The Rear Admiral's Velvet Hat.

I came outside of the library and began to trade words with my Zo friends, but something was amiss. A cloaked figure ran from behind the temple with his blade unsheathed, but being the Warrior Thoom, I easily dodged the feeble attempt on my life and killed the cloaked man, a Darshak Spy! Quickly the Zo fighters, Bach and Thorgal reasoned that a spy was the first link in a longer series of events that is an invasion, smart Zo's.

We rushed with other exiles to the docks. The resistance was weak, the Darshak reeked of old alcohol, they were drunk. Every last one of them. The ocean turned red and swelled in Darshak blood. It seemed like it would be a easy victory for the exiles. Then a Darshak Admiral arrived. Shortly after his death three more appeared. The Admiral's were tough enough, but then came Rear-Admiral's. One perished, but the other was very powerful.

The battle raged on and both sides faced losses. The Rear-Admiral that was in command gave demands for a hat. The Rear-Admiral was tricked by a exile and lured into the town zoo where it was thought he would not be a threat. But from here he commanded his elite fighters. This was one Darshak that truly loved his velvet hat, more so than the lives of hundreds of Darshak. The exiles were warned. The Rear-Admiral whistled and his elite forces arrived. Fighters so strong that at one point only four or five on our side remained alive and in the libraries healing and chaining. The Darshak planted poppy at the entrances of both libraries, slowing all but a select few exiles.

Chains broke and many exiles cursed the gods and left the fight. This Warrior Thoom needed to take a couple of breaks during the chaos which followed. A list of Darshak that invaded includes: Admiral, Blade, Brute, Carouser, Defender, Drunk Acolyte, Drunk Captain, Drunk Sentry, Drunk Priest, Guard, Guardian, Harrier, Liche, Marauder, Marine, Mercenary, Pillager, Raider, Ravager, Rear Admiral, Sailor, Scout, Sentry, Skirmisher, Spy, Thug, Veteran, and Warrior. Assisting the Darshak were Necromancers who continued to summon the undine.

Eventually older and stronger exiles became distracted by the noise and left their studies to fight. The battle raged for hours. The exiles regained control of town-center then west-town. The beaches were filled with Darshak and many exiles fell, some departed. With a true effort the collective semi-organized force of Puddleby killed the main Darshak forces. Their boats still remain at the docks... their numbers are surely weakened.

When the battle ended the Rear Admiral was found and confronted. He was strong and the exiles killed him from what appeared a incredible number of luck hits. My trainer, Natas, chained his corpse, got him stuffed, and added him to his great trophy collection.

-Thoom

(The Rear-Admiral trophy is above Sythe.)