On the 23rd of Halitus, 557AD, the hunters of Pabin'aquinumi awoke to
the sounds of battle and chaos. Skaarg Ironhide, an immense orc from the
northern mountains, arrived to deal with the townesfolk himself at the
behest of an unknown master. With whip and shackle in hand, the slaver
quickly seized the lamirans and hurried them off into the forest before
the citizens of Kinsarmar could arrive.

Hamade Peayiss, the chieftain of Pabin'aquinumi, cried out when he
realized that his hunters were not enough to stave off the green tide
and sent word to the Duchess Lalitana Chytovil for aid. With the arrival
of the Kinsarmarian forces, many of the orcs and ogres scattered,
leaving only the feasting trolls and Skaarg himself. Skaarg and his
minions taunted the Kinsarmarians before Skaarg was brutally struck-and
mysteriously vanished amidst maniacal laughter. Hamade only knew that
they had come in great numbers-some from Erorag, others from Gongen
Stronghold-all in service to a new master.

Only a few hours after the attack of Pabin'aquinumi, the lycaean
chieftain of Kadar known as Gindar loped to the edge of the dell when
the steady beat of wardrums issued once more from Skegdald. Two
Justicars, Sir Konda Vuh'uni and Squire Aoudin, were first upon the
scene of battle and quickly entrenched themselves at the entrance of
Kadar before the orcish horde could sweep in once more.

Trolls, ogres, and orcs swept in the dell and were slain with relative
ease with no ground given by the stalwart defenders. With a bellowing
warcry, a new figure charged into the valley. Grik Skullcrusher, a
monstrous frost ogre, smashed through much of the defenses and
slaughtered many before he too was struck dead to the ground. The corpse
was snatched away, yet again, and the cackling laugh echoed in the minds
of all who watched in horror as the body seemed to all but melt away.

It was soon revealed that the shaman known as Madrene had a hand in
this. A loathsome frost ogre from Skegdald, she and Grik had planned to
raid the Icebound Crypt deep within Kadar and fled into the mountains
with his death. The lycaean soothsayer of Kadar spoke of her great
desire to continue her dark magicks by stealing away the spirits of the
fallen. A dark figure was seen in the soothsayer's visions-a figure that
loomed heavily in his mind before melting away into the night air.
Madrene was not the only force behind this attack and it left the
defenders uneasy.

Taking all that they could from Pabin'aquinumi, it remains to be seen if
Skaarg will return to besiege yet another towne of the Duchy and Grik
will return to collect the bones to fuel the dark magick wielded by the
Horde from the Kadar pack.

Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Artificium, in the year 557 AD.