Siege of Drannith

[["Information",[{"data":"[[Mending Era]]","label":"Era"},{"data":"4561 [[AR]]","label":"Date"},{"data":"[[Drannith]], Egali Plain, [[Savai]], [[Ikoria]]","label":"Location"},{"data":"''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''","label":"Sets"},{"data":"[[Jirina Kudro]], [[Lukka]], [[Barrow and Zeph]], [[Brin and Roland]], [[Vivien Reid]], [[Bryd]], [[Humron]], [[Yidaro]]","label":"Characters"}]],["Outcome",[{"data":"\n*General [[Kudro]] and several others on both sides are killed.\n*The [[Ozolith]] is overcharged and explodes, ending the unidentified planeswalker's influence over it, and by extension, Ikoria's monsters.\n*[[Lukka]]'s [[planeswalker]] spark ignites, and he is whisked away from Ikoria.\n*Drannith survives, and the besieging monsters disperse\n*The [[bonder]]s who helped defend the city, including [[Brin and Roland]] and [[Barrow and Zeph]] earn an honored place among its citizens."}]],["[[Timeline]]",[{"data":"[[Battle at the Ozolith]]\n\n[[Siege of Drannith|Siege of Drannith]]\n[[Rise of the Skyclaves]]"}]]]

Siege of Drannith
Information
Era	Mending Era
Date	4561 AR
Location	Drannith, Egali Plain, Savai, Ikoria
Sets	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Characters	Jirina Kudro, Lukka, Barrow and Zeph, Brin and Roland, Vivien Reid, Bryd, Humron, Yidaro
Outcome
General Kudro and several others on both sides are killed. The Ozolith is overcharged and explodes, ending the unidentified planeswalker's influence over it, and by extension, Ikoria's monsters. Lukka's planeswalker spark ignites, and he is whisked away from Ikoria. Drannith survives, and the besieging monsters disperse The bonders who helped defend the city, including Brin and Roland and Barrow and Zeph earn an honored place among its citizens.
Timeline
Battle at the Ozolith Siege of Drannith Rise of the Skyclaves

The Siege of Drannith was a major battle that took place in 4561 AR during the events of the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths storyline. The conflict saw Lukka, empowered by the Ozolith and leading an army of bonded monsters, attack the fortified human city of Drannith. The siege marked a turning point in Ikoria's history, reshaping relationships between humans and monsters and culminating in the ignition of Lukka's planeswalker spark.

Description

Prelude

Following the Battle at the Ozolith, Lukka, now fully corrupted by the Ozolith's unstable magic, gathered a massive army of monsters and marched on Drannith. His actions were driven by both a desire for vengeance after the death of Leori and a misguided belief that his control over monsters would ultimately save the city. He had earlier killed General Kudro, who attempted to intercept him before the siege began.

Meanwhile, Jirina Kudro—General Kudro's daughter—fled the battlefield and returned to Drannith, assuming de facto command after successfully deposing Colonel Bryd. She was accompanied by allies including Vivien Reid and the bonded pairs Barrow and Zeph, and Brin and Roland. Jirina used her reputation and recent victories to organize a defense, including summoning more bonders to aid the city.

Defense Preparations

Inside Drannith, tensions ran high as bonded humans and monsters entered the city. Jirina led a war council at the Citadel, where she, Barrow, Brin, Major Humron, and Vivien Reid prepared for Lukka's assault. With limited forces and an overwhelming enemy approaching, the First Ring was evacuated to consolidate defenses within the main wall. Barrow reached out to other bonders using a magical crystal, and several answered the call, arriving with their monsters overnight.

Jirina's strategy focused on holding the outer defenses while keeping bonded forces in reserve to counter any monsters that breached the city. She planned to draw Lukka close, where the bonders could strike decisively.

The Siege

At dawn, Lukka's army—a vast array of monsters from across all clades—arrived at the northern gate. The defenders manned the bastions, ballistae, and arcane towers. Flying and burrowing monsters breached the walls despite heavy resistance, forcing Jirina to deploy the bonders inside the city to protect civilians.

Barrow and Zeph fought several monsters within the city, relaying intelligence to the command post. Brin assisted from the walls, relaying messages and eventually joining the battle on the ground. Though initially reluctant, Jirina authorized a coordinated counterattack by the bonders.

Lukka himself rode atop the titanic turtle Yidaro, using his vantage to direct the assault. Jirina confronted him atop Yidaro’s shell, urging him to stop. Lukka refused and tried to force more power from the Ozolith. Jirina leapt to safety as the Ozolith’s unstable energy surged.

In the climactic counterstrike, Barrow, Zeph, Brin, and the other bonders led a charge through the gates, rescuing Jirina and turning the tide of the battle. Vivien summoned a giant monstrosaur to engage Yidaro, distracting Lukka.

Ignition and Aftermath

As defeat loomed, Lukka attempted to draw on the Ozolith’s full power. Despite warnings from an unknown planeswalker, he persisted. The artifact exploded, severing Lukka’s link to his bonded beasts and triggering his planeswalker spark. Lukka vanished from Ikoria in a burst of magical light.

Leaderless and disoriented, the remaining monsters scattered. Drannith was spared from destruction.

In the aftermath, Jirina officially took the rank of colonel. Bonded humans and monsters were permitted to reside in the First Ring under watch, creating the foundation for a tentative peace. Barrow, Brin, and their bonded monsters became public figures, helping to ease tensions between citizens and their former enemies. Though uncertainty lingered, the siege marked the beginning of a fragile new era for Drannith.