A report from the Orlmarthings who were there.
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Windsday, Stasis Week, Sea Season 1618
In the weeks after the Feast of Beasts, the war between the Lismelder and Colymar, sparked by the destruction of Greydog Inn and the theft of Wrath, heated up. The Lismelder hammered the somewhat surprised Colymar clans quickly and determinedly, foregoing early planting season to attack while the Colymar had plows in their hands.
It was a very risky gambit, but their king, Harvald the Hairy, was known as one of the best tacticians among the Sartarite chieftains. He knew what to attack, when to attack, and how to leave destruction in his wake.
On Windsday of Stasis week, four weeks into the war, a breathless boy ran in to Old Man Village to tell us that an full regiment of Tarshite heavy cavalry had arrived in Quackford. The regiment was led by Gordius Silverus, a Lunar warlord who’s name everyone knows. Five hundred heavily armed Tarshite mounted thanes were just a day away from Old Man Village, led by the man known as the Detachable Right Hand of Fazzur Wideread.
The wind is always calmest on Winddays of Stasis week. The regiment’s arrival was well-timed.
That same day, Gordius Silverus sent out a messengers to all the clans of the Colymar and Lismelder, inviting the kings and chiefs of the Lismelder and the Colymar come to Quackford.
Within two days, on Wildday of Stasis week, the kings of the warring tribes arrived to pay their respects to Gordius Silverus.
The Red Moon /
is always full on Wildday and is easily seen both during day and night. A full moon during Stasis week: Gordius Silverus choose his timing very well, indeed.
We arrived with our clansmen and stood a safe distance away to witness to proceedings with the other clans and their thanes. King Kangharl and King Harvald entered Gordius Silverus’ luxurious red and gold tent. It was clear even from that distance that both kings hated each other deeply. Gordius Silverus looked implacable.
They remained in the tent for some time. Once or twice, we could hear Kangharl shouting.
Then the three men emerged from the tent. Gordius Silverus announced that a settlement had been reached and that both kings had scratched their names to it. He raised the treaty parchment of above his head to show everyone. Kangharl’s face was purple with rage, while Harvald’s was practical and calm.
Gordius Silverus then announced the terms of the truce. Both kings agreed to exchange 7 captives from their own bloodlines to the other for a period of 7 years. They agreed to set aside all claims to any wergilds encumbered during the Sea Season so that all the clans could return to their planting and plowing without further burden or delay. However, as the Colymar incited the war with the destruction of Greydog Inn before Sea Seaon, an act which insulted the Lunar Peace, the Colymar king was ordered to compensate to the Greydogs directly to aid in the rebuilding: 348 cattle, 49 ounces of silver, 7 wagons of lumber, and an assortment of other expensive goods.
After the announcement of the peace, Kangharl stormed off with his thanes.
Someone reported that the last thing Kangharl said before riding out of the camp was “I’ll squeeze those damned Woodpeckers until they’re dust.”
Afterwards, the Lunar regiment decamped and rode south, towards Heortland, leaving a small detachment to guard the bridge, docks, and waterways at Quackford.
Later, we heard other more unsettling rumors from the Blackmor’s court. Whenever our names were mentioned, the king grew very silent and angry. We heard said that his Lunar sorcerers, especially a remarkable young witch with red and blue skin who had carefully inched her way closer to the king’s ear, had slandered us and accused us of being friends of his enemy, the exiled Queen Leika.