| Targon Valerian Lux is marked as one of the bravest sons of the House of Lux, whose defense of Barad Riel, accompanied by Lord Lord Relkin Sypher, at the time a Duke of that fair city, against the overwhelming Estonite forces, is still being told amongst Ithilian nobility. In younger days Targon Valerian travelled a lot with his twin brother Elladan Losfer across all of Atamara, finally settling down in a monarchy nested into the north-eastern coast of Atamara, Minas Ithil. Honourable nobles were what he valued above all, for he was a man of honour and integrity himself, and he felt like he had found his place there. With time, the ways of the North drove him ever further; at first he joined Athonlaurism, the religion of the Sun, but when its founder, High Priest Anton Anaris retired from active preaching, the word of Arelien withered and soon fell into oblivion. It happened then that in a small temple in Lyton, Targon Valerian discovered Magna Serpaensism, creed of the Great Serpent Magnus, which his brother Elladan had already been a follower of. Soon upon claiming his position as a Knight of Shanandoah, Targon Valerian fought many a battle on Atamaran soil, especially proving himself through defense of the Fort of Elost on many occasions, against the three-fold attack of Eston, Norland and Barony of Makar.
However, days grew weary for Minas Ithil, as the Northern Federation outnumbered their war efforts greatly. Soon, Moramroth rebelled, and in spite of brave and desperate defense, Federation forces, after great losses, finally ran over Elost, and this caused a takeover of unprotected Amriel as well. King Dead Angel the Third then abdicated, and Raoul De La Fere was elected a new king of Minas Ithil. After much diplomatic toil, a favourable truce was signed by all sides. This sudden change opened a new battlefield in the South and a new chapter in Targon Valerian's life. As Eastern Alliance was being grinded from all sides by majority of Atamaran realms, Minas Ithil opted to help her longtime ally Falasan. Ithilian armies started marching South...
Bitter was the war of the South. Victories and defeats mingled in what seemed a neverending maze of warring insanity. Cagilans, Darkans, Taleriumites and who not, fought against allied forces of Falasan and Minas Ithil. Back and forth, a victory in Nazgorn followed a defeat in Corniel, and so on and on it went. In a terrible ferocitiy of a counter-strike, the allied forces breached the walls of Aja, Taran capital. The city was looted, but inspite a decisive breakthrough it could not be held. As expected, just when the truce ended, serpents of Northern Federation revived their opportunistic ways and invaded Minas Ithil's northern border. A battle-weary MI army had to march all the way North again and engage the healed enemy. Outnumbered as usual, they won many battles, twice they broke Estonite attacks, but barrage of attacks and multitude of enemy forces could not be stopped, and Winwich finally succumbed as the looting dogs of Makar poured within MI borders.
However, what happened then was totally unexpected. Darkan mercenaries attacked Eston in Massillion, thus turning the tide of war. In only a month Estonite ranks were overrun, but were given a merciful treaty and Darkan help in reclaiming Barad Riel from Norlanders, their yesterday's allies. Northern Federation was then no more; twisty Makarians, self-proclaimed blood brothers of the Norlanders, turned their backs on them too. Suddenly everyone was after Norland, which soon became greatly reduced in size. A weary MI army got a much needed rest, and seizing the opportunity pushed on the offensive. Winwhich was taken back, with Mansbridge, an old, long-standing Ithilian fort, following soon. Norland was on its death throes by then, a great famine in Brackhead reduced Viking numbers almost to extinction. Desecrated Norland regions succumbed to heavy looting, burning for long in many a cold winter night. Able to pursue Norland until its death-bed, Ithilian nobility did not opt for a killing blow. In an over-generous gesture a peace treaty was signed and swaying on the brink of destruction, Norland survived.
There was no peace in the South. Deserted by its only ally Minas Ithil, Falasani were fighting a losing war. Such a cowardly league was arrayed against them, that it included more than half a continent. Led by Cagilans, this many-nation army took Barad Falas after a long and brutal siege, forcing the proud Falasani into signing a sorrowful peace treaty, leaving them with only Barad Gardor and adjoinig regions. Thus, the strongest military nation of Atamara was no more, engulfed by many of which none could stand against rabbit-banners on their own, but such were politics of Atamara. Around Barad Gardor Cagilans formed a puppet realm of Coria.
Soon Norland, and arch-enemy of Minas Ithil joined the Cagilan alliance, which at the time consisted of Cagilan Empire, Tara, Caergoth, Suville, Talerium and Coria, but Norlanders were isolated in the north. Darkan forces backed up by Estonites soon broke Norlander resistance, Barony of Makar turned their backs on Norland, grabbing whatever regions they could lay they lay their hands on. Breackhead was counting its last days wheb Falasan was dragged into the war again because taking Lothruin. It was only an excuse for Atamaran alliance to storm the walls of Barad Falas. Falasan was no more, while Coria gained another duchy. At this same time losing Brackhead Norland ceased to exist, most of its regions went to Eston and Barony of Makar.
Ithilians were next. At first battles raged in Lothruin, but soon the defending armies were cornered in Shanandoah. Support from Eston was meagre, Barony only displayed their ranks on several ocassions never fighting a real battle, thus the only help came from Darka. Coalition of southern realms was way too strong and Shanandoah was besieged again and again. Like cowardly dogs Carelians burned the countryside all the way to Dunstoke and Rothrethorpe. Countless attacks were beaten back, but with time defensive walls were thinned down until they gave almost no protection to the defenders. In one of last attacks Marshal Targon Valerian was pierced with many wounds, and barely dragged out of the burning city. However he lay for four years in state of a comma.
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