Leonhardt16

Because I can. I doodle and write. Like a SIR.

I decided to not be a sod and actually post "Tales of Terra" as stuff on my gallery. ^_^ Enjoy.

Also, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

~ Heyo! I shall be posting chapters of my own personal novel for the world to critique. Please, only constructive criticism! I hope you enjoy, and I hope I can also update it periodically. ~

The Dawn of Man (A prologue to the prologue)
"With every rise, there must be a fall."

Endless theories exist about the creation of the world, this world of Terra. Many speculate on how its massive continents came to be, how the seas that divide the world formed, and how Man himself was born. The scholars of old deemed that Terra was created by Gods, whose power was unfathomable. Others speculate that Terra came from the farthest reaches of the "Dark Abyss", the endless void of darkness that shows itself in the night, and slowly formed over eons of time. Whatever the case may be, there is one truth that can be agreed by all men and women; the fact that man first became civil on the island known as the "Cradle of Humanity" - Certes. The island of Certes was once, long ago, the center of Man and all its accomplishments. Governed by a powerful state, who's capital rested upon the highest peak of the mountains that lay on the island, Certes and its people were intellectual, strong, and studious. They sought to understand the world around them, and also focused on exploring and taking advantage of the bounties fate had provided. They built massive galleys, who sailed by wind and the strength of hundreds of men. They erected strong, massive walls which protected them from the floods of the Great Sea and invasion by outsiders on the island. They wrote and collected endless literary works, ranging from witty comedies to invocative texts on science and philosophy. However, above all else, the people of Certes created the first calendar - marking the most important date in all of Terra's history. The Dawn of Man began the First Era, and it is estimated that the Certes Civilization carried on for well over six hundred years. Yet, even with all these great accomplishments and testaments to their awesome intellect and strength - the people of Certes could not avoid Man's greatest enemy. Nature and her destructive power would spell the end to the six hundred year reign, an end to all things was inevitable. Cataloged in their calendars as Year 623, 1E - a massive eruption boomed from the bowels of Terra, sending molten rock flying from the largest mountain on the island; the mountain where, ironically, the capital of the Certes people was situated. Through fire and brimstone, the cities of the Certes burned day and night. Their shipyards burned, crushing hopes for escape. Their walls crumbled, and their houses burned away. Their ships sank, as molten rock came flying down from the high peak and landing on top of the ships' decks. Their libraries and universities, with all their great knowledge, burned to the ground - leaving only ashes in their wake. Their strong armies and weapons of bronze were useless against an enemy whose heart could not be pierced nor whose head could be cut. The people fled, many caught by the waves of magma which melted their mortal bodies into oblivion. Those who tried to hide were choked by the smoke, their bodies turned into ashen husks. However, there were a few citizens which survived, by escaping on a small fleet. Yet, even they would not be safe from the cataclysm - as the waters soon rose from their calm slumber and began to rock. Massive tidal waves formed, and crashed against the hull of the galleys. Many sunk before they even left port, and some also faced a similar fate out on the coast. By day's end, from the hundreds of thousands that lived on the isle - only a few meager hundred remained to carry on.

After the cataclysm came calm, peace, and restoration. The isle had split into quarters, and only the massive peak remained at the center. Fires still burn to this day on the central isle - the volcano that began the horrid ordeal still burning, but slumbering. The survivors of the Certes Civilization were split, and the remaining groups landed on separate land fragments. From here, they would rebuild - or at least attempt to. Most of these efforts were in vain, as the volcanic ash had covered the soil and made it unable to host life. The survivors of Man knew that little was left for them on what remained of their homeland. So, they fixed their ships and headed off in their respective directions - north, south, east, and west. To the east, Man landed on the continent of Aestra; a land filled with forests, valleys, mountains, lakes, southern jungles, and frigid northern lands. To the south, Man landed on the continent of Merkath - a land filled with rolling plains, hilly landscapes, and beautiful coasts that spanned for miles. Man also took to another land in the south known as Phrygia, where they would find massive mountains and endless valleys to house them. To the west, Man landed on the continent of Bosan - a land whose deserts spanned on for unfathomable distances. While the terrain looked bleak, a few rivers ran from the coast inland, and these surrounding areas were lush and fertile. Finally, to the north, Man landed on the continents of Versana and Polkova - two frigid lands, where snow and hail grips the land for many months without end. The discovery of these new landmasses would mark the beginning of the Second Era, where Man found his new homes and began their new chapter in Terra's history.

These new lands, however, came with their own fair-share of troubles. Beasts, unknown to Man before, presented the most obvious threat next to disease. Many of the initial settlers died from their lack of immunity to illnesses unknown to them. Yet, even through all these pains they went through, the people were able to create societies. And as these societies grew, so would the beginning of friendships and, equally, tensions. However, most of these tensions and alliances were internal - isolated to their surrounding areas. The Aestran Clans frequently traded and assisted each other in times of hardship, while at times they also formed pacts to fight each other. The Bosan Tribes were also prone to bickering or cooperation, depending on the season and its bounties, or lack thereof. The Versani Clans defended themselves in wars against their neighbors, the Pokovans, who crossed the frozen straits that formed during the winter in the north. The Merkathians often bickered with the Phrygians over claims to sea-lanes and went to war over such matters. Indeed, in the beginning, Man was still developing and attempting to establish supremacy over both man and the land. The Second Era, since its beginning and for approximately two hundred years thereafter, was rife with small conflicts, which ushered in the need for the establishment of local lordships - rather than a unified, central government. At first, such ways were accepted and welcomed. Kings and queens ruled their provinces, which they would either buy or carve out via military conquest. Then they would create mighty citadels and establish both law and an economy. These local governments allowed for focus on provincial matters - rather than overbearing itself with continent-wide order. Soon, across all of Terra, city-states began to take form, and the land was divided but prosperous. Trade between cities sparked economic boons, and peace came to the land. For one hundred years, Terra experienced a sudden population growth. Cities expanded, and with this came the need for an essential resource: land and living space. This began a time known as the Age of Conquest. In the 2E, Year 335, one city-state in Aestra began the cycle of war. This time, it was not in the name of lords or ladies, or in the name of honor, but rather in for the survival of a people. The Kingdom of Hassia, a large state with a strong economy and well-armed military, began its conquest in Northern Aestra. Meanwhile, across the Sea, the Bosan Tribes experienced a similar situation in Year 315, with the rise of the Dakur Tribe. The Merkathians began to ally themselves under a universal incentive for peace: coin. Their neighbors, the Phrygians, united into a loose confederacy of kingdoms. Versana united most of its clans as early as Year 290 - while, sadly, Polkova remained separated. Overall, Terra was beginning to look very different, as kings and lords began to claim lands and unify the lands by either force or diplomacy. However, our focus will go to one land in particular. The eastern land of Aestra proved to be the cradle for the rise of Terra's first empire.


Prologue
~o~
As a new era comes to the lands, the people of the provinces brace themselves for a new season of peace or war. No matter the place or location, the change affects every last being in Terra - man or beast, friend or foe. From the mightiest kingdom to the lowliest of villages, the new era always brings about a sense of prosperity or dread. The land has had a long history of great achievements and bloody wars. Every continent carries itself in a very different manner - and each also has a unique culture, religion, and people. And, perhaps, it is the diversity in people that makes Terra such a wonderful land, or such a hellish land. As aforementioned, every empire and every little village has a tale to tell. And, no matter how small the people or how large they are, they all play a part in the massive story that is the tale of Terra. But, at times, their roles, sadly, go unnoticed.

Our focus, as aforementioned, will be on the continent of Aestra.  Aestra, for many years, had been inhabited and ruled by separate city-states, each with their own government and culture. However, as the Age of Conquest began to dawn, the number of these city-states and kingdom dwindled and where either assimilated or entirely destroyed. Where once Aestra housed thousands of city-states, it now only had a few hundred. The ruling state, thanks to its military supremacy and vigorous trade, was the Kingdom of Hassia. Hassia not only directly ruled several states in Aestra - but it also controlled many indirectly, by the way of puppet governments and spheres of influence. The government of Hassia was an absolute monarchy, led by King Rudolph Otto III. The Hassian Family, for over two hundred years, ruled most of Aestra with a fairly strong grip on the affairs of the land. However, the tables would be turned by one of those rare, aforementioned conflicts that ripped through the continent. The conflict in question is known as "The Uprising".

"The Uprising" occurred during the Second Era. It was a rebellion against the government of the Hassian Monarchy. King Otto III had deemed it necessary to expand south to the remaining city-states that were not under his direct control. He slowly began inciting conflict by "persuading" kingdoms to declare war on neighboring kingdoms in the south. Over the course of a full year, skirmishes became mass conflicts, and these escalated into full-scale wars. Armies of thousands marched upon each other's borders, and cities began to crumble under the boot-heels of opposing armies. Eventually, as this massive war raged on, King Otto III established the first military union and faction for the continent-wide war. The Alliance of Northern Aestra, as it was named, marched with a combined force southward. It preached union, order, and glory. The southern realms swiftly realized that they could not stand up to such an alliance - and these thoughts are what caused many to surrender as the Alliance marched on the southern lands. However, a few city-states rallied under one man and his kingdom. The Kingdom of Greenwell, led by Artheas Greenwell IV, a man of piety and rather wealthy, offered to fund a southern army to defend and retaliate against the Northerners. His plan encouraged other noblemen and women to pile in their coins and raise a defensive army. By the 2E Year 342, two years after the initial Alliance invasion, the southern realms raised a single banner - the colors of the Southern Coalition. The Coalition armies met the Alliance forces at the fields outside the city of Meden.
Aestra has had a plethora of battles, sieges, and conflicts worthy of song and praise. Yet, this battle towers over every other one like a god amongst men. The battles of ages past cannot compare to the magnitude that was the encounter at Meden. It was this battle that defined the fate of an entire realm, and decided who would rule all of Aestra as a unified entity for the first time. Man has come close to uniting the land, but none have come as close as those who fought at the Battle of Meden. In the Second Era, the two factions converged - carrying their beliefs as shields and their armies as swords. On one side lay the Army of the Northern Aestran Alliance, spearheaded by the Kingdom of Hassia and its king, King Rudolph Otto III. King Otto III descended from a line of strong, ruthless kings seeking unification through strength and power - and often by either the jingle of the coin-purse or the persuasion of a longsword. On the other side was the Army of the Southern Coalition, led by the Kingdom of Greenwell and its king, King Greenwell IV. King Greenwell IV came from a lineage of small, yet humble kings - kings who sought to provide protection and unity through common aspirations and equality. While the outsider may favor one leader over the other, depending on their morality, both kings were considered evil in their own right. Otto may have been ruthless, but he sought to unify a land that had been divided for centuries. Greenwell may have been seen as the benevolent protector of the people, but he aspired for dominion like any man in his position. In the end, both decided to resolve the schism by taking to the sword and waging war. After many skirmishes defending against Hesse's march to unify the South with the Northern Alliance, both armies converged on the city of Meden.

Meden, a trade-city and vital choke-point for continental trade overall, lay at the heart of Aestra. The city was a massive sight, an epic giant that did justice to its reputation as a city of riches and gold. The city sat on a hill, and at the highest slope was a mighty citadel that looked over the surrounding provinces. Meden and its lands were, naturally, neutral and wished to keep it that way when "The Uprising" started. King Otto III attempted to persuade Meden with promises of additional wealth - but the councils of Meden replied that they already had enough wealth and did not seek to waste it on petty wars and expansion. King Greenwell IV tried to reason with their morality, stating that Coalition sought to bring unified peace for the people and not the nobles which tainted the courts of the North. The councils of Meden replied that they served their people and their people alone, and did not want to taint their own stance of neutrality with the morality of others. After many failed attempts, both factions decided to wage battle for the city and its lands. Meden and its leadership, under Trade-Baron Gerwald, knew very well that militarily they could not offer resistance to the victors of the battle. They agreed that whoever took the field by day's end would gain the allegiance of Meden. With this settled, both armies marched to claim the city and gain a critical territory. If the Northern Alliance was victorious, they would have access to endless wealth and be able to stage a proper invasion to reclaim the South. In contrast, if the Southern Coalition was successful in the battle, they would have a strong staging point for an invasion of the North and have the wealth to fund for the expedition. Many began to question the motives for battle, however, and many thought that the fuel for this battle was greed alone. Yet, in the end, no matter how much honor, valor, and will an army has, gold is the driving force for any military; and the man with the most coin on his side will be able to field the most men, thus being able to drive forth. However, numbers are not always an indicator of success - and the Battle of Meden would prove that. What follows is a retelling of the battle, through the eyes of the historian Xidorn, who attached himself to the Alliance Army.

"The day was darkened by clouds and the air felt heavy. Flags fluttered with fury, as the wind blew hard on the valley. Armored soldiers marched up and down the dirt roads, patrolling the surroundings. Across from our camp, a fair distance away, lay the rebel camp. Both sides were well out of range from any arrow or other ordinance. It could be barely made out through the trees and rocks, but one could see the rebels training and preparing for the battle ahead. Nestled between both armies was the open field that was to be the field of battle. Near that field lay a small township, which belonged to Baron Gerwald. All the farmers had left days prior for the city of Meden upon hearing word of the impending battle. The houses remained hollow husks of what they once were - homes for hard-working peoples and their kin. As the morn' carried on, both sides hustled about with intent as they prepared with haste for the bloody task ahead.

I had the privilege of attending the meeting between the commanders of the Alliance Army - where they spoke of the stratagem for the battle. My eyes were graced by the presence of King Otto III himself. The man was dressed in nay royal regalia - but armor fit for a grand knight. Closely behind him was the King of the Kingdom of Gotha, his majesty King Ehrhardt. They sat on two fine, mahogany chairs at the end of the pavilion we were in. In the center was a large table with a map of the Meden Province on it. Generals, commanders, and captains surrounded the table - all kneeling at that point in respect to their liege. As I kneeled, I peeked at both kings. I can clearly remember the look in both men's eyes. Otto had pride, intent, and vigor. The man was clearly proud and devout to his belief in unification - but I could see a very different tale in Ehrhardt. From his visage I deduced the man clearly did not care for his lord's aims. Ehrhardt and Gotha had been forced into vassalage after their province was threatened with war - it was a most unfair ultimatum. Of course, King Otto III embellished the matter, stating that Gotha joined because it 'saw reason' and 'felt it proper to lend aid'. Any respectable scholar or diplomat knows the truth, but Gotha is nonetheless a strong ally. Otto was indeed very wise to force an alliance, for now he had under his command some of the most fearsome soldiers in all of Aestra. Tales of the Gothic Knights spread far and wide across the realm, and their ferocity and dreaded reputation is known to all. But, in the end, Ehrhardt was simply doing what was best for his own lands - it was either death or servitude.

The plans for battled called for a preliminary barrage of flaming rock from a series of trebuchets. They were to aim at the advancing rebel army and ensure they were adequately worn down. As Otto put it, 'If the bastards do not retreat at the hell-fire, then let it rain steel.' He called for his arbalests to fire their bolts unto the enemy and ensure they were only further worn down. If their aim was true, then the rebel armies would be weary and bloodied - making them easy prey for the Alliance forces. The first to engage, deemed King Otto III, were to be the Gothic Knights - led by King Ehrhardt himself. After him would be the infantry - Hassian Knights and Footmen. Ehrhardt nodded, but his eyes fueled with rage. I ponder on what thoughts raced through his mind, of how he must have realized how he was to be treated like fodder. I suppose their bravery was to be their bulwark on that bloody day. From this point, the plan depended on the skill of the Army - but not one man or woman in that tent could fathom the stalwart resistance the rebels had in that battle.

As the King's entourage exited the pavilion, I took to my tent and met with a young fellow that was to be my escort. King Otto III had requested I accompany him to write down my experience of the battle. I put on my finest garb and gathered my tome, quill, and ink vat. After a short walk to the ridge which overlooked the valley, I was summoned by his majesty. He spoke to me, and requested I write down his words. I nodded, of course, and agreed to do so. I dipped my quill and began to write the man's statement:

'Those who challenge unity are but fools, who would rather dwell in anarchy and descend into a pit of darkness which none can escape. The self-styled Coalition is nothing more than rabble - led by a king whose only goal is to destroy everything we have toiled for. They have no honor, no chivalry. Today, we shall smite these pests like the nuisance they are and we shall remove the thorn from our sides. Mark my words, by day's end, this field will run crimson with the blood of the traitors, and we shall raise our banner high and bask in the glory that will be this victory.'

Bold words from the man. I attempted to speak to Ehrhardt, but by the time I had arrived he had already left to assemble his knights down at the valley. I returned to the overlook, and sat down on the grass. The morning dew still shined, as a few of the sun's rays pierced the dark sky and made the land sparkle. O', what irony that was - such beauty yet such bloody business lay ahead. As I began to write of the formations down below, light showers came over the battlefield and forced me to close my book. The King saw this and fetched a tarp so that I could write without pause from the rain. After I was given adequate cover, the bombardment began. Trebuchets flung their ordinance across the valley - explosions echoed alongside the screams of men, burning from the flames and hot oils. Soon after, the crossbowmen began to load and cock their arbalests. They fired, sending a barrage of steel toward the enemy. By now, the Southern Army had begun the march - and now many of their men began to fall one by one. They returned fire, and their volley rained down on our armies. A horn bellowed across the fields, and the Knights of Gotha charged forth, their horses galloped with great speed, thundering across the battlefield. As they attacked, so too did our footmen, whose commander called out, "Let's to it pell-mell, brothers! Forward unto dawn - for Aestra!" However, as they called out 'for Aestra', my ears I pray did not deceive me when I too heard the enemy chant similar words. It became quickly apparent to me that this was not a war for king,                                               but for country, for all of the fatherland.

After the bloody melee, the Coalition raised its banner high and claimed the field. The tattered remains of the Alliance Army marched back north - and I myself prepared to leave. It was not may wish to be taken prisoner. As I left, I passed his majesty, who muttered to me something as we departed.
'The end of all good things has come.'

After the Battle at Meden, the armies of the South marched forth with vigor and did not stop until they reached the Kingdom's capital at the city of Sol. After a lengthy siege, which carried on for many weeks and months, the capital fell to Coalition hands - and the King was executed by Coalition forces.

With the Northern Provinces now under the control of the southern realms, it was the decision of the many nobles to establish a singular government - as they saw this as an opportunity for the first time in all of Aestra's history. By general vote, the nobles called forth King Greenwell IV, war hero and leader, to be at the head of this new government. King Greenwell IV and his family called for the rise of a new power - a united empire. Establishing their capital in the fallen city of Hassia, the new government renamed the city the "Imperial City", and raised the banners of House Greenwell and the new "Eastern Empire" as it was called. King Greenwell IV hosted a coronation ceremony, where his appointed Imperial Council of Nobles and members of the Commoner's House both placed the crown upon his head, with their blessings and approval. They also solidified the succession, with the Greenwell Family holding control over the lineage of Emperors and Empresses. With the common people and wealthy both supporting the new government, Emperor Greenwell I began immediate efforts to train a new army, re-build Hassia into the image of the Imperial City, and establish trade routes across the land and the sea. With this, the Third Era was ushered in - and now, the Empire stands a mighty military and trade power. They established the Imperial Trading Company, the Imperial Legions, and created magnificent cities - worthy of any faction branding themselves an "empire". The time is now 3E Year 200, two hundred years since the establishment of the Empire long ago. By now, Emperor Greenwell IV has taken the throne, the Legions stand at the ready and defiant against any foreign invasion, and trade remains steady and profitable. This tale follows the story of the Emperor's subjects - mainly the Imperial Legion, brave men and women of strong build and brave hearts. Whilst they carry on their daily toil of protecting and serving the peoples of the Empire, they are oblivious of the devious plans of others, and could not possibly fathom of the doom that looms over the horizon that will threaten the stability of the Empire. Foreign threats are about to land upon the shores of Aestra, but they would sooner send minions of their wicked ways than pick up the sword of war themselves.

It is a quiet day in the tropical south, in the city of Port Royale, where our tale shall begin . . .