Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 36

Feba 11th 7025

The first of the prophecy children were born. Crisius Dusk Moon the second Champion was born. Her first brother arrived seconds apart from their sister. Montang while Parzyen Dusk Moon took another thirty minutes. Rachael Silvertree went into labor and delivers the first of the new Silvertree line. She was not carrying one set of twins but two sets. Elise, Joshua, Tristus, and Frodimis Silvertree were born.

Twin boys and twin girls. Born girl then boy. She named the two eldest after her parents. They were ecstatic to have grandchildren. The following day her brother left the Gray Blades and took a role as a Captain in the Knights he sought to find. Carrying on his father's legacy. He took his new elven wife with him. She was a Knight training to become an officer under Jarron's command. She made the rank of lieutenant and they looked to be a husband-wife team.

Mia 15th 7025

Dorothy gave birth to two healthy boys. Eldus Silvertree and Charlie Silvertree named after Eldar and Charlemagne's nickname.

Mia 26th 7025

The largest number of births at one time occurred under a lunar event that caused the world to shake. The Queen gave birth to two healthy boys Jarivus Goldeagle and Heliar Goldeagle under the watchful eyes of his Aunt Trisna Dogwood. Name after a long-forgotten King and Eldar's father.

Heliar becomes the predestined Grand cleric for Corellon Larethian while his brother was heir to the throne. Annette's boys were born first in the town that night and were the smallest of the children. Valita Silvertree and John Silvertree after the grandfather who died six weeks before the children were born.

Thirty minutes later Charlemagne gave birth to Monaisa Silvertree, the predestined Grand Cleric for Sehanine Moon Bow. Zaria'fay Silvertree, the next legendary Blade Singer in the family delivered by Doc. This was followed by Eldarus Dogwood and Raldar Dogwood.

The two predestined clerics for Erevan Ilesere and Rillifane Rallathil were born. Cook became the first of the mothers to become infertile due to complications at childbirth. Eagle-eye gave birth to Markum Stormcloud and Airiana Stormcloud. Airiana being the predestined Grand Cleric for Aerdrie Faenya.

Juna 8th 7025

An unnatural storm struck the area and claims the life of Astria Silvertree. The storm also caused the death of one of his unborn children. The first child to die. The other child Branar'Lortan Silvertree was another story altogether. In the hours following the death of Astria reports started trickling in from wood-elf scouts.

A skeletal figure had been seen upon a nearby hill and seemed to be controlling the weather. One scout simply disappeared and another was seen being evaporated into dust before the skeletal figure disappeared. Eldar spent days in his chambers inconsolable.

Juna 18th 7025

Staria gives birth to two baby boys. Trimus and Edius Silvertree were healthy. An accord was struck with the remaining wives that Eldar agreed to and accepted. Eldar would add no more wives while any of them remained. When all six had passed Eldar would marry 6 new wives.

Every time a wife would die, they would find an infertile woman who wished to take on the role of a consort. They would know the rules of the accord and would we be sent on their way with a small inheritance after the passing of the last wife. Every year they would add an amount of gold equal to the lost number of wives' times 20,000. Each in a separate account for each consort.

Jula 12th 7026

Twenty-three months after his father's death. The last of Eldar's brothers were born. Gradis and Heliarson Silvertree.

Auga 1st 7026

Rachel gave birth to another set of twins, a boy, and girl but the strain of so many children in a short time took its toll and she died during labor. The children were named Blake and Rachel Silvertree.

Named after one of her cousins and one in honor of the mother who birthed her. Loss of two wives in just over a year had taken a toll. The ladies and Eldar took this hard as they had lost two mothers so soon.

Auga 6th 7026

Dorothy Silvertree gave birth to two more sons Paul and Primar Silvertree.

Auga 9th 7026

Charlemagne and Annette did it again, they went into labor on the same day. Charlemagne baby Girl Helia Silvertree was born first. Followed by Annette's son Branus Silvertree and her daughter Violoa Silvertree. The last to be born was Charlemagne's baby boy Zandem Silvertree. Unlike the previous pregnancies, they decided too much information on destinies was not always a good idea.

Feba 17th 7027

Staria gave birth to her second set of twins. Again, two boys. Gaziur and Crisskost.

Feba 25th 7028

Dorothy gave birth to her last set of twin daughters. Unlike her sister, she passes a few hours after. An unseen complication. Her girls were named Ann and Dorothy. Named for Annette and her mother. Ann was a given they had talked about and Dorothy was decided by Eldar because her mother died. Three wives lost including both human wives.

Juna 18th 7028

Eldar took his two blade Singers into the tournament. Just over four and half years under their belt and they beat half the field. Strong Oak finished seventeenth and Moon Ray finished in nineteen places.

One of Master Trainer Yetto's students finishes in eighteenth, fourteenth, and eleventh place. His students were just under five years under their belt. Eldar's brother finished in eleventh. Master Trainer Yetto expresses his appreciation in the apprentices Eldar brought.

Septa 11th 7029

Charlemagne was in labor alone this time. She seemed to be having some complications and her two sons Dolus Silvertree and Milas Silvertree were born. The complications left her infertile but after having three sets of twins the news was kind of a relief to her.

Septa 19th 7029

It was late and Annette was in labor. She delivers a girl Yuolia Silvertree. Her labor seems to be going on forever.

Septa 20th 7029

Annette's son Hectus Silvertree was born. Like her sister, the complications from labor made her incapable of conceiving again. She was a bit saddened but also relieved to be alive with twins born on two separate days. As predicted on their wedding night they had a dozen children from the two of them. The second wedding added to that total in children, joy, and sorrow.

Juna 18th 7033

With the Academy up and running they took four battle mages, six arcane archers, and Eldar's two Blade Singers to the tournament. None of Quatarsia's Academy members finished in the bottom half of the field. While all but Eldar's Blade Singers were five-year students.

His Blade Singers both finished in the top ten Moon Ray finished in fourth and Strong Oak finished in sixth place. Third, fifth, and seventh places went to Master Trainer Yetto. Eldar's Brother finishing in third. Ten years beating out most thirty-year students. The top two were thirty-year students and they came very close to elimination.

Juna 18th 7038

They travel to the tournament with ten battle mages, fourteen arcane archers, and four Blade Singers. Silver Moon got her Grand Master status and trained one of her children and another from the city who was rejected because of space. There were two first-place finishes this year with Moon Ray winning.

The other was one of the battle mages taking the field, a young Arcane Mimic, a 6th-year student. The Capital Academy had no idea how to deal with him. Strong Oak finished in third but his opponent should have been disqualified for use of a magic item he was not allowed to have.

They made him remove it for the final bout and Moon Ray crushed him. She stretched the match 15 minutes and switching hands 5 times. She punished him for cheating as she should have been up against Strong Oak. She made him look like a fool with a blade by comparison. After the end of the tournament, the Magister in charge of the Academy in the city was forced to step down. Elios, his brother, finished in fourth.

A review of the admittance policy and procedures was being reviewed and they requested a 30-year moratorium on all Academy tournaments. They wanted to get fresh students in for the next slaughter. Eldar told his students they both fought with honor.

Master Trainer Yetto's students finished in fourth, fifth, and seventh places. He congratulated Eldar on showing them that the Academy could be producing better students. The Academy has made a formal request to send observers to Quatarsia's Academy for 2 years which was granted by Eldar personally with the Queen's blessing. Above all Eldar wanted the best for the elven people.

Juna 18th 7040

They went through three Blade Singer observers because of taking students into actual combat. The first one was killed and the second one was injured severely enough on the field that he was replaced. The Grandmaster that was the head of the City Academy took his place. He observed Eldar's trial by combat against a rogue Blade Singer less than a year after he left the Academy.

He got a first-hand look at how and what Eldar taught. How it applied to the battlefield. He had spent fifty years in the Army over two hundred years ago so he knew how to handle skirmishes with mixed sets of skills in the troops. Eldar sent him off with the last elven war horse sired by T'suras. He gave Eldar a sincere thank you for showing him the changes that needed to be made.

He also agreed and supported the position of a complete review of the curriculum the Academies should be focused upon. To strengthen the students and future Grand Masters. They also decided it was time to make a formal request for the Elven Army to move to mixed skill sets in each of the units.

The Queen was receptive to the idea. The successes on the border, led by her nephew as The Commander of the fort under construction, that earned them favor in the decision. Her other nephew, a recently promoted Captain under his brother's command continued to learn and excel.

Mia 5th 7045

Captain Goldeagle decides it was time to move over to the army. He wanted to shake things up. He was the only Moon Blade holder in the Army at that time and entered as a commander.

Mia 12th 7045

Crisius Dusk Moon was No longer. She establishes her own house and becomes Crisius Tri-Moon. To symbolize the lunar even in which three moons appear in the sky she would be just as rare. The Queen gave her the last blade. Eldar traveled to the shore of Silent Falls with her, where she claimed her blade.

She looked at him, "You prepared a blade for me to pass to my son. I know I will die in this war but I am not afraid. My life is short. Made shorter by the efforts you have done, but that also means fewer elves killed. Including my children."

Juna 23rd 7045

Crisius Tri-Moon gave birth to her two children. She never reveals who the father was but Eldar knew Jarron shared her bed one night and did not even realize he had two children. She did not tell him or see him again. The eldest was Luara'Ray Tri-Moon the last predestined Grand Cleric for Hanali Celanil.

Her son and future blade wielder she named Vintus Tri-Moon. Eldar decided he would leave a note in his will to inform him of the children and their destinies. That he was the father. Staying true to the prophecy he had years ago about Jarron's children.

Neva 23rd 7045

Eldar's six eldest children were killed in a cross-border raid between towers. Silvertree children were to be divided going forward into different groups while in the Blades. Elise, Joshua, Tristus, Frodimis, Eldus, and Charlie brought to seven the number of Eldar Silvertree's children lost.

Eldar took the loss hard. He barred any of Rachel's or Dorothy's children to go into the field as a Gray Blade until they had children of their own. To carry on their mother's legacies. They worked with the protection forces and trained for now.

Feba 8th 7053

Master Trainer Yetto retired from the field. Training three apprentices wore him down and he sent Eldar his ring to pick up the mantle. Eldar would not add a student in the middle of a war or on the cusp of one. He hoped to graduate two Grand Masters now.

One was his own daughter, the other his own son, an elf-blooded wood-elf Primar Silvertree. Talented but no match for his sister. Hell, her skills with a blade rivaled Eldar's own. Her magic was held back only by experience and Eldar tempering the spell selection she has during this conflict. Primar had six children from his three wood-elf wives.

The first of Eldar's grandchildren. Eldar's Grandmother was very pleased with Eldar and Primar as they were five males and one female. Primar had formed a new house, Silver Wood, in honor of his Wood-elf heritage.

Neva 8th 7063

The incursion that broke the line. The watchtowers alerted and several trainers and others went to intercept the part of the horde that broke through the line. Keyno Dusk Moon was the first to die when a giant hit her and her horse with a boulder. The horses tumbled, flipping her through the air, and the fall broke her neck.

The other casualty was Charlemagne Silvertree whose ribs were crushed in by a giant that gripped her, pushed his thumb into her, and then threw her like a rag doll. The last giant was taken down by arrows from the centaurs at the tree line. Annette Silvertree was missing.

Neva 9th 7063

The storeroom above the stable revealed the bound body of Charlemagne Silvertree with a note from Annette:

Charlemagne and Eldar,

My premonitions revealed Charlemagne's death in battle, my dreams revealed it did not have to be her. One of us was to die while the other carried on. I love you both so much. You gave me love, family, and children I never thought I would have. You have given me everything. This time I am giving something back.

The children will understand as putting others before yourself has been ingrained into them. I want you to live, love, and try to find some joy in the chaotic times that are soon to hit you full force. Tell the Queen, this is the sign she has been waiting for. Time to start moving troops to your area.

Love you always,

Annette Silvertree, wife, mother, lover, Knight and Duchess

The day was bittersweet as Charlemagne still lived but the sudden loss of Annette hit them hard. He looked at Charlemagne and reminded her of the prophecy that he could not change. Annette found a way to alter it or fulfill it. They would never know the truth of the matter. The fourth of the six wives to die.

Mia 25th 7064

The Dwarven and Elven armies were in the woods north of the road. The Humans had built barricades along the border and were showing strength on the western front but a good mile from the fort. They wanted to surprise their 'surprise' attack on the 26th. Eldar ordered cold camps with no lights but the moon. He pulled all of the Centaur archers forward, they numbered at 80 now. They would provide cover fire for the dwarven army.

Mia 26th 7064

The plan was simple. Let them come to the fort. They knew of the human lines being a distance away, so it divided their forces. The first horde was met with all manner of spells from scrolls, wands, or the caster. Enemy troops tried to circle toward the main gate while others headed toward the human lines and the archers let loose every volley they could muster. As forces turn from the walls to the woods.

The forces attacking the enemy divided again. Half come toward the woods on that side of the field to go after archers. All of the infantry units move in to attack. Mounted units held back to go after any stragglers who made it through the line. They left hundreds of enemies on the field. They pull allied dead from the field after they retreat.

Eldar ordered all of the bodies of the enemies to be oiled and burned. He still did not know if a necromancer or lich would show up but he wanted to ensure the number of usable bodies was as close to zero as possible. The fort got its nickname. Black granite and fire everywhere. The fort was dubbed 'Fort Ash' as everything turns gray from the dust. The fires bought more time.

Eldar switched up the troops in the woods while they waited and moved the dwarves toward the human line. They had fresh casters and the allied death toll was below 50. Unfortunately, one of those that died that day was Fireball. He got held and pelted by archers while atop the wall. The dead and wounded were taken back by protection forces to the church and Garrison. Wood had been collected for months.

The names of the dead were recorded and their gear was taken for reuse. The bodies burned in what has been dubbed the Blades Death Cloak. Many had elected to wear it to the fires of burial. Charlemagne had the grisly task of informing the family of the deaths and tracking those who were burned. With the risk of necromancers, all bodies on the battlefield were being promptly destroyed.

Mia 9th 7064

Day three of this constant series of battles was left to the dwarves. Eldar had their sappers out all night as it was a new moon. Using the research from all those years ago and the tunnels they built since. They had casks of oil ready to be launched. They left nobody on the wall. They awaited the horn that enough of the enemy were in the kill zone.

They launched and threw casks of oil into the field just as the explosives went off and turned the area and what used to be the hillside for eight miles into an inferno dust cloud. The secondary fires stopped the attack for the day. No allied forces were lost in that effort and most of the men and women gained some sleep and a morale boost.

Septa 1st 7067

One of the bloodiest battles to date. It was caster versus caster and when some of the troops broke the lines to go after these casters it became brutal as the Magi pulled back. The brutes came in just out of range of allied casters and archers. The seasoned squads of arcane archers and cavalry went into the fray and beat them back but they lost Crisius Tri-Moon.

Her blade was carefully sheathed and pulled from the field. She was the only Moon Blade holder out of eleven who were on this front to die in the conflict thus far. The other 3 were in the city or with the Knight as in the case former apprentice and now Grand Master Blade Singer Moon Ray who had four children of her own. Only the first pregnancy produced twins. Something referred to as the Silvertree effect.

Septa 17th 7067

Captain New Moon fell in battle and becomes only the second Moon Blade Wielder to die in this war.

Mia 17th 7068

The remains of the horde withdrew into the hills. It has been three days and the scouts report they left their dead behind and simply returned home. They worked a cleanup detail pulling the bodies from the field with long ropes and burning them in the crater that used to be the ridge they liked to attack from. The dwarven sappers did well, as did the armies.

The allied total death toll over four years was 2,503. The number of enemy dead was beyond counting. When the field became four feet deep with the enemy dead, they would oil them down and burn the bodies. Necromancers did not appear during this fight. At least not on that front.

Word was the other two fronts had also gone silent as they had pulled back. The human toll on those fronts was closer to 60,000 humans, it would have been worse if Eldar had not sent more caster units to help reinforce their positions. The clock was reset. Fireball, Skinner, Tiger, Annette, Keyno, and Cook died in this conflict. As predicted half of the starting members died in the war. Not counting two Moon Blade wielders.

Eldar left the front lines to his men. They had 130 of the battle-hardened troops headed to Jarron. Not counting the 2,100 troops sent him in the build-up to the war. Silver Moon was one of the ones leaving after Tiger's passing. Knight's efforts to convert grunts into officers had mixed results. They got about 40% of them to become officers which still impressed Jarron as it was more than he had expected.