Allos' Lament
Sacking of Allos
175 years ago
The long peal of Salarian horns pierced the morning darkness, and the Knights of Salos rose certain of their triumph. They stood on the South Bank. Their prize lay ever so close, after months of siege warfare, the defenders of the City- State of Allos were close to collapsing.
They had met their enemy's armies on the fields outside their walls, and had crushed them. They had weathered the city's battle-mages violent and destructive attacks. They had stood where lesser men had fallen and today they would enter battle with all of their assembled might. Victory had come at with a great cost. They had shown the city's defenders their true facets and for that no one would be left alive.
The order had come from Albaric Stoneshade himself, down through the ranks. No stone was to be left standing. No man, woman or child was to be spared. Today they would bath in the blood of Allos and not leave until all life in the city was extinguished.
The cold morning air echoed with commanding cries of officers. Men checked and double checked their gear. Horsemen trotted between tents. Armoured men knelt in circles, praying. Wine was passed, bread and meat hastily shared and devoured. Bands of men drifted to their places in the line, dour faced, growling at the city in the distance that had stood against their might for so long. Priests intoned the most profound benedictions and blessings.
Weapons caught the dawning light and flashed from the walls of Allos. Here and there robed figures walked the skies above its turrets. Deep formation of archers and spearmen covered every inch of its ramparts that seemed to bristle with the heathen.
The Salarian line slowly started to bang drawn weapons against shield, hurling insults and hollering curses through silvered war masks. Swearing oaths of blood to their shield-brothers, eyeing the skies, their lips tight with fervent prayer.
Today Allos would fall and news of the slaughter reaved here would send waves of fear and terror through the Central Realms. It would be a sign that peace would not be sued for. That the sons and daughters of the Pillars would not stop at anything short of the complete annihilation of their enemies.
The Song of Vastad, the Reavers Ode, the Voice of War could be heard among the ranks as they marched to battle. When the light of Ereuhin next shone above, the Salarians would be drowning in the blood of their enemies. Their lamentations and painful screams would echo long into the night. Their would be no escape. No hiding from the brutality of their ruthless foe. Although one single ship would break the blockade to disappear forever into the icy Sea of Storms.
Once the dust settled and the new dawn rose above the smouldering ruined city, Albaric Stoneshade, Breaker of Allos, didn't even allow his men one single day of rest or celebration and immediately ordered the Knights under his command to start preparations to take raise camp and make haste to support Iker Pahadron in his fight against the Keiromancy Sisterhood.
His orders were simple. Kill everything and everyone on the road to Minos...