Battle of Durnhold

Combatants| * Alliance
* Creamus' Dynasty Army

Commanders| * High Admiral Stonesail
* Delver Fudgeson
* Dundin Creamus

Forces| * D.W.A.
* Durnhold Guards
* Drow Fighters
* Creamus' Army
* Aldrem
* Duergar Army

Casualties| * Hundreds of Durnhold Guards
* Aldrem Wounded
* Rythis Wounded
* Creamus' Dynasty Join Alliance

**The Battle of Durnhold** was the final major battle in the War Against Rythis. It was the first time Rythis had personally joined his forces in the war.

## History

### Prelude:

D.W.A. had joined the Durnhold Guard in defending their gate against Windomir's troops, before heading back to Lantagos to face Windomir. While in Lantagos, they spotted both of Rythis and Creamus' armies organizing and marching, which the party suspected was towards Durnhold. After defeating Windomir, the party rushed to Galehill to seek help from Elandorr. They were teleported to Durnhold, where they found Creamus' forces at the gate.

### Battle Preparation and Evacuation

D.W.A. ran to meet with Admiral Stonesail, who was already attempting to gather the civilians for a mass evacuation by sea. The party and Stonesail decided to use gunpowder to blow up the cave entrance into Durnhold, buying themselves time to evacuate the city. The plan was successful, as the party was able to seal the entrance.

While most of the party assisted in helping direct people to ships, Henry Quetzel Martin was unable to find Mindy, as she had evacuated with the rest of the civilians.

Stonesail left most of the battle plan to the party, and Delver took it among himself to assist in leading the troops at the gate, while Rythis' forces were digging through the rocks to create an opening to attack. Delver gave a truly inspired speech, and rallied the Guards to stand in defence of not only Durnhold, but the entire realm.

### The Battle of Dragons

Once the army was through the rocks, Windomir shockingly appeared, seemingly alive after being killed by Delver. Delver was called forward to duel him, but didn't fall for the ploy, and ordered everyone with range to fire. It was then that this was revealed to be Rythis, who had shapeshifted in an attempt to lure Delver in close enough to kill him. With Rythis able to fly and outmanuever the party, the battle quickly shifted in favor of Rythis' forces. D.W.A. was prepared to retreat when Aldrem appeared from the ocean and engages with Rythis. Despite the help from their own dragon, the party and their forces struggled to fight both the dragon and his army. The battle wasn't faring well as D.W.A.'s polymorph wasn't working as it had against Windomir. Aldrem was also faring poorly against the fierce beast.

As the allied army began to break and scatter, Creamus' forces arrived at the entrance. Though at first, this seemed like the end for D.W.A. and Durnhold, Creamus' forces opened fire on Rythis and the duergar army. This was devastating, as it decimated the army and severely wounded Rythis, who was forced to fly away in a retreat. Dundin Creamus emerged to the front of the army, having taken command and turned his father's forces against Rythis to save Delver and the rest of D.W.A.

### Aftermath

Delver reunited with Creamus and expressed his thanks, and sympathy for having killed his father. Creamus and his army being brought into the fold along with the complete destruction of the duergar army had effectively ended the war, though not permanently as Rythis was still alive and would recover and eventually return with another army. D.W.A. decided to set out to finish the battle against Rythis once and for all.

Creamus decided to take his troops home and work with Elandorr to undue Windomir's damage to Eastdale and the elves.