My great apologies to the City Council for the delay in my recent reports. Recent battles across Lake Vitiis have made fighting in this region more precarious than before. I will try to provide as much details as I can in as little space as possible.
The push towards the south has been a significant disaster. Conflicts with both the Skaven hordes and the Laughing Ones have depleted out forces significantly. The last battle has however been a deadly blow, and has forced us out of Tornosk.
The rats came out of nowhere at our keep. The plagued yellow banners they carried revealed their allegiance was to the verminous clan Spitscreech, which tries to overwhelm their foes with their superior numbers. Since our last battle, their numbers seem only to have swollen. They poured from their caverns and Gnawholes like water surges through the leak of a sinking ship: Ceaseless they were in number and ferocity.
Vytautas tried to break their morale by a devastating charge. Together with Traiden, he led both our Cavaliers and Dark Riders in a charge that would have broken the resolve of even the bloodthirsty Khornate Reavers and the Putrid Blightkings. But the Skaven knew our plans. With the swiftness only given in their treacherous kind, their ranks dissolved almost instantaneously, breaking the momentum of our charge. Then, with the toll of their hideous bell, the swarm resurged and swarmed our best warriors en masse. It was like fighting a hydra, for with every clanrat slain, three seemed to take their place. And all the while, the sound of their bell seeped our strength away. Even Loviatar’s spellcraft was negated as that infernal thing tolled our doom.
It was when we were there, bogged down and slowly drowning in the sheer numbers of our malignant foes that their leader felt it was time to deal the final blow. On top his contraption, he led a horde of clanrats and stormvermin through our steelhelms. With the company routed, and our right flank stuck, they were able to overtake our fortress. Traiden was seen fighting a valiant duel against Spitscreech, even seemingly able to defeat him, until the Clawlord’s underlings brought him down.
In the subsequent rout, we were able to evacuate many of our soldiers, but many innocent lives have been lost this bleak day. Hysh shines bright upon us, but it’s warm does not reach us. We will have to make to Tor Blathina to regroup. From there we will have to guide as many people out of this hellhole as possible. Dark days seem to be ahead for Lake Vitiis.