This is a detail from the carved bas-reliefs on the bronze doors of the Temple of Fuma in Mont Rose, to the southeast in the Kingdom of Faerie.

Art by  tegerio

And here's the story:


The Siege of the Bakari

From the Vitae Irenaeum

Written by Cnut the Hare-lipped, Scrivener to the High King
tr. by Walter Reimer

“I sing of Saintly Irenaeus, skunkling mighty,
Beloved of the Goddess Fuma in Her majesty,
Loved her he did, dedicated his tail to Her
Service, even to holy sacrifice of his snow-white flag.

South he marched with puissant host;
His banner marched before him, bearing the Lady’s Seal,
The mighty Sign Irenaeus had beheld,
The Lady’s Musk, Blessing the Wide World.

Armies fell before his Spreading Sword,
Hosts of heathens, worshippers of false gods,
To those who lived he gave the Choice:
Bear allegiance to the Lady, or sink into the Netherhells.

Cities and towns, realms feline and canine,
Lupine and vulpine, cervine and lapine,
All bent their knee to the Lady’s Holy Majesty,
Tearing down their false idols and fanes,
Raising new ones to the Lady’s service.

The blood-dappled Lacktail, Doughty Irenaeus,
Led his armies to the bounds of the Bakari;
Goats they were, strong caprines,
Tamers of wild ants, strong, fierce and scampering.

No herald spoke for King Irenaeus; no
Voice but his own would proclaim him;
“In Fuma’s Glorious Name, sons of Bakari,
Am I come! Bow your knee to Her, throw
Down your false altars and be blessed to Her,
Or whirl down to death and torment in the lowest
Of the Netherhells, the fiery pit of doom.”

Heralds of the Bakari King insulted Ireneaus;
“In the Name of our Gods, and the Name of our
King, Mighty Vellatu, strong breaker of ants, who
Wields the long ash-spear, we defy the Lacktail;
We scorn his army as a rabble of children.”

King Irenaeus, bold and mighty warrior, did send
Back to Bakari the heads of such insolent and
Insulting heralds; arrayed his hosts for battle and drew
His Spreading Sword to avenge the insult to the Lady.

The Bakari had craft, and knew spells of Gramerye,
Sowing pitfalls and traps as they fell away from the hosts
Of Great Irenaeus; pits and traps of foul magicks, sending to
The Lady’s Gentle Embrace many doughty warriors,
Canine and feline, lupine and vulpine, strong-limbed
Skunks and fierce otters, ranks on ranks of eagles and
Hawks, the sanctified vanguard of the Lady’s Holy Army,
Sent to Her Embrace by the magicks of the Bakari.

Secure within their walls the Bakari encamped; stout
Walls, high palisades, well-barred gates and doors, to stand
Siege they stood ready, taunting the Lacktail and his host,
Insults they hurled with stones and magicked bolts, poisoned and
Flaming arrows, and prayed to their Gods that they should
Restrain Great Irenaeus, to Their glory and the Lady’s dishonor.

Full two years, season upon season, did Irenaeus and his host
Lay siege to the impious goats of the Bakari, foul and horned;
Warm spring and hot summer, cool autumn and frigid winter,
Moon upon moon upon moon stood the armies of Irenaeus.

Irenaeus himself, Lacktail who bears the Lady’s Musky Blessing,
Spent many days in prayer, beseeching his Lady’s Aid;
On the second year of the siege, yea even unto the day,
Fuma, Gracious Lady, did hear the prayers of saintly Irenaeus.

At the orders of Irenaeus the Priests of Fuma girded their loins,
Drew mace and brandished iron-bound club, and all knelt in prayer,
Low-voiced prayers as the hosts of Bakari jeered, but their insults
Ceased as the Lady showed forth Her Power,
And the wall of Bakari fell to the receiving earth.

Irenaeus called upon his armies, strong and eager for the fray,
“Spare their King, Vellatu breaker of ants and wielder of the long
Ash-spear! No harm befall him, in the Lady’s Name! Should any of
Fuma’s Host spill Vellatu’s blood, a curse shall light upon his bones
And I shall take his skin, to adorn my tent and proclaim my anger!”

Long was the battle, and dreadful, bloody and fierce;
As the people of Bakari were sacrificed for their King’s insult;
His dire insult to Holy Lady Fuma and to Her Servant, Saintly Irenaeus.

Then Vellatu strode forth, his armor graven with sigils of might and power,
Calling upon his God as he shook his spear at Fuma’s Chosen Instrument;
“Kid,” he cried, “a puling infant are you to me! Begone and take your
Toys back to your northern fastness! Behold, my city is wrapped in greedy
Flames, my armies falling beneath the swords of your soldiers amid
The cries and screams of women and children! The prayers of my God’s
Priests are drowned in blood. Now have done! You cannot best
Me, strong Vellatu breaker of ants! Your sword has not the reach of my – “

Fuma stilled his lying voice, for Her Strength filled Irenaeus, who with a
Mighty cry swung the Spreading Sword, the bright-polished blade sworn
To bring the Wide World into the Lady’s Service.

A wide and glittering arc it described, and King
Vellatu started back in surprise at the mighty stroke inflicted by Mighty
Irenaeus, his body falling to one side, his head to another.

Spattered with blood did Irenaeus stoop over the body of Vellatu,
Murmuring a prayer, praise unto Fuma, his Lady Who in Her Might
Had given him strength, and raised the goat’s head on high as offering
As the clouds parted, and the rays of the sun descended upon the
Sanctified Victor, Fuma-Blessed Irenaeus.