The Gathering on Helenica

As we gathered on Helenica to face the coming storm, amongst the impressive relics and caves of the Drachnor people - dragon kin of ancient wisdom, our morale was high: camped in a large field, us and the Lions joined as one, we were there with one thought and one purpose: to lay our lives on the line for those back home.

This unity of purpose was swiftly shattered as the Northern Alliance retaliated for the attacks on the Vipers and Tarantulas of the previous Moots. Their forces drew against and swarmed our camps, swamping the Lions side but failing to penetrate that held by the Bears. The ungrateful Harts who we fed over winter joined our foes, preventing our allies the Dragons from intervening. Across the field, the Unicorns came to our aid - but could not tip the balance.

They dragged off a number of Lions, including Crown Prince Tremayne, and that was the last that we saw of them. May the Lady guide them home.

Retaliation followed swiftly the following day, the Vipers camp being flattened by our allies as we held the Wolves at bay: I have heard many great tales now of how the mighty McCaullich champions met the best the Norscans could offer on the contested bridge and felled them all - noble Laird Obidask finally throwing a flippant game to allow the Wolves to withdraw the field and return to their camp.

Many were slaughtered that day, as our allies showed that they had had enough of those that fought us - they had finally pushed too far. Now honour would be laid aside, the high ground abandoned, and no quarter would be given for those that had slain and murdered for far too long.

Alas many more fled in terror, to return with dark and daggers in the night. The butchers' bills were swiftly evened, the Prince Bishops' Men losing much of their strength as the killers continued their long feud with these visible heroes. Amongst the fallen, alas, the noble Jerusalem Steel – a cruel and crushing blow. As I knew he would, he laid his life aside selflessly fighting to rescue those in need.

The Clan MacTrew, also, suffered greatly: Ma losing far too many of her kin, including the valiant Slaine, her bodyguard and son and friend. I know there will always be a hole now by her side. All suffered, all felt loss.

The next day saw the fight to decide the winning cadre and to decide on the shape of our new world. The Bears fought for Peace, alongside Harts and Wolves and even the Tarantulas, would you believe (like we believed that!). We marched, we fought and we crushed any and every foe we faced - triumphant to the last - as our allies secured the items and performed the rituals across the other areas of the field. 4 groups of 4 items, 4 altars for the rites needed to dedicate them to our cause, and plenty of enemy factions to crush. The Vipers fielded openly for Famine, the Dragons and Lions for Feast.

The end result, I am more than happy to report, was in fact a decisive victory for Feast against Famine, and it is this cadre that will shape the new world. Satoon was destroyed by the valiant and selfless Tirell Dreamstruck, husband to the Lady Magravene of the Palatinate [Lions] – a fitting wedding present for his new bride. The celebrations, however, were marred by petty retaliation as a group of Vipers teleported away and slew the Champion of Good, Sister Bethany - light of Lantia. The world will be a sadder place without her smile and warmth, though at least her task was done and achieved, her rest well earnt.

There was much high spirit and unity within our allies and much camaradrie; as the Lions and Unicorns and even Wolves passed by our gates, they cheered and hurrahed our faction and we them. The Wolves tore up the Northern Alliance, much won by our valour and prowess and honour upon the field. So now the Vipers and Tarantulas stand alone and in the new world of Feast I see no place for their schemes and murder. The Wolves now court alliance again with the Lions, and - who knows - perhaps even the valiant and unquenchable Bears.

And so we each spent what may be our last evening with friends and loved ones, preparing for the final battle - to decide if the world we forged would have a chance to live, and to see who might be there to inhabit it. The Tarantulas and Vipers quaked in their camps and, by morning, they had gone - and good riddance! No part did they play in the saving of Erdreja for us all. Their killing sprees had left no faction untouched, and even the Drachnor had been struck and offended.

We formed up on the field as our brave contributors prepared to open the largest rift gate we had ever seen - to draw forth the evil forces of Entropy that sought to destroy us and our world. Four mighty creatures had to be destroyed swiftly upon their arrival, rites and rituals performed before it was too late. The Bears and all their allies were valiant and true throughout, as one lay swamped and surrounded by the demon hordes, the others rushed to aid them and crush their foes.

Rumours of Nosta Kar had us wary to the extreme, but face the terrors we would regardless - and terror itself was indeed upon that field. Never have I been party to such a titanic clash, so fearful a battle and so highly stacked the odds. Silver-grey creatures that petrified with a touch, demons that could rip you from your place and straight into the void, ranks upon ranks of huge beasts with crushing blows. And yet we were triumphant.

And as the dust settles, we will await the final bill and return home to count the cost. Lament not the many fallen but do remember them. Everyone dies; not everyone dies to save the world itself, all they know and love, and all they stand for. Their valiant courage will live on in our hearts, their heroic sacrifice must never be forgotten. I have no doubts that they will fight through any peril to find their way to the Cerridwen's halls and beyond. Now is a time to rejoice, and to rebuild.


Additional: Bards Competition report
Well, I took a gamble and arrived late - assuming that the competition would also start later than advertised - as I was entering a combat tourney in the Bears Camp. I was right, but they did manage to kick off by about 6.30 I think - only to be interrupted by rift gates opening in the Bears and Lions camps. As the whole Bears faction was largely there (as they had an en masse free entry!), there was a mass exodus to deal with that problem - and so I missed a large chunk unfortunately.

We arrived back just as Scratch N Sniff were finishing displaying their amazing talents with fife and drum, well deserved winners for - I believe - the second time. Dr Tapper came 2nd once again - a Bards tradition, it seems - and I am sad I missed his entry. Alas, I know not those who came third and also missed their entry - the Mermaids or some such.

The Bears Faction Choir performed their full-contact combat singing, a medley of Morning has Broken and The Lion Sleeps Tonight! Through the raucous laughter [of the audience] and wailing, Master Cosaint could be seen thumping his head against the judges' desk in a vain attempt to escape, and Captain Foxwhelp summed it up well as she announced at the end of the competition: 'the judges will now retire... permanently. To a small island somewhere... and never come back!' However, the Bears efforts were nonetheless commended by the judges. They finished with a rousing rendition of Ye Sassenachs, which the whole audience joined in with gleefully.

Myself and a young harper/singer were also commended for their efforts and two young lasses were also mentioned for their courageous solo efforts. As the judges totted up the marks, Cosaint entertained us as usual with the 'I hate you' song - almost drowned out by the support of the anarchic Bears who, it was remarked, actually behaved better than expected!

 

All Works are © Original Author

(OC Author - Paul Martin)