World Events

Sanctimonian Invasion of Sarkun

The Sarkun Jungles are in ruins, flooded by the taint of blood and rotting flesh of thousands upon thousands of soldiers - mortal and otherwise. Massive fires spread throughout the land, consuming much land in its wake. The skies stay blackened by the plumes of smoke in the horizon. Ships of various kind are wrecked across the coast. The walls of the cities are damaged, some even breached. Aranek settlements granted to them by the Emperor are nearly raised to the ground, burned by their ancient ha'dri rivals. The war was costly on all sides, but the Sanctimonian attack was held off by the Empire that has laid claim to Sarkun and other lands across Aeria.

The population of the Empire remains heavily against the Concord and its allies, but for now the ha'dri natives that were left behind by the Sanctimonian retreat are subjugated in masses. Hunting parties grow more daring into the jungle, exploring the relatively unknown brush that is beyond the settlements to capture or kill ha'dri. Public executions are held nearly everyday in villages and cities as more and more citizens begin to arm themselves to protect their nation.  

Despite all this destruction and chaos, the Tower of Bane still stands defiantly against the wishes of the Concord. Legions of demons maneuver in and out of the Tower freely with varying purposes. While most offer relief and aid to repair buildings, stop fires, and to act as a military police force to temporarily replace the Demoniac Guard, who suffered major losses trying to evacuate citizens of the Empire to protect them from the invading forces. A memorial service immortalized the 3,000 Guardsmen and women erected a monument with each of their names upon it over their graves. It was at this event that the Emperor Marcus Olm first spoke after the war. He praised their actions of defending the citizens of the Empire even in the face of death. After this he spoke in front of his palace to the resta of the Empire.

The Empire Invades Estivon

Long before the events of the Sarkunian Invasion by Sanctimonia, Marcus Olm, as Emperor launched the invasion of Estivon personally against the alfar Dominion. On the basis of liberating the land and returning it to the wild elf natives and to release them from the slavery the Dominion forced upon the natives, Marcus first captured many key inland forts using demonic legions of Hell and a combination of native freedom fighters called the Wardens. Other groups, like therianthropes also made their way to Marcus' banner of freedom for Estivon.

The provincial governor of Estivon's fort was the first to fall but the governor's body was never found in the heap of bodies stacked after the conflict. After this, the simultaneous assault on three forts not marked on maps fell before the might of the demon legion. Survivors who surrendered were granted amnesty but nothing has been heard from them since their capture.

More and more forts continue to fall as the army moves with its momentum toward the coast despite talks of peace planning to take place soon between the Empire and the Dominon.

Spoiler:

The Dominion abandons Estivon
Faced with a general uprising in all corners of their province of Estivon, as well as Imperial assistance in the form of Demonic raiding parties, the provincial governor of Estivon gives the order to abandon the interior and fall back to the coastal cities. Beseiged on all sides, the walls hold even as powerful demonic fires break out, scorching much of the interior and killing countless civilians. Manned by both provinicial levies and the Empire's non-Alfar soldiers - humans, half-elves, free elves - they stand hard and fast, holding out hope that they might be relieved by the revered Alfari veterans. They never are. They hold the walls just long enough so that the Elven veterans - as well as all Alfari residents of Estivon, including the Governor, his family, and a few notable citizens - can load up on a hidden fleet of ships, abandoning the province entirely, departing for the Ahdsurian Isles. Without aid, the local garrisons fall to the assailants, the last hold-outs falling sometime in mid-December.

The reaction from the long oppressed Wild Elves is one of jubilation, as they occupy their long stolen lands, reuniting the enslaved with their families. Many of the Tym give thanks to their Imperial allies, grateful for their part in their liberation - though already differences begin to marr their relationship. In the north, citizens who survived the seige are sent north, to Sanctimonia, as refugees - but in the more Imperial - influenced southern regions, Demonic forces override the will of the locals and begin to ship thousands back to Sarkun in chains.

It is not yet clear where Estivon - or Nuihadhas, as is its native name - stands in this new world, free from Ahdsurian domination. A fiercely independant people, many fear that the Empire of Sarkun seeks to overstay its welcome, and the extent of their goodwill. Already, Imperial agents aiding with the reconstruction have begun or already finished monuments and shrines to the divine figure of the Emperor Marcus Olm - an act that has some of the Wild Elves leery of their allies.

Whatever comes of this, however, greater mysterious still persist in the world today. In a far cry from their normal militarism, the Ahdsurian Dominion seems to be mustering no response to the loss of their territory. Indeed, all around the world, agents of the Dominion seem to be retreating from society - while they maintain ties of trade with their other provinces, it seems that all citizens of Alfari descent are relocating to the Isles. Embassies are being left unmanned, save for their bewildered non-Alfari representatives, as the Alfari return to Ahdsur. Large numbers of troops are being relocated from Brython, where they seem to be engaging in a holding pattern surrounding the capital of Te'clis. And beyond this, there are rumors of black bag operations all over the world, wherein rogue Alfari are assassinated - or kidnapped, vanishing without a trace.

Pycheko Mobilizes

Troubling reports of Pychekan advances against the Sanctimonian and Vale border reveal that many camps have been erected to house large amounts of troops along the border. Caravans carrying the banner of Imperial Trade and the Pycheko stands high in these camps and as they cross the border into Sanctimonia without much resistance or aggression. With every passing day the camps grow larger and larger to accommodate for the worlds largest military.

While Imperial Trade has claimed to be neutral in times of war, some regiments inside Sanctimonia have taken up arms against local governments in the south for the slaughter of their people in provincial capitals in Sarkun and the numerous ships that have been destroyed by the Sanctimonian Navy. Nothing but threats and occasional brawls has broken out, but the situation seems to be a riot in the waiting.

Trading ships between Sarkun, Pycheko, and Vinberg have also grown, likely to be caused by the war in Sarkun and the request of aid to Imperial Trade. Troops and raw materials are unloaded everyday to provide support to the war torn country.  

Jungle At War

With the retreat of the Sanctimonian forces and in the face of total species wide genocide at the hand of Marcus Olm and his underlings the Ha'dri have abandoned their sieges and spread out into the jungles. While a detachment of ha'dri females have fled with the Sanctimonians the rest, four and a half million strong continue to fight on from the jungles.

If one thing is certain it's that the Ha'dri refuse to go quietly. Any human, Tiefling or non native species of Sarkun that wanders in to the jungle is attacked, killed and strung up as a warning to others. Raids and incursions onto settled lands are growing increasingly common, with the attackers resorting to suicidal attacks and death rather than live on to face capture. The attacks often happen quickly and without warning before the raiders melt back into the jungles that they have long since called home leaving any who intend to find them with little option beyond burning and destroying the very land itself in order to find them. In the face of genocide and extinction there are only two options to the Ha'dri and their home; to fight or to die.

The Great Ha'dri Exodus
In a sharp departure from their previous stalwart resolve to fight the Empire of Sarkun, not relenting until the last Ha'dri falls or the Empire itself is disbanded - the Ha'dri have seemingly abandoned their crusade, digging up roots and beginning an incredible exodus of life - just over five million Ha'dri, repesenting 90% of the surviving race, departing on a mass emigration towards the land of Sanctimonia. In further twist, it seems that the Empire which has so long fought them is content to let them leave without further death. The long train of insectoid creatures trails to the north-west, through the gap in the mountains leading into Estivon. Allowed to pass by lingering Imperial forces, the long train is greeted with surprise by the native Wild Elves - ranging from fear, to apprehension, to hospitallity, as some Wild Elves gift surplus food and other supplies to the Ha'dri. Some local leaders have used the Ha'dri as an example of the damage the Empire can have. The Ha'dri were another race, long oppressed in their own lands. As such, political tension seems to be gathering in Estivon, though nothing has yet broken out.

As the first of the Ha'dri refugees arrive in Sanctimonia, local authorities strain the limits of their resources to feed the vast migratory horde. Luckily, the omnivorous Ha'dri are able to subsist on even the meagre garbage and scraps that the people can give up. The average Sanctimonian looks at the Ha'dri with a mix of awe, apprehension, and disgust - some think of them like locusts, here to devour their hard-earned society and move on. The government takes a different standpoint - knowing that the vast Ha'dri swarm can and will act as a powerful force in these dangerous days, and have taken to both feeding them and arming them with what weapons can be forged on such short notice. As of now, most of the Ha'dri horde is arranged in camps lining the border between Sanctimonia and Estivon. Eventually, food concerns will force a decision - to act and retake their homeland, or seek other alternatives.

The Empire's Invasion of Sida

Celebration sweeps the entirety of the Empire through as the family of the Emperor returns to the borders of the Empire itself after being at war in Estivon and other regions sought by the Emperor. It is clear that the family is united through divine means, which has been the reason for so many victories in these war torn regions. However, the family only stays in the city's palace for a few days before taking a caravan out of the borders and back to the war front to lead the Empire and its people to victory. Without warning the Empire prepares for its attack on the deserts of Sida.

Claiming to be a war on the reconquest of their homeland before being exiled, the war is launched by the Empire's Legions led by two of the brothers to the Emperor. Southern cities closest to are left in waste by the initial assault. The skies are darkened with fire as the notorious flying barges too many in count appear, spraying fire and molten iron upon the cities. The only beings that are somewhat prepared to protect the cities are the Archivists who appear from rifts and attack with tendrils of pure magic. The Emperor's family are unphased, striking out half a world away, filling the mages' minds with images of terror and pain.

Barges come closer to the cities to unload their package upon the unsuspecting city: 40,000 hellknights eager to kill. The militia and other defenders are swatted aside like ants, but the slaughter does not stop. The thousands of citizens inside the city are left with nothing but pain and suffering before being killed in the most brutal of ways. Others who are not so lucky are dragged to the dunes where they are buried up to their chests in scalding sand; some have loved ones butchered or raped in front of them before being killed themselves. The most able bodied of the dead are gathered in the plaza by those unlucky enough to survive. All of this has a but one purpose: to maximize the emotional and physical suffering of the inhabitants before they die, their pain and suffering acting as delicious nectar to the demons.

For days the slaughter continues, but on this day only the hand of the Emperor spares those who remain - the slaves. These slaves are relocated to other cities while other more violent types are given weapons or wield their magic freely against their former oppressors in an attempt to free other slaves or just to seek revenge. All of the volunteers are put into the ground forces of the legions and begin to march with the other forces.

Fires burn long into the night and the following days as demons work day in night to strap bodies of the dead to their barges as trophies. Led by the two brother Olms, the demonic legions march toward Seljuk city itself, leaving nothing but a wake of destruction in its path. Each city on the way is consumed, burned, and discarded, adding multiple slaves to their legions while the others return with aid from the Imperial Trade supply lines.

The barbaric brutality of this unprovoked invasion  leaves the people of Sida reeling in shock. Patnos, set to sword and fire and much worse, cannot be saved, its tens of thousands left to merciless torture and slaughter. The city of Kirukkh, given only a few days warning, prepares for a desperate defense. By the order of the Shahrab (Regional Lord), the citizens  abandon the city, fleeing into the open desert in hopes of escaping. The defenders and the Shahrab himself remaim, along with a swath of male volunteers from the local populace. They march as doomed men into battle, knowing  the only hope for their loved ones is to fight to the death that the demon's bloodlust might be briefly assuaged upon them and not the innocent. As Pashtan also falls under assault, the result is much the same.

But not all hope is lost. As knowledge of the atrocities spreads, outrage erupts in villages, townships, and cities across Sida. As the Sultan calls for war, the Shahrabs  find themselves inundated with  throngs of able bodied men, ready to give their lives to avenge the lost of their suffering. The Shahrabs of Narvik, Sargon, and the Sultan of Seljuk himself musters for war, readying tens of thousands to meet the invaders. Aided by the Archivists of Light, the Shahrabs share news with their Sultan, able to coordinate defense, organization, and plans of attack at speeds never heard of before.

The Sidan world answers Seljuk's cry for war, as the Sultanates of Nasii and Torah muster their own armies to dispel the unholy invaders from the lands of their fellow Sidans.

Perhaps the most hopeful news of all comes from the north, where the Shahrab of Halakh-Din proclaims his intent to lead a unified effort against the invaders. Shahrab Yasir El-Amin, the Scourge of the Sands, the Flame of the East, the greatest military mind of a generation, and long war hero against both the heathenous Talibarians and the ever encroaching northern Minotaurs, the Flame is respected almost universally. Now he rides for Seljuk from his normal post at the Talibarian border, to join his veterans with forces from Nasii and greater Seljuk. Should the Empire meet the Flame, their plans for conquest may very much be in doubt, indeed.

Spoiler:

The Empire's Invasion of Sida II

The Empire's Legions leave nothing untouched in their wake; towns, villages, and outposts are utterly destroyed by the invading forces if it holds no strategic resource to the Empire or its allies. Even the sands of Sida itself turns to glass as the demons march across it, a feat never before done except by the Dread Lord Sylornath himself.

Though more rally to Sida's defense, even more are welcomed within the ranks of the Empire's Legions. Slaves willing and able to hold a sword or bend magic are equipped with supplies and sent to march with the demons or even ride on the barges in the skies while others are sent back to the major cities in the south for relocation. Rifts to Hell open as well, fueling the momentum of the invasion with more demons eager to fight and devour souls. Drakes, Banespawn, and other demons join the Legions as they continue their march to the city of Seljuk.

Perhaps more dangerous than the actual fighting demons that come out of the portals are the plague demons, each carrying a infectious and deadly disease that always results in the deaths of those it claims before going onto its next victim. These spawn all over Sida; to the most populated cities and even to the smallest of villages, these demons spread their evil diseases in an attempt to demoralize the Sidans into surrendering to the Empire in order to spare themselves from the pain and suffering.

Sidan warlords tasked with organizing and commanding over the armies of Sida have been made prime targets to the more hidden side of the war: assassination. Demons, Demoniac Guard, and the infamous being known only as the Voidhound are sent out with a long list of names to eliminate for the Empire to ease the conquering process. To the Sidans, these assassinations may look like mere accidents or just another victim to the plagues. One thing is clear, though: no one is safe from the demonic invasion unless they surrender themselves to the Empire.

Spoiler:

Victory in the Desert

In a startling turn around, Seljuk scouts mirroring the advance of the Demonic Legions have reported a stunning shift in the war - following a massive ambush targeting the northern army, both Demonic Legions have halted their advance towards the capital of Seljuk, and begun a full retreat towards the eastern coast. While the Sultans and Shahrabs of the land are hesitant to claim victory at such an early hour, the defenders of the capital breath a little easier, while throughout Sida jubilation breaks out, thanking Aten and those who took part in the ambush for delivering them.

The ambush itself was a coordinated attempt between the most unlikely of allies - the Demon Hunters, the infamous, stern, venturing on fanatical arbiters of vengeance against all demon kind, including mages who summon them; and the Archivists, the oft mistrusted scholars of magic, who currently place their headquarters in the city of Narvik. Together, they struck viciously at the northern demonic horde, marshalling the legendary Gun'iib Sakneed, the Sandworms of Sida, to take vengeance upon the Demons; conjuring great storms of sand, and churning the earth into a fine mud; and pelting the demons with great displays of raw magic. At the same time, the Demon Hunters crippled the fleet of barges, sending thousands of demons spiraling to their deaths. The carnage was so prolific, the victory so complete, that there are rumors that Marcus Olm himself fought on the battlefield, and was mortally wounded by the Demon Hunter Patriarch. Whatever the case, following the strong victory, both Demonic Legions have begun a full retreat, seemingly abandoning their conquest and reforming near their initial victory at Pashtan.

For all the cries of victory, however, the Archivists and Demon Hunters have not halted their counter-strike, hounding the two Demonic Legions endlessly in their retreat, conducting constant hit-and-run ambushes on the two Legions. The second Legion, reportedly, has had their barges destroyed as well, the survivors forced to fight on foot. The resounding success of their cooperation has resulted in a great change of mind concerning the Archivists, as gifts and cries of celebration surround their grounds in Narvik.

The war, however, has not been kind to the people of Sida. Outbreaks of unnaturally virulent plague, left by the Empire's biological strikes, have erupted in dozens of cities; Rahna, Nasii, Torah, Narvik, Samangan, Edremit, and the city of Seljuk itself. Even with quarantine measures in effect, hundreds die weekly from the plague. With disaster looming, the Archivists have announced their efforts to research a cure.

What's more, the efforts of Demoniac assassination squads have spilt noble blood all over Sida - murdering the heirs of the Sultan of Torah and the Sultan himself in Nasii. As the Demonic retreat continues, the remaining noble rulers have doubled their guard, and in both cases pledged vengeance for their death of their loved ones. The Sultan of Torah and the newly ascendant Sultan of Nasii have both pledged money, troops, and political support to the continuing war against the Empire of Sarkun. While it is clear that the darkest days have yet to pass for Sida, the people and royalty of Sida have seen complete annihilation turn its ugly head - and now steel themselves for the continuing struggle.

Spoiler:

Peace between the Talibarian Remnant and Seljuk

Word has come down from Seljuk in recent days that the Flame has arrived in Narvik, where, with the help of Archivist mages, he communes with the royalty of Sida. Of particular note are the envoys from Talibar, seeking a direct audience with their old adversary. According to the official report, a peace settlement has been reached for the first time in seventy years, as both sides come to terms with the incredible destruction wrought by Marcus' armies, and the danger the world is in. None to fond of demons, demon worship, or demon summoning themselves, the Talibarians have arranged a peace settlement in return for food shipments for the displaced during the war, already on their way. While the Sidans have forbidden priests to accompany the caravans, no doubt some of the Prophet's word will be accepted by the grateful Sidans as the caravans spread their gifts. Already in the works are talks of military coordination as Sida gears itself for a counter-attack against the forces of the Empire.

Spoiler:

Ecomomic problems begin to plague Maalik

Even with their collected string of military victories, the newly born military juggernaut of the Empire of Maalik begins to fall prey to a more invisible threat, no less deadly than brandished steel - the market place. All around the Empire, due to a number of coinciding factors, prices have begun to rise, the value of gold has begun to fall, and resource shortages plague many endeavors.

The most visible cause for their economic malaise comes in the form of a nearly universal trade embargo, as nations at war with the Empire completely cut off all forms of trade with both the Empire at large and their patron trading partner, Imperial Trade of Lykeregrad. Though uneasy relations have existed since April between Sanctimonia and Imperial Trade, including a brief seizure of goods and blockage of trade, a full embargo was declared in October, shortly before the formal declaration of war between Sanctimonia and the Empire. Now, Imperial Trade caravans and trade ships are not permitted at any point within Sanctimonia, leading to the loss of every single trade port along the Dragon Coast. What's more, both Sanctimonia and her client state, Vale, have engaged in an extensive trade blockade of the Draconis Inlet, seizing - or, if necessary, sinking - Imperial Trade ships departing from any number of ports in southern Occitan. With Pycheko land locked, and the nation-states of Occitan being the only nation in the north willing to allow Imperial Trade to act out of their ports, Wirfalsten acts - for now - the only truly safe port open to the Empire. As a result, resources, material, and payment going to and from Pycheko has ground to a halt, as very little is let through. The only alternative for Imperial Trade was a long land route through Sida - which now has been closed to them.

When the Empire declared war upon Sida in late December, it ended both this land route - and Fadilla's portion in the lucrative Southern Sea trade. With news of the slaughter suffered in Seljuk, nearly every port - including Aekhan - has closed their ports to vessels from Imperial Trade or Fadilla. As the war lengthens, and the Sultanates steel their resolve, merchant fleets are refitted for war, to deny Imperial Trade free access on the Southern Sea. The last port that truly remains open to the Empire are the Ever-Rain Isles.

In essence, Maalik has become an extremely isolated market. Many Imperial Trade vessels languish in port, knowing it would be futile to try to depart. Resource shortages begin to plague industry at home, as rare materials become scarce, and even such staples as steel run short. Forced to subside on local materials, the Empire will yet survive - but gone are the days of ample material, flowing in from distant shores. What's more, the Emperor Marcus Olm has engaged in great expenditures of wealth from his coffers, funding reconstruction efforts, public works, and an attempted reformation of Maalik's military out of Fadilla. In all, thirty five million shillings worth of gold has been introduced to the market - heralding a looming disaster. As gold floods the market in prolific amounts, the average worker is enriched - to no end. With extremely little foreign trade, gold simply circles within the closed market that is Maalik, leading to a startling and steady drop in the value of gold. With the Emperor's rule having gutted much of the merchant class, as well the turmoil causing a severe drop in industry, there is much to spend but very little to spend it -on-.

Finally, and perhaps the most pressing problem, lies within the food supply. While traditionally Maalik has subsided upon grain bought from Aqil, or surplus from more distant Sida, the recent war and turmoil has led to a decrease in this year's fall harvest. With many wealthy landowners having fled, purged, or murdered by enraged, free slaves, much of the arable fields have fallen into disuse, failing at the critical time of the October harvest. What's worse, when Sanctimonia invaded in November, Adrahal of Tisuuk, vengeful lord of Aqil, spitefully burned many warehouses of grain, while the Sanctimonians torched others in their retreat. The full result is nearly a full half of the normal grain surplus was annihilated. While, for the immediate future, food remains available, already certain worrying shortages have cropped up. Estivon, the newly liberated Dominion province, yet has fertile fields which produce all year round - however, the lingering question of the ownership of Estivon remains.