The Battle of Thalagor

By: Kaden Posted on: November 17, 2012

The Battle of Thalagor

by Scarlattan Kaden Vas'amaen-Ashaela

The dust settles and the blood spilled in anger begins to dry and it comes time once more for those who deal in quill and ink to chronicle and argue as to the causes and ramifications of these recent events. The Death of Ashaxei, the Divine Assault on Krenindala and the Duel between Valour and Suffering are but some of the events being furiously discussed by those who would dictate how this conflict will come to be remembered.

I am blessed to be both a scholar and a soldier. Very few historians can claim to have lived the conflict they set down to tomes to collect dust. I was there when the first adventurers breached the surface of Krenindala, I was part of the Cyrenian contingent that raided Mhaldor alongside Shallam and Eleusis when Bal'met was first called forth and I was also part of countless small skirmishes, as Mhaldor continued to spread corruption in Evil's name.

I could speak of all these things but I think nothing emphasises the strange compromises of those times than the skirmish I have come to think of as the “Battle of Thalagor.” Though perhaps not as important in the scheme of things as other events, it is a Lorewarden's duty to remember as much as possible for future generations no matter how small the event.

The battle began at a grim time in the history of Sapience. Mhaldor was alive with exultation at the result of Lord Daedalus' failed raid on Krenindala. Basking in the seemingly unstoppable power of their Lords' “weapon,” they resolved to spread the blight of Bal'met to the shrines of all those who did not follow their Seven Truths. By then, most Orders had already dismantled their shrines across the land and so they turned to those who chose to keep theirs standing. The Divine Order of Scarlatti, which I am privileged to be a part of, was one such Order. Our reasons were our own although we held no illusions that our shrines would be left unmolested.

Our turn finally came during the month of Mayan, 610 years after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire. I was unable to respond when the first shrine was twisted to Bal'met's purposes and I was eager to defy them when I responded to another attempt to corrupt in the far reaches of the north. Rushing through the Parthren Gare, I was dismayed to find myself against Ruth and Daeven in their draconic forms. I clawed and roared at them with all my might to no avail. I was quickly sent to walk Lady Maya's halls and the shrine was lost.

Two more attempts followed shortly and in each one I was driven back as two quickly became three and then four. Returning to my lesserform after my latest defeat, I opted to take a more considered tact. I was forced to my annoyance to sacrifice the next shrine they were corrupting in order to prepare a trap that they would not forget anytime soon.

With my Crystalism vibrations set, I monitored their movements until I saw three of them converging at my Lord's shrine in the ogre village of Thalagor. Opening a portal to them, I leapt through and sprung my trap by focusing my vibrations to me. Daeven had been quick to react to my presence, attacking me but by then it was too late as time slowed around us. Using my elemental mastery of Air and Water to freeze the air around me in order to complement my vibrations, I set to work, beheading both Ruth and Daeven while their companion Zephyros spasmed in agony, as he succumbed to the fearsome venom Voyria.

This was to be the turning point of the conflict. The Eleusians Siyad and Laila, reacting to the deathsights, appeared to offer their assistance. Siyad was an ally of Cyrene while the Grand Magpie of Lady Pandora's Order resolved to join the fight in order to thank my Lord for rescuing and caring for her stricken Lady. With the numbers suddenly evened, we were able to turn back another attempt with relative ease. We knew however that it was only a matter of time before they would return.

Our fears were founded when they crashed into us with larger numbers than before. Their monk banished me, keeping me out of the action for a short while. When I returned, I found myself in the midst of a pitched battle, as those who would defend my Lord's shrine fought desperately not to be overwhelmed. Slowing time around us once more, I turned my attention to keeping them all within the effects of my spell. Just one getting away would have been disastrous but my timing with my brazier tattoo was true and my allies outside the effects of the spell were quickly able to outsnipe the entire Mhaldorian contingent.

As we recovered from the fighting, I came to realise just who else had responded to the signs of battle—the Ashtani Mycen and Jarrel. They were soon followed by Roroan and a Cyrenian; my friend and former mentor in combat, Elianon. To say that it was a strange group was an understatement. Siyad in particularly kept commenting on how odd it was to join forces with Ashtani. Being of an icier nature, I was not surprised although I too found it bemusing to fight besides someone who has raided my city in the past.

With our numbers suddenly and dramatically bolstered, our thoughts turned to hunting. I stayed by my Lord's shrine, defending what I've come to consider our base of operations while the others hounded the fleeing Mhaldorians, frustrating their every attempt to corrupt shrines while dusting the shrines dedicated to the Lords of Evil. They chased them for days and even lead a lightning raid on the vaunted walls of Mhaldor itself. All throughout this, Daeven continued his dogged attempts to corrupt my Lord's shrine but I and those who stayed with me frustrated his every attempt.

With most of Mhaldor beaten back, our coalition dissolved as quickly as it formed. We had denied them and chased them back and our erstwhile allies departed to see to their own territories and concerns. In the end, it was just Marina, Elianon and I who remained to guard the village of Thalagor when Proficy and Daeven swooped down, split us apart and defeated us in turn before finally defiling my Lord's shrine.

Yet even that defeat was bittersweet. Sapience had cast its defiance against the seemingly impossible odds and our fragile alliance had denied them for days. No doubt, more shrines would have been corrupted that month had we not held out and tired them. Though the shrine had been lost, I have come to see the site as a monument to our spirit in the face of adversity.

I returned to Cyrene at the dawn of the new year and a new turning point in the conflict. Exhausted, I still found it in me to yell out loud in celebration as the news spread of Han-Tolneth's breakthrough. The embers—Ashaxei's remains—could cleanse the shrines of Bal'met's taint. Those who fought in the Battle of Thalagor were fortunate to have a brief taste of what was to come; the hope that Mhaldor and Bal'met would be cast back by the strength of those willing to defy them.