Chapter 3 - The Demise of Jaysek
While the armies of the lich Prul-Gar were still besieging Baldemar, the wards containing the other liches were continually getting weaker. It was only a matter of time until the next army would break free, and so those wise in these things were not surprised by – though wholly unprepared for –the second lich army’s escape. While smaller in size than the army of Prul-Gar, Furthar’s host was still vast as countless numbers of shadows and ghosts left their age-old prison.
Many were relieved to see the army not heading for any populated areas, as most had expected, but instead turning south into the great desert. But Furthar was not content with the desert, and instead marched right on, through the desert and into the sea. With a host not needing to breathe air, he made for the southern continent of Emer. The first contingents of his troops made landfall on the island where the city of Eidolon was located a few weeks later. Furthar then sent part of his host against the city, leading the rest of his army towards the continent.
The battle for Eidolon was a hard and pitted one. We have accounts of the legendary master smith Gemlkon Clentlenker who claims that his Lord Iorak himself led the defence of the high city. Others speak of ancient machines of battle firing energy into the unlife ranks and heroic tales of paladins making valiant stands against Furthar’s lieutenants. In the end despite all efforts of the defenders, the lower city was overrun and razed almost to the ground, and the goddess Waukya, a local goddess native to Eidolon, met her end, defending her main temple there. Only because of the inaccessibility of the High City and the horrendous losses the unlife had incurred in their assault, were the defenders able to keep the High City safe from most of the damage.
Meanwhile the main host of the army cut a swath of destruction all over the continent. For several months they were able to go unchecked, killing and destroying everything in their path. At the end most settlements were in ruins, the survivors fled into the jungles and remote areas.
It is not known whether Furthar was searching for something or if he had any specific purpose for his actions. All that is known is that finally, Kieron and Jaysek, accompanied by some of their most loyal followers, managed to lure Furthar and the main body of his army to a place they had prepared for the confrontation and that at the end of that battle Furthar’s army was gone. It is presumed that Jaysek and Kieron had managed to create another prison for Furthar and his army and resealed him there.
But the victory was not without cost: Jaysek has not been heard from since that battle and is presumed dead. Kieron was severely injured and supposedly reduced in power. It is said that he only survived because one of his seekers sacrificed his life force to sustain him.
Of the exact events of that day, neither Kieron himself, nor any of his or Jaysek’s surviving seekers will talk. The exact location of Furthar’s prison is also unknown and a matter of speculation.
What is known is that after the disappearance of Furthar, the defenders of Eidolon managed to break the ranks of the attacking unlife army and destroy them utterly. Also survivors in other parts of Emer were rallied and within the next year, most remaining unlife were destroyed.