Harrick part 3
The second full Falanic crusade against Vestilion occurred in 812. For years, Harrick had been bolstering the faith by 'curing' the plagued. This insult enraged the clerics of Falan at the Bulwark to the point where they were driven to action. A debate ensued among the clerics of Falan: wait or attack now. Waiting would have afforded them more daylight and possibly reinforcements as they sent a call out to the world. However, every day that went by was another that Vestilion could claim the full power of a deity and be much harder to destroy.
For years, Harrick had cultivated a reputation on the Plateau. He was seen as helpful and liked by the poor. He never sided with Iott and was one of the few powerful arcane spellcasters that was trusted. Those years served him well and his plan bore some unexpected fruits. A crusade of thousands cannot be planned in a vacuum. Word reached Harrick that the build up was happening but the timeline was not set. He went into action to manipulate the effort. Guided by Vestilion, he began to make it look as if he was preparing a major event. His agents were seen leaving Skull Keep. Small events were staged all over the plateau.
In their enthusiasm, the leaders of the Bulwark fell into Harrick's ploy. They saw what they wanted to believe and fit with the preconceived notions. Against the advice of other temples off the plateau, they moved quickly. By the 11th month of 812, they neared Skull Keep. Full reports of the battle are not known by anyone except Harrick and the undead, who don't tell the tale. The crusaders that survived, under a thousand of the more than three thousand that went to war, tell a mixed tale.
They attacked during the day, but dark clouds of ash blocked the sun. The sky was as if a volcano had erupted nearby. Having planned to earthquakes, remembering the last crusade, they have plan in place to prevent that. The ground opened up nonetheless, and dwellers of the underdark spewed out to attack. Promised the reward of eternal life and all the treasures the crusaders carried, hulks and drow with some other creatures laid into the crusaders.
Few undead presented themselves. The crusaders called upon the champions of Falan, as was planned, to attack Harrick the high cleric as the crusaders dealt with the army. The crusaders knew only that the champions did not succeed, as Harrick appeared far overhead during the battle after the champions were summoned. Still, they pressed forward, driving the underdark forces back. The rearguard secured the field as the rest charged into the Skull Keep. Those that entered never exited. After an hour, half of the rearguard made their way into the keep to see what happened.
With no sign of the champions, Harrick, or the forces of the underdark; the crusaders outside began to hope. But there was no word from the other in the keep. It was then that the undead attacked. Tired, but still ready for undead, the remaining crusaders formed up defensively and fended off the assault. Then, calls came from in the keep for reinforcements. Victory was at hand if only a few more could get inside. The undead did not allow it. Two or three undead, and not skeletons or zombies, were destroyed for each crusader, but they prevented any reinforcements.
Four hours after it began, the undead pulled back. The crusaders sent runners into the keep to see what had happened. They returned to report the halls had collapsed and nothing could be heard. Tired, without their top commanders, night having fallen, seemingly have beaten every enemy that had faced them, with no where to go; the remaining crusaders withdrew from the field to camp a safe distance away. The next day, they began to march home.
Harrick remained in Skull Keep for several months. He had survived at great cost. For the next year, he and he forces recuperated. The Bulwark's clerics were depleted and their reputation on the plateau and within the faith of Falan diminished even more so than before. By 814, Harrick began to venture back out and see how his flock had managed without him. They had done well, aided by the attention everyone gave to Iott and able to work in the shadows.
The chaos of Kallark's destruction was a great boon to recruiting. Vestilion's stock rose in the eyes of many. Harrick was performing services daily to grant eternal life. And then, the opportunity arose in 815 to claim another prize. He aided in the defeat of Sutyr. Months later, the Counsil meeting of 816 happened, and Harrick's dream was fully realized.