User:Unwin/sandbox

Sardanism

Overview

Sartanism is a school of thought surrounding the concept and history Sartan as found in the Anacan Letters discovered by Alric Unwin. These letters, contain a history of Sartan that date to a time before the Ibladesh teachings made it's way to the Far East. To date the historical accuracy of the letters is questionable as there are few other historical documents dating so far back. It is important to note the difference in spelling. Anacan scholars suggest that it was common for d's to be used in place of t's in names of the period.

Still, it is suspected that Sartanism existed in the Far East long before the comming of the Ibladesh. It appears that the Ibladesh priests encountered Far East Sartanism and incorporated parts of in when establishing the Church of Sartan as a way of quickly converting new followers. Upon reading through the Anacan Letters one is left wondering who Sartan really was? The Sartan of the Ancient Far East? The Sartan of Ibladesh? The modern Far East Sartan? None of the above? Each will have to read the letter themselves and form their own opinion.

((OOC: Please note that I wrote all of this rather quickly and in one sitting. Please feel free to correct and refine it if you care to but do not change the meaning!))

3rd day of Spring in the year of the Hog

Sardan captured the city of Enecen. Sardan and his host had arrived in the last days of summer just before the harvest could be collected and quickly surrounded the city. At first the folk of the country rebelled against this newcomer but Sardan ruthlessly halted such notions. By his order Every act of rebellion resulted in the death of a random present. When a Rebell was discovered, the rebel and all relatives were publically tortured and executed. At the same time Sardan ensured those commoners obedient to him were adequately cared for. It did not take long for resistance to be quelled.

With the lands surrounding Enecen under his oppressive thumb, Sardan proceeded to attack the great city. He began by launching rotten and diseased corpses into the city. They did no real damage to the fortifications but soon sickness began to spread amongst those within the walls. Sardan also used fire to his advantage by constantly bombarding the city with flaming projectiles. In most cases this did no real harm but the occasional fire did break out and the resulting damage was a toll upon the besieged.

On three occasions the King and his Lords rode forth in an attempt to drive away the armies of Sardan. Sadly, each sally resulted in the death or capture of nobles and soldiers alike. The strength of the Enecen’s defenders quickly deteriorated.

Sardan’s armies also suffered. While Sardan did manage to capture most of the years harvest, it was barely enough to feed the soldiers and the peasants. Sickness also descended upon those in the camps, though not quite so disastrously in the city. Soldiers grew lazy and undisciplined during the long wait.

The lmost damaging blow to befall Sardan’s army was a flanking attack launched by the Crown Prince and the garison stationed in Heol. The blow came in the fourth month of the siege during in the dead of winter. Sardan’s army was disorganized and soft when the attack took place and several regiments were lost before the Prince’s Men were scattered. Throughout the winter the Prince continued to harass Sardan’s armies.

In the last days of winter Sardan discovered the Princes whereabouts. That night Sardan and his men snuck into the Princes camp and killed nearly every man as they slept. The Prince was captured and held ransom. When the King refused to give Enecen in exchange for his son Sardan had the Prince tortured. When the King refused again, Sardan sent the Prince, bound in chains, off to a far away land on a slave boat. None know of the man’s fate.

On the first day of spring Sardan launched a full offensive. His men were in fighting trim thanks to the repeated attacks led by the prince and the fair rations provided by supply train and local store. It was not long before the walls were taken. Before we all were taken.

3rd Day of Summer in the Year of the Fish

I was once the prisoner of the great General Sardan. Though I have no doubt that Sardan could conquer all the lands and unite them under his rule he does not. He is and always will be a soldier, a leader of men and a winner of wars. A General. Since my release I have chosen to remain by his side as an aide and to record some of this amazing mans life. To date Sardan has won over three thousand wars. In each war Sardan has lead from the front lines and fought alongside his men. He has become the undisputed master of combat, battle and war.

In his early years Sardan would often leave the field of battle bloodied and injured. Such is no longer the case. Sardan’s prowess has grown to an unprecedented level. No blow has made its way through his iron defense since I was a boy. Sardan has not been caught by surprise since I was a young ban. The man’s body had become a trim sculpture of muscle and sinew.

Over the years he has grown impossibly strong and blindingly fast. Though his hair has gone white, age does not weigh on him despite being the oldest man alive. He has not been sick since he was a boy and rumors suggest that even poison can not overcome the man’s inhuman constitution. It seems that every day Sardan grows stronger and more competent and every day it is impossible to imagine him growing yet stronger.

Sardan has become more than a hero. He has become the deciding factor in every war. Whenever a kingdom find itself at war, it hastens to gain the services of the world’s greatest Warrior, Marshal and General – Sardan. It is well known by now that whomever Sardan choses to aid will be the victor.

17th day of Spring in the Year of the Oak

Two years ago an army of strange creatures appeared in the north. The beasts are slightly larger than a man but of far greater strength and speed. They sport skin in shades of black and red, clawed hands, pointed tails and great horns upon their head. These creatures seem to poses a magical affinity for fire and can even blast fire forth from seemingly nowhere. Some even have great bat-like wings which they use to fly. Sardan has come to call theme Demons.

Since their arrival the Demons have taken control of most of the north. The creatures seem intent on exterminating every man woman and child. Sardan has risen to the call of the Kings and Queens of the land and has rode to the north at the head of a great host to confront the Demons. I can only shudder to think of the fate that will befall the Demons.

12th day of Winter in the Year of the Oak

Sardan has returned. He has managed to push the Demons back into their portals but the cost was huge. Only one man returns of every twenty gone north. Sardan is flush and excited – giddy like a child that hs just been given the best of gifts. He talks of finally finding a real foe. Sardan plans on departing in the coming spring to lead the host through the portals to continue the fight.

17th day of Winter in the Year of the Oak

Sardan has informed us all that humanity, even under his lead, can not defeat the Demons. They are simply too powerful. He has also told us that he has a plan that will provide him with the edge he needs to protect humanity. He will be spending the rest of winter scouting beyond the portal and laying out his plans for the coming spring.

2nd day of Spring in the Year of the Dragon

Sardan returned from the north one week ago. He has become familiar with the realm beyond the portals and calls it the Jietheim. His findings are remarkable. He tells us that Jietheim is the land of the dead. And that all worlds border Jietheim. He tells us that when an occupant of any of the worlds bordering Jietheim, ours included, dies, they transported to Jietheim. Save for a very few who, like Sardan, have gained power beyond measure, it is not possibly for a resident of an outer world to travel to Jietheim by any means other than death. He reports that those who die enter Jietheim as formless geists.

He tells us that if one, like him, can enter Jietheim alive that they gain the powers of a god and can reclaim and shape some of the geists as they enter Jietheim. He reports that a powerful Demon, Thrlx, has managed to enter Jietheim alive many centuries ago and that Thrlx has been building an army of demons, shaped into demons with which he can conquer all the worlds.

Sardan has chosen to travel to Jietheim and establish a stronghold on along the border of Jietheim and Earth. Then, when the dead cross over to Jietheim Sardan will select the bravest of warriors and grant them new form. Form like that which they possessed on the earth but far stronger, faster and tougher. These warriors of Haven, to be known as Avatars, will join Sardan’s Host and will continue the fight against the Demons.

8th day of Spring in the year of the Dragon

Sardan has departed our world today to enact his plan. It was an amazing thing. Once through the portal, the earth began to shake. Portals throughout the north began disappearing. As each disappeared the portal through which Sardan passed through grew larger until it was the sole portal left. The portal was ringed in fire and shadow and through it’s middle one could see clearly into Jietheim. Sardan, now twice the size of a man stood on the other side glowing radiantly. He told us that this last gate would be left open to join earth to Haven in Joetheim. It would be known as Deaths Gate. Humanity could gaze through Deaths gate and see the Avatars of known warriors form in Haven and join the Haven’s Host.

6th day of Winter in the year of the Mountain

I will soon be dead. Of old age or heartbreak. I do not care. Three days past Sardan closed Deaths Gate for good. A demon attack on Haven managed to penetrate the outer walls. While Sardan and the Avatars defended the breach half a dozen Demons managed to sneak past and pass through the Deaths Gate to earth. It took a score of Avatars to hunt down and kill the demons but the damage done by the demons could not be undone. Sardan declared Deaths Gate too much of a risk and sealed the last link between Earth and Haven in Jietheim forever. Before doing so Sardan left us these orders:

The Earth should ever be at war. Only through war can one hope to become an Avatar and join Havens Hord in Jietheim. For only the best warriors, marshals and generals would be made Avatars. It was essential that there be warriors and for warriors to die so that Haven’s Hord would continue to be strong enough to hold back the Demons. Those who did not dedicate their lives to war would not become Avatars and would be denied entrance to Haven. They would be destined to roam Jietheim as geists at best or turned into Demons by Thrlx at worse. Victory is the key. There are many paths to victory and all are valid. Success in war is the path to Haven.