As the stories were told, the two rivaling kingdoms of Thelan and Alovia waged war for centuries, clashing and battling for whatever excuse was good enough to spill blood -- be it land, currency, trade, religion, knowledge, or power. Before the continuous war, there was once harmony between the two vast kingdoms that was unified through an alliance to fend off the creatures of the north. Dragons, ogres, trolls, giants, basilisks, etc. dominated the northern, mountainous region that fell between the two kingdoms. The two kingdoms enjoyed a satisfying time of success and freedom while they traded and conquered happily and stoically, untroubled by the adversities that the kingdoms would face. The north began to become more and more controlled and restful due to the works of the kingdoms, leaving less stress for the ruling courts of the kingdoms. Things were slowing down, and as how many good things are destroyed, greed took it's play when a rare item was acquired from a squad of knights. The egg of a slain dragon remained intact and healthy after the destruction of a ruthless battle, resulting in both of the kingdoms' interest in experimentation. Their curiosity could not be shaken, and eventually caused great tension leaving the kingdoms at a stand-still.
Slowly, each kingdom would begin extracting their own troops and citizens and it wasn't until the cataclysmic Battle of the Burning Valley in which the war would begin. A meeting was called between both kingdoms in which they met at the border. The dragon egg was revealed, but negotiation only lasted so long until the first strike was made, in which is still argued of who initiated first. While the war began to revel and proliferate, the safety of the egg began to become less and less prioritized, resulting in it's broken encasement and mass destruction. Within an 8-mile radius, the egg destructed and took with it the majority of the knights of both kingdoms as well as the open terrain that still remains broken and black. Raging fires roared outwards from the egg, not only releasing an explosion of merciless flames, but also a cry for the entire species. The kingdoms couldn't find it in them to continue the fight, so they both began their retreat, but they were soon interrupted as the dragons of the north flew in and continued the destruction in search of the broken shells of the egg. The flames raged on for weeks, and the area is now habitable for dragons, leaving it a dangerous area to venture into.
And so the war went on with only few halts, but with a consistently cruel and cold nature. For the coming generations, war was common in everyday life, and to live a life without war would be an unrealistic dream that would only be crushed by the feet of the enemy. Thus, warfare became an honorable structure within society until the people began to protest centuries later. The kingdoms fought more mildly in consideration of the people, but was never ceased until Alovia finally extended a method of peace and unity.
A girl was granted a strange gift that was treasured enough to cease fire between kingdoms, but it was not enchanted upon her by any witch or warlock, but rather a god or creator since it was born into her. Anice Carter, a girl blessed with the ability to control the animals -- be it a rat or a tiger, or an ogre or a dragon. She was brought to the Alovian royal court in which they began to praise her for her strange gift thinking it was a sign from a divine being. It was argued that her powers should be used for mass destruction upon Thelan, but they decided not to continue the war and raise the girl to become destructive and dangerous. Instead they awaited for the next generation of royalty to commence, in which she would be offered to the King Charles of Thelan to symbolize the unity that Alovia would swallow their pride for. Thelan accepted, and it took time for the kingdoms to dwell together after a long history of warfare, but it became possible and the upcoming decades were full of celebrations and blessings bestowed from Queen Anice of Thelan.
Although things were great for continuous decades, with a queen that controlled the creatures of the north to have, not only the opposing kingdoms, but also the horrors of nature living in harmony, a sudden disappearance of Queen Anice caused confusion and upheaval to stir within the kingdoms. Rumors began to spread that she was captured by Alovia since they were the rightful ruler of Queen Anice while some believe that she was merely a spirit and she vanished, only to return when she's needed be it by reincarnation or by another form.
History began to rewrite itself, the countries slowly extracting their knights and citizens, but the first battle has yet to come, if it even will come. Many pray for the return of Queen Anice, while some thirst for battle once more. Rumor has it that there is a party forming that involves the best knights and fighters from both kingdoms to venture on a quest to the Northern Highlands as a final plea before the breakout of another century of warfare. But those are only rumors -- what is it that you believe and desire?
Benzaiten
Cubix
