The 2nd Crusade for Britanica

The **2nd Crusade for Britanica** (Also known as **The Fall of the White Tower**) was the final battle in a two month long invasion of Britanica by the **Tarot Pact** in opposition to **Lich King Henry** which took place in Era 3, Year 396. This battle proved to be a decisive victory for the **Tarot Pact** following the death of **Henry** and the destruction of his **Undead Army.**

## Specifics

The battle began with the near-total destruction of the remaining **Britanic Fleet** by **Primarch Edmund Kaisar** and his half-grown **Dragon**. Following the clearing of the seas by **Edmund** the **Tarot** fleet arrived on **Britanica's** Eastern Coastline and deployed most of its forces under the command of **Emperor Marcus Valentus** and **Queen Luthien Kerune**. This force was made up of **Alyssean Legionaries**, **Adrestan Elven Rangers**, **Bavarnian Kriegsmacht** and **Keishorean Hunters.**

In the following hours the major forts along the coastline--used to protect **Henry's** seat within the **White Tower**--were destroyed by the **Tarot** forces. In retaliation, however, **Henry** unleashed his hidden weapon--an **Undead Dragon**. The fight that followed between the **Dragonriding** **Edmund** and the **Undead Dragon** resulted in **Edmund** being wounded alongside his half-grown **Dragon** but also the final death of Henry's greatest weapon. Though, the outcome still resulted in **Edmund** having to ground his **Dragon** in order to let her heal--leaving her out of the rest of the battle.

Following this climactic battle in the skies, a taskforce was formed with **Edmund**, **Saint Erika** and ten skilled **Keishorean Hunters** while the main force, still under **Marcus** and **Luthien** formed up outside of the **White Tower** in a bid to distract **Henry** from the taskforce and its goal of breaking into **White Tower** in order to kill **Henry**.

Following the deployment of the bulk of the **Tarot's** forces--and the successful infiltration by the taskforce in the confusion--the battle commenced in low numbers with **Henry** only sending out skirmishing parties to test the strength of the coastal force. Needless to say, under **Marcus'** skilled hand, and the fact that he'd had everyone's weapons mass-blessed by the **Clerics** of **Lucerna** on-site--the **Undead** skirmishing parties were dealt with in quick order.

**Henry**--taking note of the fact that his skirmishing parties were being dealt with too easily as well as surveying the situation as a whole--decided to bring his forces into the inner courtyard, behind the walls, of the **White Tower** in preparation for the continuation of the battle.

After this act by the **Lich King**, **Bavarnian Kriegsmacht** prepared the trebuchets brought over by the **Tarot** in their supply ships and began to pound away at the **Tower's** walls over a week-long period, during which skirmishes broke out here and there. All the while the taskforce made its way inside Henry's fortress.

Finally, the right spire of the **Tower** fell--opening a gap in the wall that allowed the **Tarot** forces to charge in, headed by **Luthien**, wielding the **Spear of Silmeria** as **Marcus**, wielding the **Sword of Alend**, brought up the rear. The formed skirmish that followed, with the **Alyssean Legionaries** and **Bavarnian Kriegsmacht** in the front with their shields and pikes, and the **Adrestan Elven Rangers** in the back with their arrow fire the result was obvious--the near-total eradication of **Henry's** **Undead** force within the walls.

Once the **Undead** within the walls were dead the **Keishorean Hunters** prepared explosives that were used to detonate the doors of the main keep itself--allowing **Marcus** and **his Custodians** to make their way into the **Tower** itself--with **Marcus** trusting **Luthien** to hold down the courtyard within the walls. Soon **Marcus** and his forces managed to link up with a battered taskforce, which now only consisted of **Edmund** and **Erika**, for a short time before the two groups had to break apart once more in response to the increased number of **Undead** and traps.

With time bought against the **Undead** tide, the taskforce broke into **Henry's** sanctum and following a few insults thrown back a forth between the two former lovers, **Erika** and **Henry** began their duel as **Edmund** moved to destroy **Henry's** one source of power--his **Crown**.

The duel went on for what seemed like forever before **Henry** was sheered in half by **Erika's** blade--allowing **Edmund** the moment he needed to destroy the **Crown**.

**Henry** died soon afterward--fading to dust--but not before a short moment was shared between the three former friends.