From Gren Rafale, Telepathic Transmissions: A Reconstruction of the Black Wave

(Editor's note: These telepathic records were impounded for many years: it was only after the Fall of the Selucarian Empire that they were released into the public domain, and were compiled and edited by Gren Rafale. It was the custom of the Selucarian military at that time that each officer should be accompanied by a scribe with a Helm of Telepathy, so that the scribe could record all telepathic communications for later tactical analysis.)

10:31:46
(Seleucar): Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar says, "Citizens of Seleucar, have no fear. The Black Wave comes, but what might have been an unbeatable army in normal times is less than half the size of our current glorious force. This army of monsters shall shatter on the spears of Selucarian soldiers!"
10:32:02
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Warleader Lockwood, "Warleader, begin the operation."
10:33:56
Lia Tremalle, the Wind of Change tells Warleader Lockwood, "I can see them… by the Logos! They make the jungle black! They're clearing a path… the giant ones are in the front, uprooting trees and hurling them aside. The short ugly ones are the most numerous… they're led by muscular ones who look almost human, except for their tusks and eyes. The muscular ones look like a superior species of the short ones. The man-sized insects are in the rear… the insects have spears and some sort of small bladed weapon, maybe a throwing knife. So far, none of them have looked up, but I can't see well through the tree cover either, so I can't estimate their numbers. They're travelling through the heart of the groves, though."
10:34:05
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Spotters have sighted the enemy in the jungle. ETA one half-hour. We won't wait for them to get to us, though. Hold position. We'll advance within a few minutes.
10:34:09
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Unit commanders, report your status directly to me."
10:34:15
Master Chang, Sentaari Fist tells Warleader Lockwood, "My monks are all at maximum readiness. We're in formation. Condition green."
10:34:16
Adchachel, Black Lotus of Mystery tells Warleader Lockwood, "My brood is in readiness. Our entities flock the earth and skies. Condition green."
10:34:18
Sir Martio Lizardbane, Troll Templar tells Warleader Lockwood, "Condition uhh… green. We all ready."
10:34:20
Lord Raeman Nikkaido tells Warleader Lockwood, "My templars are ready. Condition green."
10:34:25
Druidic Prophet Hollis tells Warleader Lockwood, "Our encircling maneuver is almost complete. The enemy is nearing optimum position. Request permission to initiate Operation Eclipse Phase One."
10:35:05
Warleader Lockwood tells Druidic Prophet Hollis, "Phase One, at will. Make them pay the toll."
10:35:10
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "All units, advance. Prepare to execute Attack Pattern A on my command."
10:38:42
Druidic Prophet Hollis tells Warleader Lockwood, "Phase One in progress. They're wishing they weren't in the jungle right now, Warleader… between the animals, the plants, and the lightning, they'll be lucky if a third of them escape alive."
10:38:48
Warleader Lockwood tells Druidic Prophet Hollis, "Excellent."
10:40:24
Warleader Lockwood tells Druidic Prophet Hollis, "That flash wasn't your lightning! Report status!"
10:40:30
Druidic Prophet Hollis tells Warleader Lockwood, "Fighting hold on."
10:40:31
Lia Tremalle, the Wind of Change tells Warleader Lockwood, "They did something that blasted all the stored light out of our groves at once! Hollis is fighting their leader. I don't know who it is, he looks like a Tsol'aa but it's like he's in a permanent shadow. I'm going down to help him."
10:40:46
Druidic Prophet Hollis has been slain by the might of Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord.

(Editor's note: In military confrontations, it was customary that only the scribes would have deathsight; a running list of deaths was considered far too distracting for combatants in a true war. In Gren Rafale's transcript, only important death notices are listed. In actuality, of course, thousands died that day.)

10:40:59
Warleader Lockwood tells Lia Tremalle, the Wind of Change, "Call the Druids to fall back and prepare to flank the enemy on the field."
10:41:00
Lia Tremalle, the Wind of Change has been slain by the might of Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord.
10:41:10
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "This army is led by a Tsol'teth who calls himself Agith'maal. He wields a powerful magic. Our champions will meet him on the field. Footmen, cavalry, concentrate firmly on the mass of the enemies, avoid confronting the leader! Attack Pattern A, execute!"
10:41:30
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Warleader Lockwood, "The reserve priests are waiting inside the city gates. Do you need their holy power to combat this Tsol'teth?"
10:41:38
Warleader Lockwood tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "Send them out. Phase One was far less effective than expected."
10:42:20
Sir Martio Lizardbane, Troll Templar tells Warleader Lockwood, "We engage enemy now."
10:43:16
(Military): Sir Martio Lizardbane, Troll Templar says, "These guys not so tough. We kill them easy after all! Look, they not like sunlight! Ha ha ha!"
10:43:20
Lord Raeman Nikkaido tells Warleader Lockwood, "Engaging enemy."
10:44:25
Sir Martio Lizardbane, Troll Templar has been slain by the might of Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord.
10:44:41
Adchachel, Black Lotus of Mystery tells Warleader Lockwood, "We begin."
10:46:32
Warleader Lockwood tells Sir Emery Zokathra, "Merge your unit with Raeman's. Continue the attack."
10:46:35
Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord intones, "Hwarak alshamar osang rach haahl! Kwarak alshamar osang rach haahl! In the name of the eternal darkness, you will all obey ME! Turn on your brethren! Turn on those you love! Slay them all! Hwarak alshamar osang rach haahl…"
10:46:36
Sir Emery Zokathra tells Warleader Lockwood, "I shall not obey you, Warleader. The Master's defeat of Martio proves to me that he is greater than you. I worship him now. Prepare to meet your end!"
10:47:50
Master Chang, Sentaari Fist tells Warleader Lockwood, "My monks are resisting Agith'maal's chant due to our telepathic training, but we're forced to defense! The footmen and cavalry and Templars are coming after us and the Occultists! They're possessed! I request orders!"
10:47:59
Adchachel, Black Lotus of Mystery tells Warleader Lockwood, "Our allies have turned to the dark side. Ironically, we're fighting them. Should I continue to kill our own men?"
10:48:06
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "All loyal troops, ordered retreat! Seek the city walls! Assume Defense Formation B, around the shrines, and wait for the priests to succor you!"
10:49:14
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Raxis Snake-Eyes, "Send your best men into the field. And you are to personally go to the King's Tomb and bring me the Staff of Nicator. We need it."
10:49:16
(Military): Master Shun, Sentaari Loyalist says, "We're being shredded on the left flank! The possessed troops and the monsters are joining up against us! We can't hold on any longer! Taking losses!"
10:49:20
Raxis Snake-Eyes tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "Sso it shall be done."
10:49:25
Raxis Snake-Eyes tells Warleader Lockwood, "I'm ssending you my loyal sserpentfolk. They will obey you well, unlesss they too are possesssed by this demon Agith'maal."

Master Shun, Sentaari Loyalist has been slain by the might of a noble myrmidon of Seleucar.

10:50:26
Father Orlan, Bringer of Hope tells Warleader Lockwood, "Each of the shrines is manned by four priests. It seems that the possessed soldiers cannot set foot near the shrines, and the monsters that come too close are destroyed by the monks and Occultists. However, this is a purely defensive position, and I fear that the enemy will use more of his black magic before the day is done."
10:51:35
Master Chang, Sentaari Fist tells Warleader Lockwood, "I've got my men busy mindlocking the possessed soldiers and marching them into the auras of the shrines. The shrines remove the Tsol'teth mind control."
10:51:46
Warleader Lockwood tells Master Chang, Sentaari Fist, "Excellent! Recover all the troops as quickly as you can, and get them to shelter at the shrines."
10:51:50
Warleader Lockwood tells Slithering Syrax, Ashtan Exile, "See if you can hypnotize the possessed soldiers into walking back to the shrines."
10:53:42
Slithering Syrax, Ashtan Exile tells Warleader Lockwood, "It's working."
10:54:10
Slithering Syrax, Ashtan Exile tells Warleader Lockwood, "Damn! The monsters are attacking the possessed troops now! They're killing them before we can bring them in!"
10:55:13
Warleader Lockwood tells Adchachel, Black Lotus of Mystery, "Use your entities to screen off the returning soldiers! Keep the monsters from killing them!"
10:56:45
Raxis Snake-Eyes tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "The Staff is gone from the tomb, your Majesty. The tomb was completely sealed, it couldn't have been grave robbers."
10:56:58
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Raxis Snake-Eyes, "The Staff must have returned to its maker. Return at speed."
11:01:24
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Warleader Lockwood, "Hold the defensive positions. We still outnumber them two to one; we can hold them off."
11:01:46
Warleader Lockwood tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "I have an idea. From the city, send anything that could possibly be used as ear-plugs. If the men can't hear the Tsol'teth's chant of disloyalty, they can't be affected."
11:01:50
Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord intones, "My brethren, the army of Seleucar hides at the shrines around the city, cowering before our might!"
11:02:02
Terrin'ukia, Tsol'teth Destroyer intones, "The same is true in Shallam, my brother. We have slain many, and the slaughter continues whenever they venture out from their walls. We shall lay siege until the very city is dust!"
11:02:10
Gattan'lier, Tsol'teth Avenger intones, "Ashtan's army is broken already, all killed as a result of my incantations of disloyalty. Less than half their army survives within the city walls. We shall crack their bones!"
11:03:24
Warleader Lockwood tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "This Agith'maal is coming out into the middle of the field. I'm still having a hard time believing that the Tsol'teth have returned, but the evidence is taunting us for the entire continent to hear."
11:03:38
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Warleader Lockwood, "I don't think he plans to offer his surrender, but if we listen to him politely it'll just buy us time to get those earplugs out there. I wish I had the Staff of Nicator, but if it's the will of Sarapis that we win this battle, we'll win without it."
11:03:50
Warleader Lockwood tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "We will win this battle, your Majesty. There is no alternative."
11:04:30
Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord intones, "People of Seleucar! You have witnessed my might before! Now witness it again! Behold why I am the highest of all the Tsol'teth! Behold the feebleness of your pathetic gods!"
11:04:35
Father Orlan, Bringer of Hope tells Warleader Lockwood, "He's causing the shrines to explode! We can't hold our position like this! Do we attack or retreat?"
11:04:38
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Defense Formation C! Retreat to the city!"
11:04:46
Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord intones, "Ha ha ha ha hah! Now you see the futility of your struggles! I shall devour your souls, humans! I shall rip your innards! I shall-"

Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord has been slain by the might of Blade Captain Matic Ridley.

11:04:48
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "SAVE THAT MONSTER!"
11:04:50
(Military): Adchachel, Black Lotus of Mystery says, "We'll provide cover. I request backup."
11:04:53
Raxis Snake-Eyes tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "Did you see that, your Majesty? The tall goblin at the Tsol'teth's side ripped his cloak of darkness off and then stabbed him in the back!"
11:04:55
(Military): Lord Raeman Nikkaido says, "Unit Seventeen, advance! Cover the Occultists on the left flank! We were possessed once, we'll not fail again!"
11:05:01
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, tells Raxis Snake-Eyes, "Amazing… without his cloak of shadow, the Tsol'teth is vulnerable!"
11:05:09
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, tells Warleader Lockwood, "Agith'maal is ours. Keep him from recovering his cloak."
11:05:10
Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord intones, "Fools! You can never defeat me as long as this heart beats within my chest! Now, die!"
11:05:27
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Attack the Tsol'teth! Prevent him from regaining that cloak! Kill him as many times as necessary!"
11:05:34
Lord Raeman Nikkaido has been slain by the might of Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord.
11:05:35
Master Chang, Sentaari Fist tells Warleader Lockwood, "He's much weaker after resurrecting once, but growing in strength. Even against ten champions, he's doing great damage!"
11:05:38
Sir Emery Zokathra has been slain by the might of Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord.
11:05:39
(Templars): Master Kendall, Axe-Wielding Maverick says, "Templars, rally round! Smite the Tsol'teth! Keep him in sunlight!"
11:05:40
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Resume Operation Eclipse! Phase Three execute! Keep Agith'maal busy!"
11:04:41
Father Orlan, Bringer of Hope tells Warleader Lockwood, "We've got the creature who killed Agith'maal at one of the shrines. He barely made it away from his own army. He speaks our language, sort of. He wants to talk to you. And we're trying to burn that cloak, but it won't catch."
11:04:45
Warleader Lockwood tells Father Orlan, Bringer of Hope, "If he has information that will help us win, tell me. Otherwise save it."
11:04:45
Master Chang, Sentaari Fist has been slain by the might of a shambling ogre.
11:04:48
(Sentaari): Iron Fist Tung says, "Sentaari, to me! Hold the monsters away from the fight! Agith'maal is weakening!"
11:05:00
Sir Francis Trabohn, Blade of the Just has been slain by the might of Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord.
11:05:01
Blade Captain Matic Ridley tells Warleader Lockwood, "You kill Master, burn heart. Heart make him live over and over. You not burn heart, Master rise again."
11:05:23
Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord, has been slain by the might of Master Kendall, Axe-Wielding Maverick.

Master Kendall, Axe-Wielding Maverick has been slain by the might of Agith'maal, Tsol'teth Overlord.

11:05:26
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Cut out Agith'maal's heart!"
11:05:29
(Military): Adchachel, Black Lotus of Mystery says, "I've done that."
11:05:34
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Now, burn it!"
11:05:45
(Military): Adchachel, Black Lotus of Mystery says, "I hope eating it works well enough, because that's what I just did."
11:05:50
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "By the Logos… just keep fighting! Wipe the monsters from the field!"
11:05:54
Warleader Lockwood tells Blade Captain Matic Ridley, "What if my lieutenant just ATE Agith'maal's heart?"
11:06:04
Blade Captain Matic Ridley tells Warleader Lockwood, "He did eat it? He die, maybe. Turn evil, maybe. Turn into Agith'maal, maybe. Better he kill self, or you kill, burn his heart."
11:06:10
Gattan'lier, Tsol'teth Avenger intones, "My brother! What has happened to you?"
11:06:23
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar yells, "He has been destroyed, as was his destiny from the day Nicator began preaching in Thera! And you two shall follow him abruptly!"
11:06:45
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Warleader Lockwood, "I've spoken large words, and I rely on you to make them good in the field of battle. We'll reinforce Ashtan with a large force, as they're suffering in their lack of shrines, and Shallam with a weaker."
11:06:50
Warleader Lockwood tells Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar, "I am at your command, my liege. But we must defeat this section of the black army first!"
11:07:12
Emperor Piraeus, Ruler of Seleucar tells Warleader Lockwood, "From the battlements, it looks as though Agith'maal's death has thrown the enemy into disarray. Cut off their retreat and wipe them out."
11:07:26
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Attack Pattern E, execute. We've as good as won, men, but don't get sloppy! Let's finish them off by the book."
11:07:50
(Military): Apprentice Druid Snarry says, "Hey! There's this thing in the middle of my grove. It looks like a big door made out of iron, and there's just a shifting light in the middle of it. And… hey, a few monsters just walked out of it! Should I try to destroy it?"
11:07:59
(Military): Warleader Lockwood says, "Cut off access to your grove. That must be their portal; we'll demolish it as soon as we can."