The Searing
A short snip based on the phrase "Demons to the east" when the humans described the map. This plays with the "600 years" mis-translation of how long it has been since Brimir's time.
Basically - Humans - ["Demons", reaching over to the north]-[Scattered elven outposts/"patrols"]
[Main elven cities in the sahara, to the south, With small communities on the other islands of archipelago]
When Brimir and his band of humans eliminated the Valriag, they used the shock to push deep into the heart of Halkegina, driving the original residents back and absorbing the human slave population into their own. Uncontested, for 600 years they built their empire, spanning the continent, and making the great countries of Halkegina.
Germania, Militant and splintered into factions, this nation of "warring states" all unified under the emperor, a dissonant to Brimir, and the last Bastion of non-Birimic peoples and disgraced nobles. From the constant internal struggles (yet undying loyalty to the emperor), an interesting culture has developed. As long as you have gold, and even if you do not, the people of Germania will welcome you with open arms. This mighty country is kept in check by being the shield of Halkegina, it's more militant forces on watch and protecting the other nations from the horrors outside of Halkegina's borders. For this reason, the Birimic Nations leave them be.
Southwest of Germania, another "border state" is Romalia, the holy country, seat of the Founder and the Church. The closest to the holylands, currently held by the Elves and other Firstborn races. Here the memory of the founder is preserved, kept, and furthered.
North and to the west of Romalia, lies Gallia, of two staves and one crown. Another country with constant struggles, the people of Gallia believe that these struggles forge a stronger nation, and it is customary for the heirs of the crown to fight til there is only one standing to claim the throne. Large, powerful, and safe from attacks, they are one of the largest threats in the land, powerful, with no one but "allies" to test their mettle on.
Off in the ocean stands Albion, the white, of the wind, the skyclad island, insulated and safe from all conflict adrift in the sea of air. A seemingly Utopian kingdom, staunch Isolationist rulers find themselves at odds with younger warhawk interventionalists.
And in the middle of all of this, is Tristania, a country shrinking through the years, by conflict, by treaty, by peace. Betwixt the Militant Germania and conniving Gallia, Tristania is the single most magically concentrated and beautiful land in all of Halkegina. It's economy and culture the only thing standing in the way of utter defeat, they mastered the art of the Alliance to preserve what little they had left.
Then... the Charr struck.
Before Brimir, before even the Valryag, these lands were home to the Charr. But disunity and too many theaters of war caused their great war machine to collapse, and were pushed northeast. Then the Valryag came for the "holy land", and Brimir found his God.
In one fell swoop, the Valryag were defeated, but the humans expelled by the elves from their ancestral lands. Still disoriented, weakened, and now afraid, the Charr watched helplessly as the humans flooded the rich land that was once theirs.
But now, 600 years later, the Charr were ready. For 600 years they had reclaimed lands to the east and north from the Elves and Germania to stand as a staging ground, a new front of war.
The Holy Void had been lost, and humanity, grown insular and arrogant, had begun to war upon themselves.
The time was ripe.
The Charr found new resolve.
And so they called upon the spirits and the power of firestones as they began their newest assault, an assault to reclaim their homelands.
It was the Searing, and the Military Giants, weakened by internal struggles, found much of their lands turned from usable pastures to blackened soot and cracked earth.
The assault had begun.
With each day, the charr moved forward and their bombardment encroached deeper upon the lands.
Overcharged firestones superheated in cauldrons dropped from Steel-wrought ships in the sky changed the landscape of Halkegina forever.
At the same time, The elves capitalized upon this move to attack Romalia from the south, further weakening their hated enemy.
Rich nobles began flocking to Trstain, then Albion, using whatever means necessary to escape from this ever-growing hell, leaving the commoners to fend for themselves.
So they too left, and what were once great empires crumbled as Tristain struggled to keep order.
Now is the time, humanity's last stand.
The legendary warriors and rulers of each country now united, under the name of Brimir, of Tristainia, to make their last stand.
This is the story of the daughter of two of these warriors, one that had power, yet puzzelingly was unable to use it.
This is the story of Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, the Zero, who would become Tristania's hope against the Charr, and their warmachines of fire and steel.
Or is it?
I am a Charr.
In this world of constant battle, I am the deadliest weapon.
I respect no authority except the clenched fist of my legion.
With Engines of Destruction, we can kill Gods. We will plant our victory banners on the graves of our enemies.
I am a Charr.
