[windraker007]

"A Red Day Dawns over Bastion"

A portent of things to pass, this morning is unlike many in years past, a red dawn arises over the glittering halls of Bastion. The guards and most of the staff are more than a bit shaken by the ominous skies and looming shadows that stretch over the landscape, as in the distance, a horseman makes great speed towards Bastion from Chail, with dire news in tow. His horse bucks and pulls away from many of the unnatural shadows cast by the morning's light. He reaches the gates and after a quick word with the gate guard, hops off his horse and moves with quick haste to the Gardens.

Hearing that Queen Aynia is taking her breakfast in her personal dining annex off the Royal Gardens, he bows respectfully before speaking.

"Queen Aynia, I bring woeful tidings from Chail. Regent Carrot Moreaux has sent me to inform you that the forces of Chaosium have returned. Aimsir Citadel has been breached and there are sightings of troop movements around the area surrounding it. The Regent is still in Chail, arranging to speak with many in the Grand Trade City regarding these developments." The runner speaks with a direct and concerned tone.

"What would you have me do, your highness?" He asks, rising his eyes to meet her own.

[Aynia]

'It can't be...' She thought to herself, horrified. Aimsir had been sealed almost a century and, beyond some minor squabbles between the holdfasts or the natives, there had been nothing but peace. The Chaolich was dead. She and Cthoria had seen to his demise themselves. She didn't know who or what broke open the portal to their home or how, but she knew they had to seal it again. They'd done it once before. Surely they could do it again? But to do that, they would need to get to Aimsir, to get to the portal itself with her most powerful mages that were with her that fateful day. 

And therein lie her conundrum. She needed more information. She had to know what they were up against. But she knew she also had to get the word out as fast as possible. If word was just reaching her now, Aimsir was likely breached days ago, and that terrified her. 

She shouted for her guards stationed just outside the door. The rushed in on alert and became confused when they saw the messenger staring at them innocently. 

"Yes, your Grace?" one of them asked hesitantly. 

"This messenger brings dire news. Aimsir was breached and the holdfasts must prepare immediately for war and possible invasion. Tell high command to draft an alert to be sent to every holdfast. This gentleman is going to tell us everything that he knows, isn't he?" she asks, turning back to the messenger, smiling expectantly. "What exactly has come through Aimsir? What kinds of troops have been seen?" She paused a moment before asking, "How is Carrot faring?"

[windraker007]

The messenger bows, and spends some time explaining what occurred in Chail, and finishes with referencing that little information which survived the original two guards flight from Aimsir. He passes along the seen information of the Bloody Knight and his Shadow Sword Spider and some preliminary scouting reports.

"Unfortunately, most scouting missions to the area around Aimsir have been captured by Chaosium forces, and not heard from again. The few things that have been reported successfully on is that the ground itself is being blighted... or a better way to explain is that it looks as if the topsoil is being consumed. All that is left is stripped and barren earth. It's eerie as well, no wildlife or noises thereof are heard in the area. We probably won't hear about military composition proper until a town is besieged, since there's so few survivors from contact with Chaosium forces."

The messenger attempts to answer anything else asked advising Carrot fares well, and is organizing the defenses and spread of information, what little there is, in Chail.