The Siege of Tiochia
The Relentless March, Spring 388
In the sweltering heat of the Hysh deserts, the crusading army of the Sacred Banquet embarked on their sacred mission towards the High City of Tiochia. This crusade was declared by the high priests of the Great Wheel, who proclaimed that the Lumineth aelves of Tiochia had succumbed to the corrupting influence of the Dark Prince, Slaanesh. Tales of debauchery, dark rituals, and the enslavement of human souls reached the cities of Sigmar, igniting a fervent desire for righteous retribution. Under a variety of banners and the command of multiple lords, they marched with a singular purpose: to purge the debauched Lumineth aelves of the city and cleanse the taint of the Dark Prince. These crusaders hailed from various cities of Sigmar across Hysh, yet they were united by an unyielding devotion to the Great Wheel. The relentless march through the desert was gruelling, but the ever-turning wheel symbolised their unwavering faith, driving them to press on through the hardships.The Iron Bridge, Midsummer 388
After months of harsh trekking across the unforgiving landscape, the crusaders finally reached the impenetrable city of Tiochia. The Lumineth aelves, under the command of General Lysandra, had fortified themselves behind the thick, ancient city walls, ready to repel the invaders. General Lysandra, a seasoned warrior and brilliant tactician, commanded the defences with an iron will and unyielding determination.The siege was marred by discord as the crusading commanders Gormund, Ademar, and Seraphina clashed over strategy. The River Tio encircled the city, and the only way to reach the walls was to cross the formidable Iron Bridge. Tensions rose as the crusaders faced not only the fortified defences but also internal strife among their leaders. The fighting was fierce and bloody as the crusaders tried to push across the Iron Bridge. The Lumineth sentinels rained death upon the crusaders with arrows and magic—but Seraphina the Slender spurred the army onwards as she charged across the bridge with her Knights Ascetic. The Order of the Sacred Banquet eventually established a foothold on the other side of the Iron Bridge, but it was at a steep cost in human lives.
The Dog Gate, Late Summer 388
The Lumineth defenders launched relentless sorties from the Dog Gate against the crusaders, chipping away at their morale and resources. Doubts began to creep in among the crusaders about their ability to capture Tiochia. The prolonged siege and constant skirmishes drained their resolve, casting a shadow over their once unwavering determination. This was aggravated when news arrived at the crusaders’ encampment that an Iliathan warhost from Tor Kitise was gathering to form a relief army in support of Tiochia.Malregard, Fall 388
In the wake of persistent aelven sorties, the crusaders constructed a counter-castle, dubbed Malregard (meaning Evil Eye), to bolster their position. Foraging parties frequently clashed with enemy forces, leading to diminishing returns. Supplies were low and with winter fast approaching, foraging would only become harder and harder. Ominous signs from the heavens, including torrential rain and earthquakes, stoked fears that they had lost the favour of their god. In a desperate bid for atonement, Ademar ordered a three-day fast as supplies dwindled and starvation loomed. The famine took a severe toll, with one in seven men perishing from hunger, leading to a wave of desertions, including notable figures like Peiton the Hermit.The Siege and Betrayal, Early Winter 389
With no progress in sight, morale continued to plummet. The crusaders had been promised a paradise—a land purified and blessed by the Great Wheel where they would bask in divine favour. Yet, as the months dragged on with no end to the siege, that promised paradise seemed increasingly out of reach. Hope turned to despair as their dream of a holy reward faded amidst the grim realities of war. Gormund, one of the crusade's leaders, had secretly established contact with Cosper, an aelf guard within the city who controlled the crucial Tower of the Two Sisters. This clandestine alliance offered a glimmer of hope amidst the despair. What Cosper was offered in return for his betrayal is unknown, but it must have been something precious indeed. Despite their weakened state, the crusaders managed to seize the city, though the citadel remained unconquered. Soon after, they found themselves besieged by the Iliathan relief army sent from Tor Kitise, their once bold crusade now a desperate struggle for survival. Facing a critical shortage of knights after a devastating battle, King Gormund knew he couldn't afford to lose the momentum of the campaign. Rather than waiting to train new soldiers, which would take months, he turned to a group of seasoned mercenaries who had been fighting for Tor Kitise. Understanding the value of loyalty over enmity, Gormund offered them triple their pay and safe passage back to their homeland after the war. The mercenaries, enticed by the offer, switched sides, bolstering Gormund's forces. This move not only filled the gaps in his ranks but also demoralised the enemy, who saw their former comrades fighting against them.The Inner Struggle, Deep Winter 389
The victory within Tiochia’s walls was bittersweet. Exhausted and besieged from within, the crusaders now faced the daunting task of surviving in a city still rife with conflict. Supplies were critically low, and the looming threat of starvation persisted. In the dead of night, the starving soldiers took to cannibalism in order to survive. Initially, it was the dead enemies and fallen comrades that became their gruesome sustenance, but soon the hunger-driven madness spread. Commanders turned a blind eye as once-noble knights feasted on human flesh, rationalising it as a necessary evil ordained by their holy cause. Rumours told of shadowy figures visiting the commanders’ tents and even Gormund was seen feasting on the corpse of his aide.The madness of cannibalism and the taint of dark magics began to warp their minds and bodies. Eyes turned feral, teeth sharpened, and their once noble visages twisted into grotesque parodies of humanity. Their reverence for the Great Wheel transformed into a macabre worship of an insatiable hunger, a dark corruption that they mistook for divine favour. At this time, Peiton the Hermit suddenly reappeared in camp, handing out berries and other fresh produce to the starving soldiers. No one knew how he had returned after his desertion, or where he had the fresh supplies from, but the situation was too desperate to be asking critical questions. He spoke of visions, claiming that the Great Wheel had shown him where to find the Sacred Silver Cuillier. This hope, mingled with their growing madness, gave the crusaders a renewed, desperate zeal.
The Turning Tide, Spring 389
As spring approached, a ray of hope shone upon the crusaders. Peiton had gained a huge following of desperate men-at-arms in their search for the fabled artefact. It was during one of these fevered searches that Guy, a lowly footman known for his unwavering devotion despite his humble origins, made a miraculous discovery. While digging fervently in the ruins of an ancient temple within the city, Guy unearthed a shimmering object buried deep beneath the rubble. To the astonishment of his comrades, it was the Sacred Silver Cuillier (known to the common soldier as The Holy Spoon), long thought to be a mere legend. The discovery of this holy relic ignited a renewed strength and fervour among the crusaders. Inspired by what they believed to be a divine sign of favour, the crusaders launched a series of coordinated assaults on the citadel with unparalleled zeal. Guy’s find was hailed as a miracle, a turning point that lifted the spirits of the weary warriors and united them under a banner of divine providence. However, the Sacred Silver Cuillier was cursed, and its influence only deepened their madness, binding them irreversibly to their ghastly transformation.The Scorched and Lord Ademar
The Scorched, a regiment of men-at-arms and knights directly under Ademar's command, were known for their endurance and resilience, honed by battles in the deserts against Orruk warbands and rival houses. They earned their name due to their experience fighting in blistering heat. After their descent into ghoulishness, their skin began to burn off from prolonged exposure to the sun, as they could no longer feel pain.Ademar, driven by a relentless pursuit of honour and duty, played a crucial role in the siege. His tactical acumen and iron discipline were vital in breaching the city’s defences. However, the siege took a dark turn when Gormund, already succumbing to the curse, forcefully made Ademar drink the cursed wine and consume the tainted flesh of the dead. This brutal act accelerated Ademar’s transformation into a ghoul, adding to his ferocity and monstrous strength. Despite his fall, Ademar continued to lead The Scorched with the same iron will, their ghastly forms a testament to their sacrifice and corrupted faith.
The Fall of the Citadel, Midsummer 389
After months of intense fighting, the crusaders finally breached the citadel's defences. In a decisive and brutal final assault, they overwhelmed the remaining Lumineth forces. The citadel fell, and with it, the last bastion of resistance crumbled. The crusaders celebrated their hard-won victory, believing their mission to purge the taint of the Dark Prince from Tiochia was complete.The Aftermath, Late 389
In the aftermath of the siege, the crusaders set about restoring order to the ravaged city. They established a new governance under the banner of the Sacred Banquet, determined to rebuild Tiochia as a bastion of their new faith. Yet, this faith was now a twisted worship of hunger and madness. Their minds forever altered, they saw themselves as blessed and chosen, their cannibalistic rituals sanctified. The scars of the siege remained, but the unity and perseverance of the crusaders, now ghoulish in both form and spirit, shone as a testament to their unwavering devotion. The story of the Sacred Banquet’s relentless march through the deserts of Hysh to the triumphant fall of Tiochia would be told for generations, a legend of faith, sacrifice, and the indomitable—though tragically corrupted—human spirit. Last edited:
