Posted by Silver Celare on February 12, 1998 :

Aidan Flametongue looked at half of the Silver's celare troops below Talisman's tower. They were ready, the gates opened and they marched forward. She could see Starlight through the gate. Soon the battle would start. She only hoped Talisman's plan was not a foolhardy as himself. Giving the command to her griffin she joined the troops. Smiling and thinking of Talisman's favorite sayings :Today is a good day to die.:

Posted by ag'Argentis on February 13, 1998:

All was ready. Only the final move had yet to fall, and that was left to the enemy. In the darkening storm clouds above Starlight, Argentis waited. The time would come, as he and his children beside him knew well.

Elsewhere, Xdoriss was not so patient. Among her, another hundred shambling mounds rose from the rotting leaves on the forest floor. She knew the powers of the Orb well, having been imprisoned in it for twenty-seven millennia before gaining freedom. Se had tried to convince herself that she owed no debt to the Silver, Argentis. To his father, she had been deeply in debt, this was true. And, perhaps, even to that father’s son, once. But now, after destroying the silver’s immediate threat, a host of some hundred or more undead, how could she still be considered in debt to him?

The answer was simple. She owed a debt greater than life. And she had saved him from nothing he could not have handled (she thought) himself. This was odd, that she should have such qualms about leaving now, but, whenever she contemplated it, her gut would knot, and she would know that she could not. Perhaps too many years spent in a crystal orb had addled her brains.

She began to move, walking, not flying, back towards Starlight. A host of seven hundred shambling mounds followed at her back. She would discharge her debt.

On the grounds before the Citadel, a fortress stood. Stronger than before, it’s only major weak point was it’s gate, and, though crude, it would be effective. To all eyes, magical or non-, it appeared that it was inhabited by two dragons, and some eighty humanoids. Appearances could be deceiving.

Posted by ag'Saidar on February 14, 1998:

Images from all his seemings on Sosaria flash through his mind...
Cz and I (?) fight side by side against a large water elemental...an orc lord flashes into being and begins to challenge me. LAughing at his bravado, I enter the fray...stealing my way onto an unlocked ship, I set off for adventure...images of Talisman preparing for battle...an army of orcs comes charging across the field...an ettin and troll assault the Earl's tower...ag'Talisman is preparing to assault Starlight...a water elemental begins to assault my boat as I travel across...

Suddenly a large blinding light flashes through Saidar's mind as the portals to Sosaria are suddenly closed from the other side... He awakens hours later with a single thought racing through his mind- Talisman is attacking Starlight and needs help. Saidar tries to stand and quickly passes out from the strain...

Posted by Liche on February 14, 1998:

:The liche watched with distaste as the manes raced after the silver. ::Fools,:: he thought to himself. ::They would regret their mistake. Dracius would hear of the incompetence and stupidity. He was sure the Fiend would find an appropriate punishment.:: He continued his passage. Through the corridors and down the flights of stairs. ::It was to exhausting to create a portal or cast any spell using negative energy within Starlight. It was infuse with positive energy. The Fiend, the Marilth and he had debated how eliminate the positive energy and how they could reinforce their own contingent. When the Starre Riadaim attacked. Fighting within a fortress imbuded with positive energy. It gave their enemies a distinct advantage. One they intended to eliminate. None of them doubted for a moment that the Starre Riadaim would try to reclaim the stronghold. Onslaught's tasked them with ensuring the Star Riders attempts failed. Unlike the fiend and marilth, the liche had no intention combating the Starre Riadaim. He suggested a simpler course of action. Infuse Starlight with negative energy. Open portals to hell and the lower planes. Corrupt the shrines. Everything was going smoothy until that silver intruded. Now they falling behind schedule. The liche was sure they were going to have company soon. It did not think they would be able to corrupt the shrines in time but they may be able to open a permanent portal to hell. The dungeon door opened for the liche. Yes, it would be difficult yet here in the dungeons they had a better chance. The liche watched his undead, demons and devils working together descreating the ground. Defiling the walls. Blood was splattered from prisoners and servants the spawn had caught. Women and men were assaulted and abused. Evil was growing here. The cells had already held evil. Evil had died here. The very walls were permeated with their emotions. Yes, there was evil within the stronghold. Now he would cultivate it then open a path. He would tend his garden of and watch it flower. He would be ready for the Starre Riadaim. He would give them a taste of hell. Pleased with his handiwork he left the dungeon. Laughing ascending the stairs. He would see that marilth next. Hear how it was progressing in its' tasks. Starre Riadaim was his now......

Posted by Demon Contingent on February 14, 1998:

Latimer wondered, ::How long would he suffer the stupidity and incompetence of the fiend and liche. Onslaught had commanded him to remain and see no one entered. He was obedient to his wishes for now but a time of reckoning was coming. His demons were the major force yet they stood on the outer perimeter like dogs in a kennel. Yes, there would be a reckoning. The liche and fiend would learn their proper places. He would ensure it. First, they would rid themselves of the Starre Riadaim threat then when the liche and fiend's usefulness were at a end his demons would overcome them. He could wait. Starre Riadaim was his and he intended to make it stay that way.:: Ordering his underlings to attend him, he stood and made his way to the meeting place. He would know their plans status. He would know how a dragon inflitrated their defenses and manage not to get caught. He would report the seemingly humaniod army by the gate. A green dragon was more amusing now than a threat. He wondered what had prompted her into aiding the Starre Riadaim. He was going to invite her for dinner. Should she prove reculant then she would become his dinner...

Posted by ag'Argentis on February 15, 1998:

As previously mentioned, the oversized adlult silver dragon Argentis was not naturally patient. He hed been occupying himself with the construction of a formidable power nexus, however, and it was challenging and exhausting work. The air about him was now as charged with raw elemental power as it could be, supersaturated with it around the nexus's focus, Argentis's talon ring. It had been made for that purpose, once, enabling it's wearer to store colossal spell potential within it. Shortly, if none of his traps below were triggered, he would destroy the lich himself. He would, according to his plan, have to get within touching distance of the undead wizard, however... Not an easy task, with the citadel as well guarded as it was. With his son and daughter at his side, however, he stood a better chance.

Xdoriss smiled. She knew exactly what the Silver had done, trapping the walled enclosure. She had been there when he had begun the process. Now she would take advantage of it. She rested, invisible, out of range of human sight from Starlight CItidel, behind the improvised fortress, with her following of shambling mounds (equally invisible, though that illusion would not last under great scrutiny) surrounding her. She began to chant softly under her breath. She was not mage, but could work a few illusions, and had had time to hone that talent to precision during her millenia in the Orb.

Illusionary men-at-arms began to rush out of the now open gates of the enclosure. Hopefully her opening the gates would not trigger any of the traps... It did not. As her non-existant host charged the walls of the citidel, some fell, victims of arows and crossbow bolts. In their places, illusions of dead men, with blood staining their tabards, and holes in their armor of plate. The illusion was extremely difficult, taking every bit of Xdoriss's considerable craft to accomplish, and then, with cries of terror, the men-at-arms turned and fled, running as fast as two legs could carry them back to the enclosure. The gate, however, stuch, unable to close. With luck, this would prove too much of a temptation for the blood-thirsty denizens of the citadel. With more luck, they would attack, as tired of waiting as their beseigers were, and storm the makeshift fortress tantalizingly close outside their walls. If they did, and if lady luck stayed on Xdoriss's side, the demons would be beaten, hopwefully with few if any losses. Xdoriss was, of course, ready to flee if anything went wrong, with a gate at hand.

Argentis's blind eyes watched. Argentis grinned. ag'Argentis of cloudspeak allowed the power in his ring to spread throughout his body. Soon he would attack, so soon. Though he could not see, the turbulent signature of chaos and evil aggrivated him intolerably. It must be purged!

Posted by ag'Saidar on February 15, 1998:

Slowly as the pain and light subsided from his mind, Saidar began to remember where he was. Somehow he had returned to Pinnacle...but why? Several images flashed through his memory. Uncertain as to their significance, Saidar tried to focus on the present. Something important dragged him out of Sosaria. If only he could figure out who or why he had been pulled so strongly back to the aerie... He sensed someone close was in danger but, who exactly it was and why they were in danger, he couldn't quite grasp.

Saidar slowly tried to relax his body and allow his mind to wander freely. As his breathing finally found a slow, smooth rhythmn, his spirit came free from his body. Saidar decided to find anything unusual in the aerie and decided to find any unusual gatherings of power. Nothing in Pinnacle so, he began to search further out...he sensed a powerful surge of energy and flew towards it. As the Saidar grew near to the source, he could feel the power as it raced along the outline of his spirit form. Saidar basked in the power and allowed the stream of energy to lead him to the source. As the energy became thicker and stronger, Saidar, to his relief, realised that a source of goodness was gathering the power. An image of a silver dragon grew nearer. Suddenly, Saidar realised it was ag'Argentis but, he still had no clue as to why he was doing this. Concentrating on his current form, Saidar suddenly appeared beside Argentis...

"Hail brother," he asked. "what trouble is brewing here that so much power is needed?"

Startled, ag'argentis almost lost hold of the power coming into his ring. Quickly regaining his concentration, ag'Argentis turned and was relieved to find it was only Saidar....

Posted by Spawn on February 15, 1998:

An Nalfeshnee interupted the council meeting. He babbled about impending attack from the Starre Riadaim begging permission to open the gates and carry their battle to the enemy. The liches eyes grew distant when they refocusses the Nalfeshnee was blasted by a bolt from the undead mage. "Fool, he scorned, "You have fallen for an illusion. Keep the gates closed". The liche passed his hand over the table and all of them witnessed the green dragon with her elemental warriors, the silvers and half silvers hiding in the clouds. "Open the gates, they will be inside the keep. No let us use this fortress against those who built it," he suggested.

As they gazed outside portals opened and the silver contigent appeared. Dragons and their vassals prepared for battle. Taking positions surrounding the stronghold they began to set themselves to prepare for a long seige.

The liche's voice rang out, "There you see what your foolishness would have cost us. We must have Starlight aiding us and not them. We must continue our plans. Onslaught will be greatly displeased should we fail our task".

Darkness closes as the Liche set ward depriving further sight.

As the liche's wards activated Talisman scrying stopped. He smiled and thought, ::So far so good. Tomorrow they would their dance. Tonight he needed to prepare. Tomorrow would be a busy day. He started to inscribe runes within the temple. Yes, tomorrow would be a busy day.

Posted by ag'Argentis on February 16, 1998:

::Saidar! Well… Glad to see you here, of course… We’ll need all the help we can get.::

Argentis began to elaborate, telling the fellow Silver of the impending storming of Starlight Citadel. ::We will attack shortly, it appears that my ruse has not worked.:: Argentis explains about the arrival of the half-dragons, and the trapping of the crude fortress below.

::I am blind, brother. I cannot fight as the rest of you can, with teeth and claw, breath and ability. Instead, I must rely on the magic which permeates us all to guide me, to lend me some semblance of sight, and to fuel my spells. I have found that my spell-casting ability has risen dramatically in the past few months, along with my power. I intend to act from a distance, following the others against the demonic host in spirit-form. My body will remain here, but my will, my power, and my skill, will all follow me into the Citadel. Then, without the hindrances of a corporeal form, I will be able to see, and to take full advantage of this titanic power which, as you can see, I have built up. As for my body, it will, of course, be shielded, and no more vulnerable than it would be if my spirit inhabited it. I would likely find myself ill-suited to defend myself by mundane means in any case. In this manner, at least, I will only be vulnerable to potent magicks, and I believe myself an equal in that to nearly any of the enemy. Will you come with me?::

Argentis waits for a reply, noting Xdoriss’s lack of success below. Shortly she will attack, he knows. As they all will. ::Saidar, I would be proud to fight at your side, though it must be in spirit form. I think that, together, we may pose somewhat of a surprise for the defenders. I have, of course, taken the liberty of shielding this conversation from prying eyes. It would not do for the enemy to know our moves before we act, if even then.:: ag’Argentis smiles wickedly. Then, after a moment, his expression takes on a blank look, as his spirit and body part. Above the massive silver body, a pale shadow hangs, at odds with the dark thunderclouds above.

Posted by zu'Telenis on February 17, 1998:

The Brass camp was quite nervous about this battle. You could tell by the silence. Telenis's fist tightened around the hilt of his fathers, no his sword. His father could no longer lay claim to it from the grave. The sky opened up and began to rain on them as they ate their evening rations. "Where is Talisman?" thought Telenis angrily. He closed his eyes to the rain and opened his mind to the land around them. Seeking a freind. Suddenly he opened his eyes with a snap. "Saider,"he thought out loud now. He focused on his freinds mind trying to make contact.......

Posted by ag'Talisman Silvermane on February 17, 1998:

ag'Talisman scried Starlight's surrounding area. He smirked and wondered, ::Where are the Starre Riadaim. Surely, ag'Frasier delivered the message by now. I expected to see more metallics celares. Lending their strength to right a grievous wrong. Blast it, I..eh no.. We can't wait any longer. It is time.:: Casting another spell his voice carried out to his friends camped outside Starlight's walls. "It is time. Let the battle begin. Proceed with operation "Peek a Boo". Selune's and TYR's shrines are open for your conveince. Enter at your own risk and watch your step the floor is slipery when wet". He laughed as he ended his broadcast. The spawn did not disappoint him. He could hear and smell their approach as the first portal opened. Pinnacle's troops entered the shrine. Warriors took the perimeter, clerics cast turn spells and the magic users created more portals to allow greater access to the troops waiting outside. Talisman watched his troops, directed their defenses to counter the enemy and ordered them to advance their positions. He was going to need more room to fit all of his troops in Starlight. So far, everything was going to plan. He hoped everyone would have similar successes. The brass and silver would start deep within the stronghold. Move outward and engage their common enemy. Starlight's own defenses would be to the Conclave's advantage and the spawn's disadvantage. He roared a challenged and sent his enemies skyward. Grimly, he accepted he would not be able to engage the enemy. His responsibilities required him to coordinate the troops and use their force wisely. Next time, he thought, next time unless he could find someone capable of leading his celare.

Posted by ag'Keldore Silverwand on February 18, 1998:

ag'Keldore grumbled. He had allowed himself to fall asleep. Now, thought, he was awake. He was lucky to have set his runes before dozing off, and the rest brought back his strenght.

Keldore then heard Talisman's broadcast and chuckled. He turned to the entrance of the shrine of Selune. "Come to me little demons..."

Hearing and sensing the portals open behind him, he turned to meet the arriving Silver and brass contingents. His own troops, seventy-five magic users, ten clerics, two paladins, and two- hundread warriors, gathered around their lord.

"Magi, open more portals for the others. Clerics, begin to attack the enemy with your prayers. Warriors, prepare to swarm out of the shrine. Remember to use Starlight's traps to your own advantage, let them spring them, not us."

He turned, and nodded to the other contingents, already making preparations for the battle that was moments away. He turned back to the entrance. He wondered if all was going to plan with Talisman and the shrine of TYR....he then moved to concentrate on the here, and worry about there later.

Posted by zu'Telenis on February 18, 1998:

Hearing the call from Talisman, Telenis begins barking his commands to the brass troops. " It is the hour of our ascent into destiny, let's show these slackers what an army is." Immediatly he gathers the preists and mages and dragons. "Bretheren I must ask that you lead until I see to the portals we do not want our troops devided. The preists will come immediatly after the main body and the mages will hold the gates until all are through and follow the preists and lastly I will enter. You MUST hold the shrine until all are through. keep the shrin in the center of the circle and we should all make it okay. Now GO!!!"
Imediatly the plan begins to fall into place. The gates were opened and the smell of fetid evil blew into there faces. They marched cautiously into the gates. First the six younger Brass Dragons. Next came the 1000 drow guards preists and mages. Holding only one final gate open Telenis steps through into the frey.