A History of the Stygian Armada: Volume one and two.

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A History of the Styigan Armada

Chapter One: The Beginnings and an Introduction.
 
 
 

For the betterment of the Duchy, and under direction of Duke Antoine Trenada, the Stygian Armada is a group of individuals set out to protect the Duke's citizens, and assure that law and order reign in the dominion. They are selected through deeds, and tested by El Gulgotha, a rite of passage that a recruit has to survive in order to prove their strength. The test takes place over a day, on an island that shares its name with the task; El Gulgotha.

　

The group was formed out of necessity a long while ago, after an incident at sea. Commandant Trenada was once a famous privateer captain following orders from high captain Bremen of Luskan. After numerous military victories, and consecutive success, Commandant Trenada's vessel was attacked by a group of Sahuagin. The Sahuagin fought well, and soon only a few men were alive, and were thus taken to Sekah, a city of the Sahuagin. Duke Trenada and the others were to be sacrificed to Sekolah, on of the Sahuagin's gods. However, Commandant Trenada, and a Sahuagin named Sharr'kall came to an agreement, and planned a way to escape the city together.

　
With their success, Sharr'kall is now the Tertrach in charge of the sahuagin in the Stygian armada today, and Commandant Trenada, is of course, our goodly Duke. The Armada first appeared on the island to set up a base near gobsquat as mercenaries, from there, sir Francisco De Olid defeated the Amaunatori rulers, and led rule over the Ziggurat sporadically.
　
The Armada also braved great battles during its time, for instance the battle of Red Eleint, in which Ordermen, and the Stygian guard battled back thousands of Orcs in an effort to protect the dominion from their great evils. Thanks to a last minute action by Duke Trenada and the brave men that fought against the surge, they were successful, and as such the Dominion was saved from a grizzly fate.
 
Chapter Two: The Battle of Nine Hundred Brothers and the Stygian Armada.
 
(A foreground: The Nine Hundred Brothers were a group of individuals that claimed rights to the land now known as the docks, and built much of the original buildings there. However, they were abusive, and attacked commoners over small matters. Soon they seemed to be heading for a take over of the island, if not much was done.)
 
The next great flay of note was the battle in the docks between the Nine Hundred Brothers, and the Stygian Armada. In which the duke himself, with a group of Stygian troops came to Ymph to aid the colony in defeating the Brothers. From there, the Commandant Antoine Trenada, our Duke, challenged General Berrupo to a duel near the gates of the colony. Duke Trenada won the duel and called his men in to finish the job, however, a call rang from the Governor's Isle, and the Numinous Order and a Militia of Adventurers emerged to defeat the Brothers. Marshal Sharboneth took advantage of this fighting and fled. Duke Trenada had captured the General quickly after the duel.
 
Following the Capture of General Berrupo, an Ixpadia Sabuth set foot upon the docks, claiming the colony for herself with force, and false claims of the duke's death. The Stygian armada challenged Ixpadia's men in the webbed woods, however, the battle did not favour them, and soon Ixpadia Sabuth and her pirate fleet claimed her a queen of the colony by heritage, and placed a navel blockage between the colony and Old Port. From here, Ixpadia Sabuth had her men attack the Governor's Isle and captured Governor Zakarias. The event ended with many deaths of Stygian infantrymen, Sharboneth Guards, and the loss of Master-of-Arms Jeremiah Arkauin. Ixpadia then forced the Governor to comply with her claim as Queen.
 
Chapter Three: The Battle of Bloodhounds, and Ixpadia's Rule.
 
The Battle against the Bloodhounds came next, in which the docks begin their decline into gang warfare, and politics escalate profoundly. The Stygians, still in hopes of establishing order, hold their title as "Defenders" of the docks, but much of the in fighting makes upkeep difficult. Soon, the Bloodhounds, a group fighting each other for "The Mother Load" offered by the Sharboneth, found themselves fighting. The Stygian armada fought the Bloodhounds down well, but one by the name of Marsk, who claimed "war" upon the Stygian for Ixpadia, was able to kill one of the Stygians in a duel to the death. Thus, more fighting broke out, and bodies began to rot from the inner turmoil of the docks. Soon after, a small group of Ixpadian soldiers and Stygians fought in the wardens; finding the numbers of Burkden and Kedrian against Marshal and Marsk.
 
However, afterward, the docks begin to find Ixpadia as a more wanted ruler at the time, though much anti-Stygian sentiment. It looked to be a grim time for the Armada,as even Lord Martyn Greywood offered Fealty to Sabuth, and a fight broke out between the dock's people and the Stygian armada. However, The Stygian Armada held firm, and continued to protect the docks, no matter the weight against them. They did have relocate their base back to the Squatter's Den Outpost, and were able to execute Kethra Marsk for her crimes.
 
Ixpadia Sabuth didn't last on top for long, though. With House Sharboneth declaring their loyalty to the Count, the loyalists and citizens forced Ixpadia from the Ziggurat and another group rescued Governor Zakarias from Ixpedian territory. Ixpedian forces then fortify themselves in the dock, and a sort of stand off is held between the two forces for a short while. Ixpadian forces came from ships and pressed the attack on the barricades in the Ziggurat. Eventually the former Marshal Marius Lestrade led a force to break through, but was dueled by Grand Larson Burkden; they both fought for nearly a half an hour, and although Burkden fell first, Lestrade also collapsed from his own wounds. An explosion then tore out from the docks as Sharboneth's men sabotaged Ixpadian vessels. The Loyalists then pushed the Ixpadians back, and brought the fight to the docks. The Admiral Horton Grouse, one of Ixpadia's men, then landed on the Colony with news of Ixpadia's capture by men under command of the Count. Her reign in the colonies thus ended.
 
The Loyalists proved successful, and routed the remaining Ixpadians after following them to their defeat. However, the docks fell to chaos soon with the lack of law, from the loss of men. Soon gangs began to claim territory in the docks, and so completed the degeneration of the docks into its current visage from what the Sharboneth and Stygian's once had and kept. To make things worse, gnolls took lives from the Stygian Armada, draining the number further. From this pathos was born the Sons, or the Sons of Sabuth; a group that drew its strength from rival gangs that fell apart. Thankfully, however, the Duke was soon to arrive.
 
Chapter Four: The Duke's arrival, and the Chaos that is the docks.
 
On the twenty-second of Eleasis, a year or so now, Duke Trenada was to have a duel with a de facto self proclaimed regent of Ymph. Michel D'Erlon, in name, fell to the blades of a Ruby, however, as his act was highly treasonous, and Trenada was able to guide the city back towards goodly law. The duke then set about rejoining the docks to the colony and taking it back from the gangs and thugs. The sons fought back against it, how ever, and gained power from unlawful friends. One Jackin Hoxie took two Stygian Armada members as hostages, and although Specialist Kedrian followed negotiations, the women still killed the two hostages, and threw a fire ball into the scene; she was stopped by the armada men afterward, thankfully.
 
Specialist Kedrian made an announcement of the event, and how Jackin had started such bloodshed, and the Stygian Armada stopped it. A group known as the "The Legion" then joined the gangs of the docks, and fought against the Stygian Armada, a bounty was placed upon their heads over the situation. Soon after the "Dock rebels" and other criminals rushed the gates and killed a few Stygian defenders and random citizens before the gates could be locked. Things started to look worse for controlling the docks, and the path between the docks and Ziggurat soon was destroyed with alchemist's fire by the Sons of Sabuth.
 
Soon, to try and end the violence, Duke Antoine Trenada called for Admiral Grouse, the same one who worked for Ixpadia Sabuth, to try and meet a peace accord. Trenada demanded the end of these turf wars, lest he should bring in his elite troops to force peace from the rebellion. Grouse stopped the fighting and the duke allowed them to stay in the docks until time came for them to be rejoined to the city once more. This was short lived, how ever as rumors amounted of both Ruby and Sabuth attacking their counter-parts and the Duke Trenada and Admiral Grouse debating once more. This all was masked however, by the impending Nightrisers.
 
Chapter Five: The War of the Nightrisers.
 
Upon the Ziggurat, the Armada made ready for the skeletal abominations, but the docks, still in its uproar, had most people worried about the foretold invasion. The recently founded Conclave, however, was able to make a shield of sorts that deflected a great number of the beasts, from there a great number of people went under Templar Grimfael's call and marched into the sewers to take out the rest of the threat, however a warlock disrupted the shield and the fighting began once more atop. Eventually, the shield was once more raised, and the Nightrisers were defeated. However, two Sons of Sabuth members, perhaps under the control of the Nightrisers, tried to storm the colony under invisibility and subdue a number of people. They were captured by Lord D'Erlon and the duke himself, however.
 
Hammer the fifth there was a tale of a demon under the heading of the Marquis of the Seven Terrors bringing the offer to help the dominion fight off its enemies for two citizens every two days. Infantryman Eldridge firmly refused the offer thankfully, however, the demons then attacked. They were fought back, thankfully. Sadly, though, Lord Stenton found his own son to have been a member of the Sons of Sabuth, and in high loyalty to his goodly Duke, executed him and another Son of Sabuth; he also declared he would do the same to any that should break the good Duke's peace upon the Duchy.
 
The Duke himself talked soon after, speaking of the prosperity that the colony was sure to find and was finding, and having the ascending Alize di Perugia, a local artist, swear an oath of fealty. She then gave a small speech herself, promising to work hard for the cultural enrichment of the Colony. Upon Hammer the third, Captain Gull of the Black Hundred was raised to a lord, as he promised to aid the citizens of the Duchy against their enemies, however, not but twelve days later, Hammer 15, 1337, rumors spread of the Lord Albert Gull's death at the hands of docksmen.
 
Chapter Six: Madmen and Tales of recent events.
 
On the Seventh of Alturiak, three titanic wyverns attacked the city. Thankfully, do to the good protectors of the Ziggurat and even the people of the docks, they managed to kill two wyverns, one in each realm of governance, the third fled into the alleys. The great Stygian Mirana Moore, and the goodly elven fighter sir Vallon (May they both rest in peace), were able to finish the wounded beast before it could cause more harm. In later days, Infantryman First Honours Coronado de Panfilo Belalcazar, Infantrywoman Second Honours Arianne Falkner, and Infantrywoman First Honours Mirana Moore protected the citizens from the likes of the "Unbroken", the "Prince of Rats", and further negative actions of the Sons of Sabuth. Around these times, the temple of Tyrants was reopened by a Banite named Lord Bartemis Vrintak, a member of Lord Gull's house. He, ever lawful lord Bartemis Vrintak, called for goodly scholars and adventures alike to work for the Duke, but perished in the tower of mercy fighting monsters to protect the duchy.

 
Of late, the Guard has worked to stop crazed individuals from attacking the goodly people of the Ziggurat. The mad man Hodgeton of the Sons of Sabuth, who blew up the Shrouded Syndicate library for its work with "Slaver sharks", a pun and ridicule of the Stygian order for their Sahuagin members, was captured by good sir Specialist Gavril Rezniczek in the kingsman, attempting to give poisoned food to the inn to inflict the citizens of the dominion. Specialist Gavril also worked in stopping the false Crusader Lawthorn from mugging, killing people, and for his involvement in stealing the books from the library and blowing it up. Lawthorn was eventually brought to justice by a woman by the last name of Luth, however, specialist Gavril made sure that most citizens that had attacked Lawthorn before were able to get away alive, despite the Glacier man's involvement.
 
The current worry for the citizens is the monster called Jim; a tiefling fire mage that has taken it upon himself to spread the word and dread of Cyric. In his wake, he has not only robbed, mugged, and killed many random people with his group, but has killed the goodly woman Ulfrin, whose only supposed crime was speaking out against him negatively. She should be always remembered as well, not just for her goodly nature, but her contributing and raising of thirty thousand ducats to the farmland fortification project after the orcan horde set fire to much of it recently. May she rest in peace. Currently Infantryman Margulis Baldassare, Specialist Gavril Rezniczek, and his brother, Specialist Anatoli Rezniczek aim to stop this fiend from completing his ends, and hopefully stop more of his means in time.
 
In summation, the Stygian Armada is like any other group, in that they have some people who may try to abuse power, or do hurtfully things. However, they have one thing continually growing as a beacon for them; they fight the lawless that would other wise take advantage of the weak, and harm the innocent. I hope this book of history honours their cause.
 
 
 
 

[A list is now formed at the bottom]
A short list of the men and women of the Stygian Armada

[LIST=1]

• Einar Helder: A guard and courtier to the house of Sharboneth at the time, mister Helder fought in the war of Red Eleint to protect the people of the duchy and fell to the bog illness of the rot. The disease betrayed his orginal keen senses, but I hope to remember his goodly sacrifice of body and mind for the people, and his blade of frost since with his visage.
• Franciso De Olid: A well groomed man, and one of the first Stygian guards to protect the duchy's good people. While stories of him seem to potray him in a bad light, he did seem to serve the law as accordingly, and fell in a duel to the colony's first governor, mister Ortred.
• Adrastos Praxes: A man who fought wildings and brought great profit to the armada with such. He was known to fight for a diety called Tchazzar, and has a play written about him in the Velvet Mask Threatre recalling his rescue of Grand Larson Burkden from the burning Starwood.
• Specialist Gavril Rezniczek: One of the now active members of the Stygian Armada, and a good friend to me. This man has not only captured Hodgeton, and helped slay the Orcan leader after going through the Orc's mountain encampment, but has also helped to stop Lawthorn, and saved a good number of the duchy's citizens by doing such. He recently lost his arm to a dispute, but still serves the people well, and hopefully I can write more of his good deeds in the future.
• Specialist Anatoli Rezeniczek: Brother of Gavril, he too fought against the Orcan horde, nearly giving his life on numerous occasions to do so. Also currently active.
• Infantryman Margulis Baldassare: A goodly man that serves the duchy with keen intelligence, and strength to boot. Another of the currently active members.
• Infantryman Frederick Steiner - A new recruit at this time.
• Infantrywoman First Honors Mirana Moore: A goodly woman who sought well to protect the citizens of the duchy. Known for her kindly appeals to the citizens, and aid in not only domestic spats, but that of felling a wyvern with the good sir Vallon (rest in peace), this goodly lady served right until the end; may she rest in peace as well.
• Infantrywoman Second Honors Arianne Falkner: Another goodly woman who sought well and found ways to protect the citizens of the duchy, she worked along side Mirana, but also found the same end to the scoundrel Caius Drayden.
• Infantryman First Honours Coronado de Panfilo Belalcazar: A man that fought against many different groups and peoples for the safety of the duke and the duchy, including the one called "Unbroken", the "Prince of rats", the Sons of Sabuth, and the Black Harpers Ammon, Elera, and Cacey Mac Conmara.
• Specialist Kedrian: A goodly fellow that tried to save two persons from Jackin Hoxie, a murderous Son of Sabuth. Also fought along side Grand Larson Burkden against Ixpadia Sabuth's men Marshal Marius Lestrade and Marsk.

List of Loyalist Army Members

[LIST=1]

• Militiaman Urth Hornraven: A recent recruit that came from farmlands also once ravaged by orcs. He had not only turned them there, but here on the island as well. He was killed by the monster Jim in the line of service.
• Militiaman Fror Stoner: A goodly man who worked with Gavril to stop Lawthorn from his murderous acts. He however met his end to the false crusader.
• Militiaman Dante Coolidge: Yet another goodly man who pledged to help protect the duchy. A follower of Bane, and the adopted son of mayor Coolidge, Dante helped to try and drive the Sons of Sabuth from the docks for their misdeeds. He however was slain by the sons.
• Militiaman Lyon Krusevik: A goodly sir that helped Gavril with duties, and tried to bring Lawthorn to justice as well. He retired from the guard, and now works for good mayor Coolidge.

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A History of the Stygian Armada: The Final Book.

 

Chapter Seven: Hemmed on all Sides.

Jim was felled by a group of wildsmen in fellhammer hold. His group also soon fell apart, as the late thane Durgrim and the Stygian Armada had further quarreled after the incident with Gavril's arm, and two other dwarven arms sparked by actions of a conclave renegade Tendaji. The Duke claimed the Thane to have been a servant of the duchy, but the thane replied: "Nay oath o' word was given for mine title, nay Duke bestowed upon mineself thee lordship, mine title gained through agreement o' contract and that alone.", in such, tensions raised and attacks were had against the fellhammer hold. One such was lead by Infantryman Ortega who would later perish against the wildsmen in starwood after a battle took place there between the two forces. Infantryman Baldassare was also slain in such confrontation, as he tried to aid Ortega and his group of loyalists.
　
Before hand, Gavril's brother, Anatoli, was said to have died in the underdark on a jouney with mister Baldassare. Infantryman Ortega battled against an aberration woman that worked for the sons of Sabuth, as Red led the sons from the Shadows. Gavril was later executed by Red and the aberration, but both met their ends eventually, the woman much sooner. The Duke made an attempt to quicken the process of raising funds and secure the food trade routes, but luck proved fickle and the coffers and bunkers began to thin and empty. The then named Lords Dalton and Deirdre risked and succumbed to slavery in an attempt to re-raise the funds. Dalton was stripped of title after incidents of insanity, one such where he attempted to bomb the Citadel and ended the life of an infantryman, and maimed Boris. Tensions once again shown between the sons and the Stygians after the fall of Jim, and Red and Gregor had a duel in the neutral ground of the conclave, in which Red won. However, soon enough Red was captured along with Felix of the sons after their attack on members of House Smythe, as the Stygians aided in keeping their citizens safe. Red was then executed, and Gregor and now Veteran Saircrost joined amongst the ranks.
　
Militiaman Mister Dundragon and Specialist White aided Patrician De la Sol after battles erupted over control of the inner docks, the Patrician was then given control of such harbours. Infantryman Hagrim, the dragon slayer as named after the battle against the rot and the giant shambling skeleton of a dragon, held a tournament to boost spirits. Infantryman Gregor and Veteran Saircrost fought a duel for grand position in which Saircrost was declared a Veteran of the Armada. Imnan, a follower of Bhall, soon caused uproar with his brutal murder of Gregor. Miss White and mister Dundragon soon disappeared, but Saircrost, Hagrim and loyalists were able to defeat Imnan when he came upon the ziggurat to stop an execution.
　
Saircrost and others lead campaigns against the Stargazers for some end, and bloody war was waged in which the loyalist lost dearly, and Hagrim was felled. Infantryman George MacOrgro and Edraen Kavard served around this time and soon specialist Trollspike joined the armada. A group of hoodlems attacked the Stygian base near gobsquat and killed the members there; most, if not all, were found and executed for such. Trollspike met an end to orcs in the mist mountains after traveling there to make the place safer for all. Specialist Zayed currently serves the armada, and a sort of peace is established as treaties bound those whom might engage in war otherwise. The guards near the main gate have all but moved back to the ziggurat, but the gate is still held by loyalists and others concerned about the safety of all from the likes of orcs. Miss Karrin works with Lord Stenton at rebuilding and securing the farmlands, as Veteran Saircrost announced the idea of a barrel for weapons and such that may be donated to help pay for the funds needed to secure the food trade routes. 　
 
In other matters, the Exiled Camp shifts into Vortgyn's rest; a starting place for the hamlet that the Numinous Order might hope to secure, and Fellhammer Hold moves into the Mist Mountains to grab real ore, and fight the likes of ogres and orcs. The Docks beats with unrest, and the conclave declares Qadium a renegade after her association with an aberration that gives Izzy wings and nearly drowns the floating enclave. The Stargazers declare that loyalists are now no longer welcomed in starwood, and Gaseric's camp in the Unyielding pass fills with those that flee the transition of the exiled camp to a more civilized place. A Great Werewolf stalks the island before being slain by the likes of Adrian and the Order, as do Orcs, Giants, and giant Larval spiders.
 
Chapter Eight: The Maiden Unleased.
 
Many deaths followed in the months after these events. Provost Karrin, good dwarven followers of the Thane, including Gorm, and Thorgrimm, as well as Samuel Blake were slain by the likes of eye tyrants, though through their actions they helped seal a very dangerous cave in the mist mountains. Specialist Zayed went missing after a trip underground, and well as my good friend Kross. Veteran Saircrost, together with a band of adventures, went down into the underdark, and although they managed to bring back the seeds they were looking for, the Veteran is said to have perished in the pursuit. Infantryman Praxes (of relation to Adrastos), Infantrywoman Sventlana, and Infantrywoman Aishe Nafrémetit are the most recent members of the Armada, although Infantryman Praxes was found dead. Shortly after his dead, the Maiden - the lich - H'bala, was released by the Stewards in an attempt to defeat her. They failed, and in such the Maiden began her attack upon the stargazers toward the western shore first, and some in the mountains; changing those she felled into undead, and the Stewards into the Agony of the Hunt.
　
The next day, the farmlands were assaulted by the Sons of Sabuth, and some Umberlee followers of the docks for reasoning that Lord Stenton had slaves at the farms. I know not if such was true, but in the end the gang members killed all of the guards at the farms, and scared the farmers away. They also took a Stygian hostage, and demanded one of their own back from the Duchy - which most likely spurred the attack; there was also word that a member of House Durjure set up the plan to get the farmers out before the Maiden could attack the farmlands. A man was tried and executed for such, and Lord Stenton and Lord Durjure fought a duel, in which Lord Stenton won, and Lord Durjure's son became the new Lord.
　
Following this, Mist Raiders attacked the docks and vowed to attack again two days later. They came back, and with greater numbers, managed to set fire to most, if not all the building of the docks. They then demanded tribute, and the Sons of Sabuth gathered ten children for such to prevent the Raiders from destroying them outright. A follower of Umberlee, that was captured after the trial taken place over the farmlands attack and forced to join the Stygian Armada, gathered up those who would try one last effort at stopping the tribute, and protecting the docks (though, his aim was more to join the docks in war). The group gave their best efforts, and the follower of Umberlee nearly won, but was executed by the Raider captain in the end, and the children were given over by the Sons of Sabuth.
　
The Maiden then continued her attacks; laying claim to Starwood as the wildlings hosted a meeting in hopes of defeating her. The Thane, the Numinous Order, and many others attempted to hold back the hordes of monsters long enough for the people to get away. They were successful enough, but the Starforest too was lost, and Dame Snow captured for a time. The Maiden then saw fit to use Dame Snow's Visage to further war between the Docks, Duchy, and Numinous Order. This plan was found out by the Templars, and although Dame Snow was rescued, the Order marched into the docks to find the Maiden in her form, and hope to stop her from acting further. Instead they found the Sons of Sabuth and Umberlee devout ready for war, and were forced to flee as no civil words could be had. This all the day before the mist raiders struck again. Exchanges were made, and eventually the Numinous Order vowed to never enter the docks again as requested by the Sons of Sabuth. Templar Soravia Sagres was slain this day too, in the chaos that followed the negoiations.
 
Chapter Nine: The Battle of Vortgyn's Rest.
　
The most recent attack of the Maiden falls upon Vortgyn's Rest, the place once known as the exiled camp and home of the World Tree. Through the Tangled woods marched abominations of Trees, Ogres, Bears, Wolves, Man, and nature itself. After they were spotted heading from the western coast, actions were taken to defend castle Blackhearth, and the Rest from such monsters. The Thane, and newly named Champion, Brok'Tor were placed in charge of the Rest as the Order made plans, and actions to save the people from the monster's attacks. The guard stood for nearly three hours, and then the wolves came charging from the north. They bayed an evil howl, and clawed at those they could get to before the undead bears joined them. These were fought back by Golden Aliance memer, Stygian, Conclave member, House Harvix member, Vortgyn's Rest Milita, adventurer alike, together as was the Rot months before. Lady Harvix sent her group to the east, and guarded there, as undead giants and stargazers poured out from the woods. The Thane, Brok'Tor, and many others fought against the Trents, Tigers, and Giants that followed in the north. As Infantrywoman Aishe and many others fought the undead ordermen that crept out from the waters to the east.
 
Lord Blackhearth gave us a speech inbetween the assult, as he rode from the south, clearing the tangled woods of foes as he could with the rest of the Numinous Order. From there we held until the the tunnels were completed, and fought many more of the same, and even a crazied cultist of the Maiden. All held until the screaming, and writhing that could only be the Agony of the Hunt, made itself known. Upon its wails, everyone gathered who they could, fought off the last of what was there, and fled as there was no known way to defeat the large Aberration as of yet. The caves lead back to the castle, and things settled down, but the village was lost, and the great World Tree was left to saddly die. With this nature itself is said to slowly deminish, and so the Maiden gained another important foothold. The main gates are now being secured as far as possible, and Castle Blackhearth holds many of the people caught between this Struggle. Undead were also said to have attacked the Ziggurat and docks before, but didn't take any ground that time, as things move forward, the Duchy was likely the next target.
 
Chapter Ten: The Darkest Nights.
 
How ever, things took a different direction; now writing three years later, the last two weeks created a very traumatic and altering change to most if not all on the island. Firstly, the Champion Brok'Tor met his end after defeating a Templar locked away by a spirit of Garagos; this action freed a high member of the numinous Order, something that changed visions of the future seen by Dame Snow. The Dame herself soon went missing afterwards. The maiden already loose and doing damage as remarked before, next attacked Castle Blackhearth itself. She laid siege to it for near a week before the then duke, for a short while later king of Ymph, and as before leader of the Stygian Armada; Antoine Trenada led a two grouped based siege. He placed second honour's Aishe in control of the unit that made way to break the siege - the Thane and his men, Duchy supports, miss LaRue, Stygians, and many others - there through assassins, giants, horrible bird like creatures, undead bears, the animated remains of a Stargazer Elder, and the Orc Ironjaw along with many more monsters, they broke a path, and rid the camps of the maiden's creatures and freed the castle for a short while longer. Meanwhile, the Duke, his men, Veteran Kedrian, and others beat a path through the dead forest and to the forefront of the maiden's tower. There they set up camp and divided the numbers of the maiden's horde long enough for us to grasp victory at the castle.
　
The next battle involved clearing tunnels of monsters so that weaponry might meet up with the Conclave camp; this went well enough with infantrywoman second honor's Aishe at the head along side the brave adventures. There they battled through fleshlings, dozens of undead, and worst of all, undead beholders. The attempt proved victorious, and so the Duke called for a charge in the coming day. Before this all could unfold, a once Stygian Gregor, turned Ruby to the Count attempted to assassinate the Duke. Specialist Kedrian stopped the attempt at the cost of his own life, but later Gregor and Dagmur Rus, a leader of the Umberlee group in the docks were captured as they attempted to take over the inner docks by force. When the day of the call to meet arrived, adventures from past events such as miss LaRue, Roryn ironguard, Infantrywoman Aishe, members of the Conclave, Templars, and even the docksfolk of the confederacy and Umberlee fought against scourge with the newly made king and his men. All seemed to go well enough, aside from taking a heavy beating, and the tower looked nearly won, until the undead visage of Ymph appeared and brought with him the Agony of the Hunt. Though they held at spots for time, the catapults would explode, or misfire, and through this the camps were broken and all was pushed back out of the forest of the dead.
　
The King was distraught, but did not wish to give up, and the conclave made preparations to make their move against the maiden. However, mist raiders once more showed up to rain destruction and this time with free reign from the Sons of Sabuth, even the docksfolk had enough of their antics. The King, seeing his back now attacked at the worst of times, called for a march to rid the docks of the Sons of Sabuth. In taking those who would gather, the two forces met near the border of the docks, and clashed. The sons were quickly routed as most of the docks stopped their backing of them, but Grouse led the King into the house of Ilmater in the docks. What happened there may have very well changed everything politically in both the docks and the duchy. Father Michael, once thought to be a goodly man of Ilmater, showed his true colours as a follower of Cyric, and sacrificed Grouse to curse the King with mental enfeeblement. Sadly, I know not whether a cure was made, or how King Antoine Trenada fares. I know, however, that after that day the Stygian Armada, and the Sons of Sabuth began to cease to be. Both of the institutions still had their buildings and members about for the coming next few days, but with the leaders gone, things fell into an uneasy quiet.
　
This would end the story of the Stygian Armada, as it was lost in the days to come, and now years later is all but a memory; however, it does not have to be the end of this book - no. Instead I shall go on to the final events of the Duchy and docks. As I mentioned before the Conclave had made themselves ready to act against the Maiden, and to do so began to move their floating conclave, with its shield against the undead, to battle and destroy the Maiden with it. However, this left the people of the colony with another problem as old as the Ziggurat; the Nightrisers. Without the shield, the risers were free to begin to move around at night, and having amassed power in their time sealed away, they began to strike heavy on the ziggurat and docks. Meanwhile, in the wilds the visage of Ymph along with the Herald of the maiden began to cut down all they could; I myself unfortantly witnessed a man cut down in a single stroke - his soul retching from his body like air escaped in a breath. I ran, his red scythe still comes to me in nightmares, and I know he may still be about; waiting.
　
Soon, most took to seeking shelter at the temple of Jergal, a place of the dead, with the protection of the Palid Mask, and Adventures such as miss Anette, some safety during the night was afforded from the skeletal terror. With news that the conclave crashed into the desert on the other side of the mist mountains, a hope of the shield coming back was lost, and with the King cursed, things looked very bleak, and more a matter of holding out for daylight each night. The Thane and his group of the Golden Alliance set to having the Holdfast set to keep refugees and the dwarves and gnomes of the duchy, but unfortunately was lost to the Giants serving the Maiden. Thane Dalgad himself is said to have died trying to fight his way back into the halls, with Roryn searching for him after the lost battle. From my understanding, only a few members survived. The attacks on the docks and Ziggurat heated further up, the confederacy and other groups lead charges against the undead to secure as many people as they could to the temple of Jergal, and soon, all turned to its darkest. The Zuggurat was lost, and the docks followed quickly after, already burning, however. Screams could be heard coming from Gobsquat, though I know not how it fares, and even today the Maiden assaults Castle Blackhearth once more. Soon the risers came to the door, but instead of a battle, they brought a gift of sorts; memories for the father of the temple. Once he recalled that he was the warden, the keeper of the prison and ruler of the Nightrisers, he beckoned and commanded us to go, and never come back.
　
So, well, most of us went, and though we knew that the maiden was likely beyond the gates, we marched. However, we met with the mist worshipers, and soon found ourselves in a deep sleep; for three years. With this, I can now look back and see events through these pages; maybe they can be used to shape a better future, and fight the maiden. So ends the Stygian Armada.