Siege of the Eastern Capital

The Siege of the Eastern Capital was the last great battle of the Artery War (1546 - 1554). It took place in and under the ruin of Zayr, across a hundred miles of tunnels and chambers. The most heavily defended and trapped were those leading to the sunken entry points of the Pyramid of Merioss.

In the first months of the siege, the Dead Councilor Dax, one of the leaders of the Black Tide, wrecked havoc on the attackers, raining fire upon thousands. In control of the Pyramid of Merioss, unassailable for many months, the attackers took to digging under Zayr, attacking its defenses while down the coast at the Pyramid, attacks were made by aquatic mercenaries; lacedon (former allies of the Black Tide), scrag, and sahuagin.

Six months later, requiring the full might of the Council of Nine, the Pyramid was breached. Such was the level of arcane energy expended that it attracted one of wardens of the Web of Magic. Kloidan, a Syndic of the Council of Nine, was pulled into Web, lost. After the Pyramid was breached, Dax and his Knuckle-Bone Slingers retreated to the escape passages, south to the ships of his old friend Jariall.

After taking control of the Pyramid, its fiery doom was turned on the ruins of Zayr, a place still crawling with undead. After softening up the defenses, platoons of Githlarâk, blasted their way in with their Gith Lances, clearing a path for the regular army. Across a a city-sized ruin and along a maze of tunnels, the battle continued for three more months. On 14 Brightstar 1554, the Siege of the Eastern Capital was declared at an end.