Written by Joaquin Villarino and edited by Isabel Harrison.

Duriath Helbane, Commander of one of the Druchii’s most prestigious Black Arks, has been sent by Hellebron, Witch Queen of Naggaroth, on a mission of importance to their people. His plan was in motion and no enemy would stop him. He had the fleet, and many of his men were veterans like him who had fought alongside him across their lengthy 700 years of battle experience. His mission was clear; take control over the Colony on the Islands of Elithis, currently under high elf control and home to Prince Yrellian, firstborn of Phoenix King Finubar. The isles of Elithis were a strategic and economical point of great value since several merchant and trade ships navigated these waters as well as allowing the Asur to extend diplomatic and resource-led influence to the far-Eastern kingdoms of Nippon and Cathay. Given the disgrace that recently befell Tullaris Dreadbringer, Druchii General and leader of the Har Ganeth Executioners turned national failure and fugitive, at the hands of Queen Hellebron, Duriath could not take the luxury of failing. Both his own honour and that of his family’s surname may be at stake. The islands of Elithis will fall under his command or he would die trying.
His fleet, authorised by Hellebron, includes 24 ships including his command ship and over 10.000 men at Helbane’s disposal; of which mostly Corsairs, Bleakswords and Darkshards as well as a handful of mounted regiments like cold ones, chariots and dark riders; all of them motivated by the promise of bloodshed and riches. In charge of this army was Duriath on his Black Ark, the Temple of Spite, which would provide sufficient firepower and support for his forces as well as granting him a superior vantage point from which to command the 23 ships in his fleet. The plan was simple. A third of Helbane’s fleet and men would attack the minor settlement of the Tower of the Sun, hoping that the High Elves would reinforce the Tower, thereby drawing troops out from the more major settlement, Tor Elithis on the Western Island, to aid their brothers on the Eastern isle. When this takes place, Duriath will attack the settlement by land while his remaining forces and the Black Ark provide constant bombardment as covering fire. Helbane and his forces had already landed the night before by rowing boats under cover of darkness and they were waiting for the signal to strike against Tor Elithis.

The next morning, projectiles were fired from the Black Ark which covered a black smoke across the skies: the strike had begun. Helbane waited for the High Elf fleet to leave the city. Elated, Helbane charged with his men while the Temple of Spite opened fire over the gates and ballistae, allowing easy entrance to the city with almost no opposition. The streets ran red with blood, vegetables and luxury goods sourced from the Eastern realms that were being sold on market were dropped everywhere and merchants, civilians and soldiers were killed without hesitation. However, once the Dark Elf men reached the port, Helbane found Prince Yrellian and his elite escort of Golden Company Sea Guards and Swordmasters to the Tower waiting for him. The Dark Elf Commander smiled. The head of Finubar’s firstborn would be a terrific prize for his Queen. He clashed his swords and with an inspiring shout he and his men charged towards the High Elf elite. Darkshard projectiles killed some of the Swordmasters while the Corsairs sorrounded the remaining forces. Despite being outnumbered, Yrellian remained calm and ordered his men to create an unbreakable perimeter around him. Hanging on his chest he had a horn tied around his neck on the end of a silver pendant, possibly handed to him with the other half being given to a special lady-friend. He took the horn and blew on it, creating a deep prolonged sound. Helbane was alarmed, that horn could only mean one thing: Symiel, the Prince’s fellow Moon Dragon, as well as its two Sun Dragon offspring were nearby. The dragons swooped down from the nearby mountain range into Tor Elithis, burning and incinerating the Dark Elf troops on the streets. Bolts and arrows didnt seem to hurt the beasts, who kept on burning Helbane’s forces and lifting individual soldiers up with their immense claws only to drop them from great heights. 
The Dark Elf Commander knew what he had to do; kill Yrellian. As the Swordmasters dismembered and decapitated Corsairs and Darkshards by the dozens, Yrellian stumbled across Helbane and started fighting. Over and over, their swords clashed in hope that one would make a deadly mistake. They cut each other here and there, but neither seemed to give in. Victory wasn’t clear. Symiel and his offspring kept burning man and ships while Yrellian’s elite troops were slowly getting overrun by the Corsair tide. Blood had already started to turn the sea red, it was a massacre worthy of the ages.

Love React – The Black Ark manages to hit Symiel with its cannons and kills it. Then it briefly redirects its firepower towards the sun dragons which due to seeing their parent killed, quickly break morale as the Ark turns its attention back to the remaining High Elf Fleet and sinks it alongside the other Druchii ships. The Corsairs manage to push back the Swordmasters and Golden Company Guards towards a the sea. Those who didn’t die by the sword were pushed back from the port into the deep blue waters where they sank and drowned in their heavy armour. Helbane manages to strike a couple of deep wounds on the Prince who eventually falls victim to his swords. Once the battle is over, Duriath Helbane claims the city and the Isles for him and his family. He sends a ship back to Naggaroth to tell the Queen of his victory while the main fleet docks and settles on the two islands. Duriath looks forward to the praise he will receive from his people as well as returning home to his wife Anethra.

Sad React – Remaining Ballistae manage to destroy the Dark Elf Fleet with Dragon support. a Handful of ships manage to get away. Symiel decides to land in the streets to shred and burn Hundreds of Corsairs and Darkshards. Yrellian and his Golden Company Guards surround Helbane who is given the chance to surrender. Instead, Duriath decides to attempt one more strike against the Prince only to get stabbed on all sides the guards’ spears. The Temple of Spite black ark is punctured by consistent ballistae bolts and burnt by dragon breath until finally it is sunk.

Laugh React – Ballistae manage to sink some of the ships but get shut down by the Black Ark’s bombardment. The minor settlement of Tower of the Sun is completely overrun by Dark Elf forces, killing every single loremaster which had made their home there. Symiel burns the remaining Dark Fleet but is heavily wounded and flees back to its lair. Duriath Helbane fights against Prince Yrellian but decides to escape on his Black Ark after losing a couple fingers.

Wow React – Duriath and Yrellian fight for a while as both armies kill one another. Not many Corsairs or Elite High Elf soldiers remain. Suddenly, from the shores and the port, undead and unknown vampire admirals emerge from the deep blue waters probably lured by the taste of blood and the opportunity to take over a piece of land. The undead tide attacks High and Dark elf alike. Yrellian and Helbane knew they would not survive if they didn’t join forces. Both living armies make a truce and fight back the undead menace. Symiel is heavily wounded and flees back to its lair in the mountains. Both fleets get almost sunk but, at the end of the day, the undead are decimated. Helbane is almost killed by a Vampire Admiral but is saved by Yrellian who gets knocked out by a blunt bolt. Before fading, Helbane says: “You saved my life and for that I will forgive yours and your remaining men’s lives as well. You will be sent back to Ulthuan on a ship when we defeat this foe. Tor Elithis belongs to the Dark Elves now. Be sure to give your father my regards.” Helbane kept his word and led a combined force of High and Dark Elves to purge enough vampires from their shore that the zombies began to crumble. The Black Ark, the Dark Elf and High Elf navies surrounded the single pirate ship and let loose, sinking it deep beneath the waves. After the pirates were vanquished, Helbane allowed the Asur and Yrellian access to their ships where they then set sail home. Tor Elithis was now a Druchii settlement and while it had not gone perfectly, Duriath hadn’t planned to let the Asur Prince live for one, Helbane was just glad that the fighting had ended.

Angry React – Duriath and Yrellian fight for a while as both armies kill one another, resulting in fewer and fewer Corsairs or High Elf soldiers remaining while the sun dragons were being battered by black ark fire. Suddenly, from the shores of the coast and the port, zombies emerged from the deep blue waters around the coast and charged into battle as a pirate ship made itself known off the coast, far enough along the coast to be out of the black ark’s range while being close enough to fire mortal shells at the island over a cliff. The undead tide attacks High and Dark elf alike. However, Duriath stuck to his mission and continued to duel with Yrellian, paying little attention to the invading zombie pirates. Meanwhile, Symiel dove down and flew low above the waves from which zombies were spewing forth, clearly about to launch an arc of flame across the invaders. However, as Symiel flew lower and lower to get the best results, he was suddenly caught by a humongous claw that emerged from the waves and pulled on his left wing. Symiel attempted to fight off his assailant but the Rotting Leviathan simply pulled harder as its other claw grasped the dragon’s scales and pulled him beneath the waves until finally, the moon dragon stopped trying to escape the crab’s grip. As zombie pirates spawned all across the island and cut through the exhausted Elven ranks that were still also fighting each other, the commander of the pirates emerged as a wave crashed against the beach shore. Admiral Tabby Covenibbler, an ambitious pirate under the command of the Arch-Commodore, strode up the beach easily cutting through corsairs with her cutlass as deck droppers, which were being deployed by the pirate ship, offered her cover from the Black Ark and the remaining Dark Elf navy. Duriath and Yrellian continued to fight each other when their duel was abruptly interrupted by a head-shot from Tabby’s pistol to Yrellian’s face. Duriath turned to fight her but now realised he was completely surrounded by zombies who forced him to his knees. Covenibbler forced Duriath to watch as a colony of deck droppers swarmed over the Black Ark and chucked explosives onto its lower decks, causing the Black Ark to sink as its holes filled with water. Content by her victory, Tabby cut Duriath’s throat open with her cutlass, pulled out a bottle of rum and announced that the Islands of Elithis will now become the Sartosa of the East. As the Island was torn up, the remaining Asur and Druchii navies fled to their respective homelands, still skirmishing against each other along the way. (Angry react written by Isabel Harrison, credit for the other 4 go to Joaquin Villarino)