Harrowing of the South

Coinciding with the first few attacks on the soldier's encampment at Ardea, and shortly before the suicide of High Queen Anika, the Harrowing of the South was a sudden, simultaneous attack by the Darkness on all eight islands. Seen as a greater threat than those on the continent, no doubt due to the powers afforded the anu, and in an effort to eliminate possible aid to the defenders at Ardea, the Darkness sought to irradicate the fír suthr.

The sudden nature of the attack, occuring in the dead of night, ensured that maximum casualties occurred. The fír suthr, however, long used to raids by their rival clans, rallied fiercely and many survived the storm of battle. Few heroes of this attack are remembered, but one such warrior, the then ard rídh, Agmundr, sacrificed himself, remaining behind, so that his people might escape Tír Arnbjorn. His son, Anders, led the survivors of the island to Ardea, where the southern warriors settled in as allies of the defenders there, the first. To their great shame, the other kingdoms of Doma delayed joining the fight, making the fír suthr better allies than they. It is a blight in the historical record of the continent, though largely ignored now.

Following Anders' arrival at Ardea, a trail of refugees from the other islands arrived to join the fray. It is recorded in the annals of the time that there were survivors from all eight islands; an impressive feat, considering what they were up against.