A long battle was fought by the Collective and their allies in the Illuminated Caves. Multiple successive attacks were successfully held off by the Collective's Militia with assistance from their allies in the Land of Endless Sky as well as the Northern and Southern Empires, 13th Legion weapons, and defence crafts from the Allied Guilds.
Although the immediate danger is past and the fortifications established by Lord Savkohos and Southern military engineers remain, there is a steady cadence of smaller attacks that continue.
It is expected that the threat cannot be stopped until the source of the attacks is found and dealt with.
- By the Goddess, is that-?!
- Elephants! Quickly, archers, to the fore.
- They're not stopping, how many arrows does it take to bring down that thing?
- RUN YOU IDIOT! Those are plant-controlled elephants!
- I thought only we had those?
- Your funeral either way…
— Conversation of Northern soldiers in Altalyria
Reports come in from Altalyria that the Southern Empire now deploys the monstrous parasitic vine creatures controlled by Magic that were previously in use only by the North. Other reports suggest that the South now have a way of disrupting the North's use of such Magics somehow.
The last three months of war have seen substantial gains for the South. Helat is still a bleeding wound, and Altalyria is still a fortified quagmire, but the breaking and replication of the North's weaponised parasite have allowed some progress. Between these two shifts, The Grand Duchess Amalina has made more progress in Altalyria than most would have predicted three months ago.
The war shows no signs of abating. Rumours spread quickly from Callistian's court that raising the Holy Orders belonging to priests and bishops in communion with Principia Siciana to join the front against the south. Such a decision is unprecedented in the history of the Guardian Church, with the orders being sworn to defend Tharena rather than one court or another. At least for now, however, they remain just rumours.
Meanwhile, the streets of Thysera swell with refugees fled from coastal towns in north Helat. Without the peasantry there to plant this season's crop the coming winter threatens to strain the South to its limits.
The siege in Primus continues. After a breach to the outer wall by Angel Magics, only the heroic efforts of the Legion's soldiers and the aid of forces from the Wordkeepers kept the city from falling. Defending Fort Primus from near constant attacks for a week. Eventually, the enemy's momentum was broken, at least for now, by the timely intervention of a group of warriors from the Ezu Plateau.
Work to rebuild the damage to the outer wall is ongoing, as the Legion attempts to reinforce their defences before the enemy regathers it's strength. The Legion's forces are tied up in the rebuilding and defence effort, but have sent out messengers seeking those willing and able to push deeper into the Labyrinth, find the source of the enemy, and take the fight to them.
New dangers seen in Ulane as a wave of parasitic vine plants are attacking the town. Some witnesses claim to have witnessed several plants laying siege to shops, including a florists, a greengrocers, and the Ulane Farmers Association. Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, and are asked to report any suspicious flora in the area.