Before the Convent of the Elements, the South, the Sword Pilgrims, the Duchy of Validar, and the Märkischer Bund began their siege of a fortress in southeastern Khal'Hatra. This fortress, located north of Benedict's Landing, was a critical stronghold of the Black Dynasty in the region.  The siege had been ongoing for some time when His Excellency Archon Eurestus and Baron Cathair ap Kreigstein arrived with reinforcements. Archon Eurestus took command from Ser Markus Tulius of Zweiwasser and led the assembled troops toward the gates of the fortress.

Guest Editor Cassandra Honoratia Ebelkin

The Siege

The siege of the Black Dynasty fortress in Southeastern Kahl'Hatra had gone on over a month before his Excallency Archon Eurestus and Baron Cathair Ap Kreigstein added their strength to the besieging Sword Pilgrims, Duchy of Validar and Märkischer Bund just after the Convent of the Elements.  As seen on the map, the fotress is located north of Benedict's Landing.  With the added strength, a final assault was made on the fotress.  Archon Eurestus took command from Ser Markus Tulius of Zweiwasser and led the assembled troops toward the gates of the fortress.

A prepared battering ram was brought into battle. Carried by the Sword Pilgrims and led by Eurestus and the Baron Calthair, the united host engaged the defenders in front of the walls. Arrows rained from the battlements as the elemental forces struggled to advance.  The Black Dynasty had a welcoming party prepared before the fotress gates and thus the two armies clashed.  From the wall walks high above rained arrows as the allied force attempted to push through the defenders to the gates.

Archers from Validar and its allies provided cover fire while the force was ordered to move forward by Eurestus.  The battering ram followed.  Though momentum briefly faltered, Eurestus and Calthair railled the troops pushed forward briging the ram to the gates.  The ram was then gainfully employed against the fortress gates until their barracade was splintered providing an opening into the fortress itself. 

Once the gates were open, there was no reprieve to be found for the attacking army of the Elements.  Acolytes of the Black Dynasty regrouped in the courtyard, reinforced from within.  To the dread of the attackers, the Black Dynasty archers rained arrows down from the wall walks within the fortress as well making bloodying the attackers at every step.  

But the warriors of the Elements did not yield.  At this critical phase the Flamebrood carved a path through the enemy with boundless fury.  His axe supplemented the continued push into the fortress.   Wounded soldiers were sent back to the lines.  The wounded were pulled back as Baron Cathair and Archon Eurestus pushed deeper. Finally, the Archon broke the last defensive line — but what followed was no victory... If it were not for the trap the owner of the castle had prepared for the attackers.

Krystallschuppe

As the defending Acolytes withdrew to the higher levels of the fotress, a new presence emerged: Krystallschuppe, regent of the Black Prince in Khal'Hatra. Together with the Ice Witch, she appeared at the height of the conflict and brought the battlefield to a halt.  At that moment of calm, the Sword Pilgrims, Duchy of Validar and allies came face-to-face with the Black Prince's regent for Khal'Hatra, a woman whose power could be felt by those present.  

She introduced herself as Krystallschuppe.  This was the first time the Sword Pilgrims, Validar and allies had seen the leader of the Black Dynasty in Khal'Hatra and possibly the first time they had heard the name. 

Krystallschuppe then pulled the allied host into a world of her own making. With a surge of magic, Krystallschuppe pulled the allied host into a magical prison realm, a parallel dimension shaped by her will and rules nearly killing the Ice Witch in the process.  Everyone within her world were her prisoner. 

Within this world, time, magic, and elemental power were unreliable. The captives had to navigate a strange reality governed by illusion, memory, and forces beyond their understanding.

Prison Realm 

Over the next day or more, the allied host worked desperately to free themselves from the spell of Krystallschuppe.  At the center of this dimension stood a throne room, already present when the host arrived — a fixed place in Krystallschuppe's world.  There, envoys attempted to reason with Krystallschuppe, seeking insight into her motives or a path to freedom.  Some ignored her quoting the Adamant Way claiming that pact maker's and blasphemers were beyond redemption.  Others continued to scout the realm and remained ready for renewed combat.

In time, clues surfaced. A name from Krystallschuppe's past — Smaragdschuppe — seemed to provoke strong reactions.  It became clear that memory, emotion, and personal history shaped the fabric of this realm as much as any spell.

Searching for a Way Out

Scouting groups moved through the forests and halls of the prison dimension.  They encountered hostile creatures, ghouls who had been cursed into such a state, and areas of unstable elemental energy.  In one remote location, they discovered an essence pool — an anchor point that stabilized the entire realm. Its destruction weakened the prison's structure.  To destroy it, several battlers were fought against the Black Dynasty.

During their exploration, the Sword Pilgrims also encountered spirits of the past, bound to the realm.  Those of Terrra confirmed that the spirits were benevolent and that helping them would be in the captive's best interest.   Through dialogue and trust-building, they convinced the spirits to hand over a part of a ritual artifact, which later became essential to the effort to escape.  These spirits desired that their remains be brought to them before they provided aid.    

Elsewhere, contact was made — through intermediaries — with the entity known as the Rat King, whose cryptic guidance helped clarify the nature of the prison.  Eventually, all findings came together. With the aid of the artifact gong, gathered knowledge, and the spirits' support, a ritual was prepared — one that could break the prison open.

The Ball

At one point during their captivity, Krystallschuppe hosted a formal ball within the throne hall — a surreal event inside the magical prison realm.  The hall was adorned with elegance, and the mood was strangely peaceful.  Music echoed through the space, and those present were invited to dine, drink, and dance.

Some saw the ball as a chance for dialogue, others as a trap or distraction.  While a few participated, many remained wary, unsure of Krystallschuppe's true intent.  Beneath the surface, tension simmered. Not all words spoken were friendly — and not all silences were safe.  

Then came the battle of the minne.  Minne were presented and an exchange of poetic battle took place  as a result.  One such example can be found in the margin of this article from Sir Markus Tulius in his common tongue.

A distraction that ball proved to be but one that was used against Krystallschuppe. During the ball, the imprisoned gathered the items and knowledge needed and prepared that which would break them free from the Prison Realm.

The ball became a moment of strange calm, shadowed by uncertainty — a pause before the end.

Breaking Free and the Liberation

Krystallschuppe returned to the throne room. While part of the host kept her occupied in discussion, the ritual was carried out elsewhere. Its purpose: to sever the prison's hold once and for all.  Such as the Minne with these examples.

Then, it was time.  The distractions had run their course.  The Rat King entered the courtyard calling, changing as he rank the artifact gong.  Krystallschuppe shot up from her throne and ran to the ramparts to see what was happening bellow.  To her rage, her spell was being broken.  Her realm faltered and at the final moment, Tendal unleashed a burst of Ignis fire against the Black Dynasty regent. 

The illusion shattered. The magical dimension collapsed — and the host returned to Mitraspera.

Proclamation of Baron Tarim Hammerschmidt of Gorasien 

To the brave men and women who reclaimed the Fortress of the Forsaken. 

In the name of Validar, under the sign of the five sacred elements, I, Baron Tarim Hammerschmidt of Gorasien, offer you my deepest gratitude and highest praise. Through your courage, your resolve, and the power of the elements, the dark bastion in the Kal'hatra, north of Benediktshaven, has fallen. A place long held by the Forsaken has been cleansed through your deeds and returned to Validar. 

And yet, this reborn stronghold bears no name. 

I call upon you, valiant men and women who freed this fortress with your strength and bravery: 

Give it a name — one that preserves the memory of your victory, that strikes fear into the hearts of the Forsaken, and brings hope to the settlers. 

For Balance. 

For the Elements. 

For Validar. 

- Baron Tarim Hammerschmidt of Gorasien