= EVENT STORY =
An unusual warmth blankets Mardrun, but that doesn’t mean that everyone has the luxury of relaxing in the sun. Along the Shield of Mardrun many outposts were damaged during the recent Mordok activity including Onsallas, home of Pack Longfang. Though the Mordok were not able to overwhelm the stalwart Warriors and Ulfhednar of Onsallas and their allies, they were able to damage the infrastructure of the outpost itself.
As the various Clans turn their attention toward addressing the needs of their own Shield Outposts, the Clanless Longfang are left to their own devices. They worked as best they could for the last few months, but after recent reports of Mordok sightings not too far north of The Shield, they’ve decided that it’s time to ask for aid from their allies in the south. Luckily the people of Mardrun do not easily forget the original defenders against The Dirge. Before long, aid in the way of labor crews and supplies begin the slow muddy trek toward Onsallas and more than a few warriors join them as well, hoping to be of use if the Mordok should choose to push an early spring offensive against the outpost.
= EVENT SUMMARY =
Despite the previously warm weather, a new brief winter fell across Mardrun as snow settled on the land and a biting cold took hold. The weather failed to deter the people south of the Shield though as they still showed up in great numbers to support Onsallas and its people of Pack Longfang. The outpost was filled with people from all places of Mardrun who quickly got to work assisting the Pack with its supply and outpost upkeep issues. Organizing this vast array of efforts proved to be a difficult task on its own, and only the Pack leadership and those stepping up to help could hope to keep it all together.
The first patrol was sent out to recover supplies that had been dropped off at the nearby abandoned village. As was expected and a normal day for the Longfang, the patrol found themselves harassed by skittish mordok who stalked them through the forest and occasionally attempted to contest the patrol. The mix of travelers and warriors within the patrol managed to hold their own and recover the supplies, but soon after they returned to the Onsallas outpost a new unexpected danger arrived in force.
‘Scouts’ returned from down the road in a panic, shouting warnings to the outpost. Movement could be seen in the trees. Shifting silhouettes stood out against the white snow. Roars of anger and war cries carry on the wind towards the outpost. A horde of mordok begin to step out from the treeline and tread up to the Outpost’s edge, taunting and challenging the outpost. The ulven of Onsallas and their allies were quick to form a defensive line, ready to push back the mordok as Onsallas had many times in the past, but were shocked to find a figure in black armor leading the mordok forces. The figure spoke the common tongue and the mordok followed their commands as if they were an alpha, but this figure was discernibly not a mordok. Negotiations were swift as the black armored figure shouted to the mordok to “Burn it down”, riling the mordok into a burning ferocity as they crashed into the wall of shields.
The defenders braced and took the onslaught head on. Armor was rended, arrows pierced flesh, and blood was spilt across the gateway as the defenders held the line. The fight seemed to be going favorably, until screams were heard from within the Onsallas outpost. The two ‘scouts’ who warned of the attack were seen striking the healer and an archer, causing chaos to erupt in the outpost as defenders scrambled to protect on both sides of the battle. Steps backward were taken as the frontline was disrupted, but the leaders of Onsallas held fast with their command over the defenders, invigorating them to drive the mordok back and restore their line. The scouts, soon discovered to be pirates, were captured before they could cause serious harm. During their capture they were tortured and interrogated, which is when it was learned that the mordok leader was Pirate Captain Mad Morty. Some thought he was dead while others thought he was lost to sea; no matter what people thought though, he was here leading an army of both mordok and pirates.
More pirates began to come forth and join the attack with the mordok forces outside of the outpost. Morty himself joined the fight to increase the pressure against Onsallas, but later safely retreated after his armor was broken. As quickly as they charged in, the mordok and pirate line broke and fell back as their leader left the fight, which allowed the defenders to charge forward to slay or drive away the remaining forces. But as they returned to their outpost, they found themselves in a difficult situation of two conflicts. The first being the mordok and pirate force which they were sure was only regrouping for a new attack, and the second being their own logistics to keep their forces in fighting shape.
Shields were broken, armor torn, and flesh was wounded and broken. The defenders knew that if they were to survive future onslaughts they must deal with these, and many stepped up to put their hearts into their tradeskills. The Longfang Supply Warden wasted no time in organizing the blacksmiths together and providing as much support as possible for the single available professional healer.
The immense efforts proved quickly to be critically vital, as Morty’s army repeated the attack multiple times. Twice more his army came crashing into the defenders, the sound of cracking of bone and steel filled the air as time was lost to adrenaline. The mordok and pirates continued to attack the frontline, but the outpost held. A Pain Caller mordok Shaman threw powerful spells, healed mordok wounds, and fueled mordok with uncontainable rage and steered them towards the defenders like a great battering ram, but the strained outpost held. Morty continued to whip his force into a frenzy and drive them harder into the defenders, but then the Outpost cracks began to show.
The logistics were strained and shields began to run out, but the sounds of blacksmith hammers kept churning out repaired equipment straight to the frontline. Occasional mordok were slipping into the outpost, but the defenders kept organized and slew them before notable harm could be caused. Warriors fell on the frontline, but new ones quickly filled the gaps and the soft sound of music kept the healer focused and working quickly on the wounded. Every attack pushed the outpost to its limit, but the melting pot of different groups under the commanding Longfang leadership rose against each threat and were able to just barely hold against each tide of attackers.
During all of this, Onsallas being in such a defensive state meant that it could not stop other mordok from slipping south past their portion of the Shield. It was not all bad news though, as Onsallas managed to sneak out a couple of patrols outside its defenses to hold back roaming mordok away from the main battle, hopefully reducing how many were able to slip by.
In the final push, the Pain Caller Shaman induced Pirate Lord Morty with a corrupting rage. He charged forth with his forces and hit the Onsallas defenders with everything in his might, resisting death itself until his body was left beyond broken as the defenders held firm but wounded. As Morty was slain, the Shaman slipped back to the Dirge and the remaining mordok and pirate forces became in disarray. The defenders chased down and slayed many, even capturing several pirates who later were attempting to surrender out of fear of the mordok that they had been fighting alongside just previously.
Onsallas had already held against several smaller attacks over the winter which was normal, but this day was meant for recovery and Onsallas instead found itself taking a second bloody nose. The price of victory was high, as the defenders managed to keep the loss of life low but now Onsallas found itself logistically strained and will take a notable amount of time to fully recover this year. Messages had been sent to nearby southern villages and clans warning of the mordok breach that had occurred past the shield, but only time will show how much harm will be caused. The day was a victory, but a sour one.