force has fallen behind, and remains in the North-West Gap. The going has been difficult, as the ground is muddy from the Spring thaw. The Badlanders, being mostly light cavalry, and familiar with the territory, have made better time. There have been skirmishes between the two armies' scouts: Wind-Walking adventurers against Children of AMON, Balrogs and Nazgul.
Heavy and continuous rain and mist has further slowed down the Valdrean forces tracking the Badlanders. Arril has ordered the infantry to withdraw to the Dyke, whilst he leads the cavalry along the right bank of the Midro. Scouts are out at all times, as McAndar is now expected to turn and attack through the forest.
An assassination attempt on King Zorgar of Kyr by Wolf, the self-proclaimed "True Messiah", fails, Zorgar managing to Word of Recall to the Temple of ESCUS. Wolf sets fire to the Royal apartments in Gorreth Castle before departing. Meanwhile, Wolf's consort, Bera the White Lady, attacks Queen Estrith and snatches the two year old Prince Kargax, heir to the throne. The six year old Princess Arna bravely attacks Bera with a dagger, but the White Lady escapes with her half-brother.
King Zorgar and most of the population of Kyr are outraged at this attack, though the followers of the Wolf Cult see the Royal family as corrupt. Zorgar now accepts King Bjørn's offer of help, and calls in Harrek and his adventurers to help track down Wolf, Bera and Prince Kargax. As a reward for information leading to their capture, Zorgar offers a Barony of Kyr, including an hereditary title, a seat in Parliament, a large estate and a magic weapon.
In a speech to his followers in a Church of the Great Wolf ESCUS somewhere in the North, Wolf displays the captive Prince Kargax. He offers Zorgar the return of his son unharmed if he abdicates in favour of Wolf. He also offers as a reward for information leading to his killing of Zorgar, or for Zorgar's head, a Duchy of Kyr (a title which does not exist at present), including an hereditary title, a place in his Inner Council, an enormous estate and a magic weapon, shield and armour.
Zorgar's reply to Wolf is that Kargax is a Prince of Kyr, and any member of the Royal family is ready to die in support of their House if necessary. However, if Wolf harms a hair on his son's head, Zorgar will make it his personal mission to slay him.
Wolf sends Zorgar a gift of a curly blond hair.
Zorgar and Harrek set out from Gorreth with an army to suppress the Wolf Cult. Anti-Harrek propaganda in the North of the island reaches new heights.
A new shop opens for business in Fort Venture, dealing in Magic Items. It offers an Identification service, and a 5% discount to those signing up for the war effort in the Dungeons.
Riots break out in the streets of Gorreth on Kyr, apparently in support of the Wolf Cult. Zorgar's militia suppresses them, but the ringleaders prove elusive. Rioters questioned afterwards proclaim their loyalty to Zorgar, and seem to have thought they were demonstrating in his support.
The Imperial Cavalry emerges from the forest where the Midro turns South. Some 150 miles to the North, the Badlanders have outpaced them, and have emerged onto Caldrick Moor, galloping South East towards the River Caldro. Lord Marshal Tindral of Gytrasan is now the main line of defence against them, with a second Valdrean army held in strategic reserve on Skral's Road.
The long-expected Good / Lawful offensive opens in the Dungeons, not against the defences of Heaven, as had been expected, but with a series of co-ordinated attacks on Evil / Chaotic garrisons on the approaches to Hell, most of which are successful. Expeditionary forces from both Fort Venture and Dwarf Hold are now marching towards Hell itself, but it is a long way, and there are further garrisons which will now expect them. There is much Teleporting of Valdrean adventurers and Noble Champions between the Dungeons and the campaign against the Badlanders.
Zorgar and Harrek's army is attacked in Northern Kyr by the Wolf Cult at Vartan Pass. Wolf's berserkers and werewolves inflict heavy casualties, but the attack was expected, and Good adventurers counterattack, seeking out Wolf and Bera. They find Bera, who escapes, but Wolf is nowhere to be found, though prisoners swear he led the army in person. The main Kyrian army is forced to withdraw from the pass (according to Kyrian sources that is - according to the Wolf Cult it was routed).
Zorgar's regrouped (or rallied) army crosses Vartan Pass unopposed, and advances on the Wolf Cult's stronghold in the port of Vergaz. Reinforcements are sent up from Gorreth.
Zorgar retakes Vergaz unopposed. Most of the population welcome him enthusiastically. The ESCUS Temple is reconsecrated.
That night there is a riot in Vergaz. Zorgar's forces eventually put it down, but take heavy casualties. The army is now effectively under siege in the former enemy stronghold until reinforcements can arrive. But Harrek's scouts report that the Wolf Cult army is now holding the approach through Vartan Pass.
Nima's Magic Item Shop opened in Fort Venture. Business on the first day was brisk.
The Badlanders cross the R. Caldro. Arril's Imperial Cavalry is now some 200 miles to their rear. Tindral has maintained his defensive position on Skral's Road. The undefended populace in Midro Province to the North are beginning to evacuate.
The reinforcements from Gorreth (now led by King Zorgar) approach the Vartan Pass from the South. Meanwhile Harrek and King Bjørn have sallied out of Vergaz, aiming to trap the Cult at the Pass.
A second battle takes place at Vartan Pass. The Wolf Cult have the advantage of the higher ground and defensive terrain, but negate it by charging berserkly at the attackers. Both attacking forces fall back, with heavy casualties on both sides. The leaders on both sides stay out of the adventurer skirmishes.
The remaining Cultists withdraw into the mountains overnight.
The Kyrian armies join up, but are left with the problem of reoccupying a large area of wild and trackless terrain, which means they will probably have to split up again. They decide to use Harrek's adventurer scouts to track down and engage Wolf, whilst the main army reoccupies the North, and tempts him into battle. First they return to Vergaz.
Leaving a garrison in Vergaz, the Kyrian army marches towards Ravo. That night the Wolf Cult raid their camp. The adventurers almost catch Wolf, who Recalls.
Ravo bars its gates to Zorgar, who lays siege, watching his rear carefully, and calls up his ships for a blockade. Meanwhile adventurers infiltrate the town.
The Badlanders cross the Dyke of SARAN into the eastern part of Midro Province, close to the R. Caldro. They meet only light resistance from the Imperial Garrison, though adventurer support results in some heavy skirmishing. Arril is still some distance to their rear with his cavalry, and Tindral lies ahead of them.
Zorgar storms Ravo, with the adventurers taking the gates from behind. The Wolf Cult do not intervene, and he takes minimal casualties. But that night Wolf displays Prince Kargax in Vergaz, and leads another riot. There is bloody fighting as Harrek's adventurers intervene in support of the garrison, who hole up in the castle. Harrek leads his followers in search of Wolf, but the figure at the head of the rioters proves to be a scarecrow holding a doll.
Harrek makes a speech to the people of Vergaz outside the castle. He holds up the scarecrow and proclaims Wolf to be a man of straw and his words nothing but wind. Vergaz is held for Zorgar and ESCUS. Zorgar ships over reinforcements from Ravo. But although both Ravo and Vergaz have been recovered, the Wolf Cultists are still waging a guerrilla campaign from the mountains, and Wolf, Bera and the captive Prince Kargax are still at large.
Rendor, 2nd Champion of Satril and the new young star of the House, defeats Firanor in a Duel for the Championship of Satril, and immediately challenges Arril I of Tarm for the Emperorship. Kyarlin of Heaven promptly challenges the winner. The Duels will be held in Valdran on 10 and 11 Sarm.
The Kyrian forces attack a Cultist camp in the hills, but meet little resistance. Some Cultists surrender, others escape into the forest. Reports put Wolf in various locations across Kyr, still stirring up unrest.
A Kyrian force on the road from Vergaz to Vartan Pass beats off an attack by Cultist berserkers. Once again, Wolf escapes.
The Badlander army in Valdrea turns West, away from Tindral's force on Skral's Road, and following the left bank of the River Caldro through Caldro Vale towards its confluence with the River Midro. Arril's cavalry still pursues them, closing the gap to about 100 miles, and adventurer skirmishes continue. Arril's infantry is also moving to meet them across the hills from Cantif in Gap Province. Meanwhile to the South the Central Valdrean Army is mobilising in Kelno at the North end of Lake Zarak.
After a month's campaigning, the Good / Lawful offensive in the Dungeons is running out of momentum in the fortifications and dungeon complexes on the approaches to Hell. Meanwhile, the Forces of Heaven and Hell have counterattacked down from Heaven, forcing the Dwarves to reinforce in that sector.
There is still much unrest in Kyr. Zorgar is in control of his Kingdom, but is having to exercise military force to hold it, which itself causes further discontent.
An hour and a half after sunrise an omen appears in the skies above North Western Kyr. A shooting star in the form of a great red wolf crashes into the forest somewhere West of Ravo. The Wolf Cult see this as a Sign from ESCUS, and are inspired to an even greater height of religious frenzy. There are a number of clashes between Cultists and Kyrian patrols, and even stories of Kyrian troops switching sides.
The Cathedral of ESCUS in Bjarmigen put down what first appears to be an outbreak of the Wolf Cult heresy in Bjarmigen, but turns out to be DALA Clerics excited by the shooting star. However rumours persist throughout the North of a spread of the heresy.
That night there was a major riot in Ravo in Kyr. The garrison lost control, and there are rumours some of them even joined in. The Temples of ESCUS, KOROS and SARAN were attacked, and the ESCUS Temple was looted. By next morning large parts of the town were ablaze, and order was not restored until the 23rd.
The Badlander Warband reaches the confluence of the Rivers Caldro and Midro, having left behind it a trail of burnt and looted villages and farmsteads through Caldro Vale. The Valdrean armies are closing in around them. Arril's cavalry blocks their retreat through Caldro Vale, having closed the gap to some 75 miles, and his advance skirmishers harry any Badlander stragglers. Tindral's army on Skral's Road blocks any move to the East. Arril's infantry is in position across the Midro to the West, and the Army of the Central Provinces, under Imperial Weaponmaster Hugran of Tarm, lies to the South in Kelno Province. The bridges across both rivers have been destroyed by the retreating Valdrean militia.
The Badlanders freeze the River Midro, and escape across it towards Arril's infantry. This is rumoured to have been the work of Black and Red, the Changers.
"DALA is coming to Earth on 1 Sarm, and we have to get things ready for Her. We demand our right to be represented in this Temple! If you truly believe in peace and talking to those you don't agree with, then let us in now." (Darion, Cleric of DALA)
On 1 Sarm there was a protest at the Temple of Peace on Earth at Bjarmigen by DALA Clerics demanding that DALA be allowed to join the TPE. Many of them were wearing wolf costumes or carrying banners depicting stars, and they were infected with Chaos. When several of them tried to seize the confiscated Destruction Machine of WAGREN, the TPE Clerics had to intervene. The protest continues - peacably.
The DALA Clerics have set up their own "True Temple of Peace and Harmony on Earth" on the TPE site, and are complaining to anyone who will listen about being Peaced against their will. The TPE say they were Peaced because they brought Chaos to the Temple, and ask how they can have a Temple of Peace which objects to being Peaceful.
The Badlanders encounter elements of Arril's infantry, backed up by adventurers. In a ferocious skirmish the Valdrean shield wall holds, and the Badlanders are turned South.
Arril's cavalry crosses the Midro, using Part Water. The Badlanders shake off the Southern flank of the advancing Valdrean infantry, and head West again. They appear to have escaped the Valdrean cordon again, but Hugran has despatched his cavalry to pursue them, and the Western Provinces are mobilising to meet them. Lord Marshal Tindral of Gytrasan has now transferred his command to Iscador, and is preparing to defend the line of the River Dafrack. His Army of the North East on Skral's Road has been stood down, and its elements are returning to garrison duty.
"Hhoooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!" (a wolf)
The night of 6 Sarm was a Full Moon, and MIRIMI shone brightly over the Overworld, appearing to be high above the island of Kyr. In the wilderness all across the Overworld the wolves could be heard howling even more than is usual at this time of month. There were numerous reports of attacks by packs of wolves or werewolves, particularly along the wild Northern borders of the Kingdom of the North and in Kyr itself. In Northern Kyr adventurer, druidic and even (it is rumoured) Cultist camps were attacked, and some overrun. Victims have developed a particularly virulent strain of lycanthropy. According to the Temple of SARAN, it is a Chaotic infection, and any sufferer should be brought (incapacitated) to them for a Dispel Chaos in addition to Cure Disease. In return the usual reasonable donation is (of course) expected.
The Badlanders disappear into the dense Greenwoods.
In a controversial duel for the Lion Throne of Valdran, the Emperor Arril I of Tarm defeated the challenger Rendor, Champion of Satril. Arril went onto the Ethereal for over 25 minutes, whilst Rendor's Spells and potions went down. Rendor cast a Fly Spell, but Arril appeared Flying behind him, and the Sword of the Emperors danced in and beheaded Rendor from behind in the first second of Arril's attack. Rendor was not now regenerating, and so died.
The House of Satril immediately appealed, seeking Arril's disqualification for cowardice. Such hearings are held in camera, but Arril successfully defended his conduct. Sources close to the Emperor are understood to have indicated that Rendor was using protections which would have made him invulnerable to the Sword of the Emperors, and was therefore himself guilty of cowardice. Politically, Arril's tactics are seen as effectively a choice to execute Rendor. This is generally considered unethical for a first challenge, but is perfectly legal.
The day after Emperor Arril I of Tarm defeated the challenger Rendor, Champion of Satril, Kyarlin, Champion of Heaven, made his own challenge for the Lion Throne of Valdrea.
The duel lasted all of 26 seconds, concluding with both duellists beheading each other with their vorpal swords. Both regenerated, of course, and as the duel was a draw, Arril retained his office as the incumbent. But it was a close-run thing. The second previously Kyarlin had landed a hit on Arril's weapon arm. Seasoned observers say Kyarlin should have aimed for the head, but they also consider that Kyarlin was lucky, and that Arril still has the advantage.
Kyarlin has not rechallenged. Arril maintains his reputation as a survivor.
The distraction of the challenges overcome, Emperor Arril turns his attention back to finishing off the Badlander incursion. The people are growing restless at the trail of devastation left by McAndar, who has so far eluded no less than six Valdrean armies. But the noose is tightening again, this time around the Greenwoods. Arril's cavalry guards their Eastern edge, Hugran's cavalry is moving up their Western edge, Arril's infantry is closing in from the North, and Hugran's infantry from the South. Further West, Tindral is strengthening the forces on the line of the Dafrack. However, there are reports that they cannot find McAndar, whose Badlanders have still not emerged from the woods.
McAndar's Badlander Warband emerges from the woods. But not in Greenwoods Province in the North-Western Empire. They have come out of the woods on the South Eastern coast of Valdrea, and are riding into Three Rivers Province, threatening Zelvak. This is a peaceful farming area, with few standing forces, and the plunder is rich.
As news spreads of the Badlanders' sudden move to the South Eastern Empire, panic spreads amongst the rural populace. If McAndar can appear anywhere, and the Imperial Army cannot catch him, nobody is safe in his home! The latest reports place McAndar in Southern Plains Province. He has ignored Zelvak, and is heading West, burning and looting as he goes. Meanwhile Lord Marshal Tindral has transferred his command again, this time to Border. Hugran is in Melidor, and Arril is said to be in Zelvak, organising adventurer scouts.
The Badlanders enter the forest to the North of the Elven Roads and West of the Southern Plains. This time Arril is watching them closely with Druidic and Elven scouts. A general mobilisation is now underway in the Empire, as much to control the populace as to defend against McAndar. There are already reports of rebellion in the West Post Military Area.
The High Priestess of SARAN in the Empire announces that the Badlanders are using Chaos to move about. She urges everyone to behave absolutely Lawfully, so that McAndar cannot appear in their area. The people are unconvinced.
Today is the last day of Spring. It is also a Full Moon. Again the wolves and werewolves go crazy. Kyr is again in uproar, but this time there is an upsurge in attacks out of the forests of Valdrea. Mocking the High Priestess of SARAN, wolves cause Chaos, from the Imperial Hunting Forest on the shore of Lake Zarak to the wooded fringes of the Empire. There are also unconfirmed reports of Badlander raiders and Valdrean rebels.
Remember, says the rumourmonger, you heard it from me first!
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