A Good Start!

The time for planning is over. Now the forces must be gathered and then will come the time for action. Priest Ardna sends out invitations for Sir Lzar and priest Manco Dusar to join them at the temple. Sir Snowolf invokes Corgulian magic to send a message winging across the plains to his friend Sir Jerival, a terse sentence informing him that the Silver Tower is in Darhan and asking him to set off immediately. The knight is most likely in Bisha but the message should get him moving - he'll be keen to help Snowolf and has been commissioned by the DoorMaster to recover the stolen tower.

Sir Jerival breaks all speed records arriving within five days and in all probability asking more of his horse than priest Ardna would approve of! Jerival brings good news, he passed a force of a hundred Bishan soldiers on his way to Darhan. The men were Orthian veterans led by Captain Itran Satrec, the same units from the Third Army that helped defeat the goblin army at Meln. Baron Jaltra has sent the soldiers secretly to help the Moranan cause and they are now a day's march from the city.
Sir Lzar will assume command of the Bishan forces and has already been briefed on the plan. The first move will be a direct assault on the Council House to replace the Dictator. The hope being that removing Nabrax from office will enrage Ostaria sufficiently to draw her out from the temple. Ardna has various thoughts about how to part Bob and Olaaf from Ostaria's company but none of them is assured of success. Reports from the city state that the Silver Tower has vanished and Bob at least is known to have accompanied Ostaria into the tower before it disappeared. Sir Lzar strongly represents that this is the ideal time to strike. The initial parts of the plan can be accomplished without fear of interference and Ostaria can be kept from the temple. In his view this advantage is more important than the possible separation of Bob from her mistress. Manco Dusar concurs, a priestess in her temple is a very tough proposition indeed. Besides, if you want any kind of peace after this it would be best not to end up having to invade the most holy sanctum of Haquarian faith. Catching Ostaria in the open is worth a hefty price - the price involved here seems negligible."
The time is ripe. The bard Shailac Arlan has been laying the groundwork on the propaganda front, sewing the idea in the minds of the general populace that Dictatorship can no longer be endured. When the Bishan's arrive so will the moment in which to strike! Rumour, speculation and Ardna's own intuition have led him to dispatch a messenger bearing word to the mage Fleetfoot. Ardna hopes to dissuade the man, who he holds to be good at heart, from allowing Ostaria to use Bob to draw him into the conflict. The Valley of the Four Winds is several weeks away by foot and lies within a range of mountains so steep that horses may not travel there. These hard geographical facts may mean that such decisions will have to rest on Fleetfoot's unadvised conscience then for if Ostaria does decide to use her stolen tower to pay a call she'll very likely beat Ardna's man to it...
The Darhan rangers, though paid by the city, owe their loyalty exclusively to the Morana temple and as Ardna has planned rebellion they have been recruiting on his behalf. The ranger captains have assembled the various mobs that roamed the streets during the summer unrest and have these bands of men ready to answer the call to arms. These are not trained soldiers but they're tough characters, hunters and lumberjacks mostly, not a few veterans of the Battle of Darhan.
Kalgo grass and kajac juice have been stockpiled, the illicit fruits of the forest ready to lay low the enemies of the Goddess. Contacts have been made and getting the drugs into the stew cauldron at the main barracks shouldn't present too much of a problem. Ardna has even prepared against the tower or, as it now turns out, against its return. The seeds of a particularly vicious variety of thorn bush have been sewn around the market square so that if the tower returns to the spot the priest will have the option of employing Moranan magic to grow a rapid hedge of thorns around it.
Ardna has some worries that Destuites may be aiding Ostaria. Certainly Lady Ariaana was Olaaf's companion in crime for some while. He warns his fellow high priest, Manco, about this possibility and the Trolinite promises to be on hand. Manco has almost as much of a grievance against Ariaana as against the lich and she is probably one of the few people he would countenance killing given the right circumstances.
The Priests' Staff from the Haquar temple has been recovered from its deep-locked vault where it has remained safe against any efforts the Haquarians might have made to reclaim it. Ardna cannot utilise the item to its full potential but believes that it offers certain intrinsic protections to the one who holds it. This and the psychological impact his possession of it is likely to have lend him to taking it to the confrontation with him.
Captain Satrec arrives on schedule and in the small hours of the morning the troops begin to infiltrate the city, entering through a section of the palisade wall which Moranan carpenters have transformed into a secret gate. The attack waits only on sufficient light and for the unfortunate cityguard to break their fast with poisoned fare.



For days now Shailac Arlan has been singing the praises of Snowolf. Quite literally and quite tunefully. Having met the great man in the temple the bard has equipped himself with tales of the time when Snowolf wielded The Sword of Morana and his travels from the far reaches of the Southern Isles to the frozen north. No bard worthy of his profession would not already have ballads relating Snowolf's heroics against the titan that threatened Bisha and Shailac already has these songs in place.
Shailac is not shy about promoting Snowolf as the Great Hunter and in taverns such as the Grey Wolf and Burned Lizard such treason can be freely voiced. It is at one such venue, a gathering of winterball players and their fans in the gardens of Hunter Aces' manager Debron Elk, that Sir Snowolf himself slips in quietly at the back to listen. The great warrior stands with growing embarrassment as Shailac layers on the heroic stanzas, taking his audience through Turshan's lair and thence to the darkest reaches of Darhan forest where Snowolf fought against Sir Andre Sa'Kel and the undead horde that followed the vampire knight. The tales continue right to the modern day when Snowolf once more swung into action. This time defeating combined orc and goblin armies to deliver Meln castle into the hands of his well-meaning but ineffectual friend, Lord Weapon.
As Shailac ends his word-spell and releases the imaginations of his audience from yesteryear Snowolf is spotted and immediately mobbed by enthusiastic Moranans. Setting aside his newly acquired two-handed axe (a fine example of the dwarven weaponsmith's craft) Snowolf finds himself the centre of attention with more ale than he could drink in an entire week lining up beside him. By the time Snowolf is forced to call it a day and weave a path back to the temple he is in no doubt that the people of Darhan will accept him as the Great Hunter!
Shailac tells his tales and sings his songs night after night. Snowolf spends much of his time studying spell-stones at the temple or scouting out targets within the city. The hero does not feel the need to hear stories of his own valor repeated time and time again and so he misses out on various elaborations. Shailac explains to the populace how Snowolf is a master of the Goddess' gifts. The warrior controls the very ground beneath his foes' feet, second only to priest Ardna in such wonder-working! Shailac is right up-to-date with the full story of Snowolf's brave strike into the heart of a Thri-Kruel mound. The bard even manages to put a positive spin on Snowolf's term in gaol, explaining how the knight placed his duty to prevent wanton slaughter of the Goddess' creatures over his respect for Bishan law.

"The hour is upon us." Sir Lzar tells his men.
Snowolf has ascertained through the rangers in town that Nabrax is resident in the Council House. All the roads from the city are under guard. The Silver Tower is still absent, the populace are ready to act.
Word is sent out and the mobs spring into action. The Second Scroll is besieged, the library is stoned and the Haquarian streets south of the temple terrorised. The barracks disgorges its compliment of city-guard as the alarm rings out. Far from all of the men-at-arms have fallen foul of their drugged breakfast. Kajac and kalgo are not the assassins' choice for neither are without taste, none the less there are a fair few who cannot be roused from their face-in-the-porridge slumber or who stumble from the barracks only to scamper back in shrieking nonsense about green moon-cows descending from the sky.
With the forces loyal to the Dictator spread far and wide across the city Sir Snowolf leads the assault on the Council House. Sir Jerival goes with Captain Satrec and fully three quarters of the Bishan force to surround the Haquar temple. The idea is that the Haquarian clergy and their guardsmen should be holed up within the building and kept from interfering. It is also of prime importance that Ostaria should not be allowed to slip back into her stronghold - though without actually over-running the place this may be a tall order.
Sir Lzar with the remaining twenty five Orthians accompanies Snowolf and Ardna to the Council House. Lzar with his men and a further twenty five rangers is to assault the rear of the Council House whilst Snowolf, Ardna, Breed and twenty five more rangers will enter from the front, the priest promising that no doors will keep them out. Trolin healers accompany all of these groups - they expect to be confronted with more injury than they can cope with and as such they'll reserve their skills for life or death cases.
The warriors array themselves in the muddy streets around the Council House, just out of sight of the door guards in the grey light of dawn. At Ardna's instruction archers swarm up onto rooftop vantage points so that none may escape. The priest calls up an elderly fellow, Warburton, who was Malai's second advisor and knows the interior layout of the building like the back of his hand. Before the attack is made Ardna advances with just two men to flank him and kneels down in the mud only twenty yards from the main doors. The guardsmen watch him suspiciously but have no grounds on which to act against so important a figure. Plunging his hands wrist-deep into the cold mud Ardna closes his eyes, his brow furrowing in concentration as his senses expand through the soil and bedrock. Two shudders run through the ground as he collapses hidden tunnels through which their quarry might flee.
Rising to his feet Ardna accepts the two Priests' Staffs from the rangers at his side and raises them on high. At this signal Snowolf breaks cover and charges forwards with his men streaming after him. A signal arrow goes up and the throaty roar of the Orthian charge sounds out from behind the building. Ardna extends a muddy hand towards the Council House and the heavy oaken doors topple outwards, their iron studs striking sparks from the steps, the three of the four guards getting out of the way just in time.
Snowolf is swift despite his size and keeps ahead of the field, arriving at the steps as the guards are drawing their swords.
"Yield to the Great Hunter!" He Booms.
"Yield to this!" Spits one of the men, slicing at the Moranan's head.
Snowolf leans back of reach, the swing of his axe decapitating the man and sending his head bouncing down the steps. The other two men swiftly throw aside their blades. In two bounds Snowolf is through the doors and following Warburton's directions to the Hunter's Chamber.
Within a matter of minutes the entire building is subdued. Doors are kicked in, shutters smashed aside as warriors pour in. There are scattered pockets of short-lived resistance but no concerted opposition. Snowolf is first to Nabrax's door and orders the Dictator's bodyguard to stand down. The plate armoured Haquarian is having none of it though and looses a bolt of energy at Snowolf. The bolt catches Snowolf's shoulder as he dives under it, blackening his enchanted ring mail. The bodyguard is a fine swordsman and manages to deflect the Moranan's heavy blow with his iron shield. Snowolf's skill is almost unparalleled though and no warrior in Darhan other than Sir Jerival could best him. Expert though he is the bodyguard is made to seem clumsy. Snowolf tames two thrusts of the man's sword on the iron-bound haft of his axe before dealing him such a blow that his shield-arm is broken. Snowolf might have spared the man but the two-handed axe is not a delicate or subtle tool of war and the bodyguard's failure to parry the next swing is fatal.
Nabrax's door collapses before Snowolf and the hero stands framed in the doorway, ready for more blood-letting. He is rather surprised to see Nabrax sitting at his writing desk in his nightgown. The short balding Dictator could never be accused of cutting an impressive figure, he's closer to ugly than homely and one doubts he would have been able to bed Bob but for the allure of his political clout. In his night clothes armed with nothing mightier than a quill he looks even less of a leader of men, nevertheless he manages to retain his dignity.
"Ah, Sir Snowolf. It's a shame you killed Bojak, he was a good man at heart. Now hopefully this nonsense can end. For the good of Darhan I've drawn up my letter of abdication."
And so it is that the Darhan coup achieves its major aim with a mere eight casualties amongst the Haquarian forces and only three serious injuries amongst the rebels at the Council House.

At the Haquar temple the story is not significantly different. Sir Jerival's unofficial authority is sufficient for him to organize the volunteer archers into groups positioned around the temple so that any acolyte who might want to lean out of a window and send down hostile magics against the blockade will soon wish they'd kept their head down. The Orthians ring the temple, using what cover they can find and what can be created from various commandeered carts. The Haquarians are obviously aware of the encirclement but make no move to break out or otherwise engage in conflict. In the end Sir Jerival grows suspicious about what plots might be hatching within the blue stone walls of the temple pyramid and casts a spell to detach his vision from his natural eyes, sending his perception disembodied towards the entrance archway. The knight's clairvoyance works well until he reaches the steps at which point he gasps in pain and grabs at his eyes. It feels like two raw onion halves have been vigorously rubbed across his eyeballs! Jerival is still weeping copiously when a young acolyte emerges waving a flag of parley. Halting before Captain Satrec he calls out in a thin clear voice,
"You are instructed not to approach the temple on pain of death. The acting priest sends word that he will initiate no attacks and make no attempt to establish order within the city until high priestess Ostaria returns. If it becomes clear that the high priestess will not be returning then a replacement will be selected and negotiations for a peace can begin."
Itran Satrec spits copiously onto the floor.
"I marched two hundred miles for a war not a damned negotiated peace! It seems these fellows don't like Ostaria anymore than you do Sir Jerival. She must be one goddamned scary bitch hey?
So.... I guess we'll just wait a-while. Give us the word though Jerival and we'll be through that temple like a dose of salts. I'm telling you, if they don't want to go through all this again in five years time the thing to do is end it now in blood."

Word comes that the cityguard have by and large avoided entanglement with the mobs. Quite a few of those who avoided drugging have melted away into the city, tossing aside their colours on the way back to their homes. A fair number were slain by bow fire from archers arranged under the Leucine's directions to take advantage of the killing zones into which the mob action drew them. The bulk of the remainder have joined with a number of temple guard who were apparently keeping secret watch on the market place where the Silver Tower was and are now ringing the main market square.

Leaving the Orthians to secure the temple Sir Jerival leads his force of locals towards the main market. Snowolf, Ardna, Calistan, Breed and Lzar meet them en route. Leucine is already there when they arrive, arranging rooftop archers and overseeing a tense standoff.
Ardna has just arrived and is explaining to Leucine that Nabrax is now under guard, a prisoner in his own office, when the air at the centre of the square begins to sparkle. The Silver Tower leaps into being with a painfully loud retort and without delay its door opens. First out is a young woman in a voluminous cloak, not attractive but not plain either. None present recognise the woman. Following her come two warriors that are recognised as Olaaf's henchmen, Cid and Fiddler. Hard on Fiddler's heels comes the blonde vision that is Bob, resplendent in her mithril ringmail. Behind Bob comes a man whose appearance makes Moranan spirits fall - he isn't wearing his trademark brilliant white robe but there is no mistaking Fleetfoot. One of the temple guards remarks on the scabbardless longsword with a midnight blue blade and a pommel stone of darkest sapphire that hands at the mage's side. The word quickly goes round that the Wielder of the Sword of Haquar is on their side and resolve strengthens visibly amongst the defending ranks. Ostaria herself steps out smartly after Fleetfoot.

..... It is immediately obvious that they're stepping out into trouble. The tower's return site is ringed by a double rank of sixty warriors, many of them temple guards, some city guardsmen bearing wounds, a dozen acolytes sheltering behind the armoured men. The rooftops and roads leading into the market square are thick with men, archers on high, axemen down below, undoubtedly Moranans. As Ostaria steps into view the Moranan ranks part to reveal high priest Ardna with his staff of office in one hand and the Priests' Staff of the Haquar temple in the other. Flanking him are Sirs Snowolf and Jerival. Shrine-keeper Calistan stands behind his master with Shailac Arlan behind him, quill in hand to record events, not for posterity but for bawdy recital in Darhan's alehouses! To Sir Jerival's left stand the famed centauress, Leucine, and a jet black humanoid, man height and devoid of clothing or belongings.
Ostaria waves her hand and a mixture of wards spring up about her making the air shimmer with colours beyond the spectrum of human sight.
"What's this?! Methinks the mice have had their play and a coup has been struck. Well, 'great' hunter Snowolf, the cat is back!"
A grey bolt strikes down from the leaden skies above, caught at the last by spreading wings. K'Shar, an iron cat the size of a tiger, winged and possessed of three glittering sapphire eyes, lands gracefully besides his mistress. Ostaria continues,
"Enough of this! Snowolf, I have Betsy and young Tolmoss in my care. Eleanor Wolfsbane of Bisha arranged their kidnap for me. Ask for proof and I shall deliver you your son's left hand. Now go home and take Sir Jerival with you or I shall have them die cursing your name. You know I'll do it.
Ardna, swear to abide by Dictator's rule for your lifetime and I'll let you live. Try to debate with me and you die here."

Mark