Atys Invaded

The Kitins' evil invasion plans came to a terrifying finale with midsummer. As the days lengthened and Homins strove to find some normality in the rituals of the high summer harvest it became clear that the Kitins were building strong, fortified war camps to consolidate their gains.

Their mighty war leaders Kipuryk were ruling the camps, directing the war in each land and surrounding themselves with the restlessly pacing Kinreys in great numbers. To those few that make it back from scouting trips alive, the glistening giant leaders were a terrifying and awesome sight. The Kitins were expecting their numbers to be sufficient to overwhelm the puny Homin troops and ensure final world dominance.

How wrong they were in this. The Homins might seem weak and feeble compared to a mighty Kitin warlord, but their courage and ability to stand shoulder to shoulder in times of war and crises were badly underestimated by the Kitins. Realizing that the time had come for one last desperate struggle, the Homins first organized themselves in Fyros lands, gathering more and more fighters and mages as they tried to fight their way through to the Kitin war camp. They were slaughtered repeatedly, but came back again and again to continue the struggle. Imperceptibly the tide turned, and the evil invaders began to fall, until only the huge Kipuryk remained to be defeated in one dreadful final battle.

In Matis a similar rallying of forces was taking place, using the Portal to Abyss of Ichor as a meeting place. The courage of the Homins seemed to be limitless in this fearful enterprise. More and more arrived, each contributing what they could and all making a difference to the final outcome. For the dreadful truth was that it took many tries and unnumbered deaths before the goal was achieved.

Not once during all the ensuing carnage did the Homins lose faith, and this was ultimately rewarded with a grand victory. The Kitin invasion of Matis crumbled on the death of the fell blue leader, and the few remaining Kitins were left to wandering aimlessly through the summer woods and dells of Matis.

Now that Matis and Fyros were rid of the Kitins, the armies from both countries turned their eyes to their struggling Zorai and Tryker friends to lend their aid and experience in the war and to rid Atys of the lingering menaces. Rescue parties set out to in both directions and it was heartwarming to watch the unity and friendship which ruled Atys on this fearsome day of the battle.

Initial forays into the lush Zorai territory had already accomplished much, including the slaughter of a minor warlord called Kipyckya. Party after party of brave Homins gathered at the prime root portal in Stainmoor Gate and numerous times fought their way up the hills to the Kitin camp, arranged in strict war formation with melee fighters in the front and healers at the back. Wise to the Homins battle array, the wily Kitin patrols harassed the rear of the army forcing the fighters had to turn and defend their healers.

Each time the great armies managed to reach the Kitin encampment, they destroyed more of the lightening fast and deadly kinreys, and in a valiant attempt managed to draw the warlord himself outside the war camp. Bloody and long was the final assault around the Kitin stronghold, but the Homins eventually snatched the crown of victory from the gigantic and loathsome Kipuryk as the storm rains of summer poured down and vivid, forked lightening blazed their victory across the skies.

In the lakelands of Tryker where the hot sun of midsummer turned the water margins to cracked mud, the battle waged the longest, and the future began to look increasingly uncertain for the continuance of the Tryker dominions.

The Kitins had chosen their camp well and the local fauna aided them in beating back the tryker warband who were hampered by having to establish a long supply chain. The Trykers fell with their friends and Guild mates, and the carnage scented the warm breezes. Each time however that they made the long trip, they gained a few more yards of vital ground to hold and rid the land of more bands of the Kitin enemy until at last they could see the enemy camp shimmering in the distant heat haze. Finally, after many hours of dark struggle, the Trykers and their valiant allies from other races reached the foul nest itself and summoning their last courage, attacked as one. The fight seemed to go on for hours, and the sandy soil of Tryker was littered with small corpses, but in the end Tryker pride and determination triumphed over the minions from the depths.

And so it was that across all Atys the harvest was bought in with rejoicing and peace prevailed throughout the Homin lands......for a time.