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The Horde Wars

By Cameron Hovis Volume II

Introduction

While we covered the emergence of the Blackspear in my first volume, we will look at their continued efforts in more recent history. If one was to be technical there were three conflicts with the Blackspear, but since the second was such a short campaign, we will examine it in this volume's introduction. Some months after the Blackspear had been defeated, they began overtures toward a second campaign against, if not all the people of Eramere, then at least the Humans living in Atalan. While these events were kept from the public eye to prevent a panic, several Legionary documents have shed some light on them, and had they been made public they would have perhaps we could have prevented the horror of the third and largest campaign.

The Legion missives indicate that the Blackspear had developed a new explosive compound that they were using to attempt to tunnel, and sap into Atalan. Their further investigations uncovered that they were developing a navy as well. A navy that would in two decades be used to launch the bloodiest campaign Eramere has seen in centuries, perhaps ever. The reasons these missives were never distributed to the rest of the Coalition is unknown, but it was a time of tremendous tumult in Eramere, perhaps it was just negligence.

The Great Armada

When the Blackspear reemerged, some twenty years after the calamitous events of The Sundering, it was clear that they had spent their time wisely. From hidden ports in the cliffs of the Frostbeards emerged a massive armada of ships. A navy far larger than any of the other coalition members were able to field, the Blackspear quickly dominated the seas. Early conflicts against Gnomish Rocketships, and Triremes from Torica ended in disaster, and soon the port city of Torica was conquered and the mouth of the Ardena was blockaded. From their strong position on the coast the Blackspear set to taking, and fortifying Daggershard Island. The Horde continued to use their naval power throughout the war, though their lack of flat hulled riverboats meant they were unable to use the shallow parts of the river to invade further in land.

The Land Campaign

The land campaign began in much the same place as the first invasion, the Blackspear taking The Amalthean Coast, and [[the Acentian Hills]. This time taking their time, solidifying their hold. They were building to establish a lasting kingdom this time, not just grabbing for power. But now the Coalition was stronger too, and the Blackspear met a resurgent Haerkglar civilization, and a well trained High Reaches Militia. Also, they had to deal with a guerilla war waged by the Syl'vae and Chorav, which peppered their supply lines, and sabotaged their construction efforts. Despite all this, the Horde moved ever toward it's true goal, Skolden'fel Stand Fortress.

Through a series of battles the Blackspear took more and more land, conquering lesser Haerkglar fortresses along the way. Each battle saw more Haerkglar, and volunteers from the rest of the Coalition fall. Soon, the Haerkglar were forced to shut themselves into Skolden'fel, and the long siege began. With their largest threat contained within the mountains, the Blackspear marched on High Reaches, besieging the town in order to prevent aid to the beleaguered Haerkglar. After several sorties, the leader of the Horde became impatient, and revealed himself.

The Dragon Revealed

Determined to crush High Reaches, Bazi'kalith the great black Dragon lead the attack himself, his roar striking terror into the hearts of even the staunchest defenders. Only intervention by Niassa'nai, the hidden defender of High Reaches averted total disaster, as the bronze Wyrm held back Bazi'kalith, High Reaches Militia, and her greatest heroes, rallied forward. Leading the charge was Nori Ironstoker, who was found surrounded by scores of fallen enemies when the rest of the militia finally got the gates that he had launched himself over. He was still fighting, wielding his flaming greatsword in one arm, as his other had been severed. When his allies had finally fought their way to him he stood, looking into the distance, his reported last words before falling, "Huh, would ye look at tha'. I'm bleedin'."

Niassa'nai was able to wound Baz enough to force the dragon to flee, but was gravely wounded herself in the fight. The heroes of High Reaches used their momentum to break the siege, and kill a large portion of the Blackspear's reserves as well.

Breaking the Hold of Skoldn'fel

The battle of Skolden'fel Fortress was a complicated four pronged attack, coordinated witht he help of the Haerglar sage Hakkar, and his skill with the teleportation spell. First, the Highreaches militia landed on the beach, forcing the Blackspear to divert some of their attention away from the mountain fortress, and with that small opening came the might of the Haerkglar. Led by the howling rage of the Hran'fel, and backed by the steady shield of the Rwokswald, the Haerkglar army pushed toward the shore, to relieve the beleaguered force from High Reaches.

As the land battle began, a gnomish force led by the Servotrooper Kelvinian Clockspoke blew up the blockade at the Ardena, and allowed the Gnomish fleet to come in and cut off much of the fleeing Blackspear forces. This was followed by an ambush force of Syl'vae and Chorav, which tore into the Blackspear lines in the dead of the night, forcing a full route.

Conclusion

Determined to not repeat the mistakes of the past, the Coalition pushed forward after the battle for Skolden'fel, driving the Blackspear back into the Frostbeard Mountains, and preparing to march on their fortresses their. All the while several of High Reaches greatest heroes, including the hedge knight Bertrand Croulous, the councilor Marcus Toren, and his wife the Sibil of Lethe Ashley Norstrom, the Sibil of Lilianthe Maeva Tovir, and the Gnome Roipithalein, pursued the Dragon Baz to his lair deep in the mountains. These men and women, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice battled, and killed Baz, and broke the back of the Blackspear.

A final great battle on the Almathean Coast was won by the Coalition, and the Blackspear sued for peace. Their territory forever limited to the Frostbeard Mountains, and a few miles of arable land at their base. They also agreed to hold no navy of their own, and their shipyards were burned. The Karr, enraged by surrender broke from the Blackspear, and moved on to conquer the Karrgath Hills, forcing out the long dominant Grawsh'kar tribe. Since, this treaty Eramere has known relative peace from large conflicts, and the Blackspear have in recent years begun to make overtures of trade, but are often met with refusal.