Many eons ago, when the earth was young and magic filled the air, there were races of Fae-Folk that lived alongside humans, happily and peacefully. But the humans grew in number and greed filled their hearts. They were empty, hollow, needy things with souls like bottomless pit. They began chopping down forests and taming oceans. Soon, their villages had expanded into cities and they began to research technologies like iron and gunpowder. The Fae-Folk knew it was time to act.
They called a great council of leaders – elves, beasts, faeries, and dwarves – to discuss what would be done with the humans. The first to speak was King Balor, the One-Armed King of the Ivory-Hide elves. He was adamant about his opinion - death to the humans. From a Goblin smithy, he commissioned 70 times 70 clockwork soldiers – the Golden Army. They did not know mercy, pain, or hunger and they would not stop until their master commanded them.
To the Council of Leaders, he said, "Allow me to unleash the Golden Army! Humans require a lesson in their boundaries."
"Yes! Kill them all!"
"Show them the error of their ways!"
One by one, the leaders began to be swayed. King Balor's voice rang above the council, urging them to a vote. However, another voice rang that day. A voice that, despite its truth, was not heard.
"Kings and Queens of Fae, I bid you Peace," said the man, who stood up from across the crowd. His smooth skin was the colour of red clay and his hair that of blood. His golden eyes were deep with knowledge and they searched the faces of the Fae leaders, "Do not agree to King Balor's idea - it will not work. The soldiers and the king's own children will die should his plan become a reality.
"It has long been foretold that a great Queen, the Warmonger, will one day rise up and settle this war, once and for all. It is only our duty to wait for her and let her make the choice – kill them or let them live. But we must wait for her, or many more than intended will die."
The great King Balor would not have a word of this. He stood quickly, sweeping his arm over the chamber, and called, "King Gahliendo of the Blood-Hide elves, how many times have you attempted to bed a woman to give birth to this Warmonger? How many times have the children aborted or been stillborn? Do not attempt to sway this council with your babble. My clockwork soldiers will end this war, unlike your Warmonger. She is a myth, not a prophecy. She is never coming."
King Gahliendo swore and half-turned, then said, "You will see. You will all see!" and exited the chamber, leaving the council to approve of King Balor's clockwork soldiers. The Golden Army rose and slaughtered a great number of humans. But, after seeing the devastation caused by the soldiers, Balor wished he could repent for his actions on that day. King Gahliendo retreated to the Iron City. And he waited.