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Posted by Apostate on 03/24/17
For better or for worse, several bards were on hand during the Battle of Giant's Fall. This means, to the enjoyment of some and the embarrassment of others, immortalization of questionable accuracy has happened from the battle. The most popular rendition goes as follows:

"On the shores of the Gray River the Compact fought, on a battlefield they now call Giant's Fall. With time bought by the Firebird Demura, Lady General Calypso's forces returned to the city of Arx in time to assist with the coming siege. Among the river soaked forces, splattered with shav and giant's blood, a bard emerged with tales of valor. Of no renown he only goes by the moniker Slit-Throat, for he always did not tell stories with such glory and the scar along his throat shows some old displeasure directed at him. But then he remarked, "I never had such tales of valor to work with before.

Up the river they sailed with a hundred ships bursting with soldiers, knights and mercenaries. Eager to fight. Eager to win. Ready to defend their home. Battle songs and calls to ready arms filtered over the water as oars fought against the rough waters until Frederik Steelhart laid his eyes upon the stretch of forest that would be the Giant's Fall. A tight path between two hills. Steelhart saw victory here. But we aren't here to talk about the big picture, we know that well enough with the horde approaching the walls, let me tell you a tale or two of knights, soldiers, mercenaries, lords, ladies, farmers and commoners. Even a Prodigal or two, if you believe it. Here are their stories:

The little knight Alis Valadrin, and the heaping chain flail of pain Sunderer led those honorbound and chivalrous Valadrin to their foe. More than eager to test their metal. More than glad to show their strength! The Oathlanders kept their oaths to the Compact, and saved more 40 soldiers of the Compact as Alis Valadrin led a charge through the Abandoned horde that had enveloped a pocket of Compact Knights and soldiers.

Would you figure a Mirrormask on the front lines? One of those of the dark cloth from Lyceum? A blood splatter does well to ruin a reflection just as much as a shatter of glass. Think of horror that a knight of the Compact must feel after being cut down by a Shav axe or a Bringer's claws. And then to look up through the pain and see Tehom look upon them! And the delightful confusion, when they owe their life to one such as Isolde Velenosa with a fanatic devotion not just to her Dark Reflection, but to keeping those of the Compact alive. And many a lives did she save.

A mirage. A fake image. There one second. Somewhere else the next. Is it real? Do you dare question it? The Bringers questioned the Mirrorguard. Were these warriors of the Reflection true? In the chaos of battle all of the Compact could see the glint and spark of the reflective sword and the mirror shield. The Mirrorguard reaped their due, their battle cry the slice and cut of blade against flesh, and the howls of Bringers as they fell, led into the thick of it by Talen Artiglio and Luca Velenosa. No time for his laziness, the thrill of battle was a joy for Luca Velenosa and he plunged head long into the mindless horde and emerged the other side looking for more, eager to see how many of their number he could add to his count. "Not one step back! No one will run!" rallied Talen Artiglio, leading his men in a charge against the Giant, the horror of the corrupted and rotted creature only stirring the Mirages to reap another foe and the Mirror Blade to score the creature from foot to shoulder.

((This will be quite a few posts in a row, a lot more to come))