The war hall was carved from blackstone, deep in the heart of Threnar's fortress. Its walls bore reliefs of old campaigns, weathered by smoke and flame. Fire braziers hissed softly, fed by runes that burned with steady, unnatural heat.
Commander Altan stood at the head of the table, his stance rigid and eyes sharp. His voice was grave as the war council assembled.
Supreme Warden Chaghan arrived first, followed by Nyzekh of the Blacktide, silent, sharp-eyed, and draped in voidsilk. His sister Yezari followed, her gaze glacial, her armor glinting faintly in the firelight. Bruga, the Skarnulf mountain-born, ducked under the arch, massive frame hunched slightly. Wen Tu strode in with calm grace, his monk's robes layered over reinforced leather. Ryoku and two other unnamed wardens formed the rear, their weapons already strapped.
Altan wasted no time.
"We received a coded message from Warden Kael," he said. "It came from Orûn-Mal. The Forgotten Isle."
He looked around the table. "Kael led twenty Stormblades, our elite operatives. Black-grade clearance. The best scouts and infiltrators we have. The message came by cipher-only crystal. Codes known only to Kael."
He placed the crystal on the table. Its runes still glowed faintly.
Altan repeated the words verbatim:
"Destroy. Dazhum secret base. Experiment. Pursued by monsters. Can only be killed by fire. Slowed down by ice. Shadow skills useless, they absorb and grow stronger. Blades can't harm. Maybe our last message. Defending at stone circle. They can't enter yet. Wards may fall soon. May last a week… or less."
A silence followed.
Altan's voice cut through it. "We will rescue them. And we will destroy the island base and whatever monsters they awakened."
He turned to Wen Tu. "Warmage detachment, begin preparing fire spells and enchantments."
To Bruga: "We'll need fire orbs. Dense, short-range, ignition-grade. Mass-produce them."
He faced Yezari. "Prepare ice orbs. Freeze-type. Target joints and core."
Then to Nyzekh: "Craft void orbs. Just in case these creatures resist elementals. You and your sister know how to weave them better than anyone."
Nyzekh nodded once.
Altan then stepped toward the anvil altar, where Daalo the chief engineer waited. His robes were stained with oil and a dozen different powders.
"Daalo. You'll craft fire- and ice-tipped arrows and javelins. I'm authorizing use of sigil-grade steel and ley-reactive shafts. No shortcuts."
He pulled a sealed scroll from his gauntlet and unrolled it, revealing a combat sigil drawn in pure black ink.
"This rune is Qi-activated. Upon impact, it will ignite or freeze, depending on how it's aligned. Etch it into every tip and shaft. And distribute copies to blacksmiths across the stronghold."
Daalo took the scroll with reverent care and bowed low.
Altan continued, "Use this same sigil on our falcatas, spears, and standard blades. We'll need every strike to count."
His voice deepened.
"You have two days to prepare. We sail for Orûn-Mal at dawn on the third."
He turned to one of the war aides and gave a final command.
Altan's gaze shifted to where Chaghan stood among the gathered commanders.
"Supreme Warden, the order is given," he said firmly. "Place the fortress under full combat readiness. Begin immediate drills across all Stormguard ranks. Every soldier must be sharp, alert, and able to respond without hesitation."
Chaghan gave a single nod, already anticipating the formations and drill sequences.
Altan continued. "Ready the Blacktide Cohort. I want them assembled and briefed within the hour. They will spearhead the primary assault when we reach the island."
He leaned slightly over the war table, one gauntleted hand resting beside the marked path to Orûn-Mal.
"Deploy two full Stormguard cohorts to march with them. They'll support and reinforce the vanguard, striking in tandem with the Blacktide."
His voice hardened as he looked toward the edges of the table where the auxiliary markers had been placed.
"The Threnari Auxiliary is to be mobilized in full. All forty warbands. They will sail as flankers and skirmishers, extending our line and disrupting any attempt at encirclement. Their speed and flexibility will be key to breaching the outer jungle."
He met Chaghan's eyes once more.
"See to it personally. I want them ready before first light."
He paused.
"We sail first. The naval and marine reserves follow behind us."
Altan then faced the central platform.
"One more thing. Effective immediately, Connach of Moorfire is promoted. He will serve as captain of the Threnari warbands."
He looked to the aide. "Bring him the full mission brief. Have him train and prepare the warbands. He'll lead them to Orûn-Mal"
The war table remained silent.
But every eye held fire.
The Forgotten Isle awaited.
The next morning, as the sun had barely touched the stone ramparts of Threnar, Chaghan, Supreme Warden of the Stormguard, was summoned to the officers' chamber. Altan himself delivered the briefing.
"There will be flanking drills at dawn. Focus on coordination between the Stormguard and the Threnari Auxiliary. Shadow-affinity warriors are to avoid using their skills. Kael's message made that clear. These creatures feed on darkness. We won't give them more."
Chaghan nodded grimly.
"It will be your decision whether the Shadowborn join us in the mission," Altan said, meeting his gaze. "But know this. Every unit we bring must be ready to fight fire and death."
Chaghan saluted.
He made his way to the Threnari training grounds, where Connach and the warbands were beginning their morning exercises. Dust rose with every footfall. Blades rang faintly as soldiers ran drills in disciplined ranks.
Chaghan stepped forward and called out.
"Connach."
The younger warrior turned.
"Congratulations. You're the new captain of thirty warbands. The Threnari train with the Blacktide, formation work and maneuvers. We sail in two days."
He handed Connach the sealed mission brief.
"Flanking drills begin at first light. Integrate the auxiliaries with Stormguard formations. And one more thing. Tell your shadow affinity warriors to hold back on their powers. Until we understand what we're facing, their skills could do more harm than good."
Connach nodded sharply. "Understood."
Chaghan clapped a hand to his shoulder.
"Get them ready, Connach. The Forgotten Isle is waiting."
By nightfall, the full scope of the mobilization was underway. The Stormguard began intensive flanking drills with the Threnari Auxiliary, shifting formations, rapid redeployments, and signal-call coordination. The Blacktide Cohort trained in elemental strike tactics, timing fire and ice bursts with ruthless precision. All warriors were drilled to respond without hesitation.
Warden Ryoku and the two unnamed wardens oversaw the combined efforts, ensuring cohesion among the mixed units. With Nyzekh, Yezari, Wen Tu, and Bruga tasked with spellwork and weapons, the responsibility of battle-readiness fell to them.
Every hour was spent forging, training, and preparing.
In two days, they would sail into mist and darkness.