The Winter King

As I recounted last time, the Iron Heart Accord had managed to hold off the attack of the Undying. Just when the Undying regrouped for another attack, they were beset by the Winter King!

Our joy at seeing the Undying routed was short lived, for the minions of the Winter King continued to rush forward, straight at us. They overwhelmed our defenses and rushed into the fort. At one point, I faced off against the Winter King himself. With an icy breath, he froze my shield then shattered it with a blow from his ax. He followed with a powerful blow that knocked aside my parry and sliced through my mail. Stunned and bleeding, I fell to the ground. My men pulled me from the fight. We retreated through the castle and made it out of a postern door.

The Winter King and his minions relentlessly pursued us. The we heard a horn blow from the west. Turning, an army crested a nearby ridge. Through the haze of blowing snow and ice, one of my men could see the army's flags.

"It is King Beast and Baronetas Xhorja!"

Reinforcements had come at last!

With a cheer, the royal army charged into the enemy. Xhorja led a ferocious band of orcs into the fray. He was also imbued by the orcish shamans with the power of nature. When the Winter King froze his forces, Xhorja called upon the powers of nature to free them from their icy bonds.

Cleaving and stabbing ferociously, Beast and Xhorja cut their way through the ice minions to the Winter King himself. Because of the swirling snow, I could not see who struck the blow, but one of the leaders pierced the Winter King's icy armor. He let out a howl of rage and pain. The ice minions raced to his aid and surrounded Beast and Xhorja. They found themselves in a desperate fight, surrounded by the enemy. But their sturdy blades decimated the minions. Soon, none were standing.

But what of the Winter King? He had withdrawn from the fight and now was standing upon a faraway hill overlooking the battlefield. "I shall be back!" he exclaimed, then retreated out of sight.

Once he left, the storm ceased, the snow melted, and birds began to sing. The sun warmed us; it felt like a glorious spring day.

In the aftermath of the battle, we searched far and wide across Ember Shoals. We could find no sign of the Winter King or his minions, of the Undying, or even of the Faedwyr. Could this mean peace for Ember Shoals, or are our enemies merely slumbering?


OOC Notes

• The part about me facing the Winter King is fanciful and included for narrative purposes only. I actually served as an ice minion. Beast and Xhorja played the role of the army opposing the Winter King while Artemis and I were minions. Rage was the Winter King.
• We used Amtgard militia rules. The scenario was mutual annihilation.
• The Winter King had a few abilities - 2 iceballs, Icy Touch of Death (wounds kill), armor and shield breaking. Xhorja had a Release.