Arcaea/Library/Lord Aerywyn Haerthorne's Hystory of Arcaea
This is a history of the realm of Arcaea, compiled by the Lord Aerywyn Haerthorne, claimant to the lordship of Larmebsi and Arch Priest of Arcaea, in the midst of the great Ethilian or Federation War. It is currently being edited and updated as of spring of the year 1008.
Contents
A Short History
Arcaea was the original and greatest nation on the Far East Continent, founded by the bravest and noblest warriors. Unfortunately during the time of the splintering many dukes split from Arcaea to hoard gold for themselves, unfortunately the then king was lost in himself and ignored the counsel given to him by his nobles and his most trusted advisor Yarah. In the end, to prevent the once great land from falling apart, Yarah took hold of the nation and wrestled it back together. Though much of their land was lost the kingdom remained and has slowly worked through diplomacy and when neccessary bloodshed to regain its rightful place. The entire former council and many of Arcaea's nobles left the country, including Lord Yarah and Lord Demon, believing it to be doomed. A core group remained in Arcaea, however, and a new council was elected: Queen Trinity, Banker Faulcon, Judge Riar Dynrode, and High Marshal Shun.
The war between Arcaea and the other nations ended through the diplomatic efforts of Queen Trinity and Prime Minister Kestrelle of Lasanar. After the Rape of Saex, when that province was almost burnt to the ground by the Sartanian "nobles", the Lasanar people saw once and for all what Sartania truly was: A nation of cowards, hiding under Lasanar's protection while they did their dirty work. Lasanar withdrew their forces, and under the leardership of the new High Marshal Rintaro Shun, the Sartanian forces were driven out of Saex, giving the Arcaeans back their country.
Peace followed... but the country grew stale, sinking into a state of immense apathy. There was no glory here, so nobles came and went, but the core group remained.
The other wars heating up did little to affect Arcaea, but when Lasanar called for aid, Arcaea was rose to the occassion and joined in the final siege of Anacan, and the fresh troops helped to bring down the last defences of the Antozan Commonwealth.
Eventually, an idea proposed by High Marshal Shun came to fruition. The realm was to become a force of fighting mercenaries. Though diplomacy had succeeded where wars had not in gaining peace, it was realized that Arcaea needed to fight. They were warriors, like it or not. The war the erupted from this weakening of diplomatic position ravaged the northlands and involved over six of the continents greatest realms. Through it Arcaea was almost brought to it's knees, until eventually the tiny kingdom outlasted it's rivals. By a twist of fate Lasanar fell apart, splitting into five seperate realms not including the short-lived Kingdom of Kamadar that seceded from Ethilia. An alliance was signed with Ethilia and Sartania was being gradually weakened by their decision to keep fighting a two-fronted war.
By the time of this second edition being published, Arcaea holds five regions being Remton, Saex, Lantzas, Sasat, and the newly regained Nocaneb.
The Mercenary Realm
During the reign of Queen Trinity Fleisher, there was a decision to end the period of alliances and peace and to become a realm of war, a realm for hire. In order to maintain a status of neutrality and fairness in their business dealings, it was decided that Arcaea should lower the diplomatic relations with Lasanar, and in the confusion of the first few days after aggression broke out on the borders of Lantzas, and Lasop declared their alleigance to Arcaea. The confusion settled down quickly, and despite the protesting of the people of Lasop, the region was returned to Ethiala peacefully. Peace was declared, and matters moved on.
The first contract was with the realm of Arcachon in their war agaisnt Sartania, and despite the past wrongs the war was to be fought fairly on the basis of the terms of the mercenary realm. The price was to be two regions to Arcaea if it was successful and a lump sum of gold, or a lowered price of food to Arcaean merchants if the war was unsuccessful. However Sartania did not take this thus, and small skirmishes occured in an ill-defended Nocaneb, and the Sartanian lords made many accusations against the Arcaeans there. Luckily there were nearby troop leaders on the move to the northern front, and the attack was fought off. Untosa was taken by Arcachon, and the war has now slowed down after the attack on Tuhpos. However to the west, Sartania's allies were starting to flex their muscles...
Let it be known that Arcaea is no longer a "mercanery" realm, hiring itself out to the highest bidder. Arcaea now has it's pride and honour after surviving the cleansing fires of war. Any terms of being a mercanery have been made void by the necessity of forging alliances, abandoning the concept of neutrality.
The Northern War
Technically, there were many accounts of aggression between Arcaea and it's neighbours, though this conflict was the largest in the North there had been for many years.
The Beginning
After Lasop had been firmly lodged into Arcaea's control, Ethilia again demanded the city back. Outraged at the way they were being pushed about, the people of Arcaea decided to stand strong by their arms, knowing that they would either face war if they did so, and humiliation, even destruction, if they did not. ascanius of Sartania had already made his intentions clear, and the hatred he held for Arcaea was already dragging allies into this complicated conflict. Ethilia declared that they would declare war, though it took them a long while before they fulfilled that promise. Problems at home were suspected, as the course of the war would indicate.
As Sartania launched their assaults on the province of Saex, Bergelmir the Fearless, Lord and Guardian of the rebuilt city of Lasop stood his ground with his militia agaisnt the attacks from Ethilia. Dark magic was at play as all in Saex found themselves drawn into a seemingly endless rythym of marching mile after mile and not actually moving from the spot they had started from. For days this dragged on, until battle was finally joined. The Sartanian forces were defeated, and the tongues of those on both sides were held tight. Some might even say that there was respect between the foes.
Current Situation
At the time of writing, Larmebsi is in the process of a friendly take over by Arcaea, and as the Ethilian army mounts a half-hearted counter-attack the Sartanian forces gather on the eastern fringes of Arcaea. Time will tell if this war is soon resolved peaceably, or if it drags on and on.
The war is at present (Monday, 1 October 1007) about two months old, and in that time Rhathar Frostnova, the Lord of Lantzas and Guardian of the Aenilian faithful in Ethilia, disgusted with the corruption and lack of leadership within Ethilia, pledged allegiance to Arcaea and his region along with it. Two knights also joined him, Sir Dinarius Maximus and Sir Jenred Bedwyr, from Ethilia. Aerywyn Haerthorne, the author of this little history, pledged allegiance to Rhathar, leaving his crowded estate in the city of Remton for the fresh air of the plains and the cleaner side of the river. Shortly after the move Ethiala made a counter-attack while much of the Arcaean force returned to Lasop for refitting. At that time the High Marshal of Ethiala along with his marshal of the army Keffer launched ordered a late turn march that Arcaea had not expected due to what Trinity called past incompetence from Ethiala. Trinity renewed attempts to politically isolate the realms attacking her, though by this point no one was buying into her side of the story and Arcachon was nowhere to be seen. During a pull back to Lasop, both Cathay and Ethiala marched into Larembsi in order to take hold of it once again. During the attempted take over some of the Cathain and Ethialian forces dug in while the other half did not. Seeing an opening to attack Trinity rallied her forces in Lasop to make another attack into Larembsi. It was a gambit, while Ethialia and Cathay had higher combat strength their deployment gave the oppurtunity to pick off their units piecemeal. It was a close battle however several larger units from Cathay and Ethiala had remained in the rear to rush up at the last minute fresh and unharassed by archers into the battle weary Arcaean forces. Several good nobles were wounded among them Trinity had fallen in the thickest of fighting, Rhathar Frostnova, the Traitor of Ethiala, as his former countrymen called him also fell under the blades of Cathay and Ethilia. The surviving units rallied and made their way back to Lasop in an orderly and quick fashion. The war was not over yet. After retaking Larembsi, Ethiala held it until it was repulsed by force but not before they ran a sucessful TO on the region. While attempting to bring the region back under Arcaean control, a small Ethialian force some how managed to avert the take over and force a retreat. Arcaea's troubles were compounded by the fall of Nocaneb at the hands of Sartania, the war was taking a sharp turn.
