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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 480315" data-attributes="member: 2012">Interlude #6Kingdom of the Silver Leaves, the City of Treestead:High into the hills surrounding the Greystone Mountains stood the edge of the Great Forest. There, as well, was the invisible border between the Kingdom of the Greystones and the Kingdom of the Silver Leaves. It is there where the City of Stonedale guards the west, while the City of Treestead guards the east, not from the dwarves of the Greystones but from the other denizens of the mountain range.Ogres, mountain orcs, gnolls and much, much worse. And they have become restless.The sky flashed white lightning through dark thunderheads. The sound of rolling thunder washed down from the peaks of the Greystones to interrupt the cascade of rain pouring from the sky. The foliage and denizens of the mountain range and rising forest were soaked with moisture from countless rainstorms. The ground was tangled mud, which clung to the boots and clothing of the silver elves assigned to protect the lowlands from the ogre hordes still ravaging the countryside.The weather and conditions matched Jeddar’s mood. He’d insisted to be part of the brigade assigned to protect Treestead, not realizing what the conditions would be like until he got there. It was a horrible place to fight a war against larger opponents.“This mess is magical, I tell you. It just does not pour rain here like this for this long.” Anuvaiir watched the latest set of rolling thunderheads with irate concern. “Those damn ogres are the cause of these storms.”“It’s possible,” Jeddar wasn’t one to contradict his superior. “However, it would take more than a simple ogre shaman to create this kind of weather.”“Bah, ogres are too stupid to conjure up storms.” Jeldrean was one of the silver wilds that lived more like the forest elves of the south.“Don’t be so quick to dismiss all ogres as being stupid, Jeldrean. Don’t forget the reports that the ogres might have an ogre scion leading them. After all, we have already battled several ogre brutes, which are just beneath a scion in power.”Jeddar didn’t doubt his commander’s words but prayed he was wrong. Ogre scions, once again, appearing out of the dark places of the continent. Such a thought was troubling to say the least. Jeddar pulled his spare blanket out to cover himself, trying in vain to stay dry. He scanned the forest canopy in search of signs of more ogres, but he could see nothing through the heavy rain.The three of them were huddled together in an old treestead set high in one of the tallest trees in the region surrounding the City of Treestead, which was more like a forest elf community than a silver elf city. In truth, Treestead was home to not only elves, but dwarves, halflings, and a few trusted human rangers and barbarians. Dozens of similar treesteads were scattered throughout the forest in this region.It had been the makeshift, hanging fortifications that had inspired the name of the small elven-dominated city that had sprung to life in the region after the end of the Second Ogre War. The city had been the brainchild of an old elven warrior who had fought ogres in the region during the war. The treesteads were built strategically in different locales at different heights, but were perfectly meshed into the natural order of region.Those without the proper knowledge to find the treesteads rarely discovered them, and they had worked quite well for what they had been designed for, for years. Now, however, the treesteads were being systematically destroyed by the ogre hordes, which had perplexed the local commanders until the first ogre brute had been spotted.“Wherever the brutes had appeared in the past, the ogre scions were always the cause.” Jeddar spoke the words that all of Harqual feared. “And the First and Second Ogre Wars had begun soon afterwards.”“A Third Ogre War seems to be on the horizon, my friends.” Anuvaiir stood up scanning the canopy in the distance. “And it seems like we’ll get to fight tonight to hopefully turn the tide in our favor.”The elven commander pointed towards the towering mountains. Trees in the region swayed and buckled as the latest horde of ogres poured out of the mountain range towards Treestead. An elven horn sounded in the distance followed by another and another. Jeddar answered there calls with his own military horn, as well as pitching the music higher towards the city proper.“So many,” Jeldrean’s voice spoke of his concern. “Will this never end, Corellon?”“Prepare yourselves for battle, my friends.” Anuvaiir grabbed a nearby rope and swung down through the canopy to lead the forces of Treestead against the attacking horde.Jeddar and Jeldrean prepared their bows and cache of arrows for the long night ahead. Jeddar checked to make sure his twin scimitars were close at hand and silently prayed to Tethrin for strength. He thought of Dabuk, wishing that his dark friend was with him now, to help steel his resolve against a foe that Jeddar feared more than he’d ever admit. He thought of Dvalin, Mesik, and Bactra, friends for life. He thought of Rikin, Salisan, Thessa, and even the vonakyndra, Hougwarth, who he’d already come to know as friend. All of these names and many more from childhood rushed through his mind as he strung his bow and took aim in darkness.“I pray I see you again, my friends,” the thought was his last before his mind became embroiled in the madness of battle and the twang of hundreds of bows firing. The ogres came and the citizens of Treestead hung on for dear life.</blockquote>

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