Beshran was the northern most city of Sacrilmon. The forest separated the city from the border between Sacrilmon and the two countries of Zatania and Humora. There was only a chapel in the city, but that was enough to be a war goal in the crusade. After ensuring the security of the city and the supply lines, all we could do was wait for the war. We did not have to wait long. From the walls of the city, we could see an army come upon us with torches and a pair of ladders. There had to be about 200 men and 45 Death Knights. We only had 25 knights, 12 coming from this city's pool of notable characters. There were 100 members of the garrison and 50 city guards for keeping the peace on the streets. The mayor of the city told us that the royal army and navy were spread thin from defending on all sides. We would have to hold out for a full month before they could muster a force large enough to repel them. That was to be expected. All we could do is make sure that the walls held. We also needed to be vigilant for infiltrators. On the other had, we could sally out to meet them. It would be very bloody.
Instead we waited a few days to see what would happen. Eventually, a delegation of five Death Knights approached the gates. The wanted to speak to the mayor and all of the commanders. That meant the priest and monk of the chapel, Eta and Zeta and me. We stood at the top of the wall and waited to hear their demands. They wanted us to surrender the city to them and to kill all of those that were in the Church of the Seven Roses. That was a non starter. We refused and they gave us a week before they assaulted the walls. "If that is what must happen, so be it. We will not fall to filthy foreigners. If you touch the walls, you will die." the mayor said. The Death Knights all smiled and the leader said "I look forward to it. Your blood will please Gristomales." He then lost his smile and looked up at us with dark, empty eyes. "Know this. If we enter your city by force, everyone- man, woman and child- will be put to the sword." he said. There was no way to interpret that as a joke. He was serious and they then left us with that dark warning. "Conscript the Hunting and Mercenary guilds. We will need all of them."
A week passes quickly in game. The mayor did as I asked and that added 60 bodies to our count. It made it much more balanced than before. All the archers were on the walls and I spread the knights out around to supervise them. They had a battering ram and the two siege ladders. When they started the first volleys of arrow fire, we ordered them to return fire. I was at the front gate with half of the garrison. Zeta and Eta were with me. All the rest would be at the other cardinal points to prevent any sneak attacks. They fought us hard and made their march to the walls from their camp. The battering ram knocked at the gates of the city. I drew my rapier and got ready. It was going to happen. The wooded gate shook with each hit until it shattered. The cheers grew louder and louder. The outer door was breached and once they made it through the inner door we would all fight to the death. As all the chips of the wood splintered from their weapons I felt a bit of fear and excitement. It was the first real war in the game. I've heard that other Players on the continent were becoming mercenaries or joining the churches to fight here.
