Difference between revisions of "The Crown of Alahan"

The tide of the war suddenly changed. United, the Lahnar and the Ylliar flew from victory to victory. The most decisive was the Battle of the Lion, during which the Lahnar warlord Leonid defeated the Atrocity known as Zekudim the Gaunt. It was the first time ever such an event had occurred. This powerful omen definitively convinced both clans of the usefulness of their union. So the Alahaar came to be. They gave their name to the largest and most powerful kingdom on Aarklash: the Kingdom of Alahan, the land of the descendants of the sun and moon peoples.

The tide of the war suddenly changed. United, the Lahnar and the Ylliar flew from victory to victory. The most decisive was the Battle of the Lion, during which the Lahnar warlord Leonid defeated the Atrocity known as Zekudim the Gaunt. It was the first time ever such an event had occurred. This powerful omen definitively convinced both clans of the usefulness of their union. So the Alahaar came to be. They gave their name to the largest and most powerful kingdom on Aarklash: the Kingdom of Alahan, the land of the descendants of the sun and moon peoples.

Leonid led his men into combat. Unwilling to watch her people lose, the Chimera demonstrated her supernatural powers. She summoned all the wild animals living in the region and channeled their ferocity to change herself into a fabulous lionness. The Lahnar and the Ylliar were galvanized by her transformation. The Chimera charged right into the obscure legions, summoning a powerful form of magic never seen before: the magic of Light. Making the most of this change of tide, Leonid engaged Zekudim and, after what would become a legendary duel, he banished the Atrocity.

Leonid led his men into combat. Unwilling to watch her people lose, the Chimera demonstrated her supernatural powers. She summoned all the wild animals living in the region and channeled their ferocity to change herself into a fabulous lionness. The Lahnar and the Ylliar were galvanized by her transformation. The Chimera charged right into the obscure legions, summoning a powerful form of magic never seen before: the magic of Light. Making the most of this change of tide, Leonid engaged Zekudim and, after what would become a legendary duel, he banished the Atrocity.

The Atrocities were defeated, one after the other. The Alahaar, always moving south, conquered gigantic stretches of land and discovered peoples that had been surviving there, surrounded by the lands dominated by the Atrocities. These were years of victory and hope for the Alahaar. Leonid used these good times to found the Kingdom of Alahan. He built his capital, Kallienne, on the prairie that had seen the alliance of his clan with that of the Ylliar. Finally, he married the Chimera.

The Atrocities were defeated, one after the other. The Alahaar, always moving south, conquered gigantic stretches of land and discovered peoples that had been surviving there, surrounded by the lands dominated by the Atrocities. These were years of victory and hope for the Alahaar. Leonid used these good times to found the Kingdom of Alahan. He built his capital, Kallienne, on the prairie that had seen the alliance of his clan with that of the Ylliar. Finally, he married the Chimera.

Having secured the future of his bloodline, Alcyd gathered his forces and marched out to challenge the ultimate Atrocity in Eclipse Pass. During this battle, the Second Battle of the Eclipse, Alcyd the Paladin slew XXI and granted the gift of peace to his people.  

Having secured the future of his bloodline, Alcyd gathered his forces and marched out to challenge the ultimate Atrocity in Eclipse Pass. During this battle, the Second Battle of the Eclipse, Alcyd the Paladin slew XXI and granted the gift of peace to his people.  

After their victory over the Atrocities, the Alahaar completed the conquest of the southern parts of Avagddu. Alcyd the Paladin showed himself up to the task. He organized the fiefdoms, charted the baronies, and appointed his most valorous commanders to lead them. The Kingdom of Alahan traced its definitive peacetime borders.

After their victory over the Atrocities, the Alahaar completed the conquest of the southern parts of Avagddu. Alcyd the Paladin showed himself up to the task. He organized the fiefdoms, charted the baronies, and appointed his most valorous commanders to lead them. The Kingdom of Alahan traced its definitive peacetime borders.

The barons understood the folly of their selfishness, as well as the danger represented by the courtesans’ intrigues. The Invisible King returned, a whole century after his disappearance, without having grown old; as if Virtue had protected him from the assault of time. Irwin took the reins of a kingdom unified behind its new-found king. The Chimera then gave him a son: Gorgyn. Irwyn continued to rule for another twenty years. His entourage announced that he had died of sickness and his son became king of Alahan. The new king married a famous magician called Trys the Divine. He had very little time to enjoy the taste of bliss as the kingdom was about to experience its darkest hours.

The barons understood the folly of their selfishness, as well as the danger represented by the courtesans’ intrigues. The Invisible King returned, a whole century after his disappearance, without having grown old; as if Virtue had protected him from the assault of time. Irwin took the reins of a kingdom unified behind its new-found king. The Chimera then gave him a son: Gorgyn. Irwyn continued to rule for another twenty years. His entourage announced that he had died of sickness and his son became king of Alahan. The new king married a famous magician called Trys the Divine. He had very little time to enjoy the taste of bliss as the kingdom was about to experience its darkest hours.

For many, the Rag’narok began in the year 1000, when the Meanders of Darkness gathered in the Syharhalna to celebrate the completion of New Shamir. For the Barhans, it started one year earlier on a desolated island south of Allmoon: Tycho.

For many, the Rag’narok began in the year 1000, when the Meanders of Darkness gathered in the Syharhalna to celebrate the completion of New Shamir. For the Barhans, it started one year earlier on a desolated island south of Allmoon: Tycho.

This is the time when the Red Lioness started her ascension in Barhan society with the tragic events of the Battles of the Lost Hearts. The return of the Atrocities exalted her warlike ardor. However, some victories shared the bitter taste of defeat.  

This is the time when the Red Lioness started her ascension in Barhan society with the tragic events of the Battles of the Lost Hearts. The return of the Atrocities exalted her warlike ardor. However, some victories shared the bitter taste of defeat.  

The falconers of Alahan had located troops on the move in the Behemoth. It was not the first time the Acheronians attempted to skirt around Kaïber. A small detachment of falconers and reapers was sent to meet the enemy.

The falconers of Alahan had located troops on the move in the Behemoth. It was not the first time the Acheronians attempted to skirt around Kaïber. A small detachment of falconers and reapers was sent to meet the enemy.

Far more numerous than first thought, the Acheronians were led by a powerful Skull warrior. Driven by her usual fieriness, the Red Lioness challenged him to a duel. The survivors all told the same tale: while the opponents were duelling, they suddenly ceased the combat. They exchanged a few words, letting a few tears out before charging one another. The Red Lioness smote the Skull warrior in a terrifying burst of Light.

Far more numerous than first thought, the Acheronians were led by a powerful Skull warrior. Driven by her usual fieriness, the Red Lioness challenged him to a duel. The survivors all told the same tale: while the opponents were duelling, they suddenly ceased the combat. They exchanged a few words, letting a few tears out before charging one another. The Red Lioness smote the Skull warrior in a terrifying burst of Light.

Ever since, her hair has been as white as a shroud.  

Ever since, her hair has been as white as a shroud.  

Besides these warlike adventures, King Gorgyn led his own adventure of another kind, affective and political, heroic and military. With the return of the Atrocities, the order of the Chimera gained an unprecedented strategic role. Its leader, Trys the Divine, Queen of Alahan and wife of King Gorgyn, became the center of much attention. Agents eventually reported some worrying disappearances of his wife, her suspect behavior and strange powers, well beyond those a regular magician. Gorgyn trusted his queen and did not wish to unveil a secret his wife deemed useful to keep from him: Trys the Divine is an Immortal of Light. For centuries, she has been observing the Barhans and the order of the Chimera in secret.  

Besides these warlike adventures, King Gorgyn led his own adventure of another kind, affective and political, heroic and military. With the return of the Atrocities, the order of the Chimera gained an unprecedented strategic role. Its leader, Trys the Divine, Queen of Alahan and wife of King Gorgyn, became the center of much attention. Agents eventually reported some worrying disappearances of his wife, her suspect behavior and strange powers, well beyond those a regular magician. Gorgyn trusted his queen and did not wish to unveil a secret his wife deemed useful to keep from him: Trys the Divine is an Immortal of Light. For centuries, she has been observing the Barhans and the order of the Chimera in secret.  

The King also had to fight his own battles. Exploiting the absence of most Barhan heroes, who had been sent all over the continent, the Limbos of Acheron launched a major campaign against the fortress of Kaïber. The coalition of the forces of Light won the Second Battle of Kaïber, but suffered heavy losses. The fortress itself was ravaged and lost most of its advanced defensive fortifications.  

The King also had to fight his own battles. Exploiting the absence of most Barhan heroes, who had been sent all over the continent, the Limbos of Acheron launched a major campaign against the fortress of Kaïber. The coalition of the forces of Light won the Second Battle of Kaïber, but suffered heavy losses. The fortress itself was ravaged and lost most of its advanced defensive fortifications.  

Feyd Mantis had concocted a wicked plan to overthrow the Fortress of Kaïber. With the help of Cyraël the Pallid, a necromancer leading a pack of wolfen zombies, he planned to get troops inside the citadel. There Cyraël would raise the corpses of the dragons kept in the towers of the fortress.

Feyd Mantis had concocted a wicked plan to overthrow the Fortress of Kaïber. With the help of Cyraël the Pallid, a necromancer leading a pack of wolfen zombies, he planned to get troops inside the citadel. There Cyraël would raise the corpses of the dragons kept in the towers of the fortress.

Light was only saved by the feats of three heroes. The Inquisitor Eschelius the Fervent showed heroic resilience in the foremost fortifications of Kaïber. Syd the Cynwäll later known as “de Kaïber,” freed the draconic corpses from the influence of Darkness. All the while, Dragan d’Orianthe fought on the frontline every second of the battle, displaying admirable courage and exemplary behavior in every charge and every fight.

Light was only saved by the feats of three heroes. The Inquisitor Eschelius the Fervent showed heroic resilience in the foremost fortifications of Kaïber. Syd the Cynwäll later known as “de Kaïber,” freed the draconic corpses from the influence of Darkness. All the while, Dragan d’Orianthe fought on the frontline every second of the battle, displaying admirable courage and exemplary behavior in every charge and every fight.

The fortress was saved once again.

The fortress was saved once again.

Realizing how close the Kingdom of Alahan had come to total disaster, King Gorgyn decided to reorganize his armies. He summoned all the barons to Kallienne and explained to them that the time had come to roar like lions and truly engage in this merciless war. He explained that, despite the qualities that made them excellent barons, some were shaped for the Rag’narok and others were not. He asked who was ready to die on the battlefield far from Kallienne, forgotten by their own kin. Valdenar de Doriman, Methrain d’Algerande and Dragan d’Orianthe were the first to answer with a nod. Mirvilis d’Allmoon then followed, explaining that death was only a passage. Finally, Kelgar de Valady joined them too. The four other barons, Egeus d’Icquor, Kamis d’Amirat, Sihran de Montvert and Telior de Gabriac, remained silent, and handed in the coat of arms of their barony to the king.. No one saw this gesture as a sign of cowardice. On the contrary, the barons and the king understood the courage of their peers. The king gave them a final mission: finding a hero able to understand and lead their former subjects.

Realizing how close the Kingdom of Alahan had come to total disaster, King Gorgyn decided to reorganize his armies. He summoned all the barons to Kallienne and explained to them that the time had come to roar like lions and truly engage in this merciless war. He explained that, despite the qualities that made them excellent barons, some were shaped for the Rag’narok and others were not. He asked who was ready to die on the battlefield far from Kallienne, forgotten by their own kin. Valdenar de Doriman, Methrain d’Algerande and Dragan d’Orianthe were the first to answer with a nod. Mirvilis d’Allmoon then followed, explaining that death was only a passage. Finally, Kelgar de Valady joined them too. The four other barons, Egeus d’Icquor, Kamis d’Amirat, Sihran de Montvert and Telior de Gabriac, remained silent, and handed in the coat of arms of their barony to the king.. No one saw this gesture as a sign of cowardice. On the contrary, the barons and the king understood the courage of their peers. The king gave them a final mission: finding a hero able to understand and lead their former subjects.

Tenseth was chosen to shelter the Athanor, one of the most powerful Syhar artifacts. In 1002, the disciples of the Beast decided to capture it and attacked the city. The forces of Light seized the opportunity and advanced on Tenseth from the Akkylannian Temple of the South (see Army Book: Temple). King Gorgyn sent a company led by Alahel the Messenger and including many other Barhan heroes such a Misan the Clairvoyant and Danil the Brave.

Tenseth was chosen to shelter the Athanor, one of the most powerful Syhar artifacts. In 1002, the disciples of the Beast decided to capture it and attacked the city. The forces of Light seized the opportunity and advanced on Tenseth from the Akkylannian Temple of the South (see Army Book: Temple). King Gorgyn sent a company led by Alahel the Messenger and including many other Barhan heroes such a Misan the Clairvoyant and Danil the Brave.

One contingent was sent to the city gates while another advanced through underground tunnels. The first collided with the Devourers, the second met the clones. Eventually, even though the Akkylannians and the Cynwäll had finally made it to the gates of the sanctuary of Arh-Tolth, the forces of Light were forced to pull out.

One contingent was sent to the city gates while another advanced through underground tunnels. The first collided with the Devourers, the second met the clones. Eventually, even though the Akkylannians and the Cynwäll had finally made it to the gates of the sanctuary of Arh-Tolth, the forces of Light were forced to pull out.

Since the Battle of Tenseth, the Athanor has disappeared.  

Since the Battle of Tenseth, the Athanor has disappeared.  

Under pressure from the Ram army, the orcs of the Behemoth decided to join those of the Bran-Ô-Kor by travelling through the lands of Alahan. Their emissaries were turned down by the barons: they were told that the Kingdom of Alahan knew who its allies were in the Rag’narok and the orcs were not among them.

Under pressure from the Ram army, the orcs of the Behemoth decided to join those of the Bran-Ô-Kor by travelling through the lands of Alahan. Their emissaries were turned down by the barons: they were told that the Kingdom of Alahan knew who its allies were in the Rag’narok and the orcs were not among them.