Chapter 9:The Darkness In The East(Final Chapter)
1448 AC
It was the year 1442, King Shi Yuan rules over the Northern Kingdom with a great ambition. He wants to rule over all. The Holy Council is ruled by The Great Elder, Gafgarion. The barbarians in the south is ruled by King Balthasar who united the barbarians. King Balthasar was a descendent of Balrog.
In the east, a huge dark fortress was discovered by The Great Elder while he was exploring with a massive army accompanying him. The fortress gates opened and a man riding a horse came out. This man wore a mask. Gafgarion did not say a word and the man with the mask said to him "You will live... Gafgarion... but they will die..." The skies turned black and a huge fog covered the Holy army. The masked man vanished and an army of wraiths and demonic warriors charged at the Holy army slaughtering all of them. Gafgarion fled and was the only one who survived. Gafgarion returned to Veluca and told the Council what happened.
A week later, Gafgarion has a nightmare seeing the same horseman wearing the mask. The Masked One said "Gafgarion... Do you fear me?" Gafgarion replied "Who are you?" The Masked One said "I am the one with the mask. A dark one. One who has always been here... I have been here before the birth of this foolish council and I have been watching how history pass by.." Gafgarion said "What do you want?" The Masked One said "I want to fill this land with darkness... ever since the death of Marcus... I have begun building my army... It is almost ready to destroy and the Holy Council will be the first!! Hahahaha!!" Gafgarion woke up almost having a heart attack.
The next morning... Gafgarion told the councilers about the dream he had but no one could think of a solution to annilhate such a demonic army. It would only be wasting troops. After that nightmare, Gafgarion could not sleep well and the war between the Holy Council, Northern Kingdom and the Barbarians continue to rage.
1451 AC(One year from Present) [Written by Fenin Scholars in their own viewpoint]
The eventual rise of the Fenin Kingdom was inevitable. Its people, once peaceful by nature, had been manipulated by the Holy Council for far too long. Their best men had been sent off to fight wars of no value to their own interests, and crippling tributes to the central cities were but supporting an increasingly growing hegemony over their lands. For what was there to gain for them? To what value did the Holy Council serve for their passionate people, strong culture and respected military? Since the time they had been annexed, the Fenin tribes had been pulled into an ever expanding war with the Northern armies, and soon their Barbarian neighbors would seek new riches of their own against an already over-extended Holy Council, vested in their own grudges that spanned centuries. Perhaps it was time to rise up yet again in arms, though the fear of retaliation by the council had squashed all previous talks of rebellion, fearing a repeat of Sanidas' earlier attempts.
But the Holy Council was growing overconfident, and with every victory over their enemies came an unavoidable sense of security among the lords. Threats of the barbarian horde fell on deaf ears -- pushed aside by their ever growing achievements among the northern front. The mysterious demonic armies of the east were still but urban legends to most, and any notion of strengthening garrisons within their central provinces was met with laughter; who could possibly challenge their army in its current state?
For the past 4 years, the Fenin lords had met in secret, discussing various schemes and strategies to execute their revolt when the time was right. And so, on the 7th of May, 1451 AC, the lords and local leaders of the various western villiages met at Uxkhal, knowing that it could perhaps be their last. It was here that the blueprints for the future Kingdom were laid. Since their time as part of the council, the Fenin had made several changes to their military structure. They had learned from the Holy armies and modified their formations to complement the Fenin's already feared bow and spearmen. With this new found organization, they perhaps had a chance to secede after all.
On May 8, 1451 AC, with the initial drafts finished, the lords were prepared to strike. They dismissed the village leaders with instructions to initiate their militias. The various lords themselves spread word of the rebellion, urging all people of Fenin descent to answer the call. They did not strike, however; the plan was to goad the council into sending an army to attack, where their forces would be waiting.
The plan worked brilliantly.
Within days, an army of 60,000 crusaders arrived at Fena. They expected a disorganized mob behind the walls, but instead were met with the Fenin's new famed military units: The phalanx and deadeyes. The council had been too preoccupied with their foreign wars over the years to even notice, but men from all across the western lands had been secretly conscripted into training amongst the neglected villages, laying in wait for the day they would be called to arms. Their spear formations and thick armor easily bested the crusaders' attempts at access into the city, whilst the deadeyes made quick work of any Holy bowmen attempting to counter-fire.
By the end of the week, the crusaders had been beaten. What was once a legion of 60,000 strong was now routing back to Praven, having suffered serious losses. Witnesses report that the toll of deaths to the council was upwards of 45,000, though estimates widely vary.
After the crushing defeat at Grunbeld, the Fenin knew that there would be more strikes to come. They quickly sent diplomats to the Northern Kingdom, signing a truce under a new banner and name: The Fenin Kingdom. The former lord and military strategist Sargon, lauded for his work in the military reforms, was quickly chosen as the first king. The cities erupted with celebrations on this day, however, King Sargon and his newly appointed lords knew that their struggles were only just beginning.
Present:1452
Year 1452, The Masked One begins his conquest.