A Plot Overview of Way of the Warrior
Jan 21, 2014 16:34:26 GMT -6
Post by Reid on Jan 21, 2014 16:34:26 GMT -6
References:
Etruria:
Delfia: Home to Etruria's world renowned magic academy and the seat of the Prophet
Aquleia: The former capital of Etruria and the largest city in Elibe. Home of the Tower of the Saint.
Taras: A castle city that serves as a gateway dividing East Elibe from West Elibe
Ligure: An Etrurian viscounty with a long history of service to the crown. Known for its verdant orchards.
Modlin: An ancient Etrurian fort on the Etruria/Ilia border. It's long been home to gangs of bandits.
Western Isles:
Jutes: The capital city of the Western Isles also known for its famous pirates.
Edina: A prison fortress in the mountains where Etruria's worst criminals are sent.
Eburacum: A mountain mined for its valuable metals. Known for its hellish working conditions.
Armagh: Etruria's naval headquarters in the Western Isles.
Ilia:
Edessa: Ilia's capital and home to the Spire where Ilia's lords reside and reign from.
Arphen: Ilia's mercenary and pegasi rider-training military headquarters.
Carrhae: A major trade stop for the few land routes that do enter Ilia.
Remi: Ilia's only trade port. It is one of the few fertile areas in Ilia.
Sacae:
Bulgar: The capital of Sacae and the central trade hub for all of East Elibe
Faerderick: Home to the tribe-gone-civilization, the Gaul.
Mullingard: Home to the tribe-gone-civilization, the Norric.
The City of Heroes: A city founded by the heroes of the Bandit War, namely Kenshin
Lycia:
Ostia: The former capital of Lycia. Now a blackened ruin, it serves as a reminder of the Prophet's insanity.
Laus: One of the major players in Lycia. An ambitious and expansionist territory with a poor reputation.
Santaruz: A powerful, knightly march known for its chivalry. Also an economic powerhouse. The 'breadbasket of Lycia.'
Araphen: A powerful and militaristic territory in northeastern Lycia that seeks to become the new Ostia.
Bern:
Bern: The capital of Bern located atop a mountain. Said to be nigh impenetrable by frontal assault.
Lucerne: A large trade city located on the river south of Bern. Bern's more populated daughter city.
Macendew: A castle town on the border of Lycia and Bern. Serves as the headquarters of the Rebellion.
Larguz: A large fort in western Bern. It is the home to Bern's prestigious wyvern rider academy.
Rhine River: The longest river in Bern. It acts as the major natural barrier between East and West Bern.
Nabata:
Khan Yunis: The largest city in Nabata. A primary stop for sea voyages between Etruria and Lycia/Bern
Arcadia: A legendary city hidden in the sands. Said to be the last safe haven for dragonkind.
Prologue
Once, dragons and men coexisted. They shared a peace forged in wisdom, a peace that lasted many generations. All that was lost when mankind disrupted this balance in a sudden onslaught. Man fought dragon in a savage war that shook the foundations of their world. This war was called the Scouring. Defeated and humbled, dragons vanished from the realm. In time man rebuilt and spread his dominion across the land and on to the islands beyond. A millennium has pasted since those dark days ended.
In 1276, a military uprising begins in Bern. A disgruntled, disillusioned lieutenant, with the support of a then unknown group of brigands called the Ruinz Bandits, riles up scores of other soldiers dissatisfied with the way their country had been treating them. Low wages, long marches, and a long distance from their families had been taking their tole, and they saw their king as uncaring and doing little to help. In an act of Civil War, many of Bern's soldiers rebelled against their King, forcing the king and whatever nobles he still had left on his side to pay Ilia vast sums of money to hire a mercenary army large enough to fight back. After much fighting, the crown eventually won the war, but at a high price. His treasury empty and his army weak, Bern's king turned to the powerful Hargus for help.
In 1279 AS Hargus, now running Bern, has united the bandits of Elibe with promises of power and wealth, and began to wage a war of conquest across Elibe. In the early acts of aggression, the village of Sacaens Kenshin and Matis was lost in fire, and vowing for revenge Kenshin set off with his cousin Matis. After gaining allies, the two made minor strikes against Hargus but with no success. Not giving up, Kenshin lead a small group in another sneak attack against Hargus while Matis battled his men in Ostia, which had fallen into a trap. During this chaos, Hargus resurrected the heroes of the Scouring to serve under him. They set out to do the Bandit King's, and as they did. Athos, one of the last living heroes of the Scouring, appeared to the heroes. He told Kenshin's group of the fate of the Scouring Heroes, that they had become puppets of Hargus and needed to be stopped. The gathered fighters then broke into smaller groups and went in search of the puppets to defeat them. Along the way they met many allies and lost treasured friends.
While fighting St. Elimine, a zealous thief named Kraft had defected from the heroes, looking on in horror as he watched his spiritual leader die. A new threat arose in Kraft, who with the help of a mysterious man named Hiro, scared up a wave of zealotry fueled by St. Elimine's and declared himself Elimine's Prophet. He quickly took over Aquelia and declared it the new capital of Etruria.
It wasn't long before all the rest of the Scouring puppets had been defeated, and when they were Kenshin and some of his fellows moved to challenge Hargus. Meanwhile, a group of freedom fighters led by Rayl of Lycia and Crowley the Magnificent attempted a secret attack to dethrone Kraft. At first the infiltration went well, but they were soon discovered and set upon by Kraft's zealots. The fighters then fled to the docks, where they encountered the other half of Kenshin's crew who were peparing to meet Kenshin in Bern against Hargus. It was then that they were all cornered by a group of familiar faces: those who had died in the fight against the Scouring Heroes, resurrected by Hargus in a last ditch attempt to stall his would be killers. The heroes managed to narrowly win the battle against their old comrades, and in the aftermath they were approached by a suddenly appeared Athos who teleported them to Bern.
In 1284 AS, Hargus was fought and defeated.
It is 1291 AS, and Kraft has taken complete control over Etruria. Preparing to plunge Elibe in the fires of cleansing holy war, Etruria has begun hiring mercenaries en masse. One particular recruit named Richter climbs the ranks of command quickly, and upon being promoted to Region Officer, is sent out to solidify Etruria's holdings in Sacae from a fort known as Salvation Point. A few months after arriving and whipping the fort's troops into shape, Richter finds himself under attack by a horde of Sacaens looking to drive Kraft from their lands, and although he wins the battle for the Etrurians, he does so at great cost. High Officer Yurau is sent by the Herald to reinforce the shattered forces of Salvation Point. He expects to take control, but upon being informed that he is to share command with the newly promoted Region Officer, tries to kill Richter. Richter instead ends up killing the High Officer and takes full control before departing to join the Herald's Siege of Ostia.
Meanwhile Kraft sends his agent Hiro out to find and eliminate Kraft's former allies, but the man soon finds himself drafted into a plan lead by the Herald to destroy Ostia. Richter and his troops arrive at the pass, but Richter has decided to make known his true intent: to betray the Prophet and join Lycia in an attempt to turn the tides on Etruria's expansion. However, before he can do this, Hiro and his old allies infiltrate the castle in order to assassinate the marquess and cause chaos within the castle. With their success the signal flare was released, the Battle for Ostia begins. Ostia falls quickly, leaving Richter no time to do anything but watch as the city falls to the magical bombardment of Kraft.
Richter and his men begin to move into Ostia, but while aiding in the relief efforts, the dead and fallen come back to life in an unholy chaos. The High Officer attempts to evacuate the citizens, but the doomed city is raised to the ground by the Herald. Richter decides that his moment of betrayal is lost, however the Herald had caught wind of Richter's plans, and when the Ilian returns to Sacae, he and his men are set upon by High Commander Ariston. The battle goes poorly for the would-be rebels, but the arrival of Rayl of Lycia leading a cohort of united Lycian knights turns the tides. Together Richter and Rayl drive Ariston back to his fort. They pursue Ariston, and in a surprise night attack, overrun the Etrurian commander's fort. The battle is a success, and with the help of the dragon Marchamut Odintongue, Richter slays Ariston, ending Kraft's ambitions in Sacae.
A mysterious man named Nacht leads an army of soldiers against the City of Heroes, a Sacaen city founded by Kenshin in the years following the Bandit War. Rumors spread of a returned Hargus which invigorates bandits from all over Elibe to fight under their old king against the man that was once his sworn enemy. Rumors of the Bandit King's return had reached the City of Heroes, Kenshin taking no precautions had called upon his brothers, sisters, and cousins of the plains to defend his home, a safe haven for all Sacaens. Sacaens and outsiders had heeded to call for aid and came to support him, they had hastily fortified the city only able to get half of what they had planned before the bandit army had reached their door steps. Pirates had flanked from the west led by Oya as the battle began, both side had prepared for a long drug out battle, after a week of a stalemate Hargus grew impatient and tapped into a long forgotten magic. He had revived the fallen warriors from both sides into an undead army, transforming some of his own men into winged monsters, then using the same magic on himself to enhance his strength and speed. His skin turned into a charcoal color as wings sprouted from his back and he grew horns. Ilheod had began a counter offense with his squadron against the gargoyles.
It went from a war between the bandits and the protectors to an all out free for all, monster vs humans from both sides. Hargus had made it to the gate and summoned a cyclops. A joint effort between Richter, Vincent, Remus, Mana, Elias, and countless other fighters the Cyclops had been brought to it's knees. Kenshin had lead a charge out of the western gates prior to the Cyclops and fought his way down to the southern part of the city to have his eyes lay upon Hargus. The rage that Kenshin had thought was quelled years ago had taken control of him once again, charging towards Hargus on his own once again. While Kenshin had been able to land a couple of blows upon the Demon King, he ultimately was beaten and tossed aside like a rag doll. Feeling the effects of the battle with Kenshin, Hargus flew over towards his cyclops draining it's life force to heal himself to finish off the rest of the so called 'heroes'. While the madness swept through the battlefield Burt had picked up Richter's old sword, the Demonzahn, he had became overwhelmed with it's power, Mana and Edrick being the only ones to contest this new creature while the rest battled against Hargus. Oya had joined the fray against the Demon King, after a fierce battle Oya had landed the final blow with the aid of everybody. Like some of the monsters, Burt had escaped death fleeing to other parts of Elibe.
At the end of the day one thing had remained true. Etrurians, Illians, Bernese, Lycians, and Sacaens fought side by side, bleed together, and died together. The land around the once great City of Heroes was stained red with blood.
Bernese Rebellion:
It has been three years since Ilia took hold of Bern's government. For the first time in years, the country had seen peace. But not is all well. Talks of rebellion spread like wild fire, as many Bernese fell that it should be the people of Bern who should be in control, not Ilia. Ilia dismisses these rumors as the mutterings of a fringe group, but quickly finds themselves dealing with guerrilla strikes against their military outposts and trade routes. The Edessan lords send Richter Abend, now a hero for defeating Ariston, to support their forces in Bern. This unfortunately does little to quell the uprising, and in 1294 AS the fighting culminates in a bloody battle at the Tournament of Arms which is instigated by the simultaneously attempted murders of the dragon Marchamut and assistant commander Clair Feldsky by assassins Zerachiel and Jya, along with Low Officer Alranus Aurilia disguised as a Bernese Lieutenant named Ramus Gyax.
This apparent victory for the Rebellion raises the morale of the freedom hungry citizens of Bern, and llia, realizing they have a war on their hands, begins to ramp up its security forces. During this, however, they lose Fort Macendew, the gateway to Lycia, to a group of organized rebels under the command of Aidan of House Lowell, Symbol of Rebellion.
Bernese Soldier Civil War
In 1276, a military uprising begins in Bern. A disgruntled, disillusioned lieutenant, with the support of a then unknown group of brigands called the Ruinz Bandits, riles up scores of other soldiers dissatisfied with the way their country had been treating them. Low wages, long marches, and a long distance from their families had been taking their tole, and they saw their king as uncaring and doing little to help. In an act of Civil War, many of Bern's soldiers rebelled against their King, forcing the king and whatever nobles he still had left on his side to pay Ilia vast sums of money to hire a mercenary army large enough to fight back. After much fighting, the crown eventually won the war, but at a high price. His treasury empty and his army weak, Bern's king turned to the powerful Hargus for help.
Hargus's Bandit War
In 1279 AS Hargus, now running Bern, has united the bandits of Elibe with promises of power and wealth, and began to wage a war of conquest across Elibe. In the early acts of aggression, the village of Sacaens Kenshin and Matis was lost in fire, and vowing for revenge Kenshin set off with his cousin Matis. After gaining allies, the two made minor strikes against Hargus but with no success. Not giving up, Kenshin lead a small group in another sneak attack against Hargus while Matis battled his men in Ostia, which had fallen into a trap. During this chaos, Hargus resurrected the heroes of the Scouring to serve under him. They set out to do the Bandit King's, and as they did. Athos, one of the last living heroes of the Scouring, appeared to the heroes. He told Kenshin's group of the fate of the Scouring Heroes, that they had become puppets of Hargus and needed to be stopped. The gathered fighters then broke into smaller groups and went in search of the puppets to defeat them. Along the way they met many allies and lost treasured friends.
While fighting St. Elimine, a zealous thief named Kraft had defected from the heroes, looking on in horror as he watched his spiritual leader die. A new threat arose in Kraft, who with the help of a mysterious man named Hiro, scared up a wave of zealotry fueled by St. Elimine's and declared himself Elimine's Prophet. He quickly took over Aquelia and declared it the new capital of Etruria.
It wasn't long before all the rest of the Scouring puppets had been defeated, and when they were Kenshin and some of his fellows moved to challenge Hargus. Meanwhile, a group of freedom fighters led by Rayl of Lycia and Crowley the Magnificent attempted a secret attack to dethrone Kraft. At first the infiltration went well, but they were soon discovered and set upon by Kraft's zealots. The fighters then fled to the docks, where they encountered the other half of Kenshin's crew who were peparing to meet Kenshin in Bern against Hargus. It was then that they were all cornered by a group of familiar faces: those who had died in the fight against the Scouring Heroes, resurrected by Hargus in a last ditch attempt to stall his would be killers. The heroes managed to narrowly win the battle against their old comrades, and in the aftermath they were approached by a suddenly appeared Athos who teleported them to Bern.
In 1284 AS, Hargus was fought and defeated.
Bern's War of Aggression & Rise of Kraft
1285 AS, in the wake of Hargus's defeat, the King of Bern, fearing retribution of Hargus's actions, begins a misguided and paranoid war of aggression against its neighbors. The war begins in Lycia, and after the swift fall of Ostia, the rest of the League finds itself in Bern's grasp. He then turns his eyes to Sacae, and begins winning battle after battle against the loosely organized forces lead by the Sacaen Sasuke. He, however, soon finds his match in Kenshin, who captures the King's finest generals in the Battle of Bulgar. Stunned by the defeat, Bern's advance slows, and taking advantage of this, Kenshin holds a meeting with Ilia where he promises the country of Bern to the Edessan Lords in exchange for their aid in Sacae. Together, Kenshin, Sasuke, and Ilia launch a surprise attack behind Bern lines. This turns the tides of battle, and in the chaos, the allied forces advance on Castle Bern. In 1288 AS, the so-called "impenetrable" castle of Bern falls to the Ilian and Sacaen warriors, its forces in disarray, and its King finds himself cut down at the hands of Sasuke. In thanks, Ilia appoints Sasuke as regent of Bern, and its forces move in to occupy the militant country.
In the mean time Kraft had been using the appearance of St. Elimine to act as her prophet and gain political powers in Etruria. After slaughtering the primary members of the royal family and driving all opposing nobles into hiding, the High Inquisitioner and Prophet of Elimine has solidified his rule over Etruria. While some dared to oppose his religious police state, their voices have been silenced, and while solidifying his forces at home, Kraft also begins moving his men into Sacae in an expansion of his territory.
In the mean time Kraft had been using the appearance of St. Elimine to act as her prophet and gain political powers in Etruria. After slaughtering the primary members of the royal family and driving all opposing nobles into hiding, the High Inquisitioner and Prophet of Elimine has solidified his rule over Etruria. While some dared to oppose his religious police state, their voices have been silenced, and while solidifying his forces at home, Kraft also begins moving his men into Sacae in an expansion of his territory.
Kraft's Conquest
It is 1291 AS, and Kraft has taken complete control over Etruria. Preparing to plunge Elibe in the fires of cleansing holy war, Etruria has begun hiring mercenaries en masse. One particular recruit named Richter climbs the ranks of command quickly, and upon being promoted to Region Officer, is sent out to solidify Etruria's holdings in Sacae from a fort known as Salvation Point. A few months after arriving and whipping the fort's troops into shape, Richter finds himself under attack by a horde of Sacaens looking to drive Kraft from their lands, and although he wins the battle for the Etrurians, he does so at great cost. High Officer Yurau is sent by the Herald to reinforce the shattered forces of Salvation Point. He expects to take control, but upon being informed that he is to share command with the newly promoted Region Officer, tries to kill Richter. Richter instead ends up killing the High Officer and takes full control before departing to join the Herald's Siege of Ostia.
Meanwhile Kraft sends his agent Hiro out to find and eliminate Kraft's former allies, but the man soon finds himself drafted into a plan lead by the Herald to destroy Ostia. Richter and his troops arrive at the pass, but Richter has decided to make known his true intent: to betray the Prophet and join Lycia in an attempt to turn the tides on Etruria's expansion. However, before he can do this, Hiro and his old allies infiltrate the castle in order to assassinate the marquess and cause chaos within the castle. With their success the signal flare was released, the Battle for Ostia begins. Ostia falls quickly, leaving Richter no time to do anything but watch as the city falls to the magical bombardment of Kraft.
Richter and his men begin to move into Ostia, but while aiding in the relief efforts, the dead and fallen come back to life in an unholy chaos. The High Officer attempts to evacuate the citizens, but the doomed city is raised to the ground by the Herald. Richter decides that his moment of betrayal is lost, however the Herald had caught wind of Richter's plans, and when the Ilian returns to Sacae, he and his men are set upon by High Commander Ariston. The battle goes poorly for the would-be rebels, but the arrival of Rayl of Lycia leading a cohort of united Lycian knights turns the tides. Together Richter and Rayl drive Ariston back to his fort. They pursue Ariston, and in a surprise night attack, overrun the Etrurian commander's fort. The battle is a success, and with the help of the dragon Marchamut Odintongue, Richter slays Ariston, ending Kraft's ambitions in Sacae.
Siege on the City of Heroes:
A mysterious man named Nacht leads an army of soldiers against the City of Heroes, a Sacaen city founded by Kenshin in the years following the Bandit War. Rumors spread of a returned Hargus which invigorates bandits from all over Elibe to fight under their old king against the man that was once his sworn enemy. Rumors of the Bandit King's return had reached the City of Heroes, Kenshin taking no precautions had called upon his brothers, sisters, and cousins of the plains to defend his home, a safe haven for all Sacaens. Sacaens and outsiders had heeded to call for aid and came to support him, they had hastily fortified the city only able to get half of what they had planned before the bandit army had reached their door steps. Pirates had flanked from the west led by Oya as the battle began, both side had prepared for a long drug out battle, after a week of a stalemate Hargus grew impatient and tapped into a long forgotten magic. He had revived the fallen warriors from both sides into an undead army, transforming some of his own men into winged monsters, then using the same magic on himself to enhance his strength and speed. His skin turned into a charcoal color as wings sprouted from his back and he grew horns. Ilheod had began a counter offense with his squadron against the gargoyles.
It went from a war between the bandits and the protectors to an all out free for all, monster vs humans from both sides. Hargus had made it to the gate and summoned a cyclops. A joint effort between Richter, Vincent, Remus, Mana, Elias, and countless other fighters the Cyclops had been brought to it's knees. Kenshin had lead a charge out of the western gates prior to the Cyclops and fought his way down to the southern part of the city to have his eyes lay upon Hargus. The rage that Kenshin had thought was quelled years ago had taken control of him once again, charging towards Hargus on his own once again. While Kenshin had been able to land a couple of blows upon the Demon King, he ultimately was beaten and tossed aside like a rag doll. Feeling the effects of the battle with Kenshin, Hargus flew over towards his cyclops draining it's life force to heal himself to finish off the rest of the so called 'heroes'. While the madness swept through the battlefield Burt had picked up Richter's old sword, the Demonzahn, he had became overwhelmed with it's power, Mana and Edrick being the only ones to contest this new creature while the rest battled against Hargus. Oya had joined the fray against the Demon King, after a fierce battle Oya had landed the final blow with the aid of everybody. Like some of the monsters, Burt had escaped death fleeing to other parts of Elibe.
At the end of the day one thing had remained true. Etrurians, Illians, Bernese, Lycians, and Sacaens fought side by side, bleed together, and died together. The land around the once great City of Heroes was stained red with blood.
Current Arc
Bernese Rebellion:
It has been three years since Ilia took hold of Bern's government. For the first time in years, the country had seen peace. But not is all well. Talks of rebellion spread like wild fire, as many Bernese fell that it should be the people of Bern who should be in control, not Ilia. Ilia dismisses these rumors as the mutterings of a fringe group, but quickly finds themselves dealing with guerrilla strikes against their military outposts and trade routes. The Edessan lords send Richter Abend, now a hero for defeating Ariston, to support their forces in Bern. This unfortunately does little to quell the uprising, and in 1294 AS the fighting culminates in a bloody battle at the Tournament of Arms which is instigated by the simultaneously attempted murders of the dragon Marchamut and assistant commander Clair Feldsky by assassins Zerachiel and Jya, along with Low Officer Alranus Aurilia disguised as a Bernese Lieutenant named Ramus Gyax.
This apparent victory for the Rebellion raises the morale of the freedom hungry citizens of Bern, and llia, realizing they have a war on their hands, begins to ramp up its security forces. During this, however, they lose Fort Macendew, the gateway to Lycia, to a group of organized rebels under the command of Aidan of House Lowell, Symbol of Rebellion.
Lycian Counter Offensive:
After the destruction of Ostia, Lycia lost it’s most powerful Territory and a power vacuum opened, in addition to the ever expanding force of the undead pushing out of Ostia. Laus, with the most powerful military in Lycia, and Santacruz, the financial powerhouse, remain in a power struggle for who will fill Ostia’s position. But with the looming threat of Etruria’s crusade across Elibe, Laus began recruiting other territories to launch a counter offensive against the Prophet, hoping to utilize the war to root itself as the most center of Lycia’s political power.
Having recruited a number of soldiers and mercenaries alike, Donovan, a wayward mercenary born of Lycia, secretly rose through the ranks from his skill with language, his ability to inspire, and his strategic mind. The mercenary convinced the LCO to allow him to form a band of mercenaries to eliminate as much of the monsters plaguing Lycia as they could, stabilizing the nation in preparation for the oncoming war. While the government builds its army to prepare for their attack, Donovan has been recruiting common folk to his cause and has discovered an unexpected foe who has been organizing the undead.
Matthias
Alan, Tyrant Breaker:
Kraft
Richter
The Madness, the One Who Dominates