The Siege of Omberion was Garrik’s assault on Blackcrag’s capital during his advance from Maraveth. Blackcrag’s defenders and Rahmavir’s chosen repelled the attack by detonating skyships inside the city. Garrik and Aurion shielded the retreat, saving many soldiers, but half of Omberion was destroyed.
Background
After the Maraveth War, Garrik’s forces advanced through fortified Blackcrag cities toward Omberion. He sought to bring peace to Valrindor, but the inhabitants resisted his army. Eremion had spread false claims that Garrik enslaved people and ruined nations to bring them under his banner.
Omberion had no city walls. Luminous blue cosmic shields defended its basalt towers and stormglass buildings. Garrik gathered no more than a thousand of his strongest mages for the assault, with camps stretching back to Laizhou and Hengzhou to supply the front. Rahmavir sent troops, weapons and essence cores through Brunholl to reinforce the defenders. Kjeldan took command of the city’s defense, while Eliona and Azarion were diverted toward Maraveth.
Bombardment and breach
Garrik began with a sustained bombardment from outside the shields, keeping himself and Aurion rested until the defenders committed their stronger forces. Cosmic mages attacked with meteors; Zhang’s lightning mages maintained pressure with storms when they paused. Khoradyn and other earth mages attempted an underground approach but were detected and forced back.
For the main assault, Zhang and Khoradyn sent a wave of lava from a volcano northwest of the city. It broke layers of the shields and drew Blackcrag reinforcements toward production facilities threatened by the lava. Once the final barriers shattered, Garrik’s army entered the streets. Rhalyn led the vanguard, while runic and air mages attacked the defending skyships. Garrik and Brynor followed the advance through the burning boulevards.
Skyship detonations and retreat
Skyships waiting near the royal palace lowered troops in silver armor into the city. Attacks against the ships failed, and flying runic weapons fell before reaching them. When the fleet began descending, Garrik ordered his army to retreat. About fifty skyships then drove toward the soldiers and the city.
Garrik found Aurion holding the frontline and enchanted him as Brynor and Mirael escaped. He raised thick walls from the streets and buildings, while Aurion used his spiral shard to create enormous starfield barriers. The ships detonated in succession, tearing open streets and toppling buildings. Garrik reinforced the ground, shielded both men and healed Aurion while the barriers repeatedly broke and were renewed.
After the explosions stopped, Garrik carried the unconscious Aurion away. Their reserves of essence were badly drained, and many soldiers had died despite their protection.
Aftermath
Garrik returned to Kaldaryn to seek answers from the returned Order. The silver armor was identified as Rahmavir’s anti-magic armor, and Soria later confirmed Kjeldan had led Omberion’s defense. Zhang and Khoradyn regrouped near the border with Shroudvale.
Aurion returned to Xalmyrra with lasting blackening on his arms and only one spell left in the shard. Garrik prepared for another assault, but his campaign shifted into a stalemate against Raphael at Cyndarel. Much of Omberion had been rebuilt by the time Garrik later returned for diplomatic negotiations.