The Fate of Triel Redux

[DM Novus]

The river that flows around the hilltop of the village of Triel, has turned the color of blood.

The Black Orcs now dump the bodies, entrails and viscera of that which has not been devoured, into the river, washing themselves, their hide armors, their black shaggy fur, from the stains of their past meal. The feast was mighty, as the elite warriors under the demanding yet successful leadership of Gajutar Spearback, bloodhunter and devote of the Beastlord, filled their bellies of fresh meat and sharpened their tusks upon raw bone.

The hill and village was claimed by might and cunning, and Gajutar, standing proud and victorious over the village, howls in the night, as this warrior elite rampage in and beyond the village gates, thrashing through the farmlands, settings buildings on fire, knocking over wagons, felling trees from which to carve new arrows, urinating the scent of animal victory over stone, pole and upon road.

What remained of the Black Orcs from the failed assault upon the elves of Doron Amar, have now claimed a victory, shown their strength to their Gods, and have returned a full rage-infused chaos-bringing blood-lusting force of evil that darkens a point on the map of the region of the land of the great city of Baldur's Gate, and those that call it Home.

But...the Orc is not sedentary. No, it is a nomadic, death-seeking wave of terror that moves from place to place, seeking to satisfy it's hunger to overtake all that would give challenge...as Gajutar demands it, so shall it be under his leadership.

And now, that the Black Orcs have emerged from this victory over the village of Triel, it is only a matter of time before their chaos and evil seeks to bleed the land again...just as the waters around Triel now seem to bleed with the stain of battle.

Yet, as every story-telling bard would willingly admit, tales are written and sung only after the story has fully unfolded...for even the Gods cannot see the future....


///Time to get the ball rolling. Herewith, an RP thread to situate the future actions determining the outcome of Triel. Plan and initiate actions here, or if needing privacy to enact, send them to the Assoc. DM and DM Private Message group channels. A few of us DMs are running the storyline from different angles. We hope you'll get involved where you see it fitting for your PCs, guilds and factions.

[Maverick 40]

[DM Novus]

The village on a hill is teeming with black, hairy masses...

Fires burn from most houses, corpses of fallen mercenaries lie strewn from altar to bridge to village gates.

The fierce chieftain stands atop the steps and chortles as his warrior elite strengthen limbs via the breaking of carts and fences, stacking the wood into makeshift barricades and bonfires all across the farmlands surrounding the hilltop village.

Two warriors standing guard along the southern drop of the hill catch the faintest whiff of elven blood...and walk to the lower areas near the entrance to the rusted and jammed gates to the old mines that lay below the hilltop.

The nearly press their snouts along the gate and towards the entrance, turning to each other and grinning with certainty that the scent-mark of elf-blood was surely left here.

Taking their weapons, they directly bash through the lock, crashing apart the old gate and walking straightaway into the dark and unused mine. There, near the entrance they wait and breath, allowing their racial gifts to reach deep within the mines and catch any flavors that lay upon a nearly dead and neutral, undisturbed air...

"It is near...," one warrior elite snorts to his companion. It is then that something in the distance moves, and Orcs charge...directly into a wave of arrows that originate from deeper within. The excitement of battle fuels their charge as they reach their running land speed, allowing their scent to guide them deeper into the tunnels, chasing the scent as it runs away from them...

...it is then that a great flash of light momentarily bursts within the tunnels, stopping the warrior Black Orcs, temporarily startled...their darkvision having to adjust again as the bright white flash dissipates.

The two Black Orcs fume and growl in the darkness of the old mine shaft, as the creature which cast off elf stench, which gave rise to a hunt in which the Black Orcs had supreme faith they'd win to feast upon sumptuous elven flesh, had completely disappeared.

It is unknown knowledge whether the two Black Orcs will report this incident...the failure to capture and kill the intruder...to their chieftain.

Failure means death under the great leadership of Gajutar Spearback.

---

Rumor circulates around and near the Tradeway just north of the Friendly Arm Inn, that Duke Liia herself was seen traveling to—and entering—the Keep of the Order of the Silver Rose. She was accompanied by a small, elite contingent of Flaming Fist guardsmen, one of which carried a long yet thin wooden box.

It is said that the leadership council of the Silver Rose did welcome the Duke inside there Keep, where, after a few hours, the Duke left, still accompanied by her guardsman, however...no long and thin wooden box.

A few of the peasantry sit in wonderment seeing an actual Duke traveling the Tradeway, admiring her clothing and what must decidedly be a regal walk. Some, however, grumble that the Dukes are a self-ordained group of want-to-be royalty, that remain disassociated from the plight of the common man, woman and child.

A few of the more wise of the poorer class sit quiet, letting the chatter amongst the people whine down in time...for they know that there are many orders of the faithful that continue to carry on in defense of the people, no matter what the final cost will be....

[Maverick 40]

He entered Triel under the dark of night, smoke and ash which he could smell for miles was not all there waiting to greet him. He could hear the snorts and grunts of near a dozen Black Orcs near. He watched from the shadows as they howled and snorted. The beasts dagger like tusks, jagged and protruding from their lower vice like jaws seem to quiver with delight. Giant pyres stood behind them burning the bodies of those foolish enough to have remained within the former human colony.

There was nothing left but shells of buildings, the stone bridge and the wooden palisades of the fortification that once housed the grain meant to feed an entire human city for a season. These beasts had consumed and destroyed it all within the span of a few moon cycles. He could not believe the vast devastation which had been wreaked upon this land in so short a time. There seemed nothing left to salvage that he could tell.

He moved quickly but found the beasts had built fortifications guarding both the bridges entering from the north. He slid from shadow to shadow and near the creek bed of the northeaster bridge, took aim and tossed a pebble to into the water. Luckily these beasts were not as disciplined as his people and they rushed to find what they heard, spears and axe in hand, ready to tear at the water itself.

He slid in behind them and picked his way past the beasts, slowly navigating his way between them. Several stuck their snouts into the air, took giant whiffs and snorted as he passed by. They whirled about to find what they smelled but the smoke and ash worked to block their terrible sense of smell. They sneezed and cried out until their betters came forward to scold them with licks upon their scalps with wooden clubs, beating them back into formation.

He had already moved east, to circumvent the main body of Orcs that lay strewn before the Fort's entrance. That is when he saw what fueled these great pyres. The bodies of several of the farmers who were captured. Their bodies broken, those left unburnt had tongues hanging out and each body was torn apart at the center where their intestines had been pulled out. Their was no need for this desecration he thought to himself as he stared momentarily into the fire. He remembered a similar scene which had played out once before when he was a child and he felt his pulse quicken at the thought.

He prayed the lord would cleanse these souls before their passing. He then prayed, that he would be given the strength to exchange each and every one of these beasts souls for the safety of his own people. These beasts, this plague upon the world and all their wanton destruction went beyond any need. They were as a void that things did pass, never to return again. There was nothing he wanted more, than to stop this void before own his people might come before their passage.

He left the bodies to burn and his pulse quickened............

[flipside43]

After hearing the reports of events to the north, a messenger leaves the Order of the Silver Rose Keep in haste headed back to Neverwinter. Several Knights leave shortly after seeking out their allies.

[Maverick 40]

He looked up to the skies and saw the falcon circling overhead. "Come friend", he cried out and the falcon swooped down to rest upon his arm. He took the last of the scouts reports held in a pouch tied around it's neck. His eye glowered as he read the note, their fears it seemed came to be realized.

Those gathered around him waited for word. "It tis the Zhentarim, they patrol the north", he stated and he heard the dwarf give a slight growl. There behind him stood a stout heavily armored dwarf and the half-blood he called brother by law. "What do I tell my people.....", he asked and looked to each before finishing, "do we move to battle?".

His voice sounded near venomous, the thoughts of the Zhentarim's actions to kill his people and turn that human town of Triel into rubble still fresh in his mind. The two men beside him offered their answers and Laisren quilled a response message and bid the bird of prey fair winds, for they were going to battle........

They had split up into battalions, to pass from the west and the other from the north. They had hoped to catch these Zhentarim before they might make contact with the Orcs who were once their machine of their destruction. The elves had took the northern road and came to the to the what had seemingly become a battle field, as dead orcs and humans lined the road. Laisren paused and gave orders to his people, each knowing their job well, each trained and battle hardened.

Suddenly a great wind swept over the fields and a blot of the moon light drove them all to sudden defense. They then saw the great fear of many a fey blood creature, as a Green Dragon roared through the sky. The elves saw it move off to the south and where it did land, lay the camp of their enemy. They knew then, that this threat was more terrible than they had anticipated.

They remained paused, arrows notched and blades at the ready as one single human approached from the south and sought council. He asked for the leader of their war party but no one gave response until Laisren stepped forward. "What do you want?", the elf asked to which the man replied, "The Imperceptor wishes speak with the leader of you party!".

"Then tell him to come forward and we shall speak", Laisren retorted. "He would meet you on the field before our camps, he will come alone and asks you do the same!", the man replied giving pause to the elves. They all looked to Laisren, stating it was a trap but the elf nodded, "Tell him I will meet him when the moon next reaches it's zenith" he stated and the human walked off.

The elves set camp and waited, each taking turns on watch while some whom were able took reverie. Then night came, they lit the fire and set smoke into the air. The night was chilled but most were rangers, highly trained and prepared for the rigors of the wild. No, this was not why they lit such a large fire. That was meant for the others, the dwarves and others rallied by Master Dolinar and Mealir Ostriel. It was not long now, before the moon would reach it's Zenith and they prayed that the elve's reinforcements would now be on the march.

Laisren prepared himself, calling out the words in arcane to make him near impervious to harm and conceal himself within shadow. He walked out to the field before the two camps, as he did he searched around for signs of foul play. He saw none, then he came before the human whom he knew to be the enemy to all his people, to free people everywhere and this man simply smiled a cruel grin toward him.

"Why have you come here elf?", the human stated. "I come to tell you to lay down your arms and move on from these lands, in this we might avoid bloodshed", Laisren stated. The man nearly laughed at this, "Why would you seek to stop us from hunting these Orcs?", he asked amused. "You hunt the Orcs?", Laisren asked though he already knew the answer. "Yes, we wish to see the township of Triel returned to it's former prosperity, do you not see we have all our bows and men pointed to the north", the man spoke and though the man did sound earnest, the elf knew to well the motives of men such as these.

"Then why did you bring the Orcs here?", the elf asked to which the man scoffed, "What, you think these beasts are ours?". The elf stared at the man with a great malevolence for he knew ones such as he drove these beasts to destroy the lands he once called home, the very beasts that laid waste to the township of Triel, nearly killing he and his allies. This man was aware of all this but Laisren also knew something that the Human did not think he did, "Then tell me, why did you send those men disguised as mercenaries of Soubar to undermine the towns defense, if you wished it kept whole?", he stated in a cold tone.

Then as the man's eyes grew to slits, Laisren heard the reinforcements coming from the west. He waited for the man to answer but nothing was forth coming. Laisren knew any answer the man gave now would be a lie and so in one motion he unstrapped the bow from his back, notched an arrow and pointed it to they sky. "You have one last chance to answer, to avoid bloodshed", the elf shouted no longer looking at the man but up at the sky.
"Let us discuss this once you have helped us.......", the man began to speak but he was not able to finish before Laisren let fly the arrow which flamed into the night.

Laisren turned to give one last malevolent look toward the man and then slipped back into the shadows. He backpedaled toward his party as he felt the gentle wind and heard the gentle footsteps of elven archers moving by him, unseen but for the keenest of senses. They were going to rain death upon the Zhentarim, he paused to issue forth a single arcane ward to make turn his slender frame into an instrument of war, entered back into the shadows and followed his archers foot steps.

Just as he did he heard the first volley fly over the field to strike the encampment and a great war cry from the Dwarven commander Dolinar as he and his battalion rushed forward. Then hell followed, the kind of hell that only a soldier might know. He crept ever closer, as the barricade loomed ever larger until he was near the gate and then he saw his target. It was a young dragon that burst forth from the gate with elven arrows stuck within it's thick hide.

It broke into the open field after those who had impaled it with these arrows and Laisren knew it must be stopped. He broke from the shadows and caught stride with it, slashing for it's tendons and attempting to expose it's flank but alas it's hide was too thick. It stopped though and wheeled back toward him, swiping out with one of it's giant claws. Laisren tumbled backward and entered the shadows once more.

The beast confused drew fire down upon the area before it but Laisren already had move behind the beast and slashed forth with his blades again. This time he stuck one blade between it's thick scales exposing a wound. This hearty beast could not be bested by such minor wounds but Laisren fought on as he had been trained by his master, the N'Vhaelarn. He danced as much as much as fought, evading, slashing and then disappearing into thin air only to reappear behind the beast to slash once more.

He did not have time to see what else happened around him but suddenly others joined him and the beast began to succumb to it's wounds. He and his allies chased the beast back into the confines of it's camp when suddenly a great arcane power burst all around them, killing some of them instantly and stealing the life force of those whom remained. Laisren stopped and then saw a throng of Zhentarim break before him, a dark cowled wizard at the rear riding a wave of dark warriors and assassins charging out.

He regrouped himself and sought out his next target but as he scanned the field he saw only his allies fighting a desperate struggle to survive. He saw Lady Laya of Doron fighting a terrible battle with a black knight wielding a great sword, slashing it before him as if it were a mere knife. He broke for Laya , watching her fight bravely to take her foe but time began to slow and he strained to hasten himself as if in some cruel dream. Then suddenly he was there and dove into the giant knight from behind, slashing out to drive his blades between the gaps in his armor.

Blood flowed from the wounds and as the knight began to turn Laya drove home her blade into the exposed wound in his back, killing the knight in a great spray of blood. Laisren did not even turn to look at her, he looked back to the field and saw the Wizard finally out within the open. He slunk into the shadows so as not to be seen, he heard the cries of his friends but he knew there was nothing he could do now but fight on.

Just as he came before the dark cowled sorcerer, the being blasted out negative energy was more to take the life essence from those near and Laisren winced in great pain but he still persisted. He came upon this malevolent force and drove his blade with all his strength toward the center of it's chest but in this he did err. The blade swiped through air and the image of the wizard turned upon him. It called forth a pool of acid but Laisren's reflexes had been honed over years of training to the point of clairvoyance and he tumbled away but this left him open as two assassins drove down upon him.

The first assassin set upon one of his own mirrored images but the second nearly struck her blade deep within his belly, if it not for his skin being stone itself. Laisren moved to create distance but it was too late for he heard the great roar of the true beast and the ground beneath his feet quaked. He felt a giant gust of wind that nearly knocked him to the ground but he caught his balance and began to run. The assassins took chase but they could not catch him as he ran desperately.

That was when he felt the shadow over take the moon light and a giant claw rip down through his thigh to pin him to the ground. He cried out in great agony and dropped his twin swords. Laisren clawed out with the palms of his hands, trying to crawl away but he was hopelessly pinned to the earth below him. It was then that he felt the giant beast's breath blowing upon him and felt it's acid drool slopping down upon him, singeing his back. He grimaced and closed his eyes when he heard the beast growl in a language he did not understand, feeling the alternating heat of it's breath between it's words. He knew what was to come next......

Suddenly he heard a voice shout out, "What are you doing, they are getting away!!". Then he felt the beast rear up behind him, it cried out angrily in that same language and then just as it suddenly appeared, drew out it's claw and launched into flight. A giant gust of wind was the last thing that Laisren felt and it was gone. He slowly and painfully looked up to see the bodies of his allies strewn out across the field, pools of blood everywhere.

He sank his head to the ground and resolved himself to finally let pass. He hoped it would be enough, enough to stem the flood of darkness from these northern lands, at least for a time. It did not matter any longer, he could only now prepare for his god to purge him of his sins, he hoped that this would not count amongst them. That was when he felt a grasp grab his belt and yank him up. "Move, now!!!", it said in elven but he could not tell who it was.

He was then moving, being more dragged slowly and quietly threw the fields of dead bodies back towards the north. He began to limp on his one good leg, he resigned to live this day but he would never forget it. He looked back one last time across the field, not for the rest of his long life...........

((Now Edited))

[DM Novus]

The Fate of Triel rushes to revelation.

A dark force has arrived and puts pressure upon the Black Orcs that still hold Triel in their crushing grip. The Black Orcs do not flinch, no...the battle drum only beats louder, now, from the township upon the hill. One of the greatest known bloodhunters of the Beastlord stands at the town gates and howls in the dark night to his elite Orc tribesmen, riling their anger to a whirling frenzy.

The fires begin to burn higher in Triel. And the Black Orcs do not wait long for the moment of battle.

Other forces bear down upon the region of Triel, as well. They are many, but scattered. The are empowered, but leadership to rival Gajutar has yet to be chosen, instilled or taken.

Chaos reigns supreme for the time being...

...one could say, and for that reason, that the Black Orcs have already won...


/// This weekend will see some major development, if not completion, of the Fate of Triel storyline. I will be hosting mini-events Friday from 20:00 GMT-0 onward for a few hours, then, as well on Sunday, from 16:00 GMT-0 onward. There will be multiple DMs running events with their supported Guilds on Sunday. If your PC or Guild has reason to be involved at this stage, and you are not already in contact with me or another DM over PMs, please do so now.

[DM Novus]

Coordination and leadership won this day...and proved that those that follow the path of the righteous and protect those in need are near unstoppable when working with common goals...

Allies were formed in Thurder's Ride, combining forces from the Order of the Silver Rose, the Radiant Heart, the Elder Circle, Elven representatives, as well as the dwarves of the Sword Coast...even a fair number of rogue players lent their expertise.

This group of Allies approached Triel, beginning in a small pack, eventually arriving as a large, formidable group, as many arrived in haste. Scouts were sent ahead to survey the road leading up to Triel, from the south.

The scouts spied two things: a collection of decomposing bodies—bearing rusting marks of the Order the Silver Rose upon armor...the lost fallen from the first Triel attack—and nearby, a blockade of Black Orc snipers and patriarchs, holding the road with summoned elder earth elementals and umber hulks.

The scouts surveyed, and returned to the leaders of this Allied force...a plan sought and eventually determined by superior skill delivered to the group via members of the Elder Circle.

Yet, in the deliberations of strategy to retrieve the bodies and land a weakening blow to the Black Orc blockade, a speck of metallic green was witnessed flying high over head, from time to time...and eventually, a second form joined it, albeit smaller in size, almost imperceptible.

The forces were being watched.

With the attack plan set in motion, the Allied forces managed a 2-prong offensive, distracting many snipers to one area while launching a melee engagement from another area. It was a valiant attempt, which met with ultimate success: the bodies of the knights were retrieved, and none of the Allies perished...but, just as the Allies were close to demolishing the ranks of the Black Orc blockade and opening up a line directly to the farmlands of Triel, they called for retreat, and moved back towards Thunder's Ride.

The needle had come so close to pricking the vein, and letting the blood flow...

Now, the Black Orcs of Triel have been weakened. There is no way to know for sure, though the Allies would retain some information over the numbers of Black Orc slain. The Allies have camped in Thunder's Ride, resting from this engagement. Whether the Allies have a coordinated next move , is still unknown...and whether the acceptance of current leadership will hold sway amongst all that lend their sword to the fray.

North of Triel, sits another force of willful participants, newly fueled with knowledge of this south-of-Triel battle via eyes that spy from a great distance.

Often, what is seen first hand and thought to be in sight, is not the true force that manipulates the greater, long term effects....

///next events Sunday, April 28, from 16:00 GMT-0 onward. Server 2 will be employed this day. Multiple DMs are looking to be available. Guilds should contact their DMs, if they have one, to organize support, if currently part of the Fate of Triel storyline, so that we all can break up the groups and remain organized and focused on whatever outcome the players, and their PCs, decide of the Fate of Triel....

[Kaden Asen]

((And the connection info for the second server?

[Kaden Asen]

((as I asked here, and in a DM PM. . .I don't suppose someone could see clear just long enough to PM me the connection info?

[Kaden Asen]

I got in on the tail end, and I have to so -FANTASTIC- job. Faction leaders did great, players did great, and most of all the DMs from what I saw did a great job of keeping a fluid situation under their thumb.

Bravo!

[Kaden Asen]

//I got in on the tail end, and I have to so -FANTASTIC- job. Faction leaders did great, players did great, and most of all the DMs from what I saw did a great job of keeping a fluid situation under their thumb.

Bravo!

[7threalm]

//so its over?

[DM Novus]

For today, Sunday, yes. The event has concluded.

However, the Fate of Triel moves in a new direction...both in concept, and on Server 1, as of now.

Thank you all that participated. It was an intriguing end, to say the least.

[Maverick 40]

((I would like to thank DM Novus, his compatriots DM Boo and DM V for today's event. It was quite the undertaking and I think they pulled it off quite flawlessly, considering the great adversity it takes dealing with so many people.

Cheers to you all