Legion02

I have your orders General

I'd be down for this.

{Open to Application} Rebellion is Our Calling - Revive

@Aerandir I've got a few questions. For one, does the king hate mages and magic? Or is it only the Vanguard? Secondly, I'm assuming Akarath is the capital. Is the mage tower property of some mage order? Also, is magic different from most other settings here? I would love to play as the leader of a mages guild or something like that.

{Open to Application} Rebellion is Our Calling - Revive

Question: Can you join an already existing faction? Like the Ouroboros?

Tabrasa\- Born of Chaos.

A quick post to keep the spire stuff rolling. Worshippers Arc post is coming (hopefully) soon.

Tabrasa\- Born of Chaos.

“They’ll try to freeze it.” Thesan noted, with his gaze still fixated upon the two remaining heads of the Hydra God. He could feel the temperature dropping around him as the storm began to worsen. “I reckon they aren’t done yet with this strange spire.” The dragons around him felt the cold air as well but they were no mere lizards. They carried the essence of their lord with them. Even as Ros tried to lower the temperature, Thesan and Lira released their own power. The dragons around them released their hot breath. Fighting off the cold while triggering a conflagration on the vegetation around them. It didn’t take long before smoke rose up into the freezing air.

But then the first lightning flashed through the air and struck the spire. “They don’t stand a chance against that.” Lira noted with some amusement as the storm continued to rage yet Thesan looked less at ease. “That’s the power of a god they’re using though. Even the flames were divine and look at what the spire did to them.” He said to his sister. “They’re not the god of fire. Theirs is not divine.” Still, Thesan shifted anxiously around. “It's still not right. That spire is creating too much.” Lira let out a heavy sigh. For ten days she believed her brother had not changed. Now faced with his nemesis and another great power he almost looked afraid. “Very well then brother. Let us show them the power of our Lord.”

The fire on the mountain shifted as both Arch-Dragons looked towards the spire and gathered the flames around them. Streams of fire swirled around the air as the other dragons joined with their own power. Making an orb of fire. First, it burned fierce and yellow. Yet when the Arch-Dragons focused their own power into it, the flame’s purity increased and the orb turned blue. Neither Arch-Dragons found that intensity enough. As the fire began to suck the air around him, forming a strong gust of wind, they kept feeding it power.

---

Deep within the Rift they had remained for what felt ages now. Severed from the power of their lord. The Arch-Dragons had breathed fire and raged again and again. Constantly punished for it by the vile magic of their cage. Now they could rage no more. The fire within them began to flutter and die. Even now they felt their embers being smothered. They would not last much longer.

Tabrasa\- Born of Chaos.

Even with their god sleeping, turmoil raged within Verzak. The Twin Arch-Dragons ruled from the mouth of Ragnagedon’s cave. A testament of their strength. Within the Verzakian Dragons were gathering ever more. Joining the horde that Lira and Thesan called for. The later Arch-Dragon particulary was in a foul mood the last few days. His scars were an eternal reminder that he was bested by the hydra god. In the early days of his existence, several dragons taunted and challenged him. That stopped after the first skull got crushed below his leg. Now very few dared to even snarl at him. In the meantime Lira has ruled as nothing short of a queen. Unchallenged, undenied, her rule was absolute. With the merest command she could whip the dragons in a frenzy.

Deep within the central cave laid Ragnagedon in a restless slumber. Even adrift in his own mind, Ragnagedon never stopped observing the world around him. When a few fires died in a particulary confusing way he knew something was off. Something greater than he thought. With a voiceless command he whipped his dragons into a frenzy and commanded his Arch-Dragons. Outside several vulcanic explosions heralded their leave. Both Arch-Dragons quickly understood what they had to do and took flight. Behind them the others were quick to follow. Flying through the smoke filled air of Verzak, the horde grew fast behind them. Until all of the Verzakian Dragonflight was away. Traveling north-east.

---

They arrived just in time to see Drakairos do its thing and laughed. Through their eyes Ragnagedon witnessed the attempted destruction. But when the fire turned to maple leaves, he let out a roar of laughter. Which echoed through all dragons present. For now he stayed his hand and the dragons obeyed, pulling back towards a safer distance. A mountainside. They were swift to claim the terrain from the natural predators. “Let us see what the three headed thief-god will accomplish.” Thesan said. His eyes ever fixating his nemesis. Lira was focused on other things though. “What’s that tiny thing down there?” She asked. The mere confusion prompted three dragons to fly off the mountain side and go into the dangerous aura to investigate the tiny disturbance.

---

These were different dreams he had. In the past Ragnagedon dreamed of a high gate taunting him and a world aflame. It was a dream made by the barren world Ragnagedon had found himself in. Right after he was born. Now his dreams were different. He saw the night sky above and below a valley filled with tents. A hundred fires were gently burning and burning away Oao’s domain. Behind him though, there was something different. Small, hidden embers and people all around them. Talking in hushed whispers. The sense of serenity Ragnagedon felt quickly vanished as he recognized one person. Fir, the first of his followers. The fire god had seen the man’s fate unfold with every prayer. A faint grin formed on his lips.

---

“Still nothing?” Ghoran had been trying to interrogate his heretic prisoner for the past ten days now but the woman was more stubborn than his own wife. Even when starved for days she never said a word. In fact, she never even lost the defiant fire in her eyes. The sort of gaze that made very clear that she wanted to kill him. “You have to realize it is hopeless.” He continued on. At the very least she did appear to listen. “We outnumber you ten to one. There will never be a fight. Just a slaughter.”

Esif kept her lips sealed. She would never give in. Not even after the torture they subjected her to just because she killed a bear. A supposed holy animal for their god. What idiot god kept a bear as holy animal? Still, she remained faithful to her master and her god.

“At least tell us what sort of mad god you’d worship that makes you burn so much and suffer so much. He must not care for you at all, looking at those scars. They’ve made you ugly.” Ghoran said, pointing at the one just below her eye.

Out of all the scars he could point at, he pointed at the one she had before she followed Fir. The memory of it only made her seethe more. Until she could bear his ignorance no more. “Ragnagedon.” She whispered.

“What’s that?”

“Ragnagedon is my god and he loves me. He has set me free from men like you.”

Ghoran rose up. Those were the first words the woman spoke and they were sneered at him. Still, he knew more and he had to report it. Or he would if the sudden loud scream from outside didn’t distract him. He ran outside to see a tent fully ablaze. Men were fleeing away from it while others with buckets of water ran towards it. “What happened!?” Ghoran yelled but none of the men were from his tribe. He ran towards the great flames when suddenly another tent, right of him, burst into massive flames. “What is happening!?” he repeated.

“Fire! Fire! Ghoran!” he heard screaming from a distance. One of his warrior ran towards him yelling: “Fire!” Out of breathe he collapsed before his chieftain. “My lord! Lord! Fire! Everywhere! They walk amongst the fire! They’re mad!”

Ghoran looked up, just in time to see what his own man was talking about it. Men in masks and covered in mud walked between the burning tents. Throwing torches and leaving hot coals on the ground. Every man, woman or child they encountered they killed and let the blood drip into the flames.

“Attack!” Ghoran yelled as he made a mad dash back towards his own tent ring. His warriors were already picking up their weapons. “Go south! Protect the tents! Kill the masked ones!” His warriors did as commanded, after which Ghoran rushed into his own tent.

Where he coughed Esif cutting her bounds with his bronze sword. For a second they looked each other in the eyes with wide disbelief before Ghoran leapt for the blade and Esif leapt for his neck. She was fast. With one move she could jump almost over him. But he caught her midair and made her fall. Quickly he slashed towards her but she rolled away in time. With both her feet she kicked him away from her and jumped up. The next moment she was running outside. Ghoran was in fast pursuit. Outside tents all around were burning while people screamed. Canvas was painted red with blood. “Kill them all!” Ghoran yelled to every warrior passing him. Having no idea what tribe they were. There were no more tribes in this pandemonium.

He couldn’t find Esif at first. Until she suddenly appeared behind him and threw both of her wrists over his shoulders. She hung from his back as she tried to strangle him with the bounds. While Ghoran was slashing backwards again and again. Eventually her weight and his weakening muscles made him collapse on his knees. Esif reacted quickly and threw her full weight upon his back. Knocking him against the ground. She kept strangling him as she headbutted him again and again. Letting a vicious scream every time she hit him. Ghoran below her tried to fight it. But the dizziness began to take over. When blood began to pool below him, his vision blurred. Then everything went black.

It wasn’t a clean kill and it wasn’t a cheap one eather. Esif finally managed to cut her bounds. Something hot ran off her brow and down her cheek. Still, with stolen bronze blade in hand she began to make her way towards the thick of the chaos. Leaping up in the air and onto a tribesman back before cutting open his back. Then she found Fir. Who looked almost overjoyed when he saw her. “Esif! You’re still alive! Help me kill these curs!” He said as he slapped an enemy with his fire staff and setting him on fire with the liquid in the bowl.

Esif continued doing what she did best. Fighting with the raw savagery of a cat and Fir witnessed it well. Her capture and imprisonment did nothing to temper her apparently. For the first time in a very long time Fir felt proud. No, more, he felt love. Love for a second daughter he could find. But the situation around them was dire at best. Even with all the chaos and the burning and flames, the enemy was still outnumbering them greatly.

---

The god of fire watched his closest follower intensely. The battle wasn’t going well. Not anymore. Chaos was being worn down. There was only so much you could do with the element of surprise. For a human, Fir was remarkably resilient. Yet he was inching closer and closer to his breaking point with every raider slaughtered. Ragnagedon wanted nothing more than to know what this mortal would do once everything became utterly hopeless.

Tabrasa\- Born of Chaos.

Feels like it's time for some real fire...

Tabrasa\- Born of Chaos.

So I still need to write a post for my Worshippers and the follow up on the dragons. Sadly the upcoming week will be crushing me and I'll barely have to the time to finish my post. So this is me letting you all know I probably won't be able to post between now and next week Sunday but I will be able to read (hopefully).

The Fading Light of V'landriel (Closed for Soft Reboot)

Republic of Aurelia

Nation name: Republic of Aurelia
Type of Government: Military Republic
Heads of Government:

President-General Solomon Luther
Admiral of the Fleet Charon Sunderson
Spymaster Tharlon of Turtle Latoa
Minister of Research Sarah Thule
Minister of Civil Affairs Jean Jacob

Economy: Recent industrialization efforts are paying off as more and more factories pop up along the coastline. While coal and iron can be imported from deeper within the country, Aurelia has a need for more so will mostly import both coal and iron. Further up north there are also large farms producing wheat, vegetables, and cattle. Enough food is produced for export. Finally, in a bid to improve it’s standing on the international magical field, Aurelia both imports foreign magical objects and resources and exports magical trinkets.
Primary species: Humans
Population: 45 million
Culture: With now a peasantry freed from the oppression from nobility and royalty and took up responsibility for themselves. The obligatory two-year draft has instilled a deep sense of respect for the military forces. While many state-sponsored artworks are now instilling a pride for being Aurelian in the hearts of the people.
Religious and Other Beliefs: For long Aurelia had believed in a one true God and his angels. The Church of Ionius held influence everywhere. Now, however, it has fallen out of favor. Young people reject its teachings. Religiousness, in general, is in decline across the country as miracles are explained through precise magical theory and technology.
Locations: Bordeaux red
Climate: Temperate
Military: At this moment there are three official branches. The Aurelian Navy, the Aurelian Army and the significantly smaller Aurelian Arcana branch.

The Aurelian Navy is but a shadow of what it once was. With only 15 cruisers and not allowed to build many more, it prefers to keep its larger ships near the coast. The fifteen cruisers are quite well maintained however. Most of the Aurelian Navy currently depends on lightweight, wooden destroyer ships to cut through the waves beyond its own coast. These destroyers are build to be fast and heavy hitting but lack any defenses. The marine corps in the navy is nearly non-existent. As for now, despite the constant insistence of Admiral Sunderson, the President-General has not given much attention to the navy.

The army on the other hand, has been given quite a bit of love. While it is heavily observed by dark elves, it has grown in the recent decade from an incompetent militia to an actual standing military. During General Solomon’s military reformation he made sure to organize constant marksmanship competitions and drills. Ensuring that his troops wouldn’t loose their edge. For now the army could be seen on par with most other armies on the Old World continent. Capable of defending their own home yet too small to invade anything. Aurelia lacks any and all equestrian forces. As horse riding was, until recently, a luxury only for the nobility. With their demise, the cavalry vanished as well. Instead of rebuilding it, General Solomon began to expand the artillery divisions.

The third branch is unarguably the one gaining the most attention. With the establishment of the Free Academy for Magic, mages could be pulled from the general population. Furthermore, a great many advantages were offered the join the military. The pay off was quickly seen with the establishment of General Solomon’s Brimstone Mages. Plasma mages with a high affinity for fire and combustion. While it would seem that the whole country has a greater affinity for plasma magic, the other forms were not neglected. With the establishment of the Magitects, newly improved fortresses could be built faster and cheaper. Sadly not everything is going as fantastic. Those with an affinity for liquid and gas are extremely rare. Too rare to form effective divisions for them. These days the Arcana branch also offers massive grants for both in-house and independent (but educated) mages for military research. In essence, it would be insane for any mage living within Aurelia to not have some affiliation with the Arcana branch.

The fourth branch is an unofficial and highly secretive branch. It exists of hired pirates, mercenaries, thieves, smugglers mixed with extremely loyal army officers. The fourth branch is highly active overseas in other countries. Establishing themselves in the underworlds of foreign cities. Its influences vary from nation to nation. Some nations, often those with problems towards humanity or trade, are totally sealed off. Others, especially nations that trade a lot, will be infiltrated to some degree. The fourth branch does its best to stay out of any official business within the host country. Generally, their agents are found in shady taverns or running gambling dens. If they reside within loyalist nations, they will attempt to disrupt any official and military business through terrorism and even guerrilla warfare. If they reside within separatist nations, said host nation can request support from the underworld. Within neutral nations, the fourth branch generally remains neutral as well.
History: The kingdom of Aurelia once considered itself the pinnacle of civilization. Valiant knights stood against dragons, golden paladins vanquished evil witches and priests blessed the fields of the peasantry. The nobility, royalty, and clergy held themselves to the noble duties and protected the innocent. While the peasantry’s duty was to provide for the three former castes in life so they may be protected. Aurelian historians look back and call those the simpler days. When everything just worked. Where your word was your bond and the divine watched over you.

But it couldn’t last. A combination of greedy kings and insubordinate nobility had plunged Aurelia in several civil wars for the passed 300 years. Then, when king Bran the Unifier brought the once-shattered land back together, people had hope once more. Hope that kings like Bran would lead them to wealth. King William, son of Bran, promised exactly that. Wealth and greatness through conquest and heavy expansion. He pushed through reforms and triggered an industrial revolution. King William, according to many, was a fair man with a good heart. He made sure his subjects would have enough. Hopefully forever. This delayed the plans of expansion again and again. The nobility grew restless. Young knights felt a greed for glory. The Clergy was getting anxious as well. Especially when William was pushing for education.

His downfall was, maybe luckily, not the clergy or the nobility. It was an external threat. Right when he was going to order his troops to march into his neighbors, Yllendyr attacked. Pushing through Aurelia they met strong resistance. A well-prepared army and a population utterly unwilling to bend the knee. Thousands were slaughtered. It took half a decade for the Yllendyr forces to reach the capital. Once at its gates, king William was still completely unwilling to surrender. Rather suddenly though, he fell ill. A week in the siege of Aura, he died. The clergy were quick to crown his very young child as the new king and install one of their own as bishop. Mere hours after the coronation Aurelia surrendered. The only conditions were for the clergy, royalty and nobility to maintain their status and ability to govern Aurelia under the rulership of Yllendyr. In essence, they sold out the land to protect themselves.

The middle class suffered greatly under this surrender. They were the ones raised in levies, while the nobility could pretend to fight with bandits as leaders of the militia. They were the ones being double taxed now, both by Yllendyr and their own state. A deep sense of resentment and bitterness boiled over many times. Each rebellion was quickly squashed by the nobility though. Who didn’t want to attract even more ire from their overlords.

Sadly the economy began to falter as of recently. The heavy taxations and general hopelessness of the population is crushing efficiency. This lasted until Solomon Luther entered the realm of politics. As an accomplished soldier from the Yllendyr levies, he was quick to raise his own militia. Which appeared easily more capable than the nobility’s own militias. He was also elected as mayor of his hometown and managed to make it one of the few places in Aurelia where people appear to actually like living. King William II raised Solomon up and made him a royal advisor. As the years carried on, Solomon worked hard and long on rebuilding Aurelia. Even though the nobility tried to block him at every step, it began to get hard to argue with results.

However, Solomon realized that he was but remedying the symptoms of a much larger issue. Yllendyr occupation and the willingness of the royalty, nobility and clergy to obey their overlords. Solomon knew that someday he’d have his chance. So he prepared. Shades and shadows moved into other countries. Forming a network of illegal smuggling and other underworldly activities. At home, he made lists of dark elves, people trading with dark elves, locations of mansions. Everything. Maybe someday his children’s children could take off the chains. Imagine his surprise when one of his shadows told him that the Emperor is dead and the Empire was in a civil war.

The Fading Light of V'landriel (Closed for Soft Reboot)

<Snipped quote by Legion02>

Sure thing. And actually, what I was looking for was one that would be the one remaining independent nation and have fought an on-off guerrilla war with the dark elves for the past 60 years since the Subjugation. If that works for you, then absolutely.

@Mihndar

I will admit, that was not the idea I had mind. I also want to confess that I've never written such a thing so far. However, I certainly want to give it a shot! Feels like a good challenge. Are there any more specifics that need to be discussed?