Mission to Shamibel
From FiranMUX
Mission to Shamibel ~ War Season 34 A.U. (IC Perspective)
In a mission kept quiet to most of the Republic and lead officially by His Honor, Clan Leader Jalil, he and Lord Captain Razesh Didoron, Prince Zaridos Elianik, Lord Zerasmus Didoron, Lady Willona Didoron, Lupos Ravenseye, Oksana Ravenseye, Mes Omri Emagalish, Mer Raheem Firabi, Lady Nevra Ista Barun, Mes Jazayeri Istems, Sentry Meeni Vasaloo, Mer Stevik and Mes Dianora Lidanik set off from Anarinuell with plans to sail to Shamibel. Some might scoff reading that, as Shamibel has always been a land for which the Firan people have no maps to reach. The war season of 34 A.U. proved to be one the Shamibelians were getting the upper hand in. Many had been captured and the fields of Ellish lay covered in Firan blood. Lord Razesh thought if they could convince the Shamibelians that the Firans were attacking Shamibel, they would pull their soldiers from Ellish to deploy there. And so, making their way to the ocean, this group of heroes to be sailed south into the unknown.
About a day or so south of Unotran, what maps they had stopped. The Oracle was easy to sight, but after that focal point there are few records of what lie beyond, most of those in the heads of only those old enough to remember life in the years before the Exodus. Lupos was one such man, having lived in what were the old Ticanee tribal grounds. He remembered what they were like before the Shamibelians came and it is said that his face lit up upon seeing them again after such a great many years. As darkness fell, a decision needed to be made. Should they stop for the night or sail on? As time was already critical, it was decided to navigate through the darkness. Mes Jazayeri helped by using the maps they had available while Lord Razesh guided them by the very stars in Unot's welkin.
After some time, they came upon a bay. There was concern that perhaps they'd gone the wrong way and would have to sail out of the bay, costing them precious time. A river was spotted and dumped into the bay. It was reasoned that because Shamibelians are not sailors and crops can not be watered with salt water, as well as fishing in a river is easier than fishing in an ocean, Shamibel was likely built on a river. This river, which they sailed up under those assumptions. Deeper in Shamibelian territory than any Firan army had gone before...perhaps any Firan had gone before...or so they thought at the time, they came upon a fork in the river. Mes Jazayeri saw a piece of cut wood floating down from the right side and they all thought that meant civilization must be in that direction. Once they began seeing Shamibelian plantations and farms, they knew they were on the correct path.
As they approached, a Shamibelian scout was flying overhead and spotted them, which would cost them their element of surprise. Lord Razesh, Mes Omri, Mer Raheem and Lady Willona shot it out of the sky and it landed on a field below. This attracted the attention of the local residents. Lord Razesh ordered the sabotage teams - those who were going to sneak into the city - ahead. They had to get there before word of what was happening reached the city. Mes Omri and Mer Raheem were ordered to shoot the ballista at the buildings. Prince Zaridos and Clan Leader Jalil launched their griffons and attacked the plantation from the sky with Oksana and Lady Nevra serving as archers from griffon back. Lord Razesh, Lady Willona and Mer Stevik jumped ashore to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Once the remaining group had bested the Shamibelians on the plantation, Lord Razesh ordered it burned to the ground. When that was completed, the fleet resumed sailing on to Shamibel.
They came upon a waterfall which, to hear those who saw it tell, was one of the most beautiful and amazing any of them had ever seen. It was huge and the fleet stopped to marvel at it. With time pressing upon them, their appreciation of the waterfall stopped soon enough so that phase two of their plan could begin.
They began assembling the grand army of the Republic that would destroy the Shamibelian Hordes and attack their city of Shamibel. Out of straw. They built this fake army in the hills that, from a distance, looked very real. Camp fires were lit with "men" sat around them for additional effect. Once the army was built, they waited. Those who snuck into the city had their own job to do. The sabotage group was sent with instructions to set fire to important military instruments. Barracks, guard towers and things of that nature. When the waiting group saw smoke and then blazes from the city, they knew the others had completed their task. Shamibel, the heart of the Shamibelian Empire, was burning!
With the city seeming to burn off in the distance, phase three of the plan was enacted: War Drums. The Vrelanders use war drums when they invade, as many scholars can attest to. The Shamibelians, upon hearing them, were thrown into a panic at the sudden belief that a Vrelander army was on its way to attack! They closed the gates to the city and began defending their southern wall - the wall opposite of where the Firans actually were. Those who had managed to make it into the city and light the blazes snuck their way back to the boats and then they all saw an amazing, as well as hoped for, sight: a squadron of Shamibelian griffons heading for Ellish! They were going to get reinforcements to fight the Vrelander army which, as you all know at this point, were nothing but men made of straw and cunning ideas. Clan Leader Jalil and Prince Zaridos flew over the city as well hoping to give the Shamibelians the impression that the army had their firebomb technology. Once they were convinced everything was going well, the group of Firans hurried back to the boats and made their escape. Some of them even helped row in order to hurry their getaway.
It is with a heavy heart that I write about Lupos and Oksana, both of the Ravenseye family of the Ticanee Clan, who were lost during this mission. I knew them both personally and am very saddened by their loss. Their bravery should be remembered for many generations. I wish I could have seen Lupos' face light when he saw the lands he'd not been able to for so many years. I wish I could have seen Oksana fire her arrows from the sky. They are heroes who lived and fought with integrity, heart and honor. As did those lucky enough to return home.
