OOC: Prewar stats:
RASP 8 members TNW: 1,334,256 ANW: 166,782
EoN 7 members TNW: 1,222,737 ANW: 174,676
(one EoN member still in NPP with only 200 turns played)


The dawn was just breaking as the Leafblighter sheathed the twin daggers. His eyes still burned with the thrill of the hunt and the uphoria of the kill as he and his siblings drifted into the shadows of the Cedar lined ridge.

They yet stand. We must be ever vigilant. This foe is not to be taken lightly.
Rest now, my brothers and sisters under my watchful eye. When the night falls again there will be more blood to spill.

He settled himself at the base of an ancient tree and fixed his gaze on the road below, alert for signs of the pursuit he knew would come.

On the horizon he saw the traces of black smoke wafting upward from the all but ruined town. He and his siblings had struck and struck hard, yet these Forets had shown great strength and resolve. They had fought well and had saved much from the Leafblighter's grasp. It troubled him just how much they still controlled.

But they still stand...Isonia be with us...they still stand.

Loki stood amongst the common people, listning to the guard master explain to them what must be done.

"Right then, Yew folks will need to rebuild your homes and get ready for battle, those heathens will no doubt be back to take more of what is rightfully ours. Once you have finished rebuilding your homes for your family, report to the guard house for assigning. We've been attacked too much to let it happen again, damnit!"

The crowd cheered, all but Loki who remained in thoughtful silence. There was something different about this attack, something he didnt yet understand. He had no network of spies, nor royal guardsmen as he had in the old days of Equala, but these heathens acted differently than the last batch. They acted in coordinated precision, unlike the others who just took what they could and ran off. Loki didn't think they would be so easy to turn away as the last ones had been. This looked like trouble.

"Aye lad,...T'is a fine foe foe that we shake the rust out of our armor with.Was a day when this was second nature to us. Now ...we watch over our shoulder. A bit of rest and back at it is the way to go. I'd not want to be caught napping now that we've stirred the pot Leafblighter."

The smell of blood, the tint of rose in the air of spent spells, the screams and moans that penetrated the night. These were the things He had missed, Old allies standing together, new ones he had yet come to know (although found them quite capable in battle).This was not to be a good outcome for our prey yet they stand fast, and respect for their defenses was demanded........Oh how He enjoyed it so.....

"It has been far too long since we've shed blood together my kin......"

Melyrinn looked about at the outer edges of his realm. There had been strong attackers that had come to ransack their lands. They had come with strong forces, they had attacked with variety and skill. They came and Melyrinn was pushed back, but his elves had seen battle before, they had died by him before, and with honor. They had felt the pain of defeat. Melyrinn was growing wiser, however, and his people were not ready to accept more death and pain if they could avoid it.

His people had rebuilt before, and they did it again. They had fought with a strength and resolve that is rare among people these days, and afterwards, they set back to rebuilding, and becoming all the more strong. They did not let their enemies discourage them, rather they were strengthened with resolve.

Melyrinn walked about his lands, greeting those he knew, and meeting those he didn't, they were stronger now than they had ever been, and his people had grown and matured. He was very glad with their progress. A young widow that he had cared for had now found another, and they were enjoying a happy life. He was learning more of Foret everyday. Things were looking good.

Still, this war would not leave so easily as the other barbarians that had come before. This would be a tough battle that would not be won easily.

Melyrinn was beginning to feel the burdens of leadership again; the constant maintaining, and the dedication that must be present to his people. He hadn't traveled afar in a while, not truly, and hadn't been able to do much study. He was getting the urge to go solo again, and he wondered, when would his next travel be?

The call to battle came early in the evening. We stood ready to march at the call of Leifblighter.

When the call came we marched in earnest on to the Empire. Through the night we fought long and hard until the dawn broke over the mountains. The bloodshed was great, and the battle difficult, but the spirits of my brothers and sisters were high.

As we retreated into shelter the time for rest and reflection was upon us, for
we had much to think about. Surely we need to be ready. We would soon hear from the Empire. They had much strength among them.

Serj takes the battlefields where his men had fought so bravely the previous night. They were now his, despite the loss of many of his men, they were his.

The battles had been tough, the competitors fierce. To add to his mental struggles, he knew that the Empire would be back, striking with full force. We have caught them off guard, but it will not happen again. We will now have to defend our lands to the best of our abilities, but it will not be an easy battle to win.

He knows that still something is aloof. He can sense it in the air. He must find his brothers and sisters in order to regroup.

He wiped the blood and soot from his eyes, and surveyed the carnage about him with relish and misgiving...

Those we ride against wield strong blades. Yet I still overcome? All is not right.

Striding to the edge of the town, the Leafblighter loosed a low, keening howl into the starless night. It was answered on all sides by his siblings...for they knew the meaning...

gather in the grove...something ill is afoot...

As he and the seven broke into a run toward the gathering place, he felt the searing pain of a well aimed crossbow bolt pierce his side. He stumbled...for a moment, then resumed his long, loping gate toward the willow grove which he knew held comfort, solace and healing...

She will pull this thorn from me...she will uplift me so I may fight again...

Serj hears the call of the Leafblighter, and thinks it to be a sign from Isonia. Here he is, looking for his brothers and sisters, and he has to look no farther.

He takes off running with all the strength that remains in his body after the bout of fighting he has faced the previous nights.

Through the lands, marred by war, he journies as swift as his companion, the wolf.

Upon reaching the grove, he is greeted by the Leafblighter, and they join together for a draught of ale.

Aeslynn nodded in agreement that something was not right, and made fast for the grove. She reached the edge first and turned to see The Leafblighter stumble. The others reached her in short order and they too saw that the Leafblighter had taken a hit.

Aeslynn rushed to his aid and took his arm. He grasped her hand so tightly that her fingers were quickly losing color. At the edge of the grove she and the others rested The Leafblighter against a tree and began to examine his wound. She began shouting aloud, to her goddess and to the others.

"Isonia, have mercy. Do not fail a faithful son now . . . He does all that you ask, forgive him his methods and arrogance . . . 'tis still all for your honor . . .

we must remove the arrow now.. pull it quickly... PULL IT OUT!"

The airy voices of the wraiths began to fill her ears. She did not need this now. She tried to concentrate on The Leafblighter. She knew the wraiths only offered help, but they were distracting.

"Hold his arms down!"

Aeslynn wrapped her fingers around the rod and pulled slightly. It did not seem to yeild, and this brought forth an angry growl from The Leafblighter. She did not stop to look at him, nor to worry of his pain. This pain would be far more beneficial than his death. At that she breathed deeply and began to wedge the arrow, pulling, both fists clenched tightly around it. The force of it's release sent her reeling back on her rear, and the others gathered close, rushed in to tend the wound.

Aeslynn thought to sit back up and help, but she could hear the wraiths more clearly now, and the chatter of the others seemed to fade. The wraiths brought visions that made her suspicions much more eery. They had swooped down on The Empire of RASP easily enough, and this had disturbed her for several days. What plans had the Empire, that she could not fortell? Was this first victory the glorious blessing of Isonia, or was the Empire conspiring on some other plane, and this battle just a slight distraction to them?

Aeslynn wanted badly to proclaim it a gift of Isonia for their faithfulness, but her heart could not believe completely. The history of the Empire put her at odds, and she despised herself for not being able to give credit fully to her goddess. The whole battle seemed unreal. The Empire seemed to withstand their blows at the onset of the battle, but there was an unwordly calm. Loki Wings was present, but even in the heat of furious fighting seemed resolved, as if he had divine knowledge that reassured him.

Reassured him of what? What could he know? This was frustrating Aeslynn to her witt's end. She'd not dealt with a foe such RASP. She could not plan and manipulate when the foe gave her nothing. She could not see their weaknesses when they did not spout carelessly nor boast of feats and strengths.

Aeslynn laid her head back in the soft grass and closed her eyes. Never had she admired an enemy so, yet she knew better. Her head ached profusely.

The pains of the Leifblighter were great as we tended to his wounds there by the tree in the grove. In the serenity that surrounds us, something was amiss. The RASP were gaining strength. I could feel it. Tis something I can not explain.

Leaving the others with the Leifblighter, I go over to Aeslynn, where she lay in the grass. The pain that I felt surely she felt it too...

Nudging her gently I try to awaken her. She must know what they do.

"Aeslynn, The RASP have taken action. Their strength gains as we speak.
They stand silent no longer. Their wizards and sorcerers are hard at work using their magics and spells. We must formulate a plan. I wish to show you what they have done."

*Lokiwings sat alone, in deep thought within his kingdoms walls. Suddenly the sound of footsteps started echoing through the room. The footsteps grew louder and louder as the origin closed in on the faithful King. Suddenly the noise stopped...*

"Isonia's lands burn bright tonight m'lord. I have done what you asked." a voice came out.

"Were you spotted?" Loki asked

"The only that hold the knowledge of my existence were killed and thrown in the river," the voice explained. "When shall I reveal myself?"

"Wait just a bit longer, I like the thought of our thieves running around their camps. Next time your out there, kill some of their peasents." Loki commanded.

"I shall keep that in mind m'lord" The voice said.

*The footsteps began echoing through the room until the source of the sound stepped through the door.*

*A lone horse walked quietly along the path toward the great kingdoms of the Embrace. It slowly hiked its way up to the gate where it was met by a gatekeeper...*

The gatekeeper examined the horse and looked over to the other guard on duty, "I've never seen this horse bef...." The gatekeeper was silenced when his neck exploded with blood gushing out of it. The other gatekeeper rushed over to aid his companion when he was stopped and lifted from the ground by the neck of his shirt. The gatekeeper looked hopelessly down at the unaccompanied horse. Suddenly a form materialized on top of the horse, and the gatekeeper's eyes looked into the terrifiying eyes of Martin.

"Go tell your master LeafBlighter that I am here, and he will now feel the wrath of Foret." Martin said. He threw the gatekeeper to the ground and turned to ride away.

*As Martin rode down the path back to his kingdom, thousands of Dragons flew over his head as a Hurricane started brewing....*

When Martin got to the bottom of the hill, he turned back to see the war with EoN just beginning. "I'm sorry Loki, I cannot stay hidden forever." Martin said to himself before turning to ride away.

He grasped his freshly bandaged ribs tenderly as he made his way to the window. The comotion below had roused him from his fitful slumber. Shouldering past his guards he surveyed the scene below in a haze of pain, before bellowing to the sentry below.

Who has done this!!??!!

It is a message from the Empire of Rasp, My Lord. They have sent their greetings at the expense of poor Bran's neck. NEarly lopped his head clean off, they did.

The Leafblighter supressed the roar of rage growing in his throat. He threw back his head and howled into the twilight...the calls of his brothers and sisters soon answered. Turning to the captain of the guard, he growled,

I depart immediately. This will not go unpunished. If Aeslynn or Angelisa seek me, tell them I hunt with the pack this night.

The Leafblighter belted the twin daggers about his waist and strode from the room, wincing with each step.