Day 1:
Well my love, it’s done. We finally have the castle built. I wish you could be here to view it with me, but I know your elven court would feel insulted if their queen lived among the unclean avian. It took many years, and the cost was amazing. But one thing they will always say about it If only they would see. They would say it is man's glory to the gods.
Day 2:
We've begun to strengthen our armies. As you know, my love, every avian here can battle in the air, but riding our griffons makes us three times as strong. Plus, you can swoop on an enemy from the air, but you cannot defend a land from the air. Sooner or later we have to fight on land, so we need a stronger army if we want to do anything but harass. But since no one has attacked us in years, there is no hurry.
Day 10:
We've just discovered a way to tame the powerful drakes that live in the mountains south of our home. They will make a masterful addition to our forces. Receiving reports of unrest in some of the neighboring kingdoms, but I'm sure it's nothing. Orcs are such sword rattling people. But they are people nonetheless.
Day 15:
My scouts have not returned from the Black Crag Mountains in a week. They are some of my best, and I'm sure it's not a problem, but I'm sending out more patrols in the area. I worry for each and every one of my people. I don't like when my eyes are shut.
Day 16:
We found the scouts, but not before two patrols were ambushed. Their bodies were hung near a boarder village and skinned. The Black Crag orcs are saying it's a separatist movement, and not them. But I am fortifying the castle now. Man's greatest achievement.
Day 20:
My love, now I have reports of more unrest and military buildup in the north and the east. The Black Crag orcs have apparently joined with a faction of the Crushbone clan in the north. However, it's the undead legions in the east that worry me. They have been quiet for decades. But if they have managed to stop their infighting, they will be a powerful foe. My sweet, we will be hard pressed to fight on two fronts. But you know our spirit. How I wish you were here.
Day 22:
Another patrol found dead. I am bringing in the outer villages now. The sight! This magnificent castle holds so many! Even the common peasant is ready to bear arms. It is official now. Two orc tribes are advancing from the north, with an undead army massing on our right flank. If it's battle they want, we'll greet them steel for steel. Oh, love, how I wish I knew why they advanced on us.
Day 23:
The skirmishes have started. We excel at that, with our flying army. How they fear us! But numbers will show soon. I have now evacuated all villages within 100 acres of every border. They are torching land and towns as they come. We will be rebuilding for years.
Day 25:
How I hate that word: WAR. We have fought for every acre of land, but the numbers are too many. We have ever been a small population. We fight like angels. But it is so hard. Lend me strength in your nights my love. And let your province know of our fight.
Day 26:
My love, today I bloodied my sword for the first time in this war. I have been in many battles, but never against a foe so ready to die to kill. It is frightening. Our mages believe it's a mass spell to make them bloodthirsty. We'll see soon enough. But my opponent was hacking at my shield even as his lifeblood fed the ground. And his eyes showed much hate. Why do they hate us?
Day 27:
My love, we are now at the castle. It's walls gleam around us and lend us strength. We have been pushed to the very walls, and the casualties are enormous. But we wield sword, shield, lance, and pitchfork in defense. And my griffons still hound them by day from the air!
Day 28:
I estimate we have ten days left here. As you know, we cannot be starved out. Our griffons lay enough unfertilized eggs and we can even survive on leaves if we need. So they must give up soon. Our wizards keep our troops strength up and our townsfolk join us on the walls. Most of our troops work without pay and our armories still churn out war gear. They will learn their folly.
Day 32:
My love, they have breached the walls with foul magic. Fire spewed from the heavens and killed thousands of my people while lightning destroyed many of our precious runes. What demons are these? No honor, no compassion, they just kill and kill and destroy. My thieves’ guild is hard pressed to withstand the constant attempts to subvert us from inside. And new soldiers are fewer and fewer. But we fight still!
Day 36:
My love, 200 of my wizards were found dead today. It is a horrible blow, but worse yet, over 2000 of my peasants were kidnapped while sleeping. Morale is still high, we are the capital after all, but how much more can we take? We've killed 10 of them for every one of us. Skeletons and orc warriors will be feeding the ground for centuries. We've seen thousands of ogres and ghouls. But we destroy one to find two more. My love, I fear we will perish in a few more days.
I love you.
Day 38:
GLORY! We have beaten the Crushbone clan so horribly they've retreated! This is amazing news. However, the undead and the Black Crag orcs do not seem to be slowing down. I wonder why. Our new drakes tore into them during an attack and turned the whole rush! We lost many of our dearest this day, but if it leads to our salvation, they will be honored forever.