The Death of a Queen

On the night of 19th November, 467AV Mestreeh came under attack. The city would have fallen and the fate of Ilac much different had it not been for the plans of Tacitus of the 13th Legion. A daring strategy saw Tacitus take 5 others and outrun the Scourge army to the city, arriving in time to organise a defence and hold off the Scourge long enough for the main armies of Ilac and allies to arrive. Tacitus was joined by Titus and Quintus, also of the 13th Legion. Alongside Marn, a living warrior of Ilac, Varro, an undead mage of Ilac and an Aquillian of the Black Legion. The six of them raced along the Southern bank of the Uenukan River, arriving in Mestreeh shortly after nightfall. With only a few hours to prepare, the people of the city were armed and armoured, barricades were built and plans were laid. At around 3am the Scourge attack began. The South Eastern gate of Mestreeh was taken apart straight away, putting the defenders on the back foot immediately. The six heroes stepped in and were able to hold back the Scourge long enough for engineers to put a fallback barricade in place. Throughout the night they aided in multiple locations across the city, culminating in them agreeing to step out to try and slay the Puppetmaster that was controlling the majority of the Scourge army. They were successful but then found themselves trapped outside the walls with the Scourge all around. It was at this point the main armies arrived, just in time to rescue Tacitus and the others.
From the East came the Second, Fourth and Tenth Legions of Ilac supported by the Waster army and the Mon Zixan army. The Scourge were hit from behind by a tide of mindless dead, driven before the armies. This was closely followed up by 8,500 troops attacking with fury and passion. The Scourge forces split, most turning to face this new greater threat from behind. Tacitus pulled back to the city and rallied the defenders, bringing them back into the fight and increasing the pressure on the Western front of the Scourge army. The fight at this point was fairly evenly matched, neither side giving ground. This changed when the fleet of De Costan ships arrived at the rivers edge. Its armies disembarked but not just the De Costans, for these ships had stopped at Novella and collected the Templars, led by Clymenia herself and the Shujin army. With this new force of over five thousand troops arriving and engaging the Scourge from the South, the battle swung dramatically in Ilac’s favour. The Scourge fell in droves to Ilaci swords, Waster arrows, Sauran axes, De Costan magic, Shujin cunning and Templar righteous fury. Clymenia and Mawganth cut swathes through the Scourge ranks, showing once again the power of the Guardians.
After several hours of battle, the Scourge were reduced to a few hundred surrounding their queen. Her power was immense, the Scourge Matriarch responsible for hundreds of deaths alone. Clymenia was determined to fight the queen in glory but Tacitus proposed a different plan that she reluctantly agreed to. Clymenia, Mawganth and the six original runners to Mestreeh fought their way through to the queen. An epic fight ensued, reaching its peak when the queen seized Clymenia and slammed her into the ground, standing on her sword well aware it was one of the only weapons that could harm her. The Queen’s scream was terrible as she was pierced from behind. A sword jutted out from her back, driven through all the way to her heart. The sword in Clymenia’s hand was not hers, but that of Tacitus who had wielded her blade instead.
The battle was over, the Scourge army obliterated. There was no real time for celebration however. Ilac had been left empty and so the Second and Tenth Legions turned and headed back along with the Mon Zixans. The Fourth stayed on at Mestreeh to aid in the clean up and remain as guards for the city. The living populace of Mestreeh headed to Ilac city, a much safer place than here especially now as many of the mindless dead were gone. The Waster army took their leave. Almost 2 years the Waster army had been here but now they needed to return home. The De Costa fleet also took its leave, heading back out to open sea where they were more comfortable. Ilac were not entirely unhappy to see the back of them, grateful for their help but wary of a people who could take control of their bodies so easily. Clymenia, Mawganth, the Templars and the Shujin army stayed in Mestreeh. Having given up their city to come here, they would have to remain until preparations could be made to retake Novella.