Before the household captains can disperse, the western arch opens. Maerith Voss enters in travel-stained armor, carrying a broken field standard beneath one arm.
Ulkesh remains beneath the black-flamed decree, with two high guards behind him. His brother and the royal retainers hold the opposite aisle, while Serath remains under guard beyond the passage.
Maerith Voss
High Guard Captain Maerith Voss, reporting from the western marches. A human host has overwhelmed the royal position at Elaris Ford.
She lays the snapped standard across the judgment table. Mud darkens its silver thread, and a torn crown emblem hangs from the splintered pole.
Maerith Voss
The survivors withdrew under moonrise. Three high guard enclaves refused the king’s hidden command and sealed their gates against our messengers.
Ulkesh's brother
Then the succession judgment must wait. If the enclaves will not obey, the gathered houses must choose whether secrecy is worth the realm’s defenses.
The captains turn from the brothers toward Maerith. Around the hall, hands tighten on spearshafts as the broken standard makes the distant defeat suddenly present.
✓ Quest Accepted
Restore the royal position at Elaris Ford
“I order Maerith to brief us on Elaris Ford's defenses and surviving forces. And I shall lead them.”
SUCCESS (Good Diplomacy, rolled +2)
Ulkesh Valen
Maerith, brief this hall on Elaris Ford’s defenses and surviving forces. Then I shall lead them.
The command settles over the judgment table. Captains straighten, while Ulkesh’s brother falls silent and Maerith turns the broken standard toward the gathered houses.
Maerith Voss
Elaris Ford stands where the western road narrows between black cliffs and the river. Its eastern palisade held three towers, a gatehouse, and two ward-stones.
Maerith Voss
The human host crossed upstream under darkness, then struck the southern earthworks. We lost the outer wall, the ford tower, and most mounted scouts.
Maerith places six carved stones around the standard, marking the surviving positions. Her fingers pause over the western ridge, where a single silver chip remains.
Maerith Voss
Four hundred and twelve high guards survived, with healers, bow companies, and two ward-masters. They hold the ridge, the northern tower, and the supply road.
Maerith Voss
They await a commander with crown-backed authority. I name you before this hall, Prince Ulkesh, and place the survivors under your lead.
“We will do a pincer maneuver. I will take the elite guard around to the side, those capable of magic and range attacks and then the Ford guards will march head on with shields acting as a barrier. We will catch him off guard from both sides.”
FAILURE (Great Reasoning, rolled -3)
Ulkesh divides the surviving force beneath the black-flamed decree. Maerith leads the shielded Ford guards straight toward the human-held road, while Ulkesh guides elite archers and ward-masters around the western ridge.
Maerith Voss
Shields locked. Advance on the road and hold formation. Do not break rank for any opening.
The Ford guards march beneath overlapping shields, their measured advance drawing the human host toward the barrier. Above them, elven archers and spellcasters reach the ridge flank.
Ulkesh Valen
The ridge is narrower than Maerith's map suggested.
The flank force emerges too early. Human lookouts signal from the black cliffs, and their line turns before the pincer closes, refusing the trap.
Maerith Voss
They have seen the second force. Keep the shield wall moving, but the two wings cannot converge without exposing the road.
The maneuver forces the human host away from the ford road, yet fails to catch it between both attacks. Ulkesh's flank now holds the ridge alone, while Maerith's shield wall faces a widening gap.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure the western ridge
“You are the most powerful warlock in all the kingdom. Use it to use void blasts directly as an on slot onto the enemy, causing chaos in their ranks”
SUCCESS (Legendary Magic, rolled +0)
Void gathers around Ulkesh like light being swallowed. The ward-masters recoil as black radiance pours from his hands toward the human ranks below the ridge.
The blasts strike among the enemy formation in successive bursts, hurling shields aside and collapsing their ordered advance into confusion without touching the elven flank.
Maerith Voss
The human line is broken. Shields forward, now. Drive them from the road while their ranks cannot reform.
Maerith’s guards surge beneath locked shields. Human standards wheel in opposite directions, horns call conflicting commands, and the force abandons its pressure against the ford.
the ward-masters
That is not a prince’s spell. The void itself answers him.
A final black impact rolls across the road, scattering the enemy captains and opening a clear corridor between ridge and river. The elven wings finally converge.
Ulkesh's brother
You have turned a failed encirclement into victory. Remember, brother, every house below has witnessed what power you wield.
Quest Complete
Secure the western ridge