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The Fall of Lunar New Pavis

Posted on June 20, 2025

This is something I put together for Andrew Cowie (and also Tiffany Rose Nickel, Dan Zappone, and Andy Cowley), but realized it might be interesting for the rest of you all.

In late 1624, Argrath mustered the White Bull brotherhood to him and together they summoned Jaldon Goldentooth and an army of Praxians. But instead of attacking Dragon Pass, Jaldon followed Argrath east towards the Lunar city of New Pavis. Once again, the nomad host met the Lunars and their Sable Rider allies at the oasis of Moonbroth. The White Bull Brotherhood had gathered Bison Riders, High Llamas, Impala, Pol-Joni, Pavis Survivors, and Sartarite adventurers and exiles; this time it was the Lunar army that was defeated.

The Sable Riders submitted to Argrath White Bull; the Lunars retreated to Pavis and prepared to defend their city.

Here’s how Argrath’s assault on New Pavis went. There were two large nomad encampments outside of New Pavis, with some 2500 nomads in each camp. The main assault took place over two days.

There was an initial assault made by Argrath and his army. The Lunar defenders fought hard, and levied such terrible losses that the only survivors among the assailants were heroes that day. But the few successful warriors had planted the seeds of defeat upon the wall.

The next day:

  1. One group of nomads made an assault on the Old Gate, seeking to break the gate. The assault failed, but it meant much of the Lunar garrison was pinned down at the Old Gate.
  2. A second group of nomads, led by Argrath and Jaldon Goldtooth, used Jaldon’s magic to chew through the walls near the Lunar HQ and much of this wall fell to dust. The Granite Phalanx charged through the gap but were destroyed by Argrath’s new Sable Rider allies.
  3. The proud Praxians charged through the breach led by Narmeed Whirlvishbane, of the Bison Tribe; Yazurkial Blue Llama, of the High Llama Riders; and Roneer the Hue, of the Sable Riders. Nomads fought their way to the Old Gate, overwhelmed the defenders and opened the gates. The rest of the nomad army entered the city.
  4. There was a desperate final battle in the Founders Market, where the remaining Lunar soldiers “fought like demons” against the nomads. Nonetheless, they were overwhelmed and slaughtered.
  5. Argrath led the victorious nomads to the Pavis Temple where the Pavis priests surrendered to him and acknowledged him as Orlanth’s representative (same ritual as with Dorasar).

All of the Lunar soldiers were executed or enslaved by order of Yazurkial Blue Llama. However, several Lunar leaders, including Governor Halcyon, are known to have escaped into the Big Rubble and thought to have fled to the south down the River of Cradles to the Grantlands.

The Red Moon Mask wearing Gimgim the Grim was captured alive. Nobody had ever seen his face, and he was executed by being drawn and quartered and his body parts scattered on the personal order of Argrath who considered him a far more dangerous foe than any of the other Lunar leaders.

Argrath White Bull was proclaimed King of Pavis by his army and the Lightbringer priests.

There was a lot of damage to the Downtown section of New Pavis. The northern wall is now under reconstruction by the dwarves of the Flintnail cult.

Based on Lawrence Keogh’s updated map

There does seem to be a reoccurring theme of Lunars being persecuted in the worst ways by Argrath and his army. Were there any exceptions to Lunars being killed or evicted by Argrath and his followers? Persecuted in the worst way? This is pretty much the same way Argrath’s own kin in Pavis got handled by the Lunars. When the city opened its gates to the Lunar Army in 1610, “those would resist were butchered systematically or killed impromptu, depending on your point of view.” Dorasar‘s kin were purged, “killed or driven out by the Lunars”. Now all that is in the 1983 New Pavis book, so it is not exactly a surprise.

And the Praxian tribal leaders particularly hated the Lunar leaders.

So basically 1624 was 1610 in reverse. In this case, there was no doubt an expectation that Argrath would avenge his “kin” (yes, Dorasar would be claimed as kin). Once that was dealt with, there could be a later general amnesty for survivors, but in the wake of the fall of the city, there was going to be revenge.

As for the amnesty, there were plenty of Lunars who weren’t soldiers or suspected Moon Masks. Halcyon and his team fled.

yes Orlanthi civilians were killed after the city gates were opened in 1610. Women and children, for what it is worth, as well as anyone who looked like they would resist.


Jeff Richard

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1610 ST, 1624 ST, Argrath (White Bull 1616-1627), Battle of Moonbroth II 1624 ST, Dorasar, Jaldon, Lawrence Keogh (carotographer), Map, New Pavis (small city), New Pavis map

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