With her darkvision, it wasn't difficult at all for Nanaly to find Sebastian's backpack – or, at least<em>a</em>backpack with torches in it. Once the torch was lit, the humans were greeted by a sight that perhaps they'd sooner have not seen.<br/><br/>The closest wall was an enormous pile of rubble, a truly piteous sight. Here, the blank, lifeless face contorted in terror, half-buried beneath the treacherous rocks, there, yet more wrenching, no more than a hand was visible, small, delicate. A halfling or gnome, perhaps... or, gods forbid, a child.<br/><br/>Gradually, their headaches began to clear, the fog clouding their minds lifting... though the return of their memories was hardly any comfort.<br/><br/>In Kenabres, as in all of Mendev, even the most joyous and celebratory of days was tinged with a bittersweet note by the looming specter of the Worldwound. Families visited graves and monuments, leaving flowers for fallen heroes. Throughout Kenabres, bards spun tales of heroism against impossible odds as troupes performed plays reenacting the drama of the Crusades, the heart-wrenching drama of erecting the wardstones (http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/wrath-of-the-righteous-celestial-crusaders/images/c/c5/Wardstone.jpg), but in the process sacrificing the chance to reclaim Sarkoris from the Worldwound. There was never, even for a moment, a sense that Kenabres was not on war footing. Crusaders in their finest parade armor were a common sight, and pockets of grim Hellknights had donned their infamous Hellknight plate, standing watch, even on one of the rare days of celebration in war-torn Kenabres. Those rare few who had earned a righteous medal in recognition of their accomplishments wore them openly and with great pride, many approaching them to thank them for their service, other looking on admiringly, especially those who were slated to receive their own awards later that day.<br/><br/>Armasse officially began at noon, with the blessing of the festival by Lord Hulrun (http://i.imgur.com/4Vu2rRU.jpg) himself, ruler of Kenabres. The crowd gathered in Clydwell Plaza quieted as the aged inquisitor took the stage, clad in shining, resplendent parade armor. He cleared his throat, but just as he was about to speak, a bright light shone from the west, as if the sun were rising from the wrong direction. Hulrun's shadow fell huge and distorted across the cathedral's facade. A moment later, the sound of a thunderous explosion ripped through the air and earth, along with a violent tremor.<br/><br/>To the west, the fortress known as the Kite – the location of Kenabres's wardstone – had vanished . In its place, a brilliant plume of red fire, lightning, and smoke erupted into the heavens.<br/><br/>A moment later, a powerful roar accompanied a welcome sight rising from the crowd – Kenabres's greatest guardian, the ancient silver dragon Terendelev, who had until that moment been attending the opening ceremony disguised as a human. Above, another form appeared, as nightmarish as the dragon was breathtaking. A humanoid shape three times the size of any man, with skin coated in fire and lightning, gripped a a thunderbolt as if it was a sword in one claw and crackling whip of lightning in the other. The creature's identity was immediately obvious: Khorramzadeh, the Storm King of the Worldwound, had come to Kenabres.<br/><br/>Telendev was not alone in rising to the defense of Kenabres. Crusaders and Hellknights charged to their doom against the demonic onslaught, and even the most humble of Kenbares' citizens rise to buy their fleeing children a few more seconds, only to be gutted on the claws of the invading demons. A half-orc crusader clad in armor (http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/wrath-of-the-righteous-celestial-crusaders/images/8/85/Irabeth.jpg) stood unflinching in the face of devastation, a fierce protector.<br/><br/>As the ground continued to quake and disgorge demons into the streets, the dragon and the balor lord clashed above (http://i.imgur.com/RjMhdhn.jpg). The fight was over in a few harrowing moments, as the balor cut deep into Terendelev's body, swooping down to strike the dragon and arresting her charge. A few more blows, and the titanic duo spiraled downward toward the crowd.<br/><br/>The sight of the dragon crashing into the facade of the Cathedral of Saint Clydwell was one no witness could ever forget. At that moment, a titanic demon erupted at the far end of the plaza, reducing several buildings to ruins as it smashed into this world. The gouge it created shot across the plaza, and this time there was no escape – each of them witnessed it opening below their feet, angling away into darkness.<br/><br/>Even as they fell, the dragon noticed their plight. Though she saw death standing over her, she seized this final chance to save a few more souls. After she uttered a few arcane words and stretched out a bleeding talon, each felt her magic take hold of them, slowing their plummet into the dark abyss as if they were feathers falling into a pit. Yet the fall remained as inexorable, and as they drifted downward into the depths, the last thing they saw was the Storm King standing before the ancient silver dragon, his sword lashing out and cleaving full through her neck. As her severed head fell, the gouge above them slammed shut, and the light of the world above was gone...<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Players are welcome to and encouraged to add details as to how their characters acted during the event. A character might have scrambled out of the way of a falling statue or desperately yanked someone out of a suddenly opening crevasse, etc. Remember, however, you are first level. Nothing absurd like soloing a balor, please. :P</div></div>