A brief history of the War of the Silver Marches

         War of the Silver Marches                                      The War of the Silver Marches was a conflict against orcs that took place in the Silver Marches in the Year of the Iron Dwarf's Vengeance, 1485 DR.

 

History

The drow wizard Tsabrak Xorlarrin channeled the Darkening upon the Silver Marches under the orders of Lolth in order to prepare for the war.

Soon, in the fall of Year of the Awakened Sleepers, 1484 DR, the drow minions of Quenthel Baenre incited the frost giants of the Shining White and two white dragons, Arauthator and Aurbangras, to ally with the orcs of the Kingdom of Many-Arrows, where the warmonger Hartusk gained the power.

So a large army of orcs and drow, supported by frost giants and white dragons, assaulted the Silver Marches in the War of the Silver Marches.

Nesmé was destroyed by an orc horde led by Tiago Baenre riding the white dragon Arauthator and Sundabar, on the surface, was conquered by an orc army commanded by the warlord Hartusk and renamed Hartusk Keep.

All dwarfholds in the area—Citadel Adbar, Citadel Felbarr, and Mithril Hall—and later also Silverymoon were besieged.

During the Battle of the Cold Vale, Bromm, one of the twin kings of Citadel Adbar, was tricked by the half-drow Doum'wielle Armgo and beheaded by Hartusk.

At last, in the spring of 1485 DR, Bruenor managed to unite all the dwarven forces to retake the River Surbrin bridge from the forces of Many-Arrows.

In the sky above the battle, Drizzt Do’Urden and Afafrenfere on the copper dragons Ilnezhara and Tazmikella confronted Tiago Baenre and Tos’un Armgo on the white dragons Arauthator and Aurbangras, leaving Tos’un and Aurbangras dead and Arauthator in retreat.

Then, in Flamerule, Bruenor used the dwarven Ritual of the March and managed to conquer Dark Arrow Keep, restoring it to Lorgru, its proper ruler, and defeating Hartusk’s remaining armies.

At last, with the backing of Jarlaxle, using Drizzt as a conduit, the turncoat drow archmage Gromph Baenre dispelled the Darkening, disguising the act as the power of Mielikki.

The Siege of Silverymoon

Lord Lorimer Fandin, consort of High Lady Alustriel Silverhand and High Marshall of the Argent Legion, dispatched what aid he could to Sundabar but the remainder of the Legion he kept at Silverymoon. Hard pressed were the Legion but after several days the enemy broke and fled eastward through the mountains towards Sundabar.  Lord Fandin pursued with the Knights Silver 4 Cohorts of the Argent Legion and the Army of the Vale.

 On reaching the mountains Lord Fandin’s commanders begged him not to follow the enemy further for the army was ill suited to fight in the mountains. Lord Fandin denounced the commanders as traitors and left the Legion and the Army of the Vale and he with barely 1,000 Knight Silver and 400 Cavalry of the Vale did vigorously pursue the Orcs and Drow, almost without a break. At times the enemy would turn and fight then continue their flight eastward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unbeknown to Lord Fandin the enemy were luring his army further and further into the mountains, along narrow paths and hidden valleys. Until after 5 days they came across their foe with their backs to a high mountain ridge. Escape was not an option.

Lord Fandin was confident of victory. The enemy barely numbered 500. The knights formed a battle wedge, at the apex Lord Fandin and his bodyguard. Taking his mighty war-horn, Lord Fandin signalled the charge. They quickly thundered into the enemy.

It was Lord Fandin’s herald that brought news that it was a trap. For the Orc Horde of Hartusk, newly arrived after their victory at Sundabar, had cut off their escape.

Lord Fandin ordered the retreat and managed to fight his way out of the trap with barely 300 men. As he had harried the foe from Silverymoon, so too Hartusk and his Orc Horde harried the 300. For they had the advantage in this because of the lightness of their weapons and the nature of the terrain, whereas the 300 were disadvantaged by the heaviness of their arms and the unevenness of the land.   

                           Lord Fandin rallies the 300 

At last they came to the final pass and safety but as Lord Fandin thought they had reached safety the pass was cut off by a force of Drow. In that terrible fight all but 13 of the Knights Silver escaped back to Silverymoon.

The Argent Legion and the Army of the VAle were nearly at the gates of Silverymoon when they heard Lord Fandin’s horn blow for the last time..

The Legion was almost at Silverymoon and safety when a long blast of Lord Fandins war horn was heard then silence.

The last stand of Lord Fandin and the 300 would long be remembered. Even longer Lord Fandin’s folly and the destruction of the Knights Silver.

                              

 

 

                       The horn sounds for the last time

Lady Alustriel proclaimed her 1^st son Methrammar Aerasumé the new High Marshall of the Argent Legion. And newly elect of the Nine. It was 5 days later that High Marshall Aerasume led the Argent Legion back to the site of the final battle.

They escorted Lady Alustriel to the battle site where she found Lord Fandins body. Around him lay nearly 300 Knights Silver and Cavalry of the Vale. His sword Dunrendal was broke in two and the Horn Oliphant cleaved from mouthpiece to rim. The bodies of the 300 had been terribly mutilated and Lady Alustriel ordered a pyre to be built and the bodies burned. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               Lady Alustriel Silverhand finds Lord Fandins body