The next morning all on the Island who had not left awoke to find Elven Swanships disembarking Swanknights and Catspaw Ullratha at every major port. The Ullratha Commandos found themselves sealed in, unwilling and unable to run the gauntlet with such odds against them. And even as the dew dissipated from the grass rumours abounded that Elven Rulers had been heard to say that, once the Swanknights arrived in force, the Eilindainians would be driven from the Island and those of Tal-Anum would be seen to pay!

It is the end of spring, but despite this the cold grows more vicious every day and the crops that are due for planting now go unaccepted by the frozen earth. Philosophers and great thinkers alike now doubt that the Dozi Shaman is the only hand to be playing its part in what could easily be a terrible catastrophe for our people...

Harton Maldir assured the people of his Island that there would be no active role taken by his Government in any potential conflict between the Eilinders and Elves, and asked that all such register themselves when visiting 'new Avmar' so that they may be monitored in any travel from town to town, thereby alleviating any suspicion that may fall upon them! Not many take kindly to this and a large number of foreigners leave the Island, often taking their business as well.

The Gardainian troublemakers and their prospective allies in the community continue to be rounded up by the 'Internal Emergency Security Forces' (I.E.S).

Smoot Corp., now under the mysterious Councillor Xxill, continues to exert pressure upon the whole commercial community. A group of Adventurers do business with the Corporation on Freersday, handing them a mysterious liquid-yielding goblet. The liquid is sweet, tasteful and mildly addictive; before many days have passed High Tables and bars everywhere are stocking vials of the stuff, which sells in vast quantities as a pick-up tonic!

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Commons, twelve elven Swan ships bearing the Manticore's Talon's blue and black banner enter the Archipelago. Three sail straight to Southfall Docks on new Avmar, while two others sail to Elven Island, reinforcing the three ships already present. The remaining seven ships sail to the edge of Eilindainian waters and take up a patrol movement.

Meanwhile Adventurers continue to trade, adventure and continue their daily business regardless of the subtle shifts in power, whose frequency grows daily. 'Adventurers will always be required whichever Government is in power' seems to be the underlying belief. More than a few waystations send missions to investigate small raids on dwindling food supplies, perpetrated by small demonic creatures.

All the while on the mainland Ullratha 6th Commando, along with later arrivals from fourth commando, struggled through mainland Evermore to reach mighty Draconsmere keep in time! Later the group were joined by other Commandos from the de-commissioned 3rd Commando. A report later delivered at High Table by their new Warlord Alex Winter reported that Utterdark's declaration of his intentions of grasping the Throne were not actually of Utterdark's design, but those of Rovien, High Priest of the Catspaw Legion.

On Saturseve some old faces appear at the High Table, for a short while at least, as returning with the apparently successful 6th commando come Jack Cade, Anton D'Coomhar, Philip Silveran and Gareth Shequi. Also with these come Blake, Villa, Quinatholon and Lord of Fourth Commando.

Then, as quickly as these ancient Amoriath and Veterans appeared, they are gone and the world turns dark again...

Almost as if waiting, as soon as the old Commandos are gone in walk two Enforcers, and soon after the President Harton Maldir accompanied by a small squad of his 'special task forces' (S.T.F).

Princess Tallia of Kleet arrives to give her thanks for her rescue from the hands of Elven Assassins to Brother Nathan and makes him an honorary Knight of Kleet (though whether he is to be made a Knight of Chevalric Reknown is not yet explained!). Princess Tallia leaves.

Things start to wind down as a pair of Gypsies sing a song of melancholic refrain - then the doors to the table are vaporised as a squad of Manticore's Talon and half a dozen Erith-Thane rush in. These are quickly followed by Rovien himself wearing the long red robes of a papal house cardinal.

President Maldir approaches Rovien and salutes him, announcing the EPPs intentions to support him as the 'New' Governor of the Island in the name of Utterdark. A mysterious Accountant, who till then described himself as a Party official, steps forward to announce his identity as Councillor Xxill. Xxill kneels and swears a quick oath of fealty. Rovien beams outs across the room, his pride showing almost palpably. Then, as he turns to High Table as if to announce something long conspired, he espies Owain and JD sat there.

Rovien's face is suddenly twisted by rage, then he looks about as if trying to identify someone and his expression turns to bewilderment for one instant. 'Where is Tallia of Kleet?' he bellows, taking a pace towards High Table and at the same time grasping Maldir by the throat. 'Kill those Gardainians!' he screams, pointing at the pair.

As Erith-Thane leap over the table in a few short steps an energy ripple shatters the dead quiet of the rest of the room, and suddenly everyone dives to the floor as ancient energy weapons and awesome rune blasts are exchanged between smoke-obscured opponents. The people dive for the floor and scrabble for safe exits, but even as they do the very walls of the waystation explode under the onslaught. Many are wounded... Then everything goes quiet, and the Gardainians and their phasing allies have gone. Bodies of Manticore Guards litter the floor and at least three Erith-Thane are dead or unconscious.

The smoke begins to clear and Rovien's shielding is visible to all, an odd tinge of red colours the usual gold of runes - the colour of dark earth power! As he is released Harton Maldir sags to the floor, looking wholly relieved to be alive. 'Kill every tenth Gardainian in your prison camps, Maldir,' Rovien hisses through clenched teeth. 'Then find Tallia and any other Eilind leaders still on my Island and bring them directly to me.'

As the summer comes on with no increasing sign of warmth or sunlight, New Avmar is turned into a veritable war camp. Besides three hundred initial Drowh, a further 1,200 are offered by the remaining clans and accepted into Manticore's Talon. 500 newly-recruited Smoot Corp. Musketeers have also ferried to the mainland along with black clad Scouts formerly loyal to Baron Smoot.

With the arrival of even more swanships the waters between the Islands are thoroughly patrolled and any attempt for Outlaws to travel is more often than not thwarted. A secondary landing, more successful than the first has caused Eilind's defenders to be driven back to the foothills of the south; as yet no major counter offensive seems forthcoming.

The Elven Princes are still missing, but Prince Tarys assures his leaders they have not escaped Elven Island. A small counter attack by Elves against Manticore's Talon was thoroughly thwarted, the Rebels losing 400 troops, Manticore's Talon 37.

Elven Island and New Avmar are still caught in an iron grip and the battle for control of Eilindainian Island looms ever closer. Meanwhile, it is rumoured Rovien has returned to Draconsmere on urgent business!

It is now nearly autumn 5864 and the 'New' Armies of the Despot Governor Rovien continue to attack the last bastion of freedom against his regime, Tal Anum, New Eilind. After the events of the past month, there are now seven bridge heads on the beaches around Tal Anum, with a total of just over 3,000 Manticore's Talon, Drowh and Darkport Militia. An emergency meeting of the War Council, whose new head is Alex Winter of 6th Commando, resolves to siege some of the entrenched areas and attack others with overwhelming forces.