Aftermath of Chiaroscuro

Before the Battle of the Veldt of Fire and Grief Chiaroscuro had a population of around 1,000,000 residents and around another 100,000 to 200,000 visitors/trade caravans in any given season.

The Battle of the Veldt of Fire and Grief

The Battle that took place on the Veldt of Fire and Grief eradicated roughly 50,000 of Chiaroscuro's finest.  Including a sizable chunk of their nobility.  The battle took place  about a month after player’s departure from Harborhead and was handled by Bride of Ahlat.

Armed with their new weapons the 5000 Brides and about 2000 Varangian Irregulars managed to completely eradicate an Calvary army 10x their number.  They somehow achieved completely strategic surprise and armed with the newly imported Perfected Boots the Brides slaughtered the straddlers.

By the time the Sun reach the Zenith it was over.  It took only about 3 hours to slaughter 50,000 men and horses.  Only ~4000 Delzahn riders survived and retreated to Chiaroscuro where they meet Dance and the Royal Company waiting.  Those who surrendered were taken as slaves those who did not were allowed the option of turning over their weapons and mounts and be exiled, or be executed.  Many chose the later.

As per the rights and laws of Harborhead, the properties and families of the 50,000 who died in combat were claimed by the Brides of Ahlat.  The 2000 Varangian Irregulars were mainly wiped out and those who survived were handsomely rewarded with lands from those who deserted Chiaroscuro.

The Veldt of Fire and Grief is now Creation’s newest Shadowland, only 30 miles across but growly slowly.

The Conquest of Chiaroscuro

Respecting the bravery and honor of men who would chose death rather than submission Dace allowed the City 2 days (before the arrival of Azula) to surrender.  Those who remain and fight will be given very little leniency.

Hardened by the complete support of the Realm Legion the Tri-khan reorganized his army to defend Chiaroscuro to the death.  He however loves his people and commanded those who are not involved in the war effort to vacate the city. 

What followed is 3 days of madness as those who can get out to get out.  The rich fled from Chiaroscuro onboard sea routes like rats.  The poor escaped from the Sewers and at night.  Of these Dance gave them no trouble.  By Sunrise of the 4th day, only 450,000 people remained.  The 40,000 Delzahn Riders are supported by 50,000 Garrison troops and another 60,000 citizen volunteers stood before one of the Finest Solar General of the 3rd Age and his 40,000 troops. 

In the center of the Chiaroscuro Formation is the Dragon-Blood lead Garrison of the Realm – 5,000 strong, who is probably equal in military power to all the rest of Chiaroscuro combined.

Following the old customs Dance called for a battle of champions and beaten each in turn.  Unfortunately the Chiaroscuroian troops were not shaken by his display of skill and only a small number deserted.

The battle was joint.

Dance’s personal guard with Panther acting as Hero drove straight through the Chiaroscuro formation and engaged the Realm Legion while the First Commandery under the Command of the Rathessian Astartes Ochieng Chiumbo and the 4th Commandery under the personal command of Nsonowa Farai, Harborhead General of the West, engaged the flank.

Dance crushed the Realm Legions and killed all the Dragon-Blooded commanders in single combat.

Ochieng Chiumbo broke through the flanks until he met with a Lunar and was soundly defeated.  He was rescued by Dance and Panther and the Lunar cut a swath of blood and gore as he/she/it escaped into the City.  Needing to stay with the Troops Dance and Panther did not gave chase.

Nsonowa Farai captured the Tri-khan and gave him the warrior’s way out.  He claimed the Properties and families of the Tri-khan and presented the Sword of Chiaroscuro and the Tri-khan palace as gift to the Leopard Seat.

Present Day Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro is a Ghost city now. 

• The entire dock district has been turned into an massive slave pen.  Over 240,000 slaves were claimed by the Brides of Ahlat, and the conquer of Chiaroscuro gained another 100,000 slaves.
• Daily rides of the Harborhead Garison takes in 1,000s of slaves from neighboring communities bring in enormous wealth and resources to Harborhead.
• ~147,000 Delzahn and their supporter died in the entire campaign. ~47,000 died in the Veldt, another 60,000 died in the defense of Chiaroscuro, the rest due to disease and wounds after.  Morticians were paid handsomely to ensure they do not raise as hostile ghosts.
• ~30,000 died in the slave pens awaiting transport to their final sales point.  The guild is making massive purchases and the price is accordingly low due to oversupply.  Currently Harborheadians are trading Slaves directly for foodstuffs in anticipation of the famine soon to come.
• ~400,000 or so Chiaroscuro citizens escaped into the rest of Creation.  Majority of them are women and children of the brave who stood against the might of an Solar.  They formed individual caravans headed to Lap and Paragon.  The track is perilous as bandits and desperate folks prey upon them, and their exodus is know as The Hegira.
• ~100,000 Chiaroscaroian Drifters now roam the wilderness around Chiaroscuro slowly being weeded out by the Harborhead patrols.  These are the poor who have no means of escape and too loyal to submit to the bloody conquerors of their beloved city.  Panther was making good progress towards integrating them into Chiaroscuro till the newly created Harborhead nobility arrived.
• ~20,000 Harborheadian along with their families and staff (so total around 200,000) have arrived in the city.  To these new elites the blue pearl of the South is their to rape and pillage – both figuratively and descriptively.
• Only about ~80,000 original Chiaroscaroian Citizens remain in the city.  These are oppressed harshly by Harborheadians for being both cowards and betrayers.  Unfortunately the law prohibits them from being taken as slaves, but it doesn’t protect their life against the anger of an Harborhead Soldier.  However, measures are being taken by the Guild to preserve those who are of use and they are being convinced to work for the guild for the enormous protection such associations would bring.
• ~100,000 newcomers are camped outside the City as Nobles divide up the districts and land holdings between themselves – as per the “divine law of Ahlat.”  These peasants are the poor who came from Varangian City-States and the surrounding nations hopes for a new beginning.  They live in make shift shelters plagued with lawlessness and disease hoping for they day that they will be allowed to enter the city and claim a dwelling amongst the fable city of blue glass.