I don't have a name yet for this event so I'll just call it "The Great War" for now. I'll divide the war into several parts as it's probably going to be a rather long text.
The Fall of Atura
The Great War officially started when High King Lokir Noval of Atura defeated King Gustaff Travat of The Western Isles in single combat. He ultimately decided to let him live, a decision that Gustaff did not take lightly (in Aturan culture, letting someone live after they were defeated in single combat is equal to saying "You're not worthy of my blade, go live in shame"). As said before, Gustaff was anything but happy with this decision and wanted revenge. He hired a Necromancer to take care of Lokir and conquer his realm for him. Necromancer's in my world are direct servants of Mhar Thôll, the God of Death. The Necromancer slowly built an army of the dead and started his conquest, not with Lokir's realm, but with The Eastern Isles, ruled by King Prosemor who was like a brother to Lokir. Lokir and his son oldest son Rikkard prepared to lead an army to help them out as soon as possible. But it was too late already, by the time they arrive on the Isles, all they could do is watch as an army of raised Prosemor soldiers marched their way. And with them was Horik Prosemor, killed then raised again. It is probably at this point that Lokir started to lose his mind. Of further events on the Eastern Isles, not much is known, only that Lokir started to blame Rikkard for Horik’s death and that he led Rikkard and a part of his own army into an enemy ambush only so that he himself would have enough time to escape the Isles. Once back in Atura, he made every man swear silence about what happened there. He made it back home and told everyone Rikkard died in battle. Lokir then proceeded to gather every seaworthy ship in Atura and get as many people on them as possible. He then set sail with half of his population on ships. The other half… he left to The Necromancer’s non-existing mercy. Non-existing indeed... as soon as Lokir was driven out, The Necromancer turned on Gustaff and conquered his realm as well in the name of Mhar Thôll.
The Conquest of Aramor
Lokir’s first stop was Cerith, where he asked Emperor Bartho Dukos I for a place that his people could live. The Aturan Opression was however still fresh in the memories of the southern Lords and the Aturan culture was generally not welcome in Thalas. In a mad rage, Lokir sailed his people to Cliffora, the previous seat of power of Bartho Dukos and still the place where his family lived. Lokir managed to take the city entirely by surprise and captured it after a short battle. Despite the protest of his children, Lokir excecuted Bartho’s wife and sons and sent him their heads. This “gift” made Bartho Dukos completely mad, and he immediately sent a big portion of his army west towards Lokir, completely neglecting his other war with the North-Thalas Confederacy. Bartho’s attempts to take back his lands were easily stopped by armies on either sides. When the North-Thalas Confederacy took Cerith from Dukos, he was killed by how own men during a revolt in his army camp. The war was now between the two remaining factions, The New Thalas Confederacy led by Emperor Anteros Monraso II and Aramor led by King Lokir Noval I. He had named his newly conquered lands after after the biggest city in the region and he had renamed that city to Prosemor, in honor of his fallen friend. Lokir’s army was, however...
I don't have a name yet for this event so I'll just call it "The Great War" for now. I'll divide the war into several parts as it's probably going to be a rather long text.
The Fall of Atura
The Great War officially started when High King Lokir Noval of Atura defeated King Gustaff Travat of The Western Isles in single combat. He ultimately decided to let him live, a decision that Gustaff did not take lightly (in Aturan culture, letting someone live after they were defeated in single combat is equal to saying "You're not worthy of my blade, go live in shame"). As said before, Gustaff was anything but happy with this decision and wanted revenge. He hired a Necromancer to take care of Lokir and conquer his realm for him. Necromancer's in my world are direct servants of Mhar Thôll, the God of Death. The Necromancer slowly built an army of the dead and started his conquest, not with Lokir's realm, but with The Eastern Isles, ruled by King Prosemor who was like a brother to Lokir. Lokir and his son oldest son Rikkard prepared to lead an army to help them out as soon as possible. But it was too late already, by the time they arrive on the Isles, all they could do is watch as an army of raised Prosemor soldiers marched their way. And with them was Horik Prosemor, killed then raised again. It is probably at this point that Lokir started to lose his mind. Of further events on the Eastern Isles, not much is known, only that Lokir started to blame Rikkard for Horik’s death and that he led Rikkard and a part of his own army into an enemy ambush only so that he himself would have enough time to escape the Isles. Once back in Atura, he made every man swear silence about what happened there. He made it back home and told everyone Rikkard died in battle. Lokir then proceeded to gather every seaworthy ship in Atura and get as many people on them as possible. He then set sail with half of his population on ships. The other half… he left to The Necromancer’s non-existing mercy. Non-existing indeed... as soon as Lokir was driven out, The Necromancer turned on Gustaff and conquered his realm as well in the name of Mhar Thôll.
The Conquest of Aramor
Lokir’s first stop was Cerith, where he asked Emperor Bartho Dukos I for a place that his people could live. The Aturan Opression was however still fresh in the memories of the southern Lords and the Aturan culture was generally not welcome in Thalas. In a mad rage, Lokir sailed his people to Cliffora, the previous seat of power of Bartho Dukos and still the place where his family lived. Lokir managed to take the city entirely by surprise and captured it after a short battle. Despite the protest of his children, Lokir excecuted Bartho’s wife and sons and sent him their heads. This “gift” made Bartho Dukos completely mad, and he immediately sent a big portion of his army west towards Lokir, completely neglecting his other war with the North-Thalas Confederacy. Bartho’s attempts to take back his lands were easily stopped by armies on either sides. When the North-Thalas Confederacy took Cerith from Dukos, he was killed by how own men during a revolt in his army camp. The war was now between the two remaining factions, The New Thalas Confederacy led by Emperor Anteros Monraso II and Aramor led by King Lokir Noval I. He had named his newly conquered lands after after the biggest city in the region and he had renamed that city to Prosemor, in honor of his fallen friend. Lokir’s army was, however, still stronger than that of Anteros and he managed to take back several cities before arriving in Cerith. Cerith was defended by a large army from the North-Thalas Confederacy and about 2000 Esya warriors led by Allaya Ahmdòr. Lokir had lost his mind, but he was still a good commander and a great tactician. He knew Cerith was untakable because of the water gates, and he would prefer to avoid as much confrontation with the large army inside the city as possible. . So he started planning. It was nearly time for the yearly Ocean’s Retreat to occur and Lokir would use this to his advantage. In the two weeks the water level was lower, he assaulted the walls and the water gates, and just in time he managed to capture them. The sea level was already rising again but this time, Lokir was the one controlling the water gates. He commanded that Anteros step forward to make peace or he would open the gates and flood the city, drowning everyone inside. Instead, he got a peace offer, but learned that Anteros himself had escaped the city. In yet another mad rage, Lokir commanded his son Erikar Noval to open the water gates and drown everyone in the city. Erikar refused to do this and was captured by Lokir’s guars for treason and sentenced to death. By Old Aturan Law he was sent off to an island without food or water to die there. Lokir, enraged by his son’s “treason” opened the gates himself and drowned the city, killing everyone left inside while the war was technically already over. After another few skirmishes, Lokir decided he had lost enough men, he claimed what lands he had already taken and left for Prosemor.
The Ezekar Independence War
Lokir's actions in Cerith had greatly upset the local population and rebel groups had started to gather. Lokir alsos suspected that these groups were being funded by some Lords because they owned expensive weaponry. Before Lokir could decently react to the situation, a great deal of the major eastern Lords sided with the rebels and they became a huge problem. Lokir now had to deal with a large army of rebels who demanded independence. Surprisingly, Lokir stayed calm through almost the entire war and eventually gave up, granting the nation of Ezekar independence.
I'll continue the story in the next comment... Snapzu word limit got me.
The Pirate Wars
Some years later, a merchant from Migarom claimed he had recognized the Aturan Prince Erikar on a pirate ship and he had reported this to
King Jornim IV of Migarom. Jornim and Lokir had been disputing lands for a while then and Jornim now saw a reason to attack Lokir over them. He publicly declared a war over trade disputes (believing that Lokir was funding, even helping the pirates to cripple the Migarohm economy) but in reality he wanted lands back. Jornim was very surprised to find pirates siding with him in the first battle of this war that came to be known as The Pirate Wars. The pirates, being led by Pirateking Colbert on his ship The Scarlet Drake, Erikar Noval on his ship Cartox, Jorik Clyff on his ship Wolfsbane and Homir Clyff on, came in in the middle of the battle and flanked Lokir’s fleet. Lokir recognized his son and commanded his commanders to sink his ship and kill Erikar. They managed to set fire to Erikar’s ship and while it sunk, Erikar went down with his ship but was later carried on board of Colbert’s ship. The pirates were able to do enough damage to Lokir’s fleet that they ended up fleeing. The battle was won. Lokir, knowing that his son was still alive, commanded a second fleet to be built and only five months later, Lokir’s fleet (Lokir himself stayed in Prosemor this time) set sail towards war with Migarom again. The pirates did yet again come to help, but thise time using different methods. They lured a portion of Lokir’s fleet in an ambush while the other part was baing handled by King Jornim. Many, even the pirates, were starting to get enough of these battles so Erikar, Jorik and Homir chose to take the risk and assassinate King Lokir. Prosemor was a city built in the middle of a lake, the only way to get in or out was by boat and everyone was being checked thoroughly in all of Lokir’s madness. They searched long for a way to enter the city without raising alarm, until they found Leyana. She was the daughter of the Ahm of Caelora and had come all the way to Prosemor for the same reason as Erikar and the brothers Clyff. To get revenge on King Lokir. Her sister was Allaya Ahmdòr and she was in Cerith the moment Lokir opened the water gates. They managed to enter the city in a veil of darkness casted by Leyana and they entered the palace by taking out the guards. They ran into Lokir and Katara, Erikar’s brother and sister, and explained the situation to them. After hearing the truth and discovering all the lies their father had been feeding them, they agreed that this had to end. They all arrived in Lokir’s bedroom, and that’s when Lokir knew his life would end right there. He looked his son in the eyes one last time, distracted by the metal contraption that now existed where once his left arm had been. Then Jorik shot him in the shoulder with a poisoned bolt, and they all left the room while King Lokir I’s reign ended in poison and blood. Erikar Noval, who was now the legal heir to the throne, refused to accept the position that eventually made his father mad so his younger brother Lokir took the title, becoming King Lokir II of Aramor.
The Landing on Zalynn(Because the Necromancer hasn't been doing nothing all this time)
Back on Atura, The Necromancer had been hunting down survivors and raising them in his army for a couple years now. In Service of Mhar Thôll, he had promised to add all of Zalynn (the northern continent, wher...
The Pirate Wars
Some years later, a merchant from Migarom claimed he had recognized the Aturan Prince Erikar on a pirate ship and he had reported this to
King Jornim IV of Migarom. Jornim and Lokir had been disputing lands for a while then and Jornim now saw a reason to attack Lokir over them. He publicly declared a war over trade disputes (believing that Lokir was funding, even helping the pirates to cripple the Migarohm economy) but in reality he wanted lands back. Jornim was very surprised to find pirates siding with him in the first battle of this war that came to be known as The Pirate Wars. The pirates, being led by Pirateking Colbert on his ship The Scarlet Drake, Erikar Noval on his ship Cartox, Jorik Clyff on his ship Wolfsbane and Homir Clyff on, came in in the middle of the battle and flanked Lokir’s fleet. Lokir recognized his son and commanded his commanders to sink his ship and kill Erikar. They managed to set fire to Erikar’s ship and while it sunk, Erikar went down with his ship but was later carried on board of Colbert’s ship. The pirates were able to do enough damage to Lokir’s fleet that they ended up fleeing. The battle was won. Lokir, knowing that his son was still alive, commanded a second fleet to be built and only five months later, Lokir’s fleet (Lokir himself stayed in Prosemor this time) set sail towards war with Migarom again. The pirates did yet again come to help, but thise time using different methods. They lured a portion of Lokir’s fleet in an ambush while the other part was baing handled by King Jornim. Many, even the pirates, were starting to get enough of these battles so Erikar, Jorik and Homir chose to take the risk and assassinate King Lokir. Prosemor was a city built in the middle of a lake, the only way to get in or out was by boat and everyone was being checked thoroughly in all of Lokir’s madness. They searched long for a way to enter the city without raising alarm, until they found Leyana. She was the daughter of the Ahm of Caelora and had come all the way to Prosemor for the same reason as Erikar and the brothers Clyff. To get revenge on King Lokir. Her sister was Allaya Ahmdòr and she was in Cerith the moment Lokir opened the water gates. They managed to enter the city in a veil of darkness casted by Leyana and they entered the palace by taking out the guards. They ran into Lokir and Katara, Erikar’s brother and sister, and explained the situation to them. After hearing the truth and discovering all the lies their father had been feeding them, they agreed that this had to end. They all arrived in Lokir’s bedroom, and that’s when Lokir knew his life would end right there. He looked his son in the eyes one last time, distracted by the metal contraption that now existed where once his left arm had been. Then Jorik shot him in the shoulder with a poisoned bolt, and they all left the room while King Lokir I’s reign ended in poison and blood. Erikar Noval, who was now the legal heir to the throne, refused to accept the position that eventually made his father mad so his younger brother Lokir took the title, becoming King Lokir II of Aramor.
The Landing on Zalynn(Because the Necromancer hasn't been doing nothing all this time)
Back on Atura, The Necromancer had been hunting down survivors and raising them in his army for a couple years now. In Service of Mhar Thôll, he had promised to add all of Zalynn (the northern continent, where the previous few chapters also took place) to his empire. So he commanded his army, to start building ships. When they were done with that he sailed north and started taking the villages that are scattered through Aloth Hiathras, where he landed his fleet.
The Sieges of Exoldhim
The Necromancer eventually reached Exoldhim, the island capital city ruled by Dragonking Gholamar I. When Dragonking Gholamar asked for help, Leyana led the Esya armies south to Exoldhim, the Dragonking’s capital city. There she met with Erikar again, who this time was leading Aramor’s legions when they attacked the Necromancer’s army from behind and saved the city in the First Siege of Exoldhim. Between the First and the Second siege, help had also arrived from Essina, the desert nation. During the second siege however, the Essini armies turned on their allies and started a slaughter within the walls. Leyana and the other commanders were only able to escape the city in time because of the Oldhuk army led by Kurt Varath that arrived just in time to help evacuate the city. Leyana then sent an envoy north to ask her mother for a bigger army to defeat the Necromancer.
The Hannab Massacre
The Necromancer now marched on his own allies, Essina and managed to take their lands without much of an effort. This was what Kurt was counting on and while The Necromancer was in the Essini capital Hannab, all armies from all over Zalynn converged on the city. A massive siege took place in the pressing heat of the desert. Days on end they laid siege on Hannab, constantly sending armies back to get fresh water. When the second Esya army led by Ahm Rhaella II arrived, the walls breached and the battle begun. Hours passed by as the battle continued (luckily at night so it was even rather cold outside) and it was eventually Rhaella, Leyana, Erikar and Kurt and a group of trusted men that managed to breach the Hannab throne room where the Necromancer was held up. Nearly all of his army of dead men was killed again or burned in Dragonfire by now. They attacked the Necromancer all at once but during this fight Rhaella received a mortal wound to which she later died. And while Kurt and Erikar distracted the Necromancer, Leyana was able to get the jump on him and she killed him by binding a rope around his neck and throwing him out of a window after his famous last words “No swords can pierce my skin”. The Necromancer was hanged in plain sight and with him, his entire army passed to the other side. Rhaella was now deas as well so Leyana became Ahm of Caelora, ruler of Naviton.
Feel free leave questions and critique, it's always very much appreciated!
I don't have a name yet for this event so I'll just call it "The Great War" for now. I'll divide the war into several parts as it's probably going to be a rather long text.
The Fall of Atura
The Great War officially started when High King Lokir Noval of Atura defeated King Gustaff Travat of The Western Isles in single combat. He ultimately decided to let him live, a decision that Gustaff did not take lightly (in Aturan culture, letting someone live after they were defeated in single combat is equal to saying "You're not worthy of my blade, go live in shame"). As said before, Gustaff was anything but happy with this decision and wanted revenge. He hired a Necromancer to take care of Lokir and conquer his realm for him. Necromancer's in my world are direct servants of Mhar Thôll, the God of Death. The Necromancer slowly built an army of the dead and started his conquest, not with Lokir's realm, but with The Eastern Isles, ruled by King Prosemor who was like a brother to Lokir. Lokir and his son oldest son Rikkard prepared to lead an army to help them out as soon as possible. But it was too late already, by the time they arrive on the Isles, all they could do is watch as an army of raised Prosemor soldiers marched their way. And with them was Horik Prosemor, killed then raised again. It is probably at this point that Lokir started to lose his mind. Of further events on the Eastern Isles, not much is known, only that Lokir started to blame Rikkard for Horik’s death and that he led Rikkard and a part of his own army into an enemy ambush only so that he himself would have enough time to escape the Isles. Once back in Atura, he made every man swear silence about what happened there. He made it back home and told everyone Rikkard died in battle. Lokir then proceeded to gather every seaworthy ship in Atura and get as many people on them as possible. He then set sail with half of his population on ships. The other half… he left to The Necromancer’s non-existing mercy. Non-existing indeed... as soon as Lokir was driven out, The Necromancer turned on Gustaff and conquered his realm as well in the name of Mhar Thôll.
The Conquest of Aramor
... Read FullLokir’s first stop was Cerith, where he asked Emperor Bartho Dukos I for a place that his people could live. The Aturan Opression was however still fresh in the memories of the southern Lords and the Aturan culture was generally not welcome in Thalas. In a mad rage, Lokir sailed his people to Cliffora, the previous seat of power of Bartho Dukos and still the place where his family lived. Lokir managed to take the city entirely by surprise and captured it after a short battle. Despite the protest of his children, Lokir excecuted Bartho’s wife and sons and sent him their heads. This “gift” made Bartho Dukos completely mad, and he immediately sent a big portion of his army west towards Lokir, completely neglecting his other war with the North-Thalas Confederacy. Bartho’s attempts to take back his lands were easily stopped by armies on either sides. When the North-Thalas Confederacy took Cerith from Dukos, he was killed by how own men during a revolt in his army camp. The war was now between the two remaining factions, The New Thalas Confederacy led by Emperor Anteros Monraso II and Aramor led by King Lokir Noval I. He had named his newly conquered lands after after the biggest city in the region and he had renamed that city to Prosemor, in honor of his fallen friend. Lokir’s army was, however...
Continueing from previous comment...
The Pirate Wars
Some years later, a merchant from Migarom claimed he had recognized the Aturan Prince Erikar on a pirate ship and he had reported this to King Jornim IV of Migarom. Jornim and Lokir had been disputing lands for a while then and Jornim now saw a reason to attack Lokir over them. He publicly declared a war over trade disputes (believing that Lokir was funding, even helping the pirates to cripple the Migarohm economy) but in reality he wanted lands back. Jornim was very surprised to find pirates siding with him in the first battle of this war that came to be known as The Pirate Wars. The pirates, being led by Pirateking Colbert on his ship The Scarlet Drake, Erikar Noval on his ship Cartox, Jorik Clyff on his ship Wolfsbane and Homir Clyff on, came in in the middle of the battle and flanked Lokir’s fleet. Lokir recognized his son and commanded his commanders to sink his ship and kill Erikar. They managed to set fire to Erikar’s ship and while it sunk, Erikar went down with his ship but was later carried on board of Colbert’s ship. The pirates were able to do enough damage to Lokir’s fleet that they ended up fleeing. The battle was won. Lokir, knowing that his son was still alive, commanded a second fleet to be built and only five months later, Lokir’s fleet (Lokir himself stayed in Prosemor this time) set sail towards war with Migarom again. The pirates did yet again come to help, but thise time using different methods. They lured a portion of Lokir’s fleet in an ambush while the other part was baing handled by King Jornim. Many, even the pirates, were starting to get enough of these battles so Erikar, Jorik and Homir chose to take the risk and assassinate King Lokir. Prosemor was a city built in the middle of a lake, the only way to get in or out was by boat and everyone was being checked thoroughly in all of Lokir’s madness. They searched long for a way to enter the city without raising alarm, until they found Leyana. She was the daughter of the Ahm of Caelora and had come all the way to Prosemor for the same reason as Erikar and the brothers Clyff. To get revenge on King Lokir. Her sister was Allaya Ahmdòr and she was in Cerith the moment Lokir opened the water gates. They managed to enter the city in a veil of darkness casted by Leyana and they entered the palace by taking out the guards. They ran into Lokir and Katara, Erikar’s brother and sister, and explained the situation to them. After hearing the truth and discovering all the lies their father had been feeding them, they agreed that this had to end. They all arrived in Lokir’s bedroom, and that’s when Lokir knew his life would end right there. He looked his son in the eyes one last time, distracted by the metal contraption that now existed where once his left arm had been. Then Jorik shot him in the shoulder with a poisoned bolt, and they all left the room while King Lokir I’s reign ended in poison and blood. Erikar Noval, who was now the legal heir to the throne, refused to accept the position that eventually made his father mad so his younger brother Lokir took the title, becoming King Lokir II of Aramor.
The Landing on Zalynn (Because the Necromancer hasn't been doing nothing all this time)
... Read FullBack on Atura, The Necromancer had been hunting down survivors and raising them in his army for a couple years now. In Service of Mhar Thôll, he had promised to add all of Zalynn (the northern continent, wher...