The Fall of Tonueil

We should have been more suspicious when the Dhogu ceased their raids. After the initial, early storms of late autumn, it had turned out to be a relatively mild winter in Engu. We had managed to keep the trade routes open and had heard many tales of the war to the East. The traders told of the huge Delgon armies that had laid waste to many of the cities of Gerova, with Arisel and then Ardel falling. We could not believe when we heard that the clan lords had been so weak as to bow to the invaders, something we thought we would never do. We have always had to fend off the accursed Dhogu, who creep down from the mountains to raid our villages. Life on the Enguan Coasts is hard and we are a strong race, but those thieves and murderers have always been a thorn in our side, waiting for our kopa to leave on their hunts before descending on the unprotected villages. They do tend to underestimate us draals who are left behind and they are usually driven off before they do too much damage, but they were just a dangerous nuisance. As the snows were starting to melt we had a period of quiet, across our lands the Dhogu seemed to stop their raids. Good news always travels much slower than bad, so we did not notice the widespread lack of trouble and just enjoyed the peace, mending our nets and checking our boats. There was however a great uproar across our lands when we heard that Kapa Ralena had agreed to carry a Delgon priest to the south; there was a summoning of The Council to discuss the Delgon and also to decide the fate of that once-respected Kapa. Many of our clan felt that his actions put money ahead of loyalty to the Emperor and deserved the most severe of punishments, but none of our laws had been broken so the Council had no option but to rule him innocent. It was shortly after his return that we started to lose contact with the villages up the coast and several trade caravans failed to arrive when expected. I accompanied my beloved Tenara, Kapa of our crew, when we headed out to try and find a missing caravan. We found its remains; baruk carcasses abandoned to the snow and the goods smashed or taken. That was not the worst though, for we found the naked bodies of the traders piled nearby, stripped and left to be scavenged by skerrats and other vermin. This sort of brutality is not unknown from the Dhogu, but they are usually more careful to clean up after a raid. I was scouting ahead with my tahela when I heard the cries of battle echoing through the mountains, with mighty blasts threatening to bring the snow crashing down around us. I rushed back to try and help, but I was too late. I watched from afar as my Kapa and our crew were overwhelmed and slaughtered by a massive force of Delgon and Dhogu. I could do nothing as my brave Tenara was brought before one of those vile black robed priests and was forced to crouch, unarmed and restrained. I could not hear what was said but I could no longer hold my voice as the priest sunk a dagger into his throat. With my presence revealed I had to flee, traversing the dangerous melting snow with Dhogu trappers forever on my trail. I made it back to Tonueil, but by then it had already fallen. The belderaks had laid waste to half the city before the Delgon and countless Dhogu had descended on the remains. I believe we fought hard, but we could not stand against them, especially with one of their monstrous false gods leading the slaughter. Over the following months my defeated people were given the opportunity to bow to the so-called enarii. Those that refused were executed or taken away. Many chose to bide their time, but a small number embraced the invaders, betraying the clan to try and profit from the fall our homelands. I am ashamed to say that I didn’t stand and fight during those days. I fled from the fires and the enemy and struggled for survival in the harsh wilderness. Over time I found other survivors and for a while I fought within the resistance, watching from the shadows as the Delgon set to work in our dockyards, consuming our proud traditions and creating their own monstrous vessels to carry the occupying armies to the south. We carried out raids and did what we could, but after the first few months I could no longer watch the devastation of our lands and realised that our resistance was for naught. As summer is drawing to a close I have thus ventured south. I have braved travelling through the outskirts of the Naralon forests, avoiding the countless teams of Delgon logging-crews that are working to feed the appetite of their insatiable warmachine, all that time haunted by the spirits that live there. This brings my tale here to the capital of our majestic Empire where I wish to throw myself before the Council of the Emperor himself, to offer my service and to beg his help for my people.