Invasion! - Interlude

[Vila]

On winters Eve, the forays of Dark One units into Twinspire Vale proved to be the forward scouts for an invasion force.  A legion of Dark One units peppered with the undead support of Ruen Kraytor's minions marched on Twinspire Vale and assaulted Battlegrounds and outlying towns and villages. At midnight on the night of the first assault, a Cataclysmic spell was cast which covered all of Trevaelia in darkness. Restless storm clouds diffuse the light of the sun, and allow the Dark Ones as well as their Vampyric allies to operate during day without their usual weaknesses.

Simultaneous to the Dark One assault on Twinspire, invasion forces of undead rifted in to the capital cities of all four nations. The Elite Guards of nobility, the Sanguine Servants, had been corrupted and magically subjugated by the Vampire Lords. Acting on orders given through enslavement, at the start of the attacks, the Servants attempted to slay their noble charges.  Many of the essential nobility and national officers have been permanently slain, or raised as undead.

On the second day of the Twinspire Vale assault, a contingent of Outlanders performed reconnaissance and stealthily sabotaged several of the Dark One camps. Direct assaults were made on others. The Dark Ones struggled to respond to these unexpected attacks and the invasion force is largely left in disarray.

Kraytor’s undead forces continue to occupy the capital cities of Omar Nadine and Bridgefen. Elven and Federation forces have routed most of the occupation within their capitols, but undead assaults upon their less fortified positions continue daily.

Within the Vale, refugees from all nations have arrived as they are unable to return home. Camps have been set up outside of the city of Battlegrounds, which are being guarded by Mercenaries Guild members and ministered by members of the Apothecaries Society. As the winter snows have set in the Vale, attacks by the remaining Dark One forces have slowed for the season. The Dark Ones have raised security in their camps and set to building earth and snow works to fortify their positions in anticipation of an expected spring assault.

Kraytor’s necromancers have created a skeletal and zombie army from the remains of those permanently killed during the opening battles. Lead by Vampire spawn, units of undead continue to harass the outlying settlements and farms within the Vale. The Wing Riders and Outlanders struggle daily to beat back their attacks.

The alliance with Kraytor’s forces has divided the Dark Ones politically. Rumors of turmoil in their capitol abound, as well as reports of deserters working with the Outlanders. Who knows what may come of their invasion force as spring nears? Darkness continues to cover the land. Among the people, despair and hope collide.