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Seige Stories V

Story Emits


They came to the Great Cathedral where it all began, where the Pale Man first struck at the Compact and the Faithful. This group, composed of Gisele, Armel, Aureth, Aleksei, Fortunato and Freja, gathered for a desperate attempt to put an end to the terror spree that had gripped the city, and avenge the many innocents who fell to the demon's mad whims. And thus while Gisele, Aureth and Fortunato focused their efforts on a ritual they hoped would weaken the demon, Armel, Aleksei and Freja stood guard to protect them.

The attempt almost failed before it had even truly begun. Releasing a deadly poison upon the Templars guarding the Cathedral outside, the demon used the frenzied warriors of the Faith as diversion to attack those attempting the ritual directly. Worse was when fragments of the creature appeared from the sinister gifts he had given to his victims as part of his campaign to break their spirits.

Yet our heroes pulled through. Aleksei destroyed a fragment outright with his blade, Freja preventing the other from joining the demon's efforts in ending the ritual, while Armel kept the demon himself distracted. Gisele, despite being thrown halfway through the Cathedral, despite the demon's obvious intention to kill her most of all, rose up again to complete the ritual, with Aureth and Fortunato rising up to the task, unyielding in their devotion to the Gods and their intention to see the monster destroyed.

Our heroes threw everything they had at the Pale Man, and yet again, it almost wasn't enough. The beseeching of Gods went unanswered, and though Freja was successful in summoning the Spirits to her aid, they were not enough to prevent the demon from not only nigh crippling Armel, but almost saw both Freja and Aleksei devoured.

And when the moment was darkest, when all seemed lost, when hope died in the hearts of some... The Gods, finally, answered. The ritual was completed by Gisele, AUreth and Fortunato, and robbed much of the demon's strength, banishing it from the holy place that was and remains the Great Cathedral. Their hearts soaring with this show of favour, our heroes fought the demon with renewed fervour. Fortunato was able to light it up with divine fire, while Freja and Aleksei proceeded to stab and cut the Pale Man ruthlessly. Already on the verge of death, it ended when Armel's staff, imbued with essence anathema to the Abyss, struck the Pale Man.

And finally, he fell.

Though our heroes stepped out of the Great Cathedral wounded and bloodied, they did so with the knowledge that, on this day, they had finally freed Arx from the horrors of the Pale Man. And the sun that met them? Looked just a little brighter than usual.

Some might consider a wedding in the middle of a siege a bit gauche. Others enjoy the idea of hope and happiness it brings. They must plan for the future even if the entire future of existence is threatened. The wedding of Luca Velenos and Reese Grayson was a wonderful little affair, one that Reese Grayson wished to keep small and private, but her own delight over the wedding drew friends and family from all over the city. Vows were exchanged. Kisses were enjoyed. But before rings could claim fingers... another guest appeared. From the depths of the earth the ground shook, animals started going mad and crazy, and up through the ground a demonic bringer emerged. Any normal siege would naturally have tunneling, would it not? What about a siege with the end goal being the catacombs underneath a fortress city? Even more so. The Bringer was a bit disappointed that it did not find the Thinnest Point, its goal and entire purpose. It was even more disappointed when its eyes were gouged out viciously and without mercy by the groom and one of the guests as the other guests scrambled and dodged its massive sweeping arms and found hardened rocks embedded in its flesh used as armor. The Bringer died wailing and flailing as they only thing it accomplished was ruining the ending of a wedding.
Three disguised bringers and six sell swords invaded the Hart, seemingly intent on taking out the Princess Valencia. They appeared in the guise of lovely women and seemed particular drawn to the princes - Luca and Barric. The brunette had eyes for Lady Juliet. Eventually they were revealed to be bringers! Master Rickard fought the sell swords working with the bringers, taking out two and showing great skill. Master Tallius fired his arrows while behind the bar while expressing concerns for the level of danger in Compact. Prince Luca took on the howling bringer, silencing her with a stab to the lungs. Prince Aurelian and Lord Edward protected the Princes Valencia. Prince Aurelian was badly injured when he took a blow meant for the Northern Fox. Lord Edward got creative and fought sell swords with a bottle. Lady Viviana fought a giant bringer, the sword having great skill. Prince Barric was close at her side, displaying why he is the Sword of Bastion. Lady Juliet fought the tempting brunette. For a moment it seemed like they flirting, but Lady Juliet, along with the help of Lord Ansel was able to take her down. Lord Ansel fought well in that battle, protecting the Valardin, like he so often does. Prince Remi cut down the sell sword who injured Prince Aurelian, keeping him and Princess Valencia alive in the process.
It was not the assault on the gates that, where the Grandmaster of the Knights of Solace held her shield in the air and sheltered a young soldier with it during an arrow storm. Nor did Grandmaster Lyra Godsworn fall during the repelling of Bringers seeking to infiltrate the Pit. Nor was it while escorting Mercies towounded soldiers on the Wall during an assault. None of these events could take down the Grandmaster of the Knights of Solace. Lyra was set to be a fixture in the siege of Arx, her silver armor a beacon to all who saw her on the field; her clarion yells on the battlefield bolstering flagging hearts.

No, it would be something quieter that finally removed Lyra from the defense of Arx. As the sun rose over the city and Lyra did not arrive at her morning appointment, a knight was sent to fetch her. Shortly after, rumor began to spread... and by midday, a procession of Knights of Solace, in full garb, carried the body of Grandmaster Lyra from the House of Solace to the Great Cathedral for final services.

Grandmaster Lyra Godsworn continues her journey as a traveler on a road without end. May death guide her to the next path.

As the Siege has gone on, frequent gossip has arisen at court about the odd feud between a well known merchant Lazarus Mercier and House Grayson. Most assumed nothing much would arise from it, that seemed to come from some dispute about grain and alcohol or... something? It's a little fuzzy, and most are unconcerned, but then two days pass with no sign of Lazarus Mercier, until his body is found in the Lower Boroughs near the dockside warehouses, with his throat cut. No witnesses of the murder have yet been found by the Inquisition, but they are hoping some will come forward.