Sat Feb 3 (Ramirez) :: The Dark One's Forces Strike. Arising early from a quite restful slumber in Fal Dara, I walk the streets to stretch my legs and shake the weariness from my bones. For once, the lands around Fal Dara seem quiet. I took this opportunity to ride south towards Caemlyn. A small band of Children lead by Child Exodio would be meeting me there, and I eagerly rode down the road. I arrived in Caemlyn first, and heard shouts of a small force of trollocs terrorizing the town's folk of Aringill. Without hesitation I marched the short distance down the road to the neighboring town. My steed seemed uneasy as I ran him hard to help the people. Corpses littered the streets and I met a small group of warriors fighting the trollocs. I joined the force and it seemed we put down the little band of trollocs. From the shadows came something more vile and terrorfying than I could ever imagine. Three eyeless walked as if on air accompanied by a dark figure with eyes blazing with hate. He attacked with unsurpassed power. This foe could not be touched. Within seconds a hoarde of trollocs appeared from every corner. Fades lead small forces of trollocs and the fades followed this dark figure. We were outmatched nearly 10 to 1. The dark figure attacked, and soon we realized who we were up against. Ishamael, the Forsaken was standing before us, laughing as he cut us down one by one. His heron-marked sword was safe from no one. The hideous One Power flew from his hands in the forms of fire and ice. We ran, but he followed. I found myself in the Braem Wood with Ishamael following my every step. I attempted to strike this man, and found only air. It's as if my sword seemed to be diverted away from his body at the last instance before striking. He was invisible to my steel. I called to my brothers and all that were near. The Forsaken were raiding. I made it to the Caemlyn road only to be greeted by a patrol of trollocs lead by a fade. Ishamael was waiting, staring at me with those burning eyes which seemed not to be eyes at all. Finally warriors for the Light arrived to aid my call. It seemed as if every young lad with a weapon and every old man who ever held a sword in his days came to fight. To my surprise, even the Tower sent its forces to help this attack upon Caemlyn. Finally my brothers arrived and the Children took control. After a pitiful defeat from Ishamael's blade I gathered my courage and lead a small group of young warriors. Our forces of the Light were lead by Child Exodio, Child Alastair, and myself. The Children had come to Caemlyn, and we would NOT let these shadowspawn breath for another second, or die trying. We marched the warriors of the Light into the fray. We matched the numbers of the Dark One and after endless hours of battle, killed off the trollocs protecting Ishamael. We ran through the streets of Aringill slaying every shadowspawn in our sight. Then, Ishamael reappeared, this time accompanied by powerful fades. He laughed and mocked our attempts to kill him. Even with 20 or so warriors fighting him alone, we could not even touch him. This new enemy was going to test every bone in our bodies until we could move no longer. Bodies were strewn about the road like dead leaves. Blood spattered our cloaks and the ground ran red in a stream of blood. Finally, after mocking our leader Exodio, Ishamael stepped through a hole in the air and vanished. Caemlyn was finally safe. Many had died on this day, the names to many to name. The heroes who helped to push down this attack, too countless to recognize even a third of them. Ishamael called to us all, saying he tested us. He said we were nothing and our power could never stand against the Dark One and we would all die before him. Well to Ishamael, all I have to say is look who ran and who stayed to fight. Ishamael was wrong. We proved to everyone that we, the people of the Light, could unite to force even a Forsaken running to his master. Yes many had died, but we had saved so many others. The memories of those who perished shall be forever treasured. Do not let this Forsaken attack fear you. Know that wherever and whenever the Dark One strikes again, the Children of the Light will be there, ready to fight and die to defeat him. Not only the Children, but as proven by last night's encounter, all warriors of the Light. Walk in the Light. Ramirez al'Shoyen, {1C Commander}