Submitted by Jhym (& KEF SR Methos):

Bear with me folks, a lot of story for one article. This is very very long, with lots of drawings, so be patient if you load it. I have several viewpoints, my own and that of a very observant KEF person at Haven named SR Methos. I have not heard from Aryslan or Humility yet, nor from PaxLair. Let me begin from the beginning, just as most storytellers do...

The defenders prepared across the towns, sword and armor, bow, spell and bandage all were brought to bear in preparation for... what?

And then Zephyr appeared, informing us of what was to come. Each of the towns were to be attacked by hordes of elementals and mages, each town its own type. Each group of defenders were given a special phrase to speak at a key moment. When Zyrn's generals were defeated, Elder Elementals all, we were to use those phrases to unlock his power and allow us to defeat him. Aryslan was given Vas An Frio Por. Corwyn was given Vas An An Flam Por. Haven was given Vas An Flam Por. Humility Vas An Ylem Por. And PaxLair was told Vas An Hur Por. There could be no mistake, we must win, and we must all win together.

I do not have the drawings of the battle at Corwyn, mostly since I was busy trying to hit things. However, Corwyn was hit with Water elementals, and a fearsome Elder Water Elemental. We held our ground, the center of the town, the Brewery, and kept the creatures at bay. The Elder was taken down with no less than fifteen warriors and mages combined efforts. I understand the other towns' Elders were just as fierce.

At times you could not move because of the press of people and animals. There was a long battle to get to the tower, through many a dull-copper elemental and Kraken. Many Krakens. I had to climb over at least ten people to get into the tower, then twenty to get out. Damned dragons.

As is apparent, we eventually won. I do not know who dealt the final blow.

Yes, one of the strictures was that we were to take his remains to Humility for a proper burial and cleansing. This was to keep him from returning and wreaking further havoc.

At this point it was almost impossible to move for the press of people. Eventually however, most got out through gates or returned to their homes to clean up whatever monsters remained.

Spirit of Zyrn: *looks around*

And so Zyrn has now been laid to rest, hopefully for all time.

The aftermath was anti-climactic I suppose, but aren't all aftermaths. Everyone went to their respective homes and began celebrations. A group in Corwyn sat at the Brewery, gorging on whatever I could pull out of the pantry (I should probably buy the poor fellow some more food.) As we sat and talked, even being visited by the fearsome Alice Cooper (he picked at his food, almost as though he didn't trust us) the lady Lexia Hakkendyn appeared outside and came to announce some ceremony to take place in Aryslan.

Being the only currently awake representatives, we gathered ourselves and managed to jump through a gate or two (it only took about five tries.) Appearing in the courtyard of Aryslan, the first thing I noticed was what everyone gathered around, including the Mayors and representatives of the towns. Aryslan's statue had been cleaned, and now shone in the sunlight. It was no longer defiled by Zyrn's touch. The flowers still were wilted, but in time they would return to their full glory. Mayor Winfield announced how the ceremony would commence, the Essence of Daemeon speaking to us from the grave. I wondered if Daemeon loved our land so much that he would never leave... He spoke:

Eerily he disappeared, and the participants continued uneasily. First Aryslan spoke, then Haven, then Humility, Corwyn, and Paxlair. Each of us spoke of the bravery of the defenders, the joy of our towns actually working together for a greater good. And finally the sacrifice of Daemeon, and how his Courage must flow through all our towns. I'd like to think we all came away better for the experience.

A few kegs were to be opened in Haven (I think, forgot where they were going.) I'm all for celebrations, but the moment got to me a little. We had done something impressive. As impressive as the battles for blackrock, the battle against Dragar.

I'd like to think this was commonplace, that this could happen any day of the week.

I know it's not true, sadly.

But I keep some hope that it will, someday, become so.

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