The Battle of the Southern Gate. . . As was told in The Siege of Trinsic: The Evacuation Begins, many brave warriors and mages undertook a mission to lead civilian refugees from the beleaguered city unto safety in the Empath Abbey of Yew. Having accomplished our mission, we immediately sought to return to the battlements and protect the gates of the city from the scourge that must surely by then be attacking. I, among others, conjured a gate to accomplish this. We charged through the gate, twenty souls strong at the least and came to the city's defense in the very hour of its need. For, at that very moment, our forces at the main gate were being hard pressed and looked about to give way. Galloping at full speed, the mounted knights of our party took our place among the gate's defenders and a frantic battle ensued. The slaughter was great, but eventually our forces had the mastery. Regrouping and reforming, our soldiers prepared for the next assault. It was not long in coming. Lich lords, nightmares, skeletal knights and bone mages appeared in scores and assaulted us with a terrible vengeance. Yet, the forces of Virtue having been augmented greatly by the evacuation party's arrival, I deemed that the battle was well in hand. Recalling the disastrous effects of Malabelle's diversionary raid on the southern gate the previous night, I resolved to go thither and watch for a reoccurrence of such a devious tactic. Quickly, I spied Hawk of ML--whom had accompanied us back from the Empath Abbey--and asked him to disengage from the enemy and consult with me. Summoning a carrier pigeon I asked Hawk: "Hawk, wouldst thou allow me to train this carrier pigeon to seek ye out should the southern gate come under attack? For I shall go there to watch those battlements. Yestereve a force broke through that gate without warning, drawing too many warriors from the main battle here at this gate. I am hopeful that if someone provides enough warning of a raid on the southern gate this night, the same disastrous effects might be averted." Hawk replied firmly: "Yes, I shall rally some defenders and bring them to the south gate should the need arise. Yet, as thou sayest, I shall be careful to leave enough to garrison the main gate." "Very well, thank ye Hawk." I said. "I believe we shall do well tonight. I have not seen this many knights and mages prepared to defend Trinsic since I arrived here several days ago. It would almost seem that the reinforcements Lord British promised have arrived. yet that is too much to hope for." "Aye, things seem to be well in hand. I shall await thy message." Said Hawk. With that, we parted and I immediately rode to the south gate. There I saw one who also must have remembered the attack of the night before. For before me stood Frost. I remembered him from yestereve's attack and his valor and skill at arms had most impressed me. Here was a warrior not to be trifled with. Frost and I sat upon the battlements, peering out along the coast and watching for any tell-tale signs of an approaching host. None came for several hours. Gradually, more warriors came to take up position with us. A warrior of some renown named Kelion took up position on my left and to the right of Frost. He had but recently been fighting at the main gate and reported that things were well in hand. . . though the slaughter on both sides grew great. The last of our party on the ramparts would be one named Shadow Cat. I had not made his acquaintance before though he proved to be a sure and true friend of the city this night. He took up a position on my right. Many hours passed as Trammel and Felucca traversed the sky above, barely visible through the smoke and haze of the battle to the northwest. Ever and anon we could hear the clash of arms and it pained us to sit idle while brave warriors bled and perished nearby. Yet, we knew that our assignment here at this gate was of great import so we bore the hours as best we could. Finally, our eyes began to see forms approaching along the walls to the south, heading for the bridge. Before we could dismount from the ramparts and form a line of battle on the bridge below, some had already crossed over to the gate. It was indeed an undead raiding party. Immediately, I released my carrier pigeon with a message summoning help from Hawk. Meanwhile my companions and I surged ahead to try to assuage some of the coming assault's power. We were driven back by mummies and skeletal knights and were starting to fear that we would not hold when Hawk arrived with reinforcements in tow. This large detachment from the main gate made short work of the enemy and we forced them across the bridge and onto the beach to the south of town. The crisis ended, Hawk and myself immediately conjured gates to transport the detachment back to the main gate. We took our positions on the battlement once more and awaited what was to come. Messages from Hawk assured us that the battle went well for the Forces of Virtue from his vantage point. This, of course, we were glad to hear as we perched atop the wall. However, it also made us uneasy for we realized that if the enemy could not gain an advantage to the north, it might send a sizable force to test us more heavily in this quarter of the field. Indeed, that appears to be what came to pass. Indeed, our darkest fears were realized only a short while later. A sense of foreboding and near-terror came over us as our horses began to rear and chomp at their bits. For across the bridge a shadow loomed upon the far side of the moat. As it came closer we all came to recognize its form. . . the daemon Anmac Mallachtan had arrived. I immediately dispatched a message to Hawk as my comrades and I summoned our courage and prepared to meet our deaths at the daemon's hands. To their credit, Frost and Shadow Cat immediately rushed forward, blocking the bridge and the advance of the army that followed the daemon. I, standing at the foot of the bridge, declared in as menacing a voice as I could muster: "Flee daemon! Thou standeth before a Disciple of the Avatar!" The daemon fixed me with his stare and at that moment Frost and Shadow Cat were driven back from the bridge. There, at the foot of the bridge, we gave the daemon battle. Knowing that it was foolish to engage a daemon with nothing more than sword and shield, we nevertheless knew that we must delay the advance of the enemy long enough for Hawk to arrive with reinforcements. Yet, the daemon seemed uncertain. I am not foolhardy enough to truly believe that my attempt at bravado actually caused what then occurred, yet the daemon at that moment turned and fled. The army he led then being without a leader, we turned upon it and slew them by the score. Then, just as our strength began to fail us, Hawk arrived yet again with reinforcements. . . the gate remained in our hands. For several more hours we kept watch. . . yet all remained quiet. Finally, I rode to the front gate where the aftermath of the battle was terrible to behold. Bodies of the undead and the recently living littered the field. All sorts of monsters and creatures lay about, mangled and all but unrecognizable. I reported of the repulse at the southern gate and the coming of the daemon. . . and its inexplicable retreat. There, on that bloodied field, there was much cheering and celebrating as the sun began to rise over the ocean in the east. Victory was ours again this night as the forces of Juo'nar were once again denied entry to our fair city. Indeed, hope once again abounds in the city as many noted that only briefly did the enemy accomplish any sort of meaningful penetration of our walls. Perhaps Trinsic can be saved. We pray that it be so and that more reinforcements might arrive. Surely then would we stand in the face of any peril.