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<blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 453605" data-attributes="member: 2012"><p><strong>Below the Burning Sky (conclusion)</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Minutes before dawn:</em></p><p></p><p>High Lady Alustriel, Speaker of the Silver Marches, watched helpless from one of the many balconies of the Palace of Silverymoon, as the Imperial Legions stormed through the greatest city in the North. The magic that had kept invaders out of Silverymoon for ages was now fading with the death of her goddess, Mystra. She had done everything humanly possible to protect her home. The Silver Marches would fall.</p><p></p><p>Alustriel watched as the Knights in Silver, Silverymoon’s army, through themselves at the advancing hovertanks and power-armored soldiers of the Dragon Empire. They fought bravely, despite the odds and the futility, dying under the strength enhanced feet of the Imperial soldiers, as well as from countless laser and plasma fire. The ranks of the Knights of Silver had swelled with the populace of the Silver Marches once in was known the Imperial army was attacking the city. Now there were barely enough to hold the Imperials back from the walls of the palace. Dwarves from Mithral Hall and Citadel Adbar fought beside humans, elves and halflings from Everlund and those that escaped the destruction of Sundabar.</p><p></p><p>“This is madness,” Alustriel wept openly for her people. “Don’t these Imperial bastards ever get tired!”</p><p></p><p>“You must not give up hope, Speaker.” Drizzt Do’Urden, hero of the Sword Coast North, stood next to the High Lady.</p><p></p><p>The drow ranger had learned of Silverymoon’s plight soon after the Imperial’s had landed. The arrogant Imperial soldiers hadn’t consider the communities of the North enough of a threat to attack Neverwinter, Luskan or Mirabar. The North was relatively safe. But if Waterdeep and Silverymoon fell then no one would be safe.</p><p></p><p>Wulfgar and Cattiebrie had gone to Waterdeep to help in the city’s defense. He and Bruenor Battlehammer had helped defend Mithral Hall until it fell. Bruenor had stayed with his people to try and retake his home. Drizzt had come to Silverymoon at behest of the High Lady after Taern “Thunderspell” Hornblade had died in the first assault on Silverymoon. Drizzt had led the city’s army during the second Imperial onslaught. Now he stood by the high Lady as her protector in case the Imperials reached the palace.</p><p></p><p>Helm Dwarf-friend and the remaining members of the Bloodaxe Mercenary Company had to come to Silverymoon after Sundabar fell. Helm had been the best choice to lead the Knights in Silver against the Imperials. If the city survived, the populace would likely name him the next ruler of the city, if he didn’t go back to Sundabar and try to restore it.</p><p></p><p>Several Imperial hovertanks swept over the Knights in Silver heading straight for the palace. Drizzt stepped in front of High Lady Alustriel as the tank’s powerful plasma cannons swiveled into position to blast the balcony where the two heroes of Faerûn stood. The tanks didn’t see what hit them.</p><p></p><p>Powerful bolts of energy blew the hovertanks to dust.</p><p></p><p>“What the-“ Drizzt turned towards where the weapon fire had come from. What he saw was both frightening and awe inspiring.</p><p></p><p>The City of Shade loomed over the gap of Silverymoon Pass just as the dawn rose over the Nether Mountains, dark, shadow-tinged plasma raining down on several Imperial units that had come down through the pass. The gun-emplacements of Shade continued firing, hitting those Imperial units outside the city until nothing was left but smoldering remains. Rockets and missiles screamed out from the city’s launchers destroying hovertanks and unit of legions, which were now in retreat.</p><p></p><p>Dozens of strike aircraft supporting the Imperial troops, rocketed towards the floating city firing plasma and missiles at the gun, rocket and missile emplacements. High Lady Alustriel watched in amazement as the weapon fire impacted a powerful energy shield protecting the city.</p><p></p><p>“Where in the Realms did they get that technology?” Drizzt was angry. Of all the races to come to Silverymoon’s aid why did it have to be the shades?</p><p></p><p>“I-I don’t know,” the Speaker of the silver Marches was dumbfounded. Then the Shade wizard known as Hadrhune stood next to her on the balcony. Drizzt attacked Hadrhune passing right through him and hitting the wall behind the shade man.</p><p></p><p>“Aggressive, isn’t he.” The hologram of Hadrhune had flickered slightly as the drow ranger passed through him. “The City of Shade offers its generous support to the citizens of Silverymoon and the Silver Marches against the army of the Dragon Empire.”</p><p></p><p>“And why would you do that, shade?” Drizzt had got to his feet quickly and was now waving one of his swords through the hologram trying to determine whether Hadrhune was there or not.</p><p></p><p>“Drizzt,” Alustriel reached out to stop the drow from antagonizing the shade man. ”What do you want in return for this assistance Hadrhune? And don’t tell me you are doing it out of the goodness in your heart.”</p><p></p><p>Hadrhune of Shade looked at the holographic image of Alustriel and Drizzt Do’Urden in front of him. He stood on a platform in his personal imaging chamber on Shade. He wished he didn’t have to ask for anything. Alustriel’s thank you would be more than enough for his heart. But his position as Prince and Emissary of the City of Shade demanded a tribute of some kind. Of course, it didn’t have to be decided upon at the moment.</p><p></p><p>“You are correct High Lady, the City of Shade’s help does come with some conditions but I assure you they will be reasonable.”</p><p></p><p>“Speaker, you cannot trust him!” Drizzt stepped in front of the hologram projecting Hadrhune’s image. He grabbed Alustriel by the arms looking right into her eyes. “You cannot do this! Think of your people! He is evil, he will betray us to the Empire!”</p><p></p><p>Alustriel looked at Drizzt and then at his hands clamped around her arms. “Let go, Drizzt. Now!”</p><p></p><p>The drow ranger let her go backing away from her and the hologram of the shade. He looked at her as if she had grown a second head.</p><p></p><p>“Think of your people.”</p><p></p><p>“I am Drizzt, someday you will understand. Hadrhune, what assurances do I get that the silver Marches will remain free of Shade rule.”</p><p></p><p>“I can only say that the Imperial Legions are as much Shade’s enemies as they are yours. Once they have been eliminated then we can talk about the continued sovereignty of the Silver Marches.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t really have a choice, do I?”</p><p></p><p>“No.”</p><p></p><p>“So be it.”</p><p></p><p>“Very well then,” Hadrhune tapped the Comm on the wall of his imaging chamber. “Deploy the shadow strikers. I want air superiority over Shade and Silverymoon in less than fifteen minutes.”</p><p></p><p>“It will be so, Hadrhune.” The voice echoing across the Comm was monotone and calm.</p><p></p><p>“Watch this High Lady,” the hologram of Hadrhune faded from the balcony of the palace of Silverymoon.</p><p></p><p>Alustriel turned towards the City of Shade, which was still being pounded by the Imperial strike aircraft. The great plasma guns and missile emplacements had not returned fire. Then the top of on of the floating city’s huge towers opened up and dozens upon dozens of small, sleek mechanical aircraft rocketed out of the top of the tower. They were shaped like black disks with purple highlights bordering the edge of the flying saucers. The shadow strikers passed through Shade’s energy shield unimpeded. The shadow strikers were much faster than the Imperial aircraft and easily outmaneuvered them. Those Imperial pilots able to target and fire upon the strange black saucers must have been horrified to see their striker’s laser cannon fire and missiles pass right though the Shade shadow strikers.</p><p></p><p>The Knights in Silver cheered when one of the Imperial walkers guarding the entrance to the city exploded in shadow plasma, unable to avoid the guns of the City of Shade. The city’s protectors rallied behind Helm who led an counterattack against the Imperial Legions.</p><p></p><p>While high above on the balcony of the palace, Alustriel held her symbol of Mystra tightly in her hand. She watched one of the shadow strikers streaked through the sky above Silverymoon. She knew the symbol of Shar when she saw it and knew that powerful shadow magic protected the Shade aircraft. Soon the Imperial forces would be on the run and Silverymoon would survive to see another day.</p><p></p><p>“But at what cost,” Alustriel again watched helplessly as the Battle for the Silver Marches escalated in front of her eyes.</p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p></p><p><em>Dawn over Shadowdale:</em></p><p></p><p>Arassil had worked all night preparing the citizens of the Dales for what she knew would come. She forced the humans and elves to cut down dozens and dozens of the trees of the forest they called Cormanthor. The elves had originally refused until Arassil explained what would happen to their precious forest in the Imperials won. The imperials would clear cut everything and rape the planet of its natural resources. The elves had been much more cooperative after that.</p><p></p><p>She had the trees cut into logs and trenches dug. The logs were sharpened and place strategically around Shadowdale. Bakner and Samuall had spray painted as many logs as they could with iron dust making them as hard and durable as steel. The earth from the trenches was used to make mounds between those same trenches making the terrain difficult to navigate.</p><p></p><p>She ordered dozens of buildings in and around Shadowdale broken down to use as much need resources such as polearms and boards with nails sticking up all around the towns perimeter. She placed her men in the best possible locations so that they could fire their laser pistols and plasma rifles almost anywhere across what would become the battlefield.</p><p></p><p>Elminster was still in Waterdeep but Arassil could call him in a moment’s notice with her Arcanum ring. She looked at her ring and thought of Syrath back on Charamosh. He would know by now that she had aligned herself with the Freedom League. He wouldn’t be happy but she couldn’t worry about that now.</p><p></p><p>“Commander,” Caranarth stood in front of the half-dragon. He had been standing there for some time trying to get Arassil’s attention.</p><p></p><p>“Yes Caranarth, what is it?”</p><p></p><p>“Everything is in place including our little surprises.”</p><p></p><p>“Good,” Arassil looked out towards the northeast. The sun rose over the forest of Cormanthor. The red glow of the Toril’s sun glinted off something near the edge of the dale’s valley. “And not a moment to soon.”</p><p></p><p>The half-dragon sprinted across the field to her designated position in the trenches her voice booming over the landscape.</p><p></p><p>“Get ready, Arassil snarled at the thought of getting her claws on some Imperial slime. “Hovertanks on the valley wall! Everyone take cover!”</p><p></p><p>Dalesfolk dived into the trenches just as the first bolts of plasma rained down from the hovertanks above. Arassil fingered her ring and thought Elminster’s name.</p><p></p><p>“It’s time. It has started.”</p><p></p><p>Elminster of Shadowdale appeared next to Arassil just as the Imperial Legions and Zhents poured down the rim of the valley in the thousands.</p><p></p><p>“Mystra save us!” Elminster’s words were drowned out by the sounds of war unleashed.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">[End of Part Two of Book Two]</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Knightfall, post: 453605, member: 2012"] [b]Below the Burning Sky (conclusion)[/b] [i]Minutes before dawn:[/i] High Lady Alustriel, Speaker of the Silver Marches, watched helpless from one of the many balconies of the Palace of Silverymoon, as the Imperial Legions stormed through the greatest city in the North. The magic that had kept invaders out of Silverymoon for ages was now fading with the death of her goddess, Mystra. She had done everything humanly possible to protect her home. The Silver Marches would fall. Alustriel watched as the Knights in Silver, Silverymoon’s army, through themselves at the advancing hovertanks and power-armored soldiers of the Dragon Empire. They fought bravely, despite the odds and the futility, dying under the strength enhanced feet of the Imperial soldiers, as well as from countless laser and plasma fire. The ranks of the Knights of Silver had swelled with the populace of the Silver Marches once in was known the Imperial army was attacking the city. Now there were barely enough to hold the Imperials back from the walls of the palace. Dwarves from Mithral Hall and Citadel Adbar fought beside humans, elves and halflings from Everlund and those that escaped the destruction of Sundabar. “This is madness,” Alustriel wept openly for her people. “Don’t these Imperial bastards ever get tired!” “You must not give up hope, Speaker.” Drizzt Do’Urden, hero of the Sword Coast North, stood next to the High Lady. The drow ranger had learned of Silverymoon’s plight soon after the Imperial’s had landed. The arrogant Imperial soldiers hadn’t consider the communities of the North enough of a threat to attack Neverwinter, Luskan or Mirabar. The North was relatively safe. But if Waterdeep and Silverymoon fell then no one would be safe. Wulfgar and Cattiebrie had gone to Waterdeep to help in the city’s defense. He and Bruenor Battlehammer had helped defend Mithral Hall until it fell. Bruenor had stayed with his people to try and retake his home. Drizzt had come to Silverymoon at behest of the High Lady after Taern “Thunderspell” Hornblade had died in the first assault on Silverymoon. Drizzt had led the city’s army during the second Imperial onslaught. Now he stood by the high Lady as her protector in case the Imperials reached the palace. Helm Dwarf-friend and the remaining members of the Bloodaxe Mercenary Company had to come to Silverymoon after Sundabar fell. Helm had been the best choice to lead the Knights in Silver against the Imperials. If the city survived, the populace would likely name him the next ruler of the city, if he didn’t go back to Sundabar and try to restore it. Several Imperial hovertanks swept over the Knights in Silver heading straight for the palace. Drizzt stepped in front of High Lady Alustriel as the tank’s powerful plasma cannons swiveled into position to blast the balcony where the two heroes of Faerûn stood. The tanks didn’t see what hit them. Powerful bolts of energy blew the hovertanks to dust. “What the-“ Drizzt turned towards where the weapon fire had come from. What he saw was both frightening and awe inspiring. The City of Shade loomed over the gap of Silverymoon Pass just as the dawn rose over the Nether Mountains, dark, shadow-tinged plasma raining down on several Imperial units that had come down through the pass. The gun-emplacements of Shade continued firing, hitting those Imperial units outside the city until nothing was left but smoldering remains. Rockets and missiles screamed out from the city’s launchers destroying hovertanks and unit of legions, which were now in retreat. Dozens of strike aircraft supporting the Imperial troops, rocketed towards the floating city firing plasma and missiles at the gun, rocket and missile emplacements. High Lady Alustriel watched in amazement as the weapon fire impacted a powerful energy shield protecting the city. “Where in the Realms did they get that technology?” Drizzt was angry. Of all the races to come to Silverymoon’s aid why did it have to be the shades? “I-I don’t know,” the Speaker of the silver Marches was dumbfounded. Then the Shade wizard known as Hadrhune stood next to her on the balcony. Drizzt attacked Hadrhune passing right through him and hitting the wall behind the shade man. “Aggressive, isn’t he.” The hologram of Hadrhune had flickered slightly as the drow ranger passed through him. “The City of Shade offers its generous support to the citizens of Silverymoon and the Silver Marches against the army of the Dragon Empire.” “And why would you do that, shade?” Drizzt had got to his feet quickly and was now waving one of his swords through the hologram trying to determine whether Hadrhune was there or not. “Drizzt,” Alustriel reached out to stop the drow from antagonizing the shade man. ”What do you want in return for this assistance Hadrhune? And don’t tell me you are doing it out of the goodness in your heart.” Hadrhune of Shade looked at the holographic image of Alustriel and Drizzt Do’Urden in front of him. He stood on a platform in his personal imaging chamber on Shade. He wished he didn’t have to ask for anything. Alustriel’s thank you would be more than enough for his heart. But his position as Prince and Emissary of the City of Shade demanded a tribute of some kind. Of course, it didn’t have to be decided upon at the moment. “You are correct High Lady, the City of Shade’s help does come with some conditions but I assure you they will be reasonable.” “Speaker, you cannot trust him!” Drizzt stepped in front of the hologram projecting Hadrhune’s image. He grabbed Alustriel by the arms looking right into her eyes. “You cannot do this! Think of your people! He is evil, he will betray us to the Empire!” Alustriel looked at Drizzt and then at his hands clamped around her arms. “Let go, Drizzt. Now!” The drow ranger let her go backing away from her and the hologram of the shade. He looked at her as if she had grown a second head. “Think of your people.” “I am Drizzt, someday you will understand. Hadrhune, what assurances do I get that the silver Marches will remain free of Shade rule.” “I can only say that the Imperial Legions are as much Shade’s enemies as they are yours. Once they have been eliminated then we can talk about the continued sovereignty of the Silver Marches.” “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” “No.” “So be it.” “Very well then,” Hadrhune tapped the Comm on the wall of his imaging chamber. “Deploy the shadow strikers. I want air superiority over Shade and Silverymoon in less than fifteen minutes.” “It will be so, Hadrhune.” The voice echoing across the Comm was monotone and calm. “Watch this High Lady,” the hologram of Hadrhune faded from the balcony of the palace of Silverymoon. Alustriel turned towards the City of Shade, which was still being pounded by the Imperial strike aircraft. The great plasma guns and missile emplacements had not returned fire. Then the top of on of the floating city’s huge towers opened up and dozens upon dozens of small, sleek mechanical aircraft rocketed out of the top of the tower. They were shaped like black disks with purple highlights bordering the edge of the flying saucers. The shadow strikers passed through Shade’s energy shield unimpeded. The shadow strikers were much faster than the Imperial aircraft and easily outmaneuvered them. Those Imperial pilots able to target and fire upon the strange black saucers must have been horrified to see their striker’s laser cannon fire and missiles pass right though the Shade shadow strikers. The Knights in Silver cheered when one of the Imperial walkers guarding the entrance to the city exploded in shadow plasma, unable to avoid the guns of the City of Shade. The city’s protectors rallied behind Helm who led an counterattack against the Imperial Legions. While high above on the balcony of the palace, Alustriel held her symbol of Mystra tightly in her hand. She watched one of the shadow strikers streaked through the sky above Silverymoon. She knew the symbol of Shar when she saw it and knew that powerful shadow magic protected the Shade aircraft. Soon the Imperial forces would be on the run and Silverymoon would survive to see another day. “But at what cost,” Alustriel again watched helplessly as the Battle for the Silver Marches escalated in front of her eyes. * * * [i]Dawn over Shadowdale:[/i] Arassil had worked all night preparing the citizens of the Dales for what she knew would come. She forced the humans and elves to cut down dozens and dozens of the trees of the forest they called Cormanthor. The elves had originally refused until Arassil explained what would happen to their precious forest in the Imperials won. The imperials would clear cut everything and rape the planet of its natural resources. The elves had been much more cooperative after that. She had the trees cut into logs and trenches dug. The logs were sharpened and place strategically around Shadowdale. Bakner and Samuall had spray painted as many logs as they could with iron dust making them as hard and durable as steel. The earth from the trenches was used to make mounds between those same trenches making the terrain difficult to navigate. She ordered dozens of buildings in and around Shadowdale broken down to use as much need resources such as polearms and boards with nails sticking up all around the towns perimeter. She placed her men in the best possible locations so that they could fire their laser pistols and plasma rifles almost anywhere across what would become the battlefield. Elminster was still in Waterdeep but Arassil could call him in a moment’s notice with her Arcanum ring. She looked at her ring and thought of Syrath back on Charamosh. He would know by now that she had aligned herself with the Freedom League. He wouldn’t be happy but she couldn’t worry about that now. “Commander,” Caranarth stood in front of the half-dragon. He had been standing there for some time trying to get Arassil’s attention. “Yes Caranarth, what is it?” “Everything is in place including our little surprises.” “Good,” Arassil looked out towards the northeast. The sun rose over the forest of Cormanthor. The red glow of the Toril’s sun glinted off something near the edge of the dale’s valley. “And not a moment to soon.” The half-dragon sprinted across the field to her designated position in the trenches her voice booming over the landscape. “Get ready, Arassil snarled at the thought of getting her claws on some Imperial slime. “Hovertanks on the valley wall! Everyone take cover!” Dalesfolk dived into the trenches just as the first bolts of plasma rained down from the hovertanks above. Arassil fingered her ring and thought Elminster’s name. “It’s time. It has started.” Elminster of Shadowdale appeared next to Arassil just as the Imperial Legions and Zhents poured down the rim of the valley in the thousands. “Mystra save us!” Elminster’s words were drowned out by the sounds of war unleashed. [COLOR=royalblue][End of Part Two of Book Two][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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