From Journal of Lysanthir, second-in-command to the Belkharia Dawnblade, on her expedition to the Blighted Wilds.
Day 9
As I write these lines, the last of our baggage is being unloaded from boats onto the soggy ground. The scavangers who had been following us since Fernbrine Port left as soon as it was clear that we would not be assaulting the tower in the center of the lake, though it remains one of our primary targets: the possibility of discovering something valuable to the Council of Magisters is just too good to simply leave it alone. Maybe we can raid it while the resident Tzaangor flock is away, no doubt preying on some unfortunate locals?
Speaking of which, we are definitely not alone here: to the east of us, a force of Freeguilders made camp. Mostly humans, and they have some wizards with them too, of the Collegiate Arcane, if reports from our outriders are to be believed. Lady Belkharia bristles at their presence, unwilling to share in the glory and spoils. As for me, I am glad some halfway-decent folk are our neighbors, since in the West, signs of Ratmen activity can be seen. I have no doubt we will test our mettle against them, sooner rather than later. It may be prudent to learn about factions that form between them, and if possible, make them turn on each other, be it by clever maneuvering, or by magicks. Well, there may be a use for those wizards to the East, right here. Better to make them expand their resources than to face battle with vermin in those swaps.
Which I would rather do from a secure position, since our forces are far from what I would call ideal. Take our cavalry, for example: these younglings may be Lady Belkharia's companions, but each and every one of them is a lazy layabout who bought their place into the 'illustrious' 1st Squadron. I highly doubt that they can operate as a proper Dawnrider formation. The rest of our forces are not much better: although Decree Tyrionic stipulates that all Lumineth must train with weapons as Auralan Forces, the will to put this into practice was lacking in Sunspire even before that blasted Sun turned on us. And now? These recruits had better get a grip really quickly, or else their corpses will fertilize the Ghyranite soil, and our homeland will remain vitrified wasteland.
The meeting of the war council, or rather those few actual officers we do
have, is starting in a few moments. Let's see what the scouts have brought us,
and let's hope the wine barrels survived the trip.
Day 10 - Battle for Ruins of Dolmenville
Day 15
I have finally manged to quell the unbecoming behaviour of our troops: even tho their first battle left them reeling, they must steel their harts and not let dark despair in, since than they would seek to plater it over with indulgence and excess, and we just cant deal with that right now.
We nominated several of our platoons to stay in the camp and gurad it against incursions, and also to begin long and arduous tak of repairing runs of the keep we occupied: both as a defensive measure, and as a way to increase morale: if there is tall, proud aelven spire jutting above the surrounding countryside, our troops will will find their hearts soaring. And it will help our negotiations with any potencial allies, too, for who will take seriously Lumineth who dwell in muddied tents?
Day 31
We continue to send scouts around the area: skaven are assaulting both our and human forces, gaining territory as they go. Only storm-wrought knights of Azyr were able to hold them, and for that we must be gratefull, as mush as it further bruises our ego. Sylvaneth meanwhile had conflict with Tzeentchian cults, althoug we would do best to avid both groups for now, for there is no love lost between children of Allarielle and aelves as a whole.
All along the southern shore of lake Vitis, madmen and mosters clash, spilling blood. And among those I count Khanite cults: we would do well not to trust them, for they are as slippery and cold-hearted as snakes they seem to venerate.
And western part of the region is, according to human patrols we have met, turning into veritable 'mashpit': with undead, orruks and even ferocious dracoths smashing into each other.
Day 41
The repairs of fortification around our camp are coming along nicely, and company is once again on the march. Or in the boats, as the case may be, for our destination this time is so-called Blighted Isel, place where reportedly once priest of local nature deity or spirit dwelled, and which was since corrupted by Plaguefathers touch. We hope to reestablish the shire, and use it to heal some of our warriors who are still suffering from aftermath of our clash with Skaven and their filth.
Day 44 - Battle of Bloody Grinding
Day 47
Miraculous water around shire on Blighted Isle saw Lady Balkharia's mount, lightcouser Loborsíl, pull throu his horryfic injuries suffered at the hands of bestial Blood-berserker. The poor animal will carry the scars of this encounter for the rest of his life, but it seems that the experience has made him, if anything, more eager to charge into battle. Our regent spend the past few days at the side f her companion, she herself badly battered after the battle, and so responsibility of managing our company fell once more to me.
Which is just as well: I send word to base camp at Silent Road, and a group of workers, along with Ydrilan neophytes, began to work tireresly on purifying the area around the shrine. Riverblades seem sure that spirit of the lake could yet be saved, and promise that their power could be lended to our cause.
Day 59 - Blooded ramparts of Searing Light
Day 60
Despite their poor initial showing, the young upstarts who bought their way into our expedition as Dawnriders have proven themselves capable warriors after all: darting around the battlefield, running down foes who thought themselves beyond our reach, and spilling their own blood for our cause. Thus, Lady Balkharia named them The Gold-bloodded Squadron.
Day 66
Elladan, lady Belkharia's younger brother, is reporting that walls and towers in Silent Road were finally completed, and he and his troop is ready to join ours group. Likewise, the Riverblades finished their comuning with spirit ot the Lake Vitis, and are eager to begin culling filth that is polluting the surrounding area.
Both ratmen and skeleton legions are stirring, so the additional troops will be put to test very soon.