Session 1: Battle of the West-Harbour

Date: June 12th, 1486 RE, 5th Era
Location: Outskirts of Val Némor Woodlands

On a deceptively tranquil summer day, across the peaceful,

Prince Rhed Arcadeus
Son of the late John Arcadeus
Nephew of Queen Karyn

green flat-lands of the Verdant Coast sound the marching feet of twenty-five thousand men. The arena is set for tense confrontations and inevitable bloodshed . On the flat-lands outside of the forest of Val Némor and mere leagues from the ocean waters, Villeroy soldiers have marched from Palisade on the Royal Capital and an Arcadeus defense force has been mustered to intercept them, aided by D’Arcy allies. The ‘Crimson Prince’; Rhed Arcadeus (the late King Max’s nephew) has also joined the battle to provide morale and vows to personally defend his home-realm from the Villeroy legions of his treacherous uncle, having achieved victory in many battles and skirmishes previously.

In light of the recent deaths of Arcadeus Royal Family members and nobles, The Cabal of Vigilum has assigned Hell-Knight Agents to act as Bodyguards for the young Prince Rhed (by the royal order of Queen Karyn). They arrive to fight at the Battle of the West-Harbour in Prince Rhed’s personal guard. The Cabal has chosen Commander Nefarion, and Signifer Ysera to perform this task. They are half-siblings, and are decorated and skilled Hell-Knight agents. The mysterious and violet-haired Necromancer; Hel, has also been employed to assist the Royalist Forces on this day.

The Cabal of Vigilum
An Ancient Order sworn to the Royalty of Elmunred

The two armies meet at midday, and seem evenly matched in number. As war drums beat, the Renegade army of House Villeroy begins to march steadily on the defending Arcadeus defense force. There seems to be a medley of races among each armies soldiers, and all manner of armament and magics have been gathered on this day. 
 
After a few hours pass, the battle seems to be going well, the Royalists are fighting ferociously and morale is good. The renegades seem shaken and are being pushed back metre by metre. And yet at this turn-point in the battle, there seems to be a strange new formation at the base of the Renegade Army. The soldiers are changing formation and position, and there seems to be a number of large grey objects, each being pulled in by about 20 men. At first you think them to be boulders, however something makes you realise that they may be something different entirely, something a whole lot worse. You hear a whirring noise, a release of steam, and a crunching metallic chorus as vaguely humanoid shapes fold outwards from the large grey objects. Two long metallic arms extend outward and a metal head sits above it’s center of mass with a cyclopic red eye, staring intently at you. No-one could have predicted that the Lord-Meister would employ such terrible, mechanical artillery into his own garrisons.

Mélanie Van Scherade
An Independent Agent of the Cabal

 At the sheer destructive might of the Villeroy Battle Automatons, the Arcadeus forces are decimated and scattered. The Prince and his personal guard barely make it out with their lives. They flee north through the Forests of Val Nemor in an attempt to better evade the Villeroy war machines. They walk as far north as possible hoping to reach the nearby township of Tahm, when they are stalked by Ursamanes. The Prince is badly wounded, and when he and his guards are cornered, an explosion lands behind the beasts, sending them off retreating back into the woods. The party then meets Seltyiel Garrott, a a deformed and maniacal humanoid that once resembled a Tiefling. The party must make their way safely to the Capital City of Rhuen with a disguised Prince Rhed. It is a 4 day journey by foot. Since the Royalist Defeat on the Battle of the West-Harbour, there are Villeroy Soldiers and spies in many corners of the Verdant, and if the party isn't vigilant and hasty in their venture to Rhuen, they will likely be captured by Villeroy Forces. Kentonborough, Brandinweld and, Kite-Nest will be safe enough for the time being.

 Upon reaching the Mountain-Vein River, the party encounters the Hell-Knight Agent; Mélanie Van Scherade - who is escorting a Vampire Malefactor named Cynthia, to Bastion Zenith. The two parties agree to merge and continue to travel north towards the capital. As they walk along a merchant road, they are met by a woman in distress, who desperately seeks help from the party. But something is not as it seems...