[hider=Siege of Mercy Summary ]
Using the information he received, Zilak and his cultists arrive at the outskirts of Mercy undetected. Matai was chosen by Zilak to act as his second in command for the mission, though Matai notes rather strangely that many of the cult's most skilled members were left behind to guard the ships, while those selected for the mission were moderate in skill at best. They soon meet High Magister Alice Budwin, head of the mage collective after uspering Lanaya and now allegedly allied with the Blackwells after defecting from the De Reimer’s. However, it turns out that Alice has been playing both sides, working for Zilak since before she was made a high magister and through him was able to develop the ‘blood gems’. She leads them through a secret passage that leads to Mercy Castle. The passage which was built centuries ago was originally collapsed by Giles Blackwell, though Alice and the collective have secretly uncovered it. Before they head down the passageway, Zilak summons a number of undead that the cultists brought with them and send them off to hide in preparation for the wedding. To summon so many undead and to send them so far away from the summoner is a task that should be considered impossible, with Matai concluding that however Matai got his demi-god like power it could not of been simply through training and natural talent, theorizing there is something else at play.

Meanwhile the marriage takes place in a forest outside of the city under the watchful eyes of both Patrick’s company and Eli’s lords and guards. Drevala watches the wedding perched from a tree in a hawk form. Eli is inwardly nervous about how Noami will behave, though both he and Drevala are shocked to see their sister behave relatively normally. While Patrick is fooled by this performance both her siblings see this for what it is; a pale imitation of her old self. The marriage continues in line with the Blackwell customs and Patrick and Noami are wed. However just after the ceremony is completed they are attacked by Zilak’s undead with panic ensuing. A fight breaks out between the De Reimer and Blackwell guards and a horn is blown to call for reinforcements. 

As guards leave the castle for the wedding ceremony, Zilak and Alice take advantage of the chaos and order the cultists to attack the castle from within while Zilak, Alice and Matai seek out Alice’s personal laboratory where the blood gems can be found. Even with many of the guards having left for the wedding, the castle is still full of soldiers and the Blackwell Dragonguard prove to be formidable opponents even against the cult mages. As powerful as he is, Zilak is drained from having to control so many undead from such a distance and is unable to fight the dragonguard at full strength. Eventually the trio make it to the laboratory and Matai is shocked to see a large number of blood gems (around 42), some made from the prisoners and beggars back in Cawaport, other made from ‘death row’ prisoners in Mercy, some made from villagers kidnapped by Alice and her collective loyalists (unbeknownst to Eli). 

Back at the wedding the last of the undead have been destroyed or dismembered beyond being a threat. Those present try to figure out what just happened with a brief conflict arising between Patrick and Eli as each accuses the other of somehow being involved with the attack. However, before the conflict can escalate a warning horn is sounded from the castle and Eli, Drevala and the remaining Blackwell guards rush back to Mercy.

Ultimately, Alice and Zilak retrieve the blood gems and hurry to leave via the tunnel, planning to sacrifice the cultists and use them as a distraction to escape. Zilak tries to justify to Matai that the cultists they brought with them would not be strong enough to wield the power of the blood gems, but Matai is not swayed. Matai begins to question Zilak along with what it is he actually wants. Alice, not willing to waste anymore time, summons a magical force to push Matai back, knocking him out. Both escape, with Zilak lamenting that Matai might have made a good advisor when he becomes king. After they escape they collapse the tunnel, making use of Zilak’s undead great eagles to escape to the ships where both the remaining cultists and Alice’s loyalists are waiting. 

A few days pass and Eli is in his room mulling over what has happened: Almost immediately after the event Patrick left Alenius with Noami, placing blame on the Blackwells for not preventing this attack but secretly is just as confused as Eli is. Alice and a significant number of collective members (including a number of magisters) have abandoned Alenius with only the original Blackwell mages as well as High Magister Barden and his mages remaining. The blood gem supply has been ransacked aside from two and Eli is shamed to find that Alice kidnapped innocent citizens right under his nose. Only one cultist was found still alive (Matai) and who is currently in the castle dungeons awaiting questioning. A messenger then enters the room and declares that a message from the empire arrived shortly after Patrick left Alenius, along with a sealed wooden box. Eli opens it to find Vivian’s Blackwells head inside. It is clear that the De Reimer were aware that it was the Blackwell’s who were behind Isabel De Reimer’s death and the attempted slow poisoning of Alasdair. The truce is now over and they are at war. 

[/hider]

Due the long period of time people have been waiting and general difficulties I have bene having writing this I decided to do a summary of what happens in this post. I may consider coming back with Konan and writing this in properly, but I make no promises.