Mid-Fas in 668 rolled around, and with it a wave of particularly horrid Horde raids that focused not only on Kinsarmar but Celidon. Coupled with the terrible weather, it was a very bad time to be outdoors or out of the city without some sort of help.
The daunting task of beating back the waves of Horde soldiers fell to a resolute group of Kinsarmarans and Celidonians both, who gave their lives and blood to the effort. As one frost giant fell, it was noticed that he dropped a crumpled paper that had been slipped into his armour. Daegun picked up the note, sharing that it was from one signed merely "an ally" who asked that they be at Braylith shortly.
Only then did a norrjin woman show up, having warped from within the Horde's camp. She had much to share: first, that she was Ina, the servant of one many had thought dead. Two, that she had a way for the citizens to save Gorfalas, her master, and three, that this effort would no doubt bring great pain and death to the unwitting. Even so, many brave individuals set forth, willing to give up life and limb to rescue Gorfalas and destroy the staff that was in the possession of the Horde.
Xarith and Merack took upon themselves the task to initially infiltrate the camp, but multiple deaths of the whole group ensued. The inhabitants of the camp were simply too strong, and had to be beaten back at great losses to the magickers. However, finally a path had been cleared to Gorfalas's jail cell, where Justus and Xarith discovered the elderly mage, whose first thought was to worry about Ina's safety.
This was only the beginning, however. Waves of Horde soldiers came in, separating the group and inflicting great loss. Gorfalas never ceased in his persistence that the staff's crystal be utterly destroyed, but it was not until all of the available Horde had been killed that this could be tried. Even then, the crystal proved resilient.
That is, until Ysandre, the famously rumoured Brood Mother of the Horde appeared, demanding everyone's surrender. For a long time the magickers had battled her while a group of dedicated bards attempted to shatter the crystal by voice alone. In inspiring defiance, Gorfalas stood against her, calling her out on her misdeeds and the terror she had caused on even her own people.
The terrible Mother refused to listen, but even her terrible strength had nothing on the group of magickers who joined forces once again to put her down. Ysaviel claimed the final blow, but it was truly a joint force that defeated her. With Ysandre dead, the crystal shattered, leaving Gorfalas shaken but grateful to be alive. He and Ina were reunited again, and brought back to a Kinsarmar freed of the terrible winter.
Even with the Mother killed, rumours circulate about a new breed of Horde. As it was well-spoken by Gorfalas: "The Horde's greatest limitation, if not their blinding ignorance, is their disunity. We can see by their power that they have overcome some of their ignorance... have they too overcome their disunity?" Aetherius must wait, no doubt, and take heed of the drums of war from the ever-restless Horde.
Penned by My hand on the 24th of Fas, in the year 668 AD.
