Siege Stories III
Story Emits
Rumor spreads of a small group who went down into the Pit: Princess Peregrine Grayson, Lord Rowan Greenmarch, Lady Niamh Greenmarch, Lady Khanne Halfshav, Lady Tikva Riven, and Tristan (of no particular name) descended into the pit with two Boroughs children, one of whom claimed to see a Bringer that no one else could having descended into the Pit. When they eventually emerged again, the group was grim, covered in thick, black Bringer blood... and short one of the two children. What happened in the catacombs beneath the pit is unclear, though some ridiculous rumor spreading among the Iron Guard speaks of magical songs, and inhuman barbarians cutting monsters in /half/.
The streets of the city buzz with talk, likely exaggeration, of a sizeable group of Bringers and their minions who attacked in broad daylight in the heart of the city, where it would be least expected. For reasons unknown, their target was the Storied Blade, and they managed to bring the place briefly under siege. It is fortunate that the proprietor, Miss Hana Grayhope, is quite sought after for her skills at the forge. Within the shop when the attack began were Lord General Tobias Telmar of the Crimson Blades, Lord Commander Silas Mercier of the Iron Guard, Sir Roland Bergere, Lady Fiora Malvici and Master Tristan of the Royal Stables. The stories claim that they slaughtered the first to begin the attack and held the door from within, cutting down at least two bringers as they pushed into the shop, while Crimson Blade mercenaries who were outside awaiting their general and the quick responding Iron Guard, pressed the enemy from outside. The result, it seems, was a slaughter...though claims are that not one of the defenders save Lady Fiora, who emerged holding a bow, went unscathed. Miss Grayhope is reputed to be unharmed, and quite thankful for the presence of her customers...and supposedly looking to hire part time staff cleaning staff.
Silks in the Lower Buroughs is always a strange thing, but these days Arx is a city of many many strange things, so a small group of Oathland Nobles - Princess Alis Valardin, Lords Ansel and Percephon Telmar - being spotted alongside a Lycene commoner with an angry bird (Leola Allenatore, she trained some of the hounds used by the House of Solace, you know). Supposedly they asked some questions of groups of commoners travelling by. Supposedly, they found a bringer. Saved the people it was travelling with, and chased it all through the Lower Buroughs - some of the abandoned housing settlements. There's been some collateral damage, and gods, did you see how battered they looked going back through the gates? Still, with the Hand of Mercy, Princess Sophie Valardin, on hand to take care of their injuries, everyone lived. Well, except the Bringer.
A report delivered to the Iron Guard by one Leola Allenatore (supposedly under orders from Lady Commander Dame Leona Thrax of the King's Own) have been corroborated by dock workers and Knights of Solace and left many of the city's finest torn between laughter and confusion.
The facts not in dispute are as follows: The Lady Commander of the King's Own came upon a group of people gathered at the eastern river bank in the Lower buroughs; the aforementioned Leola Allenatore, Princess Reese Grayson, Sir Armel Godsworn. Iron Guardsman Sparte Fatchforth and, at one point, one Joslyn Manicelli, the latter seen balancing on a raised ferrying-rope to get to the combat in question.
Per her report, Leola Alleantore was expecting refugees from the Gray Forest which had avoided notice of the Bringers. These turned out to be animals, pursued by three hunting parties of Abandoned, each led by a Bringer. About half the force of the three dozen abandoned and all three bringers were downed, with minimal losses, thanks the preparations and tactics offered up by Dame Leona and Sir Armel.
A number of animals have been temporarily brought to the Menagerie, mostly small woodlands creatures, but badgers, deer, elk and bears are among them.
That the Lady Commander supposedly shook hands with a stoat after the battle was done is widely considered to be a comedic exaggeration.