Unified Gograzhi Invasion - Kyr

Date: July - October, 724 GY
Location: Kyr
Outcome: Gograzhi forces repelled. Multiple southern outposts destroyed; fall of Meliar's Spire Skytower.

In July of 724 GY, Gograzh launched a unified attack on Razir, Ishui, Kyr, and Vonor. The scale and ferocity of these attacks had not been seen since the beginning of the age when the nation of Ora was overwhelmed.

The nations scrambled to rally against these invasions, but each were taxed at their own borders and so were unable to assist their neighbors. The Gograzhi employed different tactics at each nation to suit the terrain, their preferred styles, and their opponents.

In Kyr, the Gograzhi entered from the southern badlands (North Gograzh). They struck multiple southern watchtowers simultaneously. The darkness of night combined with a thunderstorm hid their approach until it was too late. Ground troops used climbing equipment to scramble up the tree branches, cliffsides, or ladders at the base of the watchtowers while flying troops (whether naturally or mounted on flying beasts) assaulted from the sky. The hundreds of Gograzhi invaders completely overwhelmed the small number of guards on each watchtower. However, the first few towers were able to sound the alarm horns, giving the others time to prepare.

The brave watchtower guards stood their ground against impossible odds in order to slow the invaders. They sent Messenger birds and scouts in an attempt to warn the nearest Skytowers and Lofted Cities. However, the harpies swiftly hunted the birds before they could reach their destination, so the fate of Kyr rested on the scouts. It is unknown how many scouts attempted the journey, but only three survived the trek to arrive at their destinations [3 Kyrie or Kyr-Orani]. The three scouts had many close calls along their journey. They started from different watchtowers, but, due to the limited ways to travel on foot through the land, they found each other and banded together. They made for the nearest Skytower - Meliar’s Spire.

Traveling through Kyr on foot is extremely difficult. Although this was a terrible trial for the scouts, it also significantly slowed the Gograzhi. The large number of ground troops kept the army moving at a slow crawl. Unfortunately, this did not stop them from their mission of destruction. They befouled the land - poisoning waterways, cutting down ancient trees, and destroying bridges, gondola lines, and other infrastructure. Most of the forces went north to cut off the city of Eithu from the other two Lofted Cities. The remainder of the forces moved South-West toward Meliar’s Spire Skytower.

The three scouts made it to Meliar’s Spire just one day ahead of the Gograzhi. Messenger birds were swiftly sent to all the other Skytowers and the Lofted Cities. Meliar’s Spire then prepared to stand against impossible odds. Many people lost their lives that day, but the time they had to prepare, little though it was, allowed them to set up traps, bolster their defenses, and determine a battle plan. They held off the invaders for over a week. They might have held longer if harpies had not set fire to the Skytower, forcing the Kyrie to retreat. Thankfully, reinforcements arrived in time to help with the retreat and rescue those trapped in the burning tower (see the Rescue of Meliar’s Spire below).

A few notable heroes during that siege include: Erlan Olthor and [another Scribe] who retreated with as many documents as they could carry before the fire destroyed them; [up to eight Wizards] whose spells kept the invaders at bay; [a team of four Artificers] who kept the gondola running between the ancillary Little Sister platform and the Skytower; Dhergey, Akash Ullu, and [one more Sigilcrafters] who worked together to place warding glyphs on important points of infrastructure; and [a Physicker] who remained behind to tend to the wounded even after the Skytower was set ablaze.

Thanks to the warnings from Meliar’s Spire, the invasion stalled. Rather than attacking Eithu, the Gograzhi force moved into the the northern region, clearly trying to isolate Eithu and the entire western side of Kyr. But the Kyrie were ready for them. They sent strike teams to harry the army, and bolstered defenses on key points.

One such key location was Speargate Skytower. This was not one of the original nine Skytowers, but one of two new ones being built along the southern border. The other (Shieldgate Tower) was lost in the initial invasion, but the more eastern Speargate was not attacked until later in the invasion, giving them ample time to prepare. Even so, the battle was still uncomfortably close. [Any number of Kyrie or Kyr-Orani may choose being present for this battle as one of their Historic Event roles].

[A ranged fighter with a sparktech weapon] made a name for themselves by rallying the other ranged attackers to focus on the wings of the flying combatants, forcing the enemies to either crash or land where those on the platforms could face them directly. [An Artificer] designed a series of fake ladders that were designed to break when the enemies were halfway up them. [An Air Channeler] who, even after their weapon broke, stayed on the front lines in order to repel enemies off the platform. [A character with Tightrope Walking] set up a series of ropes and climbing harnesses for the defenders to use in order to quickly travel around the Skytower.

By the end of October, after a series of losses, the remaining Gograzhi forces scattered. They hide along the edges of the badlands and within the rough terrain of Kyr. They continue to harass Kyr, but the threat of a full-scale invasion has ended.

The Rescue of Meliar's Spire

[This specific encounter took place during a 2024 playtest event. Any player who attended that event may choose this as their War Day role (which does not require expending one of your three Historic Event choices).]

After receiving warning of the invasion, and specifically the attack on Meliar’s Spire Skytower, a group of reinforcements composed of people from every nation [any number of characters] quickly traveled to assist the tower. Although they were too late to save the tower from defeat, they were able to deal a blow to the remaining Gograzhi as well as rescue all of the survivors on the burning Skytower.

The reinforcements broke through the Gograzhi lines and took back the smaller, side tower known as the Little Sister. They repaired a broken gondola, allowing teams to cross onto the Skytower. Some of them held the platforms while smaller teams braved the fire to rescue the survivors. Those on the platforms weathered wave after wave of Scutters, Grahluks, and giant bats, holding the line despite the odds against them. The fire rescue teams were able to retrieve all the survivors trapped or unconscious, and ferry them over to the safety of the Little Sister platform.

With the survivors rescued and the Skytower close to collapse, the group retreated back to Eithu.

Some of the heroes who participated in the Rescue of Meliar's Spire include:

  • Orenna b’Khalo’Zerhaddai

PC Roles

  • Dhergey: Daniel D.

  • Orenna b’Khalo’Zerhaddai: Kimberly D.

  • Akash Ullu: Alaska C.

  • Erlan Olthor: Tyler B.