The Battle for Kintargo
The city rose in anger the morning after the Ruby Massacre. A hundred and one citizens dead at the hands of Barzillai Thrune. Two hundred saved by the timely intervention of the Silver Ravens whom Thrune called terrorists.
Leaflets of the Poison Pen’s latest works flutter through empty streets. Every block silent, save when the tripled Dottari patrols rumble past. The Kintargans watch through their window shutters, passing word as they dare.
They know the Dottari have mobilized against the Silver Ravens and any who would aid them. They know all bridges and public offices are closed. They know the Chelish Navy is sailing up the Yolubilis River all the way to Bleakbridge to put down any serious threats.
And yet, they hope. They speak of marching to the grand Plaza of the dead god Aroden, the oldest and greatest landmark of their city. They will gather just after the midday Sun has passed and be heard as one.
The morning’s silence is broken by the Chelish Navy warships signaling to the Scourge of Belial, but she does not answer.
Undermanned for their apparent plan to arrest half the city, the Dottari send Chelish Citizens Group soldiers to arrest Captain Hank Marlow of the Silver Star for suspicion of treason. Old Captain Hank fights them off with the help of strange elves that burst forth from the Sea and come to his aid.
The Tooth and Nail Tavern also sees a visit from the Chelish Thugs but they are turned away by stink bombs and sick spells. Witnesses describe seeing Setrona & a dozen patrons dash out a back window while the thugs and their Dottari Sergeant stumbled out the front steps to cough up their breakfast in the gutters.
Things begin to get serious when the Dottari send an entire squad to arrest poor old Laria Longroads. As the soldiers approached her front door, they were attacked by a seven foot tall wolf-man wielding a shining gold and silver blade. He left them all dead in the street before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
The greatest part of the Chelish Citizens Group was seen with their commander heading South into Old Kintargo. They were not seen again that day or any day since.
The Dottari march down the pier to arrest Captain Sargaeta of the Scourge of Belial. Those that live near the docks report the sounds of gunfire and swordplay, until the unmistakable roar of a dragon is heard and the most famous pirate hunter to ever sail the Arcadian Sea is burnt to the waterline.
With that, the Silver Ravens attack in force. Clearly they have not been idle, as they storm Bleakbridge with spell, sword, and arrow. Commander Vanassus Trex, the greatest archer ever produced by the Dottari, shoots the wanted “criminal” Gabriel dead, but is herself killed by Lothario. The Dottari ranks are broken and they scatter, yielding the bridge for now.
The Hellknights of the Torrent, long thought to be killed or captured by Thrune, reveal themselves and stride boldly down the street to the Holding House. With the aid of a strange old gnome who throws firebombs, they blast down every door and open every cell to free their allies before marching East.
With Bleakbridge undefended, the Ravens strike to the North side of the city to protect the history of Kintargo at the Alabaster Academy and Records Hall. A huge column of black smoke is seen rising from the Academy, but Silver Ravens are seen running through the streets at impossible speed to bring water, and so the fire is quenched.
“The Navy will have it’s say” as the expression goes, and it is not wrong as the HMS Everwar and HMS Abrogail II turn and broadside Bleakbridge. Their first volley knocks loose brick and beam, threatening to destroy the bridge with the Silver Ravens on it. Their second volley, however, bounces off some unseen wall like tumbleweeds, and the sea creatures of Nisroch Bay come alive in anger at the Thrune ships.
Witnesses report that a great grey whale slammed into the side of the HMS Prince Haliad, striking it upon the North docks. Old Kintargan legend came to life when an Orca was also seen swimming through the river at great speed towards the HMS Abrogail II.
Even curiouser, the HMS Everwar was repeatedly struck by lightning and a great voice was heard on the wind calling “BOOOO HAAAAAAAAN” as the ship burned. The HMS Darellus ran aground so violently it skidded up the shore and through the wall of Castle Kintargo. Some say the Darellus was fleeing rough seas, blackened with great clouds of ink. The HMS Diabloic retreated and is said to be anchored a half mile out to sea. Close enough to watch, but afraid to enter the city.
Lord Mayor Jilia Bainilus reveals herself at the protests, but they have already turned violent. A famous Skald known only has “Burns” has magically urged the protesters to violence against the Dottari and the gutters flow with blood. Jilia, Morfak, and Jiao arrive just in time to cool things down and send many civilians home to safety.
The Dottari are forced to retreat from the North side of the city to the South where they regroup at Aroden Plaza, holding the bridge. Silver Ravens trickle in from all points across Kintargo and face them head on.
The Duxotar herself organizes the city’s guard, bolstered by Asmodean Enchanters, Questioners, and Redactors. The great blue dragon Rivozair circles the city in slow gliding circles, searching for targets to burn with her hellfire breath.
The Silver Ravens stand shoulder to shoulder with the rightful Lord Mayor. With the Hellknights of the Torrent. With Shensen. Even Vyre has come to their aid in the form of the Queen of Delights, flanked by Bujon: Storm of Cheliax.
The Queen takes Gabriel’s greatsword from Azwraith. She looks skyward and whispers into the blade. None could hear what she said, but the clouds immediately parted and with a crack of Thunder, a huge silver-skinned and winged man fell out of the sky to land before her. He took up his sword and in a flash he changed into Gabriel, mortal man again. She pulled Commander Trex’s well-placed arrows from his body and restored him.
Azwraith and Gabriel grew to twice the size of normal men and charged straight into the vanguard of the Dottari. A hail of arrows struck the Ravens as they flanked far West and East. The Asmodeans rained fire, fear, and death on them from behind the Dottari lines but the Ravens charged through it. Rivozair strafed them with hellfire but they endured and even wounded the drake thanks to the incredible aim of Elia Nonez, first mate of the Scourge of Belial.
The bricks of the plaza were soaked with blood as the Ravens steadily pressed the Dottari, forcing their lines to fall back and eventually buckle. Again the angry Seas rose to the Ravens aid, as the strange water elves again emerged and harassed the Asmodean wizards and priests. A great shark was seen to burst forth out of the river and change into an even larger elephant with great hooked tusks. It angrily strode through the Asmodean ranks, scattering their spellcasters.
The dragon separated them with walls of hellfire and tore their elephant down. Morfak dispelled a domination effect on the Duxotar, causing the remaining Dottari to split into two factions. One loyal to Thrune, the other to the Duxotar and Kintargo itself. The asmodeans fled but were cut down by the Storm of Cheliax.
But still the dragon came on. Rivozair forced many Silver Ravens into retreat, but not all that should have fled would go. Frisky Jim of the Scourge ran only forward, and died to dragonfire by the edge of the canal. Even more heartbreaking was the loss of Zea. The Headmistress of the Devil’s Nursery Orphanage ran through hellfire to bring healing to the Ravens and perished in the flame even as she saved others.
Spurred on by her noble sacrifice, the Ravens fired shot after shot into Rivozair, forcing the great drake to flee back to the safety of the Temple of Asmodeus along with all other Thrune forces.
The city of Kintargo belongs now to its citizens again, and to the Silver Ravens. They know they must finish the fight and remove the Asmodean threat from the Temple right away, but they have won the day and triumphed in the Battle for Kintargo.