Heyyy, this is the Prologue of a story I'm currently writing, the next chapter is being written and should be posted today, all reviews welcome, thanks!
Second Crystal War
Prologue
"Vana'diel is a world of Magic, Chivalry, and Technology.
This beautiful land was once engulfed in a great war between armies of enlightened people and the dark hordes of the beastmen.
It was a fight for survival from which the victor would emerge in control of the crystals—physical manifestations of the primordial elements.
The beastmen mercilessly destroyed city upon city, turning the land and water black with their foul presence.
But the people united in solidarity, and seized victory from the claws of the ravenous beastmen. At last, peace had come to Vana'diel
More than twenty years have passed since the end of the war. But as memories of that conflict begin to fade, evil lurks in the shadows once again, biding its time…
And it hungers for the power of the crystals…"
It is the 21st year of peace after the Crystal War and the beastmen have begun to stir once more, and though the brave fighters of Vana'diel did their best to drive them from their lands, the beastmen slowly gained more and more influence.
The leaders of the four nations began to notice that the beastmen seemed to be more organized…their raids becoming more frequent and well carried out. It was as if they were united under a new leader…
Soon it became quite obvious that the beastmen were moving with a purpose. A group of adventurers, seeking to slay a dragon that appeared, overheard a conversation referring to a plot to resurrect the Shadow Lord. Soon, items began to disappear throughout Vana'diel's lands …Items that had only one use…To unlock the tomb of the Shadow Lord…
The only keys left were the three Magicites, well hidden in the most remote regions of Vana'diel, and though the Archduke of Jeuno launched a brave campaign to prevent their capture, they arrived far too late.
Thus was the Shadow Lord Resurrected… and he was quick to launch a Second Crystal War…
The leaders of Vana'diel quickly united once more, massing their forces for another battle for the very world they lived in. However, it was decided that operating as four separate armies, they could not win another war with the dark forces. And so, the Kingdom of San d'Oria, the Republic of Bastok, the Federation of Windurst, and the Grand Duchy of Jeuno, combined their armies into what came to be known as the United Force of Vana'diel.
The Adventurers, skilled fighters, but not part of the normal military, and feeling no true loyalty to any nation, decided to create their own force. The Adventurer Army, under the leadership of Commander Ziggeraut was formed that day, made up of some 8000 soldiers.
However, not all of the adventurers joined in. The Samurai of Vana'diel, not liking the ways of any of the existing armies, abandoned them, and wandered Vana'diel as they always had; only slaying Beastmen if they were threatened by them in some way.
Until one day, shortly after the start of the War, a red-haired Hume Samurai wearing grand armor united the Samurai of the world under the flag of a new force that he called the Shinsengumi, an all-samurai force that would become the elite fighters of Vana'diel. This man, Amand, claimed to be a master of the ancient style of swordsmanship called Hiten Mitsurugi, and for one month he trained his force of some 1500 Samurai in the most basic abilities of this style. Soon, they were ready, and Amand divided them up into five squads of about 300 each, naming a leader of each squad, himself being the Supreme Leader.
Thus were the six forces of Vana'diel created, and now they would launch a counterattack on the dark forces, to bring peace to the land once again.
The Bastokan forces quickly took control of the Koroloka Tunnel, almost immediately after the War was declared, and though the Antican had made a few attempts to retake it, all failed. However, the Antican presence in the Altepa forced the evacuation of the town of Rabao, and it was now the base of operations for the Antican Army.
The six military leaders met, and decided unanimously that the Antican should be driven out of the Altepa, so as to keep Bastok from having to fight against both the Antican and the Quadav.
And so it was decided that each of the forces would send two Battalions of soldiers, and that the Shinsengumi would send its Third Squad. In all, a force of 11,300 would be sent to attack and defeat an Antican force of what is estimated to be about 4000. The commanders departed for their home cities, to prepare and mobilize their troops for this great battle.
Awaiting the arrival of the allied battalions, was Commander Kadak, a Hume Warrior, the one who would lead the Bastokan section of the forces in the battle for the Altepa
First to arrive at Bastok was the San d'Orian force, led by Commander Chster, a blonde, average height Paladin and former adventurer whose prestige and tactical genius earned him a top role in the San d'Orian army. So great were his accomplishments that the King rewarded him with especially forged white and gold armor, and a brand new, custom made sword. And now, he led the San d'Orian force, made up mostly of Warriors and Monks, in the first real battle of the Second Crystal War.
Next came the Jeunoan forces led by Commander Kiary, a Mithran ranger whose skill with the bow has earned her quite a reputation. Recently promoted, Kiary was the leader of an elite group of archers called the Silver Arrows, who earned much honor for protecting Jeuno from the uprising of the Gigas of Qufim Island, and they marched with her today as a part of the first battalion.
Third to arrive was the Windurstian force, headed by Commander Vexed, a Mithran Ninja. Vexed's Ninja agility and diplomatic skill have kept Windurst safe from full scale war with the Yagudo until now. Now that war was inevitable, she leads the primarily magic-using forces of Windurst.
Next was the Adventurer Army, following their leader, Supreme Commander Ziggeraut, a powerful Elvaan Dark Knight who has developed his defense to an amazing level for someone of his job. With that power he hopes to live up to what his soldiers expect of him, as he leads them into battle.
And finally, the 3rd Squad of the Shinsengumi arrived, led by Amand and the Squad's leader, Myloko, a female Elvaan.
In three days, the first major battle of the war would commence…