The Household of Death led the defense of Boldhome. The Women, children, and old were sent out of the city over the rough mountains through secret paths, although many chose to remain behind and defend their city.
It was a desperate struggle and during the siege word came of the defeat of the Poljoni by Praxians. Two reinforcing armies from Kethaela were destroyed at Caroman Pass and Quackford. The garrison, the last free folk of Sartar, waited for the final assault alone.
The garrison fought like fiends. The magical energies were so raw that the lowliest in spirit could taste them in the air.
The Crimson Bat lifted slowly from Runegate and soared towards Boldhome to repeat its horrifying meal. When a dragon appeared the defenders were disheartened, but the monster instead destroyed the Crimson Bat. Both monsters were destroyed. The earth shook until Ernalda laid her hand upon it to still it. Fires, both red and silver, sprinkled from the sky as chanting soldiers raced up magically created ramps over the city walls.
Priestesses of the Red Moon scaled impossible cliffs over Two-tree Peak, supported by their sisters below and on the distant Red Moon. Once atop the mountain, they glided towards the Orlanth temple, blasting all foes with deadly spells. A handful of thanes and winds flew to meet them, whirling with weapons aloft. Body parts fell, and souls twisted into agony and obscurity. The moon gained scars from that.
Harsalter the Terrible, the son of the Prince, met the emperor in single combat and gave him a fatal wound. That could have won the day except that the dying emperor slid past his defenses and forced the boy to break a geas which killed him.
Dragonewts, hired at some inhuman cost, finally stormed over the wall and entered the city in force. They profaned the Temple of Sartar and fired the royal palace. The spirits of the temple were driven out, the magical power stolen or polluted, and the Flame of Sartar quenched, battered, and cursed by superior magic. Although it occasionally sputtered for years afterward, the fire of the land was effectively dead.
The final valiant Sartar defenders fought to the death, performed miraculous escapes, or were captured and killed or sold into slavery. None of Salinarg’s family survived, nor did a single member of the Household of Death. The Imperial Lunar Army occupied the capital and cities, and began their occupation. Tribute was laid on all subject tribes. Sartar had fallen.