A Brief Interlude IV: The Fall of Malgen's Keep

As Told by Tarran Kratys, XIV Lord of the Westmarch

In the days of Malgen, First Lord of the Westmarch, the western frontier was a dangerous place - much more so than it is today. Monstrous creatures that roamed the Crimson Steppes continuously poured into Perrinwall threatening the lives of the early settlers. From his seat in Malgen's Keep in the pass through the Greycloak Mountains, Lord Malgen turned back these hordes time and again. The very stones of Malgen's Keep and those who dwelt within became the stuff of legends. Malgen's renown grew to such an extent that the Duke of Perrinwall came to visit him and congratulate him on his many successes.

Brehaus attacks Malgen and his warriors at the Battle
of the Smoulderng Skies

Unfortunately, the Duke's visit was discovered by a warband of savage monsters lead by Brehaus, a Fire Giant of immense power. They attacked the Duke upon his arrival, before he could reach the safety of the walls of Malgen's Keep. Seeing his liege lord in peril, Malgen, his wizard companion Zelligar and their men rode out to meet the horde and protect the duke. The battle, in later years named the Battle of the Smouldering Skies, was ferocious and bloody, and in the end the Duke managed to make good his escape. But Malgen, Zelligar and their men were not so lucky. Acting as a rearguard protecting the Duke's escape, their forces were vastly outnumbered. They fought bravely and secured the Duke's continued reign, though the price of such was their very lives. Malgen himself was the last to fall, brought low by the mighty sword of Brehaus.

Since that time, fell creatures have attended the battlements of Malgen's Keep, overlooking the only pass between the Westmarch and the Crimson Steppes. So entrenched are they in their demesne that the men of the Westmarch have been unable to unseat them for over 500 years. The keep itself is not only of symbolic importance to the lands of Perrinwall, it is of strategic importance as well. I fear that dark days are ahead of us and that if the keep is not retaken, and retaken soon all of Perrinwall could be in dire peril.

A Brief Interlude III: The Blood of Malgen

As Told by Lady Myrs Kratys of Kratys Keep

In the days following the Siege of Kratys' Keep by the Half-Orc Hallir and his Broken Moon Orc tribe, much was done by the peoples of the keep to rebuild. Walls were mended, the injured were cared for, and the dead were buried. Yet the Lord of Kratys' Keep remained ever concerned that the Broken Moon Tribe was not completely destroyed. For in the battle, the fabled gem called The Salamander's Heart was stolen and could not be located. Lord Tarran believed that some orcs had survived and made off with the magical stone. Being too weak from the many wounds he suffered during the battle, the Lord himself was not able to ride out and ferret out any straggling orcs. So he sent his son in his stead, along with a band of light cavalry to scout the lands to the east and north.

The Salamander's Heart

While out on this mission, Brand and his band were ambushed. It was not until some days later that we learned of what had happened. On the morning two days after his disappearance, Brand's severed hand was found at the foot of the front gate. Curled in its rigid fingers was a note. It indicated that if Tarran Kratys wanted to see his son alive again, he would bring The Salamander's Heart to Malgen's Keep in exchange for what remained of Brand. It was signed by one Mullahey, Blood of Malgen and Blessed of Gornadhun. This note brought both further confusion and concern to the already weary Lord Tarran, for if this Mullahey did not have The Salamander's Heart, then who did? And if the gem was stolen, how could he possibly deliver it to this Mullahey?

The people of the keep were too few in number and too inexperienced to mount an assault on Malgen's Keep to rescue the heir to the Westmarch, so the heroes who had proven themselves so valiantly in the keep's siege were sent for once again. Perhaps a well coordinated strike by a small band could succeed where an army would fail. Then again, Malgen's Keep would surely be prepared for any offensive action, and it could very well have been that we were sending these brave souls on a suicide mission. Only time would tell if this desperate attempt to save the Lord's son would be successful.

From A History of the Lords of Westmarch - Volume XIV

Part 3

By Lady Myrs Kratys

Moments after the main gate fell, the orcs attacking the north gate breached the keep. They rushed in, their rusted axes and spiked clubs swinging. The foremost of the orcs fell into a pit of boiling oil which was quickly lit aflame by Llewyn and several more of the savage beasts fell wreathed in flames and writhing in pain. Yet this did not deter the others.

Seeing the walls breached, the men in the main hall and tower bolted for the door toward the courtyard to lend a hand. Eswin herded the children from the main hall into the pantry - a much more secure room, and then dashed out into the courtyard to join the others.

Back at the main gate fifteen orcs charged in thinking to cut down the two druids standing guard, but a net trap rigged by the defenders fell on them tangling them up in a mass of limbs and weapons. The ogre entered behind and swatted a few orcs aside to gain entrance, killing them in the process. Kieren, hot with the blood of the fire giant began hurling chunks of bricks at the ogre hitting it savagely several times. The ogre swooned and nearly fell, but still came on. He stung Kieren with a mighty blow from his giant flail, knocking the young druid to the ground.

Goran Shae, in a moment of compassion for his pupil, called upon the spirit of the wood and transformed his staff into a mighty two-headed treant. But the young druid was far from bested. He picked his bruised body up off the ground and with one mighty swing from his scimitar cut the head off of the ogre. With the aid of the treant, he then made quick work of the orcs trapped in the nets. In a feat of strength I have never seen equaled, Kieren picked up a net with five orcs in it and smashed it against the keep’s walls, crushing their bodies into a bloody pulp.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the courtyard, the orcs which had felled Lord Kratys surrounded his son Bran, scoring several blows upon him. With his strength nearly gone, Bran was saved by the wizard Talos who summoned to him the power of Hypnos and put most of the orcs to sleep. He then sent his manservant Thurin in to slit the slumbering orcs’ throats.

Back at the north gate, the fighting was fierce. Llewyn, Salisbury and the attack dogs were keeping the orcs at bay – and much to their relief were soon aided by two contingents of peasants wielding swords. But out of the smoking rubble of the north gate emerged a unit of heavily armoured orcs and their captain, the half-orc Hallir. Weilding a black-bladed bastard sword named Heartrender, the half-orc called out a challenge to the lord of the keep. Salisbury took up the challenge and the two met amid the flaming bodies of several dead orcs, trading numerous blows.

When the attack dogs joined in on the combat, the half-orc cried foul. Appearing out of the gloom behind Hallir, Goomjaba the orc shaman materialized. Whispering prayers to some foul demon, he drew upon the powers of darkness to paralyze Salisbury. Hallir then began to beat upon the helpless Salisbury with his sword, sending him tumbling to the ground in a bloody mess.

Fortunately, Goran Shae was able to get to Salisbury before his lifeblood emptied to the ground and healed him of his wounds. Though he was unable to continue the fight, Salisbury was alive, and he limped to the rear of the defender’s line.

Goomjaba once again called upon the power of his fell demon lord and sent a wave of magical fear over the defenders, causing a unit of peasants, along with the druid Kieren running for their lives. The heavily armed orcs also managed to cut down a unit of peasant defenders. Things began to turn against the defenders once again.

Talos Magicks a Web to Capture Goomjaba

Knowing that if the shaman remained standing the keep would surely fall, Talos summoned his own magics and cast a web at the orc shaman. Too slow to get out of the web’s path, the orcish shaman was wrapped up and held prone by the ensorcelled web. Seeing his magical support neutralized, Hallir fought on in a frenzy, but one of the attack dogs managed to clamp its jaws around his throat and end his life. Eswin then strode up out of the night and quickly put an end to the helpless Goomjaba. The remaining orcs fought on, but by then it was a lost cause and they were quickly killed off by the remaining defenders.

It was a hard fought victory, and after all was said and done, the lord of the keep along with the valiant Sir Salisbury were bandaged up and need a week of bedrest each. On top of this only five peasants were killed. The attackers did not fare so well. They were slaughtered to a man, and the raiding of the Broken Moon tribe was finally put to rest.

When the smoke cleared and the cleanup began the next morning, the defenders realized that some orcs must have gotten away. For the fabled gem called The Salamander’s Heart had been stolen from the main hall and it was not recovered on any of the orcs’ bodies. For all the chaos, the battle had only lasted but a single night. The cleanup and the fallout however, would last many more. However, were it not for the bravery of the four visiting heroes, there would probably not be a keep left standing at all.

From a History of the Lords of Westmarch - Volume XIV

Part 2

By Lady Myrs Kratys

With preparations complete, the assembled defenders of Kratys Keep could do nothing but wait. The day wore on and still the orcs of the Broken Moon warband did not attack. As day moved towards night, there was an explosion in the forest. Eswin’s booby trap had gone off as the horde attempted to move their catapult. Orc limbs could be seen flying into the air amidst broken timbers and smoke. A cheer went up amongst the defenders as the first blow had been struck before the battle had begun.

As the sun set, movement was detected in the orchard around the keep. Orcs were moving in from two different fronts: from the north where the more vulnerable back gate was situated; and from the west were the main gate stood. Archers took up positions on the tower and the second floor of the main hall overlooking the north gate. Another unit of archers was positioned atop the smithy in clear view of the main gate. Kratys and his family, along with Goran Shae and Kieren stood just inside the main gate. Salisbury, Llewyn Kratys, the two attack dogs Cyrus and Canus, and a unit of heavy foot took up positions behind the north gate. The children were gathered in the main hall with five sheep dogs to look over them.

The bulk of the orcish horde appeared out of the orchard to the north, carrying with them a battering ram. They charged up the hill with shields over their heads for protection. Archers managed to lay a few low, but being untrained peasants most of their shots missed the mark.

Just in front of the north gate the orcs stumbled on a pit of pitch the defenders had dug. Eswin fired a flaming arrow into the pitch and two units of orcs were quickly immolated. The attackers however, were not deterred and continued on with their assault, reaching the north gate and beginning to hammer away with their battering ram.

At that moment, another group of orcs led by the hulking plate-covered ogre appeared to the west and began their assault on the main gate. Four units of orcs broke off with scaling ladders and moved towards the southwest wall. Kratys, his wife, and son moved to intercept them, while Goran Shae and Kieren stood by the main gate with the two hunting hawks. The ogre picked up a plough which had been set against the main gate and began using it to break it down.

Lord Tarran Kratys Defends His Keep

The orcs scaling the southwest wall were the first to breach the keep. Tarran Kratys moved out front to protect his wife and son, valiantly taking on the twenty orcs by himself. Unfortunately, there were too many of them. Though he fought with the bravery of the heroes of old, he was quickly surrounded and struck viciously from either side, falling to the ground in a pool of his own blood. Archers on the roof of the smithy moved over and began raining arrows down upon the orcs, taking out five of them. Brand Kratys, the lord’s son, moved in to delay the remaining orcs while his mother moved Lord Kratys into the barn to see to his wounds. After seeing his mother safely bar the barn gates, Brand retreated with the orcs in hot pursuit to the middle of the courtyard.

Things were beginning to look bleak. With the orcs inside the walls, some of the peasants began to panic, yet it was the courage of the five remaining heroes which kept them in check. The main gate was the next to fall. The ogre had battered it down with the plough and then sent the plough soaring through the air into the interior courtyard, narrowly missing Kieren and Goran. Eswin, Talos and the archers in the main hall took note of this and descended down into the courtyard to offer what aid they could. Seeing himself as the lone defense against the huge ogre, Kieren drank a mighty potion he had secreted away. His limbs began to pulse and seemed to grow in size, giving off an unearthly heat and his eyes began to blaze with the power of the eldritch giants of fire. His mentor Goran stood by calmly making no movement to defend the keep, watching his apprentice as if gauging the young druid’s worth. Fifteen more orcs armed with wicked axes barged through the remains of the main gate bearing down upon the two druids, with the ogre not far behind.

Continued…

From A History of the Lords of Westmarch - Volume XIV

Part 1

By Lady Myrs Kratys

The year 606AT was dying slowly, with workers in the fields around Kratys Keep halfway through the Tenthmonth. Many of the young men had left for Beltigost’s crusade against the mad king Aldurnus II, leaving but a handful of able-bodied men tasked with both protecting Malgen’s Gap and collecting the harvest. As such, the keep’s vulnerability was high and it was ill-prepared for an orcish attack. But fortune was with the people of Kratys Keep during that fateful autumn, as four brave heroes from the capital of Vodymsira had accepted an invitation from Lord Kratys to celebrate their liberation of the lord’s son earlier in the year. Were it not for their presence, the history of the Westmarch would have been very different indeed.

Sir Edgar Salisbury and elderly knight errant, Talos Redwand a nobleman and conjurer of modest skill, Kieren the wild druid, and Eswin the Tuathan elf arrived at the keep on the 10^th of Tenthmonth, dust-covered and weary from a four day travel. After they had cleaned and refreshed themselves, they were treated to a feast in their honour for deeds done in Brysgod some months before. Tales of high adventure were shared, thanks were given, and the celebration lasted well into the early hours of the morning.

When the sun crested the horizon to the east, the peasants and the lord were already hard at work in the fields. All day they toiled until at last the sun began to sink behind the Greycloaks and they began heading toward their homes. It was then that a watchman on the keep’s tower noticed a dust cloud moving in swiftly from the north. The pealing of the watchman's bell brought the peasants in with all swiftness and the gates were barred. Lord Tarran Kratys however, was not among their number.

Several tense moments passed; at last, Lord Tarran Kratys appeared from the cover of the orchard that surrounded the keep. He was bleeding heavily and had been pierced in three places by black-shafted arrows. Hot in pursuit of the lord were five bandy-legged, crooked backed orcs with murder in their big red eyes. Kratys hobbled his way to the gate and was hoisted over the wall through the efforts of Talos and his manservant Thurin, while Eswin and Keiren directed a unit of archers to fire upon the orcs. When all was said and done, Tarran Kratys was safe behind the walls of the keep and three of the orcs lay dead upon the ground, with the remaining two fleeing into the orchard for cover.

After the Lady Myrs bound the lord’s wounds, Kratys confirmed their fears. The Broken Moon orc tribe had taken advantage of the Westmarch’s vulnerability and marched on Kratys Keep to settle an old score. Watchfires were lit and stones of magical light were placed around the keep, as the freeholders made preparations for a siege. An hour after sunset, a lone orc carrying a flag of truce approached the gates. Claiming to be the herald of Hallir, leader of the Broken Moon warband, he stated the orc cheiftan’s terms. If Kratys surrendered, the orcs would slay the men quickly and the women and children would be taken as slaves. Knowing better than to trust an orc, Kratys refused. The fate of those within the keep would be sealed in battle, not surrender.

Hallir the Blood of Malgen, Half-Orc Chieftain
of the Broken Moon Tribe

As the keep continued its preparations for the siege, Eswin and Kieren left on a reconnaissance mission to gather information on the strength of the Broken Moon tribe. Eswin easily blended into the shadows of the forest with his elven cloak, and Kieren used his ensorcelled cloak to turn himself into a bat so that he might fly undetected above the orcish horde. While in the orchard, Eswin learned that there were near a hundred orcs in the warband, led by a brutish half-orc chieftan named Hallir. A gnarled old shaman by the name of Goomjaba and a heavily armoured ogre were also counted among their number. To Eswin’s dismay, he also learned that the warband was busy building a catapult and scaling ladders for the siege. Using a magical formula he had procured in his earlier travels, Eswin managed to booby trap the catapult. He also made an assassination attempt on Hallir which proved unsuccessful, so he melted back into the shadow of the trees. With Kieren’s aid, Eswin made his way around the orchard and managed to slay several straggling orcs along with five drummers whose pounding was weakening the morale of those within the keep.

When they returned to the keep, they informed the lord that the orcs were not yet prepared for their assault. In a last desperate attempt to find aid, the druid Kieren spoke to one of the lord’s hawks and instructed the bird to fly with all haste east to the Dimwald Forest, where it would find Kieren’s mentor Goran Shae. As the sun once again made its appearance in the east, the two hawks returned to the keep. One began to shed its feathers and grow, and within less than a minute Goran Shae, master of the Dimwald stood before those assembled in the keep. A glimmer of hope was kindled in the hearts of all those present.

Continued...