OOC (for the benefit of those of you that were not around at the time):
There was a time when the great King Jaison Raenech, seeking to defend Anuire (and prove his worthiness to sit the Iron Throne) took it upon himself to lead a Crusade to battlewaite and cast down the foul beast known to men as the Gorgon. Many lands and temples sent soldiers to aid him, but it was verily the lands under the benevolent protection (those being Mhoried, Ghoere, Roesone, Aerenwe, Elinie, Coeranys, and of course Osoerde) of the King that bore the heaviest burden. Of the temples the KoH, HA, MOC and IHH sent the most templars and priests, but against the multitude of proud knights and footsoldiers they were but a drop in the ocean.
Many great adventures were undertaken and valorous deeds were done - and many lives were lost. Among those the young Mhor and his beloved, the daughter of the Patriarch of Elinie. But onwards the Crusade pressed, defeating the Gorgons' forces time and again. Until they stood on the plain before battlewaite. There they did battle again, and this time the Gorgon stepped forth. Clad in unbreakable dwarf-forged armor the Iron King fought hard against the Black Prince while around him his armies drove the Gorgon's forces to the brink of defeat. But the Gorgon is as strong and cunning as he is evil, and there his blade found a weakness in the King's armor, and Raenech fell.
But even bereft of their leader men fought on, led by the Iron Guard commanders and the valiant baron of Roesone. Soon the Gorgon found himself surrounded and his legions broken and in retreat. He was forced to flee back to the safety of his mighty castle. Around which settled the Anuirean armies for a siege.
That winter, in the grim and cold dark the Gorgon's servants called upon the foul powers that dwell in the Shadow World. Using them to bring a semblance of life to the many dead that lay about Battlewaite. The armies of Anuire were broken and fled the Crown. Most went south the way they came, but the northern detachments under the KoH took the long road through the Down and Dhoesone, only to meet their end in the forests of Calrie. But that is another story. Retreating south the Crusaders came to Kiergard, only to come under attack by the Swordhawk. With no Black prince to defend it, Kiergard had quickly been overrun. And now he was out to teach the Anuireans to stay west of the mountains. Baron Roesone saved some and brought them across to Morcosoer, but many more fell to the Swordhawks mercenaries. Thus ended Raenech's great crusade.
Many realms and temples have held a grudge against the Swordhawk since.
And what the Gorgon you might ask? Some say he is dead, other say that he lives still. But they do agree that when the dead rose so did the Iron King. In life he was a king and leader of men. In death he would still be king and a leader of the undead. A cold fire burned in his heart, a fire of hatred for the one that had murdered him. And so he continued his crusade, turning the dead to the task of besieging Battlewaite, knowing well that what the Gorgon had killed once he could not kill again.
Did he succeed? Well no, but that's another story entirely. The legend of the Eyeless One. I will tell you that one another time.
