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Difference between revisions of "Steelhew War"
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== The fall of Hashan == | |||
Late in Haernos, the ruined city of [[Hashan]] found itself invaded by a small but vicious force of [[Troll]] irregulars in black armour. The disorganized and for the most part unarmed populace was swiftly driven into their homes or cut down in the streets, allowing the Vagrant Queen, [[Juxa Steelhew]], to siege the throne room of the Regent of Hashan herself. Before an audience of terrified trolls, curious onlookers and armoured soldiers, Steelhew directly challenged first Prince [[Koggab]] and then his mother, [[Ogba]], slaying each of them in turn despite their most vigorous efforts to the contrary. Although the Queen was a mighty warrior by any means, it soon became clear that the legendary and newly recovered [[Demon Blade|Sword of the Troll King]] in Steelhew's grip was the source of both her power and her fury; her berserk assaults were entirely without control, and soon the victorious new Queen of Hashan set about herself, killing her allies and the crowd of onlookers alike. Even the Divine fled before her wrath, stating that the legendary Blade was a God-killer and leaving Hashan to the mercy of its new leader, who promised a rapid end to the [[Ankyrean]] legacy of the north, and a rapid return to glory for the Trollish people. | Late in Haernos, the ruined city of [[Hashan]] found itself invaded by a small but vicious force of [[Troll]] irregulars in black armour. The disorganized and for the most part unarmed populace was swiftly driven into their homes or cut down in the streets, allowing the Vagrant Queen, [[Juxa Steelhew]], to siege the throne room of the Regent of Hashan herself. Before an audience of terrified trolls, curious onlookers and armoured soldiers, Steelhew directly challenged first Prince [[Koggab]] and then his mother, [[Ogba]], slaying each of them in turn despite their most vigorous efforts to the contrary. Although the Queen was a mighty warrior by any means, it soon became clear that the legendary and newly recovered [[Demon Blade|Sword of the Troll King]] in Steelhew's grip was the source of both her power and her fury; her berserk assaults were entirely without control, and soon the victorious new Queen of Hashan set about herself, killing her allies and the crowd of onlookers alike. Even the Divine fled before her wrath, stating that the legendary Blade was a God-killer and leaving Hashan to the mercy of its new leader, who promised a rapid end to the [[Ankyrean]] legacy of the north, and a rapid return to glory for the Trollish people. | ||
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== The purge of Hashan and the march north == | == The purge of Hashan and the march north == | ||
With organised opposition from within utterly crushed and the rebellious populace dead in the street, Steelhew turned her armies north, claiming the long-abandoned village of [[Tasur'ke]] as a defensible bulwark against [[Spinesreach]]. Construction of barricades soon began, and sorties by | With organised opposition from within utterly crushed and the rebellious populace dead in the street, Steelhew turned her armies north, claiming the long-abandoned village of [[Tasur'ke]] as a defensible bulwark against [[Spinesreach]]. Construction of barricades soon began, and sorties by lone adventurers and [[The Eastern Coalition|the occasional organized assault]] began to crash against the cliff-face of Juxa's men. Although initially suffering many defeats, the Steelhew armies rapidly adapted, forming into distinct division of channelers, archers and infantry to deal with each threat to come against them. With the appointment of her Grumgesh, [[Grufin Stonehand]], to oversee Tasur'ke, Steelhew visited [[Ayhesa Cliffs|the Spellshapers of Ayhesa]] and [[Three Rock|the Trolls of Three Rock]] in turn, securing an alliance against the north. Overtures to [[Stormcaller Crag]] and the [[Isle of Mostyn]] were returned bristling with arrows, and [[Damariel|the Unbound]] and [[Maghak|the Sovereign]] spat their defiance of the creature who sought to steal their people. | ||
== The death of Dorin Silverbeard == | == The death of Dorin Silverbeard == | ||
Meanwhile, many individuals mounted investigations into the mysterious return of the Demon Blade and the circumstances surrounding it. | Meanwhile, many individuals mounted investigations into the mysterious return of the Demon Blade and the circumstances surrounding it. Phoenecia and Xavin of [[Duiran]] met with significant success, isolating the recently assassinated [[Dorin Silverbeard]], original reforger of the broken Demon Blade, in the mines of Moghedu, where he had been living a life of penance for the sin of allowing the Blade to be remade. His death posed a significant setback, but perusal of his notes yielded plans for an alloy of [[Ylem#Black Ylem|black ylem]] that may prove effective at damaging or containing the fell energy of the Blade. Study of the materials involved led the searchers to the distant [[Stormcaller Crag]], where their metalworkers were said to have an understanding of working with impure venantium. Oxha, a Troll woman of some repute, argued incessantly with the pair, eventually agreeing to forge crossbow ammunition with the lethal substance that would be suitable to kill the Demon Blade's wielder. | ||
Unfortunately, this process was extremely time consuming; no result was obtained before the end of the war and the fall of the Steelhew Regime. | Unfortunately, this process was extremely time consuming; no result was obtained before the end of the war and the fall of the Steelhew Regime. | ||
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== The fall of Steelhew and the rise of Ruin == | == The fall of Steelhew and the rise of Ruin == | ||
In a final, vicious, coordinated push, Duiran and Enorian invaded Hashan from the south and west, cutting Steelhew soldiers down by the score and crushing their fortifications. With most of their men dead, the armies took the land surrounding the palace, but it was many months before the walls of glass finally broke and allowed | In a final, vicious, coordinated push, Duiran and Enorian invaded Hashan from the south and west, cutting Steelhew soldiers down by the score and crushing their fortifications. With most of their men dead, the armies took the land surrounding the palace, but it was many months before the walls of glass finally broke and allowed a Spirean scout within, followed by many curious travelers. Steelhew was found dead, pinned to her throne by the Demon Blade, surrounded by the massacred remains of her personal guard. The slaughter, having fed into the Blade for the entire duration of the war, finally proved powerful enough to free the possessing spirit within the sword; [[Ruin|a Demon identifying itself as Ruin]]. Upon gorging on one poor unfortunate before delivering Their benediction upon those watching and bequeathing the Blade itself to mortal hands, the Demon departed the warped chamber of glass, leaving laughter in its wake. | ||
The fighting was immediately vicious and bloody, with | The fighting was immediately vicious and bloody, with the Chairwoman of Spinesreach, Moirean, seizing the Blade and becoming tainted by its maddening whispers. In the end, even [[Damariel]] was grievously injured, and only the quick work of a Cabal agent allowed the Demon Blade to be secured and sealed [[Cabalists|deep beneath the Spirean catacombs]]. | ||
== The fate of the Demon Blade == | == The fate of the Demon Blade == | ||
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The conquering of Hashan and subsequent release of Ruin directly influenced the tomb of [[Odravh|the Abyssal]], stirring Him to wakefulness and allowing him to escape imprisonment. | The conquering of Hashan and subsequent release of Ruin directly influenced the tomb of [[Odravh|the Abyssal]], stirring Him to wakefulness and allowing him to escape imprisonment. | ||
[[Category:Wars]] | |||