Rysarius

Our trip to the Lions mainly highlighted again, as if we Bears need reminding, of the horrible cost of one person's folly. However, it was not all bleak, and it was surprising and satisfying to see how similar our factions are - and yet to notice the subtle differences.

We were made to feel most welcome on the Friday night, Prince Tremaine speaking with us and buying us all drinks, and their hospitality and comradeship throughout was flawless. That night there were apparently sparse attacks by would-be kidnappers, but safe inside their main hut and surrounded by Lions, we were never bothered and largely unaware of the goings on as they entertained us with drinks and pleasant company. We socialised mostly with the Prince Bishop's Men and with Sister Bethany, and with my friends in the Bards, though not solely by any means - all were welcoming.

Saturday was the planned war games, but before they could get started the folly struck. A lady by the name of Crystal got it into her head to visit with Benedict Darkendale, a former Lion and now unliving spectral monster, whose twisted pattern was trapped in unlife to avoid being sent to his patrons - including Satoon. He beguiled Crystal and sent her back to call for aid, luring a group of 16 through the transport circle to rescue an apparently trapped Lion. Only 6 returned alive, as Darkendale had control of the circle to which they traveled.

We were then attacked as waves of his unliving poured through the circle, transported by ghoulish creatures able to exploit the powers there, including those recently fallen - now raised into powerful ghoul-like beings whose blows paralysed their foe. We had tried and failed a rescue attempt as Darkendale shut down the circle, and no others were close enough to reach him in time. The shock of the attack, and of seeing former comrades - not known for sure to be dead - turn on them destroyed the cohesion of the Lions, and it became a desperate battle. I had to watch my dear friend Debreni, confronted by her now unliving husband, walk towards her doom - desperately I intervened and pulled her free. But alas, it was not enough, for such horror and despair had destroyed her reason and will to live - and, having talked and walked with her, the moment I left her in the watch of others, she took her own life.

Shock and grief covered the Lions, and overshadowed their attempts at war games later that day. Stan MacTrew took part, but the rest of us watched as observers, too shocked and numbed by what we had witnessed. The Lions unity was stretched, tension and blame and grief rife, as their new leaders sought to assert their authority. However, what is certain to have come from the following day, is a revitalised sense of unity and purpose - of togetherness in the face of sheer horror. The Lions tend to work in their groups, much like our clans, and are struggling to gain an overall unity and cohesion - which is where they hoped to learn from us, having witnessed our triumph on the Gathering Field. The war games were occasionally interrupted by gangs of beastly constructs, very weak creatures, sent by another Lions foe - one apparently suspended, dead but not realising.

The evening saw more attacks, these mostly from lesser unliving and spectral creatures, myself and Hucklebury joining the Lions guards in their defense. A number of fights emerged, and soon we all were engaged, fighting on two solid fronts against waves of foe - however, lessons learned, the Lions proved themselves vastly more organised and determined than before, and we triumphed without loss. Their scout teams, and the Prince Bishop's Men, proved particularly effective. Later that evening, we were privy to a very telling and sacred part of Lions belief - as the ferryman turned up, calling the recent dead and claiming the fee for their passage home. The Bears present immediately offered their financial support, which was gratefully acknowledged but fortunately unrequired at the last. I do not know what happened to Sebastian du Pont, Debreni's husband, but his pattern apparently had 'found another path'.

The following morning, after Sheyna's (former High healer) trial - from which she was acquitted, it was decided to try and lure Darkendale to the island and destroy him once and for all. A skirmish team was selected and tooled up, ready to engage Darkendale himself at all costs and destroy him. First we had to fend off the unliving that had arrived overnight and assailed our base, and these largely spectral creatures - again, many paralysing our fighters - were once more driven off and destroyed without loss - boosting our morale and confidence. As Darkendale fled, we pursued, and alas that was where things fell apart... for it seemed he had another trap prepared, and had saved his most fearsome, pattern-ripping monsters for this act.

Split into two halves, we were assailed from all sides, and as the dust settled it seemed that the only standing were those that had been paralysed, except for Darkendale and his minions. Tremaine was captive, a blade to his neck; the strike team had been cut down mercilessly, their weapons useless - for Darkendale had seemingly grown immeasurably in power and even magical items had no discernable effect upon his shell. And all his fearful destructive energies could be channeled through the touch of his blade - harming, rending patterns, paralysing. The dead and dying littered the field.

We were only saved as Her Majesty freed their warleader from her paralysis so she could speak with Darkendale in a kind of truce. It seems that all he actually wants (other than 'another island') is for his pattern to be utterly destroyed so he can avoid his inevitable fate; he eventually allowed us free reign to heal the fallen, though a minor skirmish broke out, whilst the new prince elect vowed that this would be done. We were too late to save at least 30 Lions from their death; how the Bears survived, only Anu's Grace can answer. Then he and his forces left the island to us and our dead.

A dark, dark day - and we truly thought it our last as we looked on Darkendale's evil form. However, even at this low, there were still Lions in between him and her Majesty, ready and willing to give their lives in her defence. I would earnestly urge that if anyone can help them deal with this monster, and enact his wishes, that they step forth. It was too like Dai McTaff, from what my sister has told me, to be true. However, we owe our existence to his 'mercy'.

The Lions were woefully short of archers, but those present - bolstered by Lorelai - displayed their excellence. Their strength is in solid, defensive lines - where they are nigh on impregnable. With a wall such as that to bolster us, the Bears skirmish fighting on the offensive would make a devastating duet. The Lions unite through their desire for Justice - for all the peoples of Erdreja - and dearly wish to ally with us. Their high opinion of the Bears soared through our contribution, the Prince Bishop's Men adopting us as their own and pledging their full support if ever our clans were in need - we sported their tabards throughout the weekend, so that all may recognise us as friends. And Lemming has some excellent ideas regarding the Gathering Charter, Rituals, and dealing with 'bully' factions.

In a time when we need all the friends we can find, we need look no further than Lantia to find an ally with common goals, grievances and intent.

 

All Works are © Original Author

(OC Author - Paul Martin)