Cycle of Blood

Journal by Aplias Centergloom, Obsidian

Although I have made my report, I don't think it does justice to what we witnessed today.

As I approached the area, I ordered a full stop to survey the scene. It was very quiet. This fight was over. I selected a dozen men to enter the area with me. I told Hanna and Thrak (Coal) to secure the outer area.
What we saw in the courtyard was beyond anything I expected. I have seen beheadings and hangings and the butchering of animals. This was beyond that and several of my men could not hold their stomachs. I sent five back to help with base camp. I don't even know why I'm avoiding the description now....in a book no one will likely read.

The first thing you see is the blood, not just small pools under bodies, these are massive pools with chunks of innards in them. A heart or some eyes even, wrapped in the stomach tubes. The pools were everywhere, it became hard to walk without stepping in them. Some had streaks through them that would connect one pool to another. It is possible that people were drug through these pools, likely still alive given the splashes around the pools.

The next thing you will notice is the walls of the Beacon. The walls were dark, but on further inspection, they were a deep red color....blood...painted on the walls. Every wall was covered in it....how many did they kill to do that? Why cover the walls?
The last thing I noticed was the lack of bodies, none...not a single body. Where are the people? Were there any survivors...with this much blood...I doubt it. These thoughts circled in my head as we moved closer to the Beacon. Maybe....hopefully there are survivors hidden inside.

That hope was dashed when I saw the doors smashed completely. There was no protection for them without those doors. Looking inside the main chamber was enough to know....no one survived this....this is a massacre. In the entry chamber...with a ceiling 20 feet tall. There were the bodies piled from floor to ceiling...well part of them anyway. This was a pile of arms and legs, torn from the bodies and left here. We found the bodies hanging from the top to spill blood down the walls. The heads were never found. We left quickly and just watched from the mouth for the reinforcements. The Toroka never came back.

The Conflict

Prelude

During the construction of the new city, Thorin Grimglove (Obsidian) sent several groups to watch and learn about the Toronka. It appears they sent groups to watch the Beacon as well. It was not until work on the city center began that they attacked. There are several theories, but the actual trigger may never be known. The most common theories include a disturbance of burial ground and a territorial dispute. These are most widely accepted due to a symbol painted in blood on the wall of one of the newer buildings, but not on the Beacon itself. Perhaps the Beacon was just before the territory, while the city was not. The exact nature of the symbol is unknown.

Declaration of War

At the arrival of the message, Kyren Thindlethume immediately declared war against the Toronka. The council did have some debate over this, but the Kyren had complete control over the military. It wasn't until after Pythinera Agerinigh and the Era of Light that the council gained more military control.
After hearing the reports of the massacre, the Kyren discussed the possibilities of a counter attack with a military council. At this point, most of these men had never fought an intelligent force and the inexperience was enough for Kyren Thindlehume to remove the declaration. He did order them to get more information on the Toronka and authorized a military fort in the cave entrance for security purposes and to help quell the fear of the people.

Deployment

Over 5000 people were part of the construction of the city. There were 2000 soldiers deployed to protect the site.

Battlefield

The Lost Beacon

The Recorded History

With no survivors, the specifics of the fight are drawn from the reports of Thorin Grimglove, Obsidian of the Beacon Ash and Aplias Centergloom his soldiers that were written in the aftermath. This assessment is made with those reports, as well as documents from the site and historical reviews.The war is divided into three parts.

Battle of Dust

Dust Crawls in the Yorup during 1208
Early Red: The Toronka make a surprise attack. Workers are rushed to the Beacon as the soldiers defend them.
Estimated Losses: 350
Early Purple: A messenger is sent to Crevice. Toronka take the opportunity to drive a group into the Beacon.
Estimated Losses: 250
The Blend: The door is battered, but holds. Archers are able to drive them away.
Estimated Losses: 55

Battle of Thine

Thine Crawls:
Green: The door is battered again and it cracks. Archers kill hundreds and drive them back again.
Estimated Losses:None reported, this shows a break in protocol.
Early Orange: The door is battered again. It does not hold. Fighting breaks out all over the beacon.

Note: Obsidian Grimglove is assumed dead in this attack as he files no more reports. The following are assumptions based on evidence found from other notes and final letters to family. These notes will be filed separately.

Battle of Elyn

Elyn Crawls
Early Green: A group of approximately 200 fight at the cave exit. Led by Ebony Siltur, the group attempted to get a few hundred survivors into the cave. No survivors.
Orange:This appears to be the final battle. A group of 50 Coal were in a half built structure, protecting approximately 100 people. The structure seemed to hold well as they report they had defended from 5 different assaults. The final lines of the report are worrisome and will be quoted directly.

We can tell they are preparing to strike again. The ground is shaking. Not a quake...something is walking and shaking the entire

No other reports mention anything like this. There may have been other survivors after this time, but this concludes this report on the events.

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Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

Dust Crawls in the Yorup during 1208

Ending Date

Elyn Crawls in the Yorup during 1208

Conflict Result

The city site in the Lifestone Forest was abandoned

Location

Lifestone Forest

Belligerents

Toronka

Crevice

• Government of Crevice

Strength

Physically stronger
Size of force (estimated 5000+ troops)

2000 Soldiers
5000 Civilians
Defensive Position

Casualties

Estimated 1200

6998
2 messengers survived

Objectives

Protect Territory? Religious? Unknown

Land Expansion
Defense