Reports from the War of Three Spheres
Twenty Ninth Day of the Second Month 294 AC
Ashen Cysts: Through a massive investment of forces on the side of the Peerless Empire, including armies of oreads and mortals, Xorn infiltrators and engines of war wrought for the purpose, three of the great ashen fortresses came under heavy attack such as has not been seen in decades, perhaps centuries. Still, to commit such a force to a single attack would have been an act of folly bordering on madness were it not for the final ingredient of this bloody brew; treachery. The commanders of two of the Cyst Cities fell to coups organized by subordinates paid off in Shaitan glassteel, allowing many of the arcane defenses to be lowered just as the final assault began. A third coup failed when faced with a sufficiently paranoid malik, but when the final tally was taken none could doubt that the Opal Throne came out ahead of the gambit.
The fortresses are currently garrisoned by some of the same army elements that aided in their taking, but in the long term the Peerless Empire has no interest of expanding its influence to such an extemt. It is entirely possible the Sultana was sincere in offering the renegade efreeti rule of the cities. The caste of Pale Ones, who have been indoctrinated more than any azer slave or Ifrit janissary prove to be a unique challenge, however. Only time will tell what the Sultana and her council decides to do with them.
River of Tears: The River of Tears returns to a stalemate after the losses of the last few months, with most of the vital convoys getting through but at the cost of stronger escorts than the Brazen Throne might prefer.
Sea of Fire: While some Salamander Clans remained focused on countering Efreeti forces in their domain, many have scattered hither and yon, looking for easy pickings and likely to become that themselves if they do not organize again. Whether that is enemy action or simple greed, your allies cannot say for certain.
Div's Delight: More Div begin to appear in the realm that bears their name. Are they cursed spirits woken from slumber or the heralds of something worse? Spies and oracles alike are yet blind to the answer, though the front grows more uneasy with every new sighting. The Shaitan would welcome investigators who can look at the conundrum with new eyes if you can spare anyone capable of enduring the grinding war of that wretched realm.
Veil of Brimstone: The Djinn have withdrawn most mobile assets from the front for the moment following last month's loses, leaving behind light ships and infiltrators to shadow Efreeti operations. Plans are in the works for a surprise offensive on the front in two to four months after the enemy's vigilance has waned and his eye has been drawn to other quarters.
What next?
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OOC: The way I'm handling these rolls is that I have one big 'does anything happen dice' at the beginning and only if and event triggers do I get into the details of the front shifting dramatically. That keeps things from looking too volatile. This is after all a war that has lasted for thousands of years. Not yet edited.
