-The Withered Host- -A Crusaders Handbook-

[Zango_Unchained]

*A unfinished text is published as the writer was never heard from again.*

The Withered Host:
The Crusaders handbook

By: Atheos of the Astral Order


Foreword

Greetings reader, this is the second of two texts. The first being “The Withered Host: A look at the Witch’s undead forces” This is the second of the two and will outline the weaknesses of each threat and how a humble swordsman, arcanist, or, clerical individual may rise to the occasion and be able to stop the witch. I shall be covering object lore and outlining particularly potent relics against the witch. As well as explaining her rise to power and the reason times are as dire as they are.

Stories of Ymph
Heroes of the isle

The Rise of the Witch
You must know your foe to kill it.
Information obtained from the Stargazers, in particular their shamans [6]

Shylae before her transformation into the witch was a woman as the story goes that was captured by the high elves of this isle. She as a young girl was taken and was to be enslaved until a curious stargazer thought to free her. The stargazers unaware of what would happen in the future reared her up and ensured that she was taught of their ways. Fishing, hunting, and, magic or as the gazers call, Mysticism. This was her first encounter with the mists. She grew very in touch with these vapors as they grew to “love” her after a time, as did the gazers. Yet as time went on and she developed into a young woman the time of the elves had passed [1]
As she saw the people of the Netherese start to take the isle and turn it into a prison complex she grew interested in meeting them. Yet the stargazers refused to let her go, this is what caused the split between the gazers and the flayers, a small war broke out between the two and she went to meet the Netherese. Yet due to this she was captured and imprisoned for the crime of “information” as a visage of the witch in the mist will say herself. She was taken and put to jail for learning something that she shouldn’t have, which is most likely that she learned how to create the withering through the binding of druidic, and nature magic. Nonetheless her loyal flayers saved her and thus the story continued with H’bala demanding her gazers to gather every bone of every animal on the isle for her ritual to become something more. After this event and once the ritual happened she changed her name to “H’bala”.  At this point she clashed once more with the gazers, the zodiac, and, the oath-takers. In doing so she unleashed her forces and the withering, in a losing battle the gazers gathered their allies in the builders [2], the zodiac, and, the oath-takers (Druids).
Together they made a grand fortification to stop and imprison the witch for an age. This building in question would be her tower. They created countless seals and warding within it to stop her, they ensured that it would hold for an age and asked the hero “Rikk’I” to lure the witch within. He and his cat companion did so, and in luring the witch within the seal room with words of praise and love, they shut the doors and wards behind them. Trapping the gazer hero for an age with the witch, some say to be tortured others say he was the first true victim of the withering. Yet, whatever anyone says it is clear that the gazer is now in her clutches and in her hold. The man reduced to naught but a floating gazer sized skull [3].
The story does not end here, the tale continues with hundreds, if not thousands of years later the isle is inhabited with the dominion of man and the colony of exiled houses from old port. This would continue until, under the reign of “king” Trenda, who ironically was made mad the warding on the witches tower would be broken. The needed regents to do so were made possible by the killing of the coral dragon Shervroth, and in its death the stones it horded which made up the remaining regents to free H’bala was taken by the druid Leged. Leged would then continue to search and scour the isle for relics and weapons to combat the witch, from the “Fabled” parrot jar, to the mace of the “sun” and a final true artifact whose name is lost to the records.
When the druid Leged gathered these items, and called for a moot of the star people he would then act against the witch, taking a host of the strongest from the zodiac, the people of the isle, and, the current druidic forces along with supplement from the coven of Blood mage “Madame LaRue”, the blood mage herself decided not to take part for reasons unknown, some say as a failsafe to continue the fight and not to have all their eggs in the same basket.  None the less when the fight was connected and combat joined with the witch after breaking the countless wards to keep her in place, the relics the “Parrot jar” would shatter to show a visage of the lich. [4]. The mace of the “sun” which was to be given to a potent follower of the god Lathander during the battle was actually there to betray its wielder and curse and damn them during the fight. The final relic unknown in its properties seems to be a true weapon which aided them in the fight. Yet in the end Leged and his legion [5] which went to fight the witch failed, and freed the witch to her current state.














Tales of victories against the witch
Given by Chamberlin of the Noor,
Associate Crozier, and, Champion of the Triad Engelrose

The Epic of the Unyielding Pass: The Chamberlin’s tale
The pass in question was retaken by a Noorite effort, this effort was made to prevent the witch’s legions from attacking Mistlocke and the delving in doing this they have prevented what could have been a surge into Mistlocke itself.

The story goes after complications with Mistlocke adventurers the individuals of Sigfriend Stromme, Ralsander, Bronne Bosco, Imogen Wolf, and, Efrain Aberforth Widdlytink took to march through the woods, then the desert, moving forward to head up the mountains and then to the unyielding pass.

There they were able to hold off the minions in the pass while the Noor would place boulders behind them from a distance to collapse it, behind the combatants. The men and women named above would fight and cleave their way forward to escape the pass. Some of them fell in the brutal and exhaustive battle, and as the pass collapsed under the Noor’s boulder bombardment it brought to them the Agony of the hunt, this creature referred to in my previous text is a large behemoth of flesh and bone made from the corpses of Leged the Betrayed’s group which was killed when he released the witch. When the agony came the heroes fought it tooth and nail with strength and courage. As they had no place to escape to as the giants closed the path behind them, yet they continued to fight it. Yet as the fury of the fight consumed them they held on for as long as they were able, and at the last second, the Noor arrived. With great strength they wrestled the creature away and eventually tossing it off the side of the mountain. This now done the lichess must now move her armies through the pass of Rabanatha, the Morass, or, the Ocean itself, greatly limiting her potential to harm the people of Mistlocke.











Weapons to wield
Steel & Crystal

-Weapons-
The weapons of war on Ymph are many, and of the many few truly stand out against the witch, most being of equal use and strength. Yet we shall go into detail and explain which of these weapons are most often found to have undead slaying variety and otherwise.



Longswords:
While effective in most conventional warfare, the longsword also sees a home on the front against H’bala. The Numinous Order of Brethren Votarient, use the blades to great effect on their hordes. Most footmen of their ranks wield the blades with great and brutal efficiency and strength. It is also to note that the blade of the zodiac, or the weapon of the chosen is also a longsword.

Battle Axes:
The weapon used to great effect by wildings and others who favor the brutal hacking edge of the blade more then that of slashing. These hacking tools are good for the removal of limbs and the hacking down of withered trees. Yet one should always be warded when doing either the former or the later.

Rapiers:
These blades are better suited to dueling then for mass combat against legions of the witch, yet it would be known that the Raffaelia The Duelest of the Wyrmn watchers once dueled the agony to a stand still, with such weapons so their place on the battlefield is still there.

Scimitars:
Hacking weapons conventionally used by Calishites and others from said area, in the arena of war against the witch, it is a common weapon due to its ability to hack and rend the internal workings of her oddly delicate undead.

Light Hammers & Hand axes & Short swords:

Most often seen in the hands of Halfling men at arms, these weapons are potent to their own right, and the most effective weapon to wield against the witch if you are of certain sizes. The best choice for a Halfling, yet if you are large enough to wield something else, I’d highly suggest just that.


Hammers of war:

Oft used by Gond followers and smiths, these weapons see use on the fields against the witch often enough. Their blunt traumas effect the inner workings of the witches creatures as much as the battle axe and are a tool to be used to great effect in the hands of a skill smithy or soldier.

Daggers:

Strangely enough one of the most potent mass produced weapons against the witch would be the “Positive Dagger” a weapon that is known to surface now and then within merchant shops. These blades are potent against all the witches’ creatures and ensure that even the fleshlings of her hordes feel the knaves bite as it cleaves their throats with the same effectiveness of an assassination.

Tridents & Spears:
 
The Aberdenn known for their spear work, and Umberlites known for their trident-ship mean that there are two pools of highly skilled combat with these weapons often found about the isle both have powerful undead slaying variants in the sign of Pallid Mask blessed spears and in undead slaying tridents often found around the isle. These weapons with magics in them to specifically harm the undead on divine levels allow for weapons which can cleave into the forces of the witch even when their flesh harden beyond the reach of conventional steel.

Staves & Staffs:

There are few recorded wielders of staves who fought against the witch, of this list is the Singer Jebidiah and the Aberdenn Gaspare both of these men used these humble weapons to such brutal degrees of strength and potency that many attempted to copy the attempt. Sadly these weapons are only to be used in the hands of the truly skill as of the many who tried very, very few have succeeded.

Halberds & Great swords & Great Axes:

These large often called “Unwieldy” items are used by not only most watch forces in the world, but also the Numinous Order of Brethren Votarient arm their knights with great swords, The Warlord Gadyw himself wields a Great Axe, and, the guardsmen of the entire world wield Halberds. These many facts are all attesting to the effectiveness and brutality of these weapons when wielded on living cultists of the witch and her minions.

The exotic and strange:

Weapons such as scythes and double-ended weapons often see use against the witch; another of the most famous wielders of this item Tobias veteran of the watchers was known to dismantle entire H’bala hordes with such one such weapon. Strange and truly the definition of unwieldy these weapons are often not seen in combat against the witch, but when they are and if used effectively they are truly fearsome to behold.







-Crystals-

One cannot talk about weapons to wield against the witch without describing the purple crystals of Ymph and the underdark. These large stalks of healing crystal made material take from the powers of the earth and unleash potent healing on the living and volatile result on the dead. Of these crystals there are many varieties.

Broken chunk:

Barely any healing magic is left within these shattered remains often not worth the trouble but many a desperate adventurer has had his life saved by a final surge of healing in a broken crystal shard.
Slender:

Known for their use in curing minor wounds the slender stalks of this crystal are useful for dealing with weaker undead which show in large amounts due to their consistent low amount of healing magic which can be expelled at once.

Jagged:

Rickety and jagged these gems have lost their ability to aid in the restoration of draining effects the witch brings to fore, yet they in this odd trade off manage to have more of lighter healing within them. Not to the same degree as the normal gem, yet still of great use.


Undiminished:

These crystals are the purple crystal in natural form, unharmed by any means and the most common stalk found, they are quite potent in their base form and are often used by most adventurers in any of their adventures on ymph, they are known for having decent healing magics and a restorative side effect to be used at the cost of healing magics.

Large:

These crystals are large more sustained pieces of purple crystal with much greater healing potency along the lines of the undimished. These crystals contain within them much more healing magics and are used by healers everywhere as a reservoir of healing potential for minor to moderate wounds.

Massive:

These massive hunks of crystal weighing up to ten pounds are often found when large stalks of purple crystal are broken down. These crystals contain serious and potent healing magics and are able to restore near any ailment with but a touch of the large rock to a person.

Sustained:

Highly rare and potent is the sustained crystal, these a never-ending fountain of highly potent healing magics make them the envy and desire of countless a healer and adventurer. The gems the most perfect examples of crystal removed from mines are often seen in the hands of only the luckiest of miners or the wealthiest of merchants.

Animated:

Fabled stones that are said to come to life and turn into large purple golems at but a touch to aid and serve their masters in the destruction of the undead and its agents. Rarely seen after the resurgence of the witch, these gems are rare and worth more then their weight in gold for their potent property of making a creature of utmost potency to fight the witch.

The Great Blade:

On the first weeks on the return of the witch, it was said that a master smith crafted a blade of purple crystal; lost to the ages this blade was known for its absolute strength against the undead and its forces. Little else is known of such a weapon.












Armor to bind
Shield & Plate

-Shields-
One of the most needed objects in defense of the witch, her many minions drain, sap, and, infect. But if you have a square or circle of steel and leather it gives one more defense against her corrupting touch.

Bucklers:

These small in most cases circle or star shaped shields are often worn on your arm when you cannot grip the hand guard of a large shield. Used by duelists and the crippled these shields are needed assists in the battle against to witch to ensure even they who are maimed can still give themselves but a small extra defense against the witch. A most potent shield against the witch is known as “The Undeath Ward” these bucklers are found often in the combat against the witch, and are wielded often by the new adventurer.

Large shields:

These shields normally measure from about neck to thigh, nearly two and a half feet in length and one in a half in width. These shields are used by the Wyrmn watches, the Numinous Order of Brethren Votarient and, nearly every adventurer on the isle of Ymph. Often reinforce with wood or iron reinforced shields are commonplace and used to great effect by most orders and factions of the isle.

Tower (Great) shields:

These shields go from, neck to toe, weight nearly as much as a suit of armor and are often seen as encombersome and not as useful as a large shield. These shields are often used by crossbowmen or other persons who much take cover for a time to reload their weapons. Not seen often on the field of combat other then in sieges.

-Armor-

As vital as air in the war against the witch, to march into combat unarmored and unprepared is to speak death to the new crusader. Ensure you are garbed in what ever covering you feel most efficient at protecting yourself but not limiting you ability. Armor is known to trade hands and be recovered more then any thing else on this isle. For example, the armor of the Numinous Order of the Brethern Votarient is known to have some suits still in circulation since their arrival to the isle of Ymph. These aged suits are some of the most prestigious relics of their order and faith. The same could be said for the Watchers, their search for the king has been a long one and their relic armor the thing of story and tale.
Leather tunics:

The leather tunic, the poor man’s chains and the rich mans under armor. This garb normally the first thing to be put on when it comes to the adorning of armor is a mainstay of archers and rangers everywhere and should not be under estimated for its use as a light garb to ward glancing blows. But do not over estimate its properties, a solid rib shattering fist of a fleshling, or arrow from an animated stargazer, and it shall do damage that heavier armor could’ve prevented.

Chainmail & Shirts:

This armor often worn by men at arms, and the more tribal of sorts is a series of layers of chains and leather underneath it. Often the main armor of a large force, such as a guards force or militia. A strong protection against the blows of the witches creatures, yet it would not be the most potent form of defense, limiting ones mobility and making them a liability in some cases against the more agile of foes, such as the undead raven.

Chest-plates & Half-plates & Full-plates

The most potent of armors, these are the most expensive and on the isle of Ymph with a large lacking of proficient smiths, very hard to obtain. It would be best for most men to adorn their bodies in such armor, as while it inhibits movement and agility it also allows for greatest protection against glancing blows and other such wound towards persons in the pel-mel of combat. Worn by the brothers of the order and the rovers of the watchers these armors are potent reminders of the strength of these two armies against the witch and the most notable of armors that stand against the witch would be the remains from the armories of the pallid mask. Such armors were enchanted to combat and dismantle Riser forces yet due to the nature of the H’balan threat many of its magic’s still pertain to this conflict.










[6] Racha of the Stargazer people was invaluable to ensuring this story was written.

[5] The people who went with the druid would later be made into the agony of the hunt.

[4] The same visage that was released when the heart of rot which was to be the revival of the god of the God Moander in physical form was actually the visage of the lich. This visage would be contained in the jar it would seem until the hero’s unleashed it on themselves during the fight itself with H’bala

[3] Not to be mistaken with the liches that aid the witch for have abandoned their bodies, much like a night riser overseer.

[2]The builders were giants that were used by the stargazers to build H’balas tower. These giants were known for their skills in construction and many a building from ages past on Ymph is of their design.    

[1](The time in these tales is eschewed, so it is safe to safe that H’bala had achieved immortality of sorts before her lichdom. As the high elves of the past, which turned into the Drow and were known as the “Illythiiri” were years before the Netherese.)