Difference between revisions of "Battle for Meridell"

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{|align=right
[[Image:Bfm warroom.gif|right|frame|Meridell at war once again.]]
|http://images.neopets.com/medieval/warroom.gif
'''Battle for Meridell''' was a [[plot]] which took place between February 2, 2004 and May 13, 2004. [[Lord Kass]] bred unrest within the ranks of his people and started a war against [[Meridell]], breaking the peace treaty established following [[Champions of Meridell]] in the process, in an attempt to satisfy [[The Three]].
|}
 
'''Battle for Meridell''' was a [[Plot]] on [[Neopets]] which took place between February 2, 2004 and May 13, 2004.[[Lord Kass]] bred unrest within the ranks of his people and started a war against Meridell, violating their peace treaty, in an attempt to satisfy [[The Three]].
The plot was a sequel to Champions of Meridell, was set in the same locations and starred much of the same cast: [[Lisha]], her brother [[Jeran]], her friends [[Count Boris]], [[Morris]], and [[Kayla]], [[King Skarl]], [[Lord Darigan]], and [[Galgarroth]] all make reappearances.  


==Plot Summary==
==Story==
===Lord Kass' Takeover===
===Lord Kass' takeover===
After Lord Darigan's fall from [[Champions of Meridell|power]], Lord Kass, a general at the time, began to gain power and influence in the Citadel, by bribing, intimidating and blackmailing a number of important or otherwise influential people (his diagrammatic plan would imply at least eight), including a captain, two chairman, a mayor, constable, judge, sheriff, prison keeper [[Master Vex]], and [[Galgarroth|General Galgarroth]] (interestingly misspelt by Lord Kass). Those who did not swear fealty to him were disposed of: Master Vex was [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=126 locked in his own dungeons] and General Galgarroth was chained up and tossed from the Citadel during one of Kass', now as Lord of the Citadel, speeches to the public.
After [[Lord Darigan]]'s fall from [[Champions of Meridell|power]], Lord Kass, a general at the time, began to gain power and influence in the [[Darigan|Citadel]], by bribing, intimidating and blackmailing a number of important or otherwise influential people, including a captain, two chairman, a mayor, constable, judge, sheriff, prison keeper [[Master Vex]], and [[Galgarroth|General Galgarroth]]. Those who did not swear fealty to him were disposed of: Master Vex was [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=126 locked in his own dungeons] and General Galgarroth was chained up and tossed from the Citadel during one of Kass', now Lord of the Citadel, speeches to the public.


During this time, Lord Darigan, who after his defeat had gone fully insane, and regressed to an animalistic creature who stalked Meridell's farms in search of food.
During this time Lord Darigan, who, after his defeat had gone fully insane, regressed to an animalistic creature who stalked Meridell's farms in search of food.


===The Plans for War===
===The plans for war===
In an open-air speech to his public, Lord Kass, after a propaganda campaign portraying himself as a beloved leader and [[King Skarl]] as a hater of the people of Darigan/Kass Citadel, he said that people were willing to attack them "in the name of King Skarl", while in fact Meridell had not intention to attack. He called upon his people to tell him what to do, and the crowd responded, "War!" and "Attack him first!"
In an open-air speech to his public, Lord Kass, after a propaganda campaign portraying himself as a beloved leader and [[King Skarl]] as a hater of the people of Kass Citadel, said that people were willing to attack them "in the name of King Skarl", while in fact Meridell had no intention to attack. He called upon his people to tell him what to do, and the crowd responded, "War!" and "Attack him first!"


At some point in this time, Kass must have engaged the support of an enchantress, the hag [[Morguss]], who's magic would prove vital in the ensuing war.
At some point in this time, Kass engaged the support of an enchantress, the hag [[Morguss]] whose magic would prove vital in the ensuing war. Morguss' magic may [http://www.neopets.com/evil/showcreature.phtml?pos=17 have served Lord Darigan], possibly encouraging Lord Kass to enlist her.  


Lord Kass sent Morguss' daughter, an Aisha who portrayed the illusion of being beautiful, when in fact she was an almost beast-like creature, to King Skarl to capture him and his courtiers in a hypnotic dance. He had also seeded Meridell Castle with [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=85 spies] and Morguss set a [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=120 blight spell] on Meridell's crops.
Lord Kass sent [[The Court Dancer|Morguss' daughter]], an [[Aisha]] who portrayed the illusion of being beautiful, to King Skarl to capture him and his courtiers in a hypnotic dance. He had also seeded Meridell Castle with [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=85 spies] and Morguss set a [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=120 blight spell] on Meridell's crops.


By this time, Lord Darigan had set himself up in a barn of one of the Meridellian farms, where the young Usul daughter of the farmer, Sally, brought him, or ''Mr. Scary'' as she called him, scraps and leftovers.
By this time, Lord Darigan had set himself up in a barn of one of the Meridellian farms, where the young [[Usul]] daughter of the farmer, [[Sally (BfM)|Sally]], brought him, or ''Mr. Scary'' as she called him, scraps and leftovers.


===Kass' Invasion===
===Kass' invasion===
While King Skarl was mesmerised by the dance of the [[Court Dancer]], Lord Kass started his offensive. [[Jeran]], Champion of Meridell, and his relatively small troop, were the only force in the vicinity, and his calls for reinforcements and supplies were ignored by Skarl, who, thanks to the Court Dancer, was indisposed. The Court Dancer did find time, however, between her performances for the King, to [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=93 hypnotise the villagers] from the area of the attack to revolt against the military force there.
While King Skarl was mesmerised by the dance of the Court Dancer, Lord Kass started his offensive. [[Jeran]], Champion of Meridell, and his relatively small troop were the only force in the vicinity, and his calls for reinforcements and supplies were ignored by Skarl, who, thanks to the Court Dancer, was indisposed. The Court Dancer did find time, however, between her performances for the King, to [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=93 hypnotise the villagers] from the area of the attack to revolt against the military force there.


By Jeran's account, the first encountering of Kass' forces could have been no more than a days travel away from ''Hope River Village'', or possibly at it. The day after, the force was seen again, featuring several of Kass' [[war machine]]s, a type of weapon that Kass would be famous for introducing. By Jeran's reaction, this was an imposing sight, and may have been a larger force than that which was encountered the previous night.
By Jeran's account, the first encountering of Kass' forces could have been no more than a days travel away from ''Hope River Village'', or possibly at it. The day after, the force was seen again, featuring several of Kass' [[war machine]]s, a type of weapon that Kass would be famous for introducing. By Jeran's reaction, this was an imposing sight, and may have been a larger force than that which was encountered the previous night.


As the Kass attack pressed on, in its early stages a small party raiding party attacked a farmhouse: by coincidence, this was the same farmhouse that the creature Lord Darigan had become had taken up refuge. Sally rushed to the barn to tell "Mr. Scary" that they had to run, when the party swooped on her, and a Skeith grabbed her. Darigan swept forward, and with easy beat off the Skeith. The other three soldiers looked on, stunned. One of them called questioningly to him, "Darigan?" before Darigan charged forward and effortless defeated the remaining members of the party, but his old name haunted him, and he was in an almost trance-like state before Sally spoke to him, at which point he appeared to fully remember himself. He said that he had to go, before flying off towards the Citadel.
As the Kass attack pressed on, in its early stages a small raiding party attacked a farmhouse: by coincidence, this was the same farmhouse that the creature Lord Darigan had become had taken up refuge. Sally rushed to the barn to tell "Mr. Scary" that they had to run, when the party swooped in on her and a [[Skeith]] grabbed her. Darigan swept forward, and with ease beat off the Skeith. The other three soldiers looked on, stunned. One of the soldiers recognised him, and called out, "Darigan?" before Darigan charged forward and effortlessly defeated the remaining members of the party.  However, his old name haunted him, and he was in an almost trance-like state before Sally spoke to him, at which point he appeared to fully remember himself. He said that he had to go, before flying off towards the Citadel.
 
As Kass' war machines pressed onwards with little resistance, [[Lisha]] suddenly snapped out of the Court Dancer's trance. She realised what was happening and rushed to the library to retrieve a copy of ''Imry Infilson's Index of Illusions''. She hurried back to the throne room, and enchanted a counter-spell, and the Court Dancer's spell, and her disguise, collapsed. As King Skarl suddenly came to himself, he ordered that the Court Dancer be arrested, and a soldier burst in to tell Skarl of the invasion. He immediately instructed his generals to the war room.


===Meridell's Counterattack===
As Kass' war machines pressed onwards with little resistance, [[Lisha]] suddenly snapped out of the Court Dancer's trance. She realised what was happening and rushed to the library to retrieve a copy of ''Imry Infilson's Index of Illusions''. She hurried back to the throne room and enchanted a counter-spell which collapsed the Court Dancer's own spell and her disguise. As King Skarl suddenly came to himself, he ordered that the Court Dancer be arrested, and a soldier burst in to tell Skarl of the invasion. He immediately instructed his generals to the war room.
A royal summons was immediately sent out, calling to arms men and women from across the kingdom. With the army swelled, Skarl sent about concocting a counter offensive.


The plan involved a two-pronged attack. [[Kayla]]'s new concoction, an enlarging potion which impressed King Skarl, would be used to supersize [[Turtum]], and these would be equipped with catapults on the top of their shells and manned with a squad of troops to combat Kass' war machines on the ground (the front for the ground war appeared to be closing on Meridell Castle quickly). Just as the ground offensive got going, Jeran would lead a team of soldiers, riding [[Uni]]-back, through the air to assault the Citadel itself.
===Meridell's counter-attack===
[[Image:Bfm ch11 scaled.png|left|300px|thumb|Meridell counter-attacks.]]
A royal summons was immediately sent out, calling to arms men and women from across the kingdom. With the army swollen, Skarl sent about marshalling a counter offensive.


Jeran's attack met heavy rain on their approach to the citadel, and the turbulent weather may have made things difficult where it not for the Air [[Faerie]] [[Psellia]], who cleared the sky for them. While the Meridellian line met the oncoming invaders, Lord Kass was receiving information that the army was in full retreat and that Skarl had ordered all troops south. It is uncertain whether the [[Zafara Double Agent]] was triple crossing Kass, as her [[TCG|Trading Card]] [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=59 suggests], and giving him false information, or another agent gave Kass the false information which the Zafara Double Agent corrects (it is likely the former as he still seems happy with himself after the frame in the plot where she appears), but in spite of the news of his army's success, or perhaps because of, he orders Morguss to shower Novas down on the battlefield as Jeran's force slip into the citadel.
The plan involved a two-pronged attack. [[Kayla]]'s new concoction, an enlarging potion which impressed King Skarl, would be used to super-size [[Turtum]]s, and these would be equipped with catapults on the top of their shells and manned with a squad of troops to combat Kass' war machines on the ground - the front for the ground war appeared to be closing on Meridell Castle rapidly. Just as the ground offensive got under way, Jeran would lead a team of soldiers, riding [[Uni]]-back, through the air to assault the Citadel itself.


However, Kass, despite only having a skeleton force with him, seems prepared enough to take on Jeran's sneak attack. Several fireballs are launched within citadel at the invaders, and Lord Kass himself joins the attack, and forces Jeran off the edge of the floating rock. He is about to dispatch the remnants of the attackes, when Lord Darigan arrives on scene.
Jeran's attack met heavy rain on their approach to the Citadel, and the turbulent weather may have made things difficult were it not for the [[Air Faerie|Air]] [[Faerie]] [[Psellia]], who cleared the sky for them. While the Meridellian line met the oncoming invaders, Lord Kass was receiving information that the army was in full retreat and that Skarl had ordered all troops south. It is uncertain whether the [[Zafara Double Agent]] was triple crossing Kass, as her [[TCG|Trading Card]] [http://neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=59 suggests], and giving him false information, or another agent gave Kass the false information which the Zafara Double Agent corrects (it is likely the former as he still seems happy with himself after the frame in the plot where she appears), but in spite of the news of his army's success, or perhaps because of it, he ordered Morguss to shower [[Nova]]s down on the battlefield as Jeran's force slipped into the citadel.


===Lord Darigan's Return===
However, Kass, despite only having a skeleton force with him, seemed prepared enough to take on Jeran's sneak attack. Several fireballs were launched from the Citadel at the invaders, and Lord Kass himself joined the attack. Engaging Jeran, he forced him off the edge of the floating rock, and was about to dispatch the remnants of Jeran's invasion force when Lord Darigan arrived on scene.
Lord Darigan, armed with a clawed staff and wearing no armour, arrives at the area. Kass turns, stunned that his is still alive. "Dead?" he replied, "I thought I was dead too."


The two Lords fight, and Kass begins to gain the upper hand as he presses Darigan back into a wall, and catches his shoulder with his blade. The tide not just of the war, but of Kass' own engagement turn against him, however, and Darigan soon causes Kass to fall to the floor, narrowly missing a swing of Darigan's staff. The amulet around Kass' neck smashes, to his horror, as he hits the ground, and his connection to The Three dies with it.
===Lord Darigan's return===
Lord Darigan, armed with a clawed staff and wearing no armour, dropped onto the citadel and confronted Lord Kass. He turned, stunned that Darigan was still alive. "Dead?" he replied, "I thought I was dead too."


Darigan offers his hand to the fallen [[Eyrie]], telling him that The Three can control him no more. However, they approach, in gaseous spectral forms, and Kass runs from them, but they peruse him, and decide to take from Kass everything he promised them - everything.
The two Lords fight, and Kass began to gain the upper hand as he pressed Darigan back into a wall, and caught his shoulder with his blade. The tide not just of the war, but of Kass' own engagement began to turn against him, however, and Darigan soon caused Kass to fall to the floor, narrowly missing a swing of Darigan's staff. The amulet around Kass' neck shattered against the Citadel's floor, and to his horror, as he hits the ground, his connection to The Three died with it.


Lord Darigan, having defeated Kass, rushes to the Engine Room, Kass' troops surrendering to their old Lord. They restore the engines, which were about to fail, but Darigan himself is plagued by The Three, who presumably were responsible for his attack of Meridell before his fall from power. They tell him that he will eventually return to them, but Darigan denies it, and The Three vanish.
Darigan offered his hand to the fallen [[Eyrie]], telling him that The Three could control him no more. However, they approached, in gaseous spectral forms, and Kass fled. They perused him, and decided to take from Kass all he promised them - everything.


After the war, Jeran is returned by Psellia, who takes him to Skarl. Jeran makes a recovery, apparently saved from his fall by the air faerie.
Lord Darigan, having defeated Kass, rushed to the Engine Room to prevent the Citadel from falling. Kass' troops surrendered to their old Lord, and they and the Meridellians helped him to restore the failing engines.


The Three, having dealt with Kass, approached Darigan in their spectral guises, who presumably were responsible for his attack of Meridell before his fall from power. They said to him that he will eventually return to them, but Darigan denied it. The Three vanished.


==The Opponents==
After the war, Jeran was returned by [[Psellia]], who takes him to Skarl. Jeran made a recovery, apparently saved from his fall by the [[Air Faerie]].
Challengers in the [[Battledome]] were released as the war progressed, with a limited number of each opponent to defeat.


{| border="1"
==Participation==
| '''Character''' || '''Picture''' || '''# of Opponents''' || '''Points Per Win''' || '''Difficulty'''
{| style="float:right;" class="wikitable"
! Character|| # of Opponents|| Points Per Win|| Difficulty
|-
|-
| Giant Spyders || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/94.gif || 5,000,000 || 1 || 12
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/94.gif [[Giant Spyders]]|| 5,000,000 || 1 || 12
|-
|-
| Skeith Soldiers || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/skeith_sold.gif || 500,000 || 3 || 30
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/skeith_sold.gif [[Skeith Soldiers]]|| 500,000 || 3 || 30
|-
|-
| Eyrie Guards || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/eyrie_guard.gif || 450,000 || 5 || 65
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/eyrie_guard.gif [[Eyrie Guards]]|| 450,000 || 5 || 65
|-
|-
| Zombie Petpets || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/zom_petpet.gif || 225,000 || 10 || 120
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/zom_petpet.gif Zombie Petpets || 225,000 || 10 || 120
|-
|-
| War Machines || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/war_mach.gif || 100,000 || 25 || 180
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/war_mach.gif War Machines || 100,000 || 25 || 180
|-
|-
| Zombified Peasants || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/zom_peas.gif || 25,000 || 50 || 210
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/zom_peas.gif Zombified Peasants || 25,000 || 50 || 210
|-
|-
| [[Blugthak]] || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/blugthak.gif || 10,000 || 250 || 750
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/blugthak.gif [[Blugthak]]|| 10,000 || 250 || 750
|-
|-
| [[Lord Kass]] || http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/kass.gif || 1 || 10,000 || 4000
| http://images.neopets.com/battledome/opponent_pics/kass.gif [[Lord Kass]]|| 1 || 10,000 || 4000
|}
|}
Users participated in the plot by fighting back against the army of Lord Kass. Challengers were fought in the [[Battledome]] and were released as the war progressed, with a limited number of each opponent to defeat.
Eventually, Lord Kass himself came into battle, having a total hit points of 10,000 along with a collection of [[Battledome Equipment]] which made it impossible for any user to defeat him on their own. He could only be defeated with the collective effort of users, as his total HP was lowered by how much damage they could fully do on each match. The final blow was eventually given by [http://www.neopets.com/userlookup.phtml?user=garet_jaxx garet_jaxx], and all battles were soon halted there after.
<br clear="all" />


==Prizes==
==Prizes==
[[Image:BFM Trophy Shield.gif|right]]Those who participated in the war automatically received an [[Avatar]] along with a [[Trophy]] in their [[User Lookup]], showing their collected points and title.
{| style="float:right;" class="wikitable"
 
|-
{| border="1"
! Ranks|| # of Points
|'''Ranks''' || '''# of Points'''
|-
| Peasant || 1 - 4
|-
| Serf || 5 - 7 - ?
|-
| Squire || ? - 11 - 16 - ?
|-
|-
| Herald || 20-49
| Herald || ? - 20 - 49
|-
|-
| Man-At-Arms || 50-99
| Man-At-Arms || 50 - 99
|-
|-
| Apprentice || 100-199
| Apprentice || 100 - 199
|-
|-
| Journeyman || 200-499
| Journeyman || 200 - 499
|-
|-
| Defender || 500-999
| Defender || 500 - 999
|-
|-
| Warrior || 1000-4999
| Warrior || 1000 - 4999
|-
|-
| Knight || 5000-9999
| Knight || 5000 - 9999
|-
|-
| Champion || 10000-19999
| Champion || 10000 - 19999
|-
|-
| Baron || 20000-49999
| Baron || 20000 - 49999
|-
|-
| Hero || 50000-99999
| Hero || 50000 - 99999
|-
|-
| Lord || 100000-142591
| Lord || 100000+
|}
 
[[Image:BFM Trophy Shield.gif|left]]
 
Those who participated in the war automatically received an [[Avatar|avatar]] along with a [[User Lookup#User Trophy|trophy]] in their [[User Lookup]], showing their collected points and title. Another avatar was awarded for defeating the Giant Spyders at least once.
 
The following items were given out based on plot points:
 
{|align=center
|-valign=top
|width=300|
*BFM T-Shirt
*Boots of Jumping
*Darigan War Machine
*Exploding Acorns
|width=300|
*[[Eyrie]] Guard Helmet
*Kass [[Skeith]]s Shield
*Kass Skeiths Spear
*Lord Kass Amulet
|width=300|
*Morguss Twisted Wand
*[[Petpet]] Bone
*[[Spyder]] Potion
|}
|}


==External Links==
<br clear="all" />
 
==External links==
*'''Plot Info:''' [http://www.neopets.com/medieval/plot_bfm.phtml Battle for Meridell], [http://www.neopets.com/medieval/bfm_warroom.phtml Meridell War Room]
*'''Plot Info:''' [http://www.neopets.com/medieval/plot_bfm.phtml Battle for Meridell], [http://www.neopets.com/medieval/bfm_warroom.phtml Meridell War Room]
*'''Gallery of Heroes:''' [http://www.neopets.com/hero/showhero.phtml?pos=1 Jeran], [http://www.neopets.com/hero/showhero.phtml?pos=4 Lisha], [http://www.neopets.com/hero/showhero.phtml?pos=6 Kayla], [http://www.neopets.com/hero/showhero.phtml?pos=7 King Skarl], [http://www.neopets.com/hero/showhero.phtml?pos=12 Master Vex], [http://www.neopets.com/hero/showhero.phtml?pos=13 Galgarroth]
*'''Gallery of Evil:''' [http://www.neopets.com/evil/showcreature.phtml?pos=16 Lord Kass], [http://www.neopets.com/evil/showcreature.phtml?pos=17 Morguss], [http://www.neopets.com/evil/showcreature.phtml?pos=18 The Court Dancer]
*'''Neopet TCG:''' [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=1 The Bat-Thing], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=11 King Skarl], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=13 Lisha], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=15 Lord Kass], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=43 The Fall of Jeran], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=46 Jeran, Meridell Knight], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=51 Psellia], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=59 Zafara Double Agent],  [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=69 Count Boris], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=70 Court Dancer], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=82 Kayla], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=86 Morguss], [http://www.neopets.com/tcg/displayCard.phtml?edid=2&id=87 Morris]


[[category: Plots]]
[[Category:Plots]]
[[category: Battledome]]
[[Category:Battle for Meridell]]
[[Category:Battledome]]

Latest revision as of 08:32, 25 February 2018

Meridell at war once again.

Battle for Meridell was a plot which took place between February 2, 2004 and May 13, 2004. Lord Kass bred unrest within the ranks of his people and started a war against Meridell, breaking the peace treaty established following Champions of Meridell in the process, in an attempt to satisfy The Three.

The plot was a sequel to Champions of Meridell, was set in the same locations and starred much of the same cast: Lisha, her brother Jeran, her friends Count Boris, Morris, and Kayla, King Skarl, Lord Darigan, and Galgarroth all make reappearances.

Story[edit]

Lord Kass' takeover[edit]

After Lord Darigan's fall from power, Lord Kass, a general at the time, began to gain power and influence in the Citadel, by bribing, intimidating and blackmailing a number of important or otherwise influential people, including a captain, two chairman, a mayor, constable, judge, sheriff, prison keeper Master Vex, and General Galgarroth. Those who did not swear fealty to him were disposed of: Master Vex was locked in his own dungeons and General Galgarroth was chained up and tossed from the Citadel during one of Kass', now Lord of the Citadel, speeches to the public.

During this time Lord Darigan, who, after his defeat had gone fully insane, regressed to an animalistic creature who stalked Meridell's farms in search of food.

The plans for war[edit]

In an open-air speech to his public, Lord Kass, after a propaganda campaign portraying himself as a beloved leader and King Skarl as a hater of the people of Kass Citadel, said that people were willing to attack them "in the name of King Skarl", while in fact Meridell had no intention to attack. He called upon his people to tell him what to do, and the crowd responded, "War!" and "Attack him first!"

At some point in this time, Kass engaged the support of an enchantress, the hag Morguss whose magic would prove vital in the ensuing war. Morguss' magic may have served Lord Darigan, possibly encouraging Lord Kass to enlist her.

Lord Kass sent Morguss' daughter, an Aisha who portrayed the illusion of being beautiful, to King Skarl to capture him and his courtiers in a hypnotic dance. He had also seeded Meridell Castle with spies and Morguss set a blight spell on Meridell's crops.

By this time, Lord Darigan had set himself up in a barn of one of the Meridellian farms, where the young Usul daughter of the farmer, Sally, brought him, or Mr. Scary as she called him, scraps and leftovers.

Kass' invasion[edit]

While King Skarl was mesmerised by the dance of the Court Dancer, Lord Kass started his offensive. Jeran, Champion of Meridell, and his relatively small troop were the only force in the vicinity, and his calls for reinforcements and supplies were ignored by Skarl, who, thanks to the Court Dancer, was indisposed. The Court Dancer did find time, however, between her performances for the King, to hypnotise the villagers from the area of the attack to revolt against the military force there.

By Jeran's account, the first encountering of Kass' forces could have been no more than a days travel away from Hope River Village, or possibly at it. The day after, the force was seen again, featuring several of Kass' war machines, a type of weapon that Kass would be famous for introducing. By Jeran's reaction, this was an imposing sight, and may have been a larger force than that which was encountered the previous night.

As the Kass attack pressed on, in its early stages a small raiding party attacked a farmhouse: by coincidence, this was the same farmhouse that the creature Lord Darigan had become had taken up refuge. Sally rushed to the barn to tell "Mr. Scary" that they had to run, when the party swooped in on her and a Skeith grabbed her. Darigan swept forward, and with ease beat off the Skeith. The other three soldiers looked on, stunned. One of the soldiers recognised him, and called out, "Darigan?" before Darigan charged forward and effortlessly defeated the remaining members of the party. However, his old name haunted him, and he was in an almost trance-like state before Sally spoke to him, at which point he appeared to fully remember himself. He said that he had to go, before flying off towards the Citadel.

As Kass' war machines pressed onwards with little resistance, Lisha suddenly snapped out of the Court Dancer's trance. She realised what was happening and rushed to the library to retrieve a copy of Imry Infilson's Index of Illusions. She hurried back to the throne room and enchanted a counter-spell which collapsed the Court Dancer's own spell and her disguise. As King Skarl suddenly came to himself, he ordered that the Court Dancer be arrested, and a soldier burst in to tell Skarl of the invasion. He immediately instructed his generals to the war room.

Meridell's counter-attack[edit]

Meridell counter-attacks.

A royal summons was immediately sent out, calling to arms men and women from across the kingdom. With the army swollen, Skarl sent about marshalling a counter offensive.

The plan involved a two-pronged attack. Kayla's new concoction, an enlarging potion which impressed King Skarl, would be used to super-size Turtums, and these would be equipped with catapults on the top of their shells and manned with a squad of troops to combat Kass' war machines on the ground - the front for the ground war appeared to be closing on Meridell Castle rapidly. Just as the ground offensive got under way, Jeran would lead a team of soldiers, riding Uni-back, through the air to assault the Citadel itself.

Jeran's attack met heavy rain on their approach to the Citadel, and the turbulent weather may have made things difficult were it not for the Air Faerie Psellia, who cleared the sky for them. While the Meridellian line met the oncoming invaders, Lord Kass was receiving information that the army was in full retreat and that Skarl had ordered all troops south. It is uncertain whether the Zafara Double Agent was triple crossing Kass, as her Trading Card suggests, and giving him false information, or another agent gave Kass the false information which the Zafara Double Agent corrects (it is likely the former as he still seems happy with himself after the frame in the plot where she appears), but in spite of the news of his army's success, or perhaps because of it, he ordered Morguss to shower Novas down on the battlefield as Jeran's force slipped into the citadel.

However, Kass, despite only having a skeleton force with him, seemed prepared enough to take on Jeran's sneak attack. Several fireballs were launched from the Citadel at the invaders, and Lord Kass himself joined the attack. Engaging Jeran, he forced him off the edge of the floating rock, and was about to dispatch the remnants of Jeran's invasion force when Lord Darigan arrived on scene.

Lord Darigan's return[edit]

Lord Darigan, armed with a clawed staff and wearing no armour, dropped onto the citadel and confronted Lord Kass. He turned, stunned that Darigan was still alive. "Dead?" he replied, "I thought I was dead too."

The two Lords fight, and Kass began to gain the upper hand as he pressed Darigan back into a wall, and caught his shoulder with his blade. The tide not just of the war, but of Kass' own engagement began to turn against him, however, and Darigan soon caused Kass to fall to the floor, narrowly missing a swing of Darigan's staff. The amulet around Kass' neck shattered against the Citadel's floor, and to his horror, as he hits the ground, his connection to The Three died with it.

Darigan offered his hand to the fallen Eyrie, telling him that The Three could control him no more. However, they approached, in gaseous spectral forms, and Kass fled. They perused him, and decided to take from Kass all he promised them - everything.

Lord Darigan, having defeated Kass, rushed to the Engine Room to prevent the Citadel from falling. Kass' troops surrendered to their old Lord, and they and the Meridellians helped him to restore the failing engines.

The Three, having dealt with Kass, approached Darigan in their spectral guises, who presumably were responsible for his attack of Meridell before his fall from power. They said to him that he will eventually return to them, but Darigan denied it. The Three vanished.

After the war, Jeran was returned by Psellia, who takes him to Skarl. Jeran made a recovery, apparently saved from his fall by the Air Faerie.

Participation[edit]

Character # of Opponents Points Per Win Difficulty
94.gif Giant Spyders 5,000,000 1 12
skeith_sold.gif Skeith Soldiers 500,000 3 30
eyrie_guard.gif Eyrie Guards 450,000 5 65
zom_petpet.gif Zombie Petpets 225,000 10 120
war_mach.gif War Machines 100,000 25 180
zom_peas.gif Zombified Peasants 25,000 50 210
blugthak.gif Blugthak 10,000 250 750
kass.gif Lord Kass 1 10,000 4000

Users participated in the plot by fighting back against the army of Lord Kass. Challengers were fought in the Battledome and were released as the war progressed, with a limited number of each opponent to defeat.

Eventually, Lord Kass himself came into battle, having a total hit points of 10,000 along with a collection of Battledome Equipment which made it impossible for any user to defeat him on their own. He could only be defeated with the collective effort of users, as his total HP was lowered by how much damage they could fully do on each match. The final blow was eventually given by garet_jaxx, and all battles were soon halted there after.

Prizes[edit]

Ranks # of Points
Peasant 1 - 4
Serf 5 - 7 - ?
Squire ? - 11 - 16 - ?
Herald ? - 20 - 49
Man-At-Arms 50 - 99
Apprentice 100 - 199
Journeyman 200 - 499
Defender 500 - 999
Warrior 1000 - 4999
Knight 5000 - 9999
Champion 10000 - 19999
Baron 20000 - 49999
Hero 50000 - 99999
Lord 100000+
BFM Trophy Shield.gif

Those who participated in the war automatically received an avatar along with a trophy in their User Lookup, showing their collected points and title. Another avatar was awarded for defeating the Giant Spyders at least once.

The following items were given out based on plot points:

  • BFM T-Shirt
  • Boots of Jumping
  • Darigan War Machine
  • Exploding Acorns
  • Eyrie Guard Helmet
  • Kass Skeiths Shield
  • Kass Skeiths Spear
  • Lord Kass Amulet


External links[edit]

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