Chapter Two: Heroes and Horrors
For those who lived in Solace through the War of the Lance and the Chaos incident, they grew to know hardship and despair like many of the other cities and towns throughout ansolon. When the dragons burnt their treetop homes, enslaved the majority of its people for the Pax Tharkas slave mines, and Hederick took complete control of every aspect of their lives, leaving them to live unhappy and futile lives. When the Seeker Hederick was killed and their town finally given back to them, they rejoiced and threw a huge celebration. Solace was home to the majority of the Heroes of the Lance and became a central point for historians and religious men seeking to discover how such a group of heroes came out of a relatively unknown treetop town. Solace quickly became more than what it was and blissfully grew beyond anyone's imagination. No longer just a treetop village but now a growing community, more and more people came to live in the town. The Vallenwood trees, that had housed the community, no longer could support the growing population. Houses and businesses sprung up on the ground and a governor was elected and a city guard was chosen. Walls were erected, to either protect the city itself from crime, or to prevent the tremendous growth from getting any bigger is unknown.
The Governor elected was Theros Ironfeld. The man who helped forge the lances that albeit turned the tide of the war. Theros was respected by all, even his political adversary's, which was a rare thing indeed. He was a fair Governor in every sense and while he governed Solace, it prospered and live was simple and easy for its inhabitants. But all good things must come to an end. When Theros came down with a life threatening disease and could not take care of the day to day business of the city, he was deposed and a new Governor was elected. By a landslide, Andreas Lachanse won the popular vote and took office. This heralded great change for the City. Andreas's first act once taking office was to demolish the city walls and order the expansion of the city. Within the first four years of his office he expanded the city tenfold. Solace was unrecognizable from the time of the War of the Lance. Its paved streets bore the weight of thousands of merchants, vagabonds, travelers, clerics and thieves. When time came for another election, Andreas' issued an amendment to the Solace Charter that made it possible for him to rule indefinitely, and choose his own heir. This would make Solace a monarchy. Now that Solace rivaled any other city in sheer size and population, its government became the concern for many others. Making Solace a Monarchy would mean a majority of problems could erupt in the future. A congregation from Panthalas, Qualinesti, Silvensti, Solamnia and the Plains of Dust went to Solace and begged Andreas' to not go through with his plans. When he laughed in their face, they begged the people to realize what the consequences of their actions might be.
At that point, Andreas' did something that hadn't been done since time not remembered. Andreas ordered each member of the congregation beheaded in the town square. They were imprisoned and beheaded the next day. Andreas then issued ultimatums' to each nation. It stated that if they wished to remain on good terms with Solace, then they would never again interfere in its politics. It also stated that since their actions were unwarranted and unnecessary, the Monarchy issue had become a mute point. Andreas stated he didn't want to be a king. He wanted to be Emperor. And that from this time on, Solace and all its territory would henceforth be known as the Andreas Empire and trespassers would be executed without prejudice.
Andreas immediately closed off his borders and issued a curfew on the populace. Many citizens protested but those who did, found their loved ones in the dungeons the next day. The people of Solace, now deathly afraid to speak their mind, set into a daily routine of the city guards parading through the streets and staying in their homes.
The nations who had sent the representatives where shocked at the actions Andreas' had taken and closed all trade with the newly formed Andrea' Empire. That would have been the end of it except for an incident that occurred. A Solace youth fled the new Empire in the dark of night to find heroes to help his family. He fled to Solamnia and the knights took him in. Andreas, when he learned about the youth, immediately executed his family and ordered the Knights to relinquish the boy to their custody immediately. The knights of course refused, and all hell broke loose.
The night the Knights refused a division of Solace's finest soldiers marched to Solamnia and demanded the youth's release. Once again the knights refused. That night a strange plague spread throughout the Solamnic Keep where the boy was being kept. The plague decimated their ranks. Those who got it, died within hours and those who didn't die wished they had. Their skin distorted into lumps of flesh and their bowels burned like a fire had been set in their bellies. The Solamnics were then attacked by the Solace soldiers, who the plague had not affected at all. The Solamnics were easily defeated and the boy was slain in the battle. Vingaard Keep heard the news days later and instantly declared war. Andreas' declared that the territory that belonged to the knights was now property of the Andreas' Empire and they were trespassing.
*** *** *** ***
"Wake up! Fredrick, the soldiers are advancing." Michael Gainer shook Fredrick once more. Michael was a knight of the Crown and was currently stationed at the frontline of the battle. His group was in charge of fending off any attacks while word got back to Vingaard that the Andrean's had made their move. For months the battle lines had been silent and not one casualty had been counted on either side. The non - activity had been disturbing and baffling to the High ups and Michael's group was to be on twenty four hour watch. Finally, movement of the Andrean troops had been spotted. A platoon had been advancing on them for at least an hour and preparations for battle were being made. "Are you deaf man? Wake up, the battle is almost upon us and you seem intent to sleep through the whole thing!"
Fredrick stirred and his eyes fluttered open, "I'm awake Michael. I'm awake damn it. Who could sleep with you making all this noise? How long away is the enemy?"
"Not more then twenty minutes away the scouts say. I was told to get my armor sword arm ready. Battle is imminent it seems." Fredrick immediately got up and shoved past Michael, heading towards his armor! They were in a tent on the outside of the camp. Both being Knights of the Crown, they were expected to be at the forefront of the battle, honor demanded such. Strapping his armor into place, Fredrick unsheathed his sword and the two knights exited the tent and entered hell!
The scouts, needless to say had been deceived. A mirage spell had been put upon the Andrean army, to disguise their numbers and their position. A platoon of about two hundred Andreans had just reached the tents and had begun to light them on fire when Michael and Fredrick had left their tent. Knights shouted commands and orders while attempting to organize, to no avail. Andrean sharp shooters were in the trees with crossbows, and were instantly killing any one who issued an order.
"Michael, someone needs to get word to Vingaard Keep, we couldn't have gotten anyone out yet. I want you to....GACK!!!" The shaft of an Andrean Arrow, now jutting from Fredrick's neck, was glistening in the moonlight as Michael caught his friend before he fell to the earth!
"FREDRICK!!! Fredrick! My friend, you shall be avenged! YOU SHALL BE AVENGED!!" He laid the fallen knight down to the earth and unsheathed his sword and bellowed a war cry that shook the heavens themselves! Michael rushed towards the frontline, dodging other knights in his way. He cut his way through a swarm of Andrean Soldiers only to find more still coming. He fought on and on, his sword arm never tiring, in his bloody haze! Suddenly a huge beast burst out of a crowd of Andrean he had been fighting and charged right at him! Michael raised his sword and uttered a prayer to Paladine, before his mind swam in a sea of red!
*** *** *** *** ***
When Michael came to, it seemed as if Reorx himself had moved his forge inside his head and was pounding away. He tried to get himself up but a wave of dizziness overcame him and he had to catch himself from falling back down. Slowly the pain went away and Michael looked at his surroundings for the first time. Bodies, of his fellow knights and of fallen Andrean's lied everywhere. Tents were burnt to the ground and weapons had been taken along with the armor of his fallen comrades along with his armor and sword. Michael franticly checked every body he came across in case someone was still alive.
He was the sole survivor of the massacre. He was three days from Vingaard Keep by foot but the Andrean's tracks lead in that direction, which meant an assault on Vingaard Keep was inevitable and they would be caught unaware that they were coming and had mages with them and who knows what else. Michael scavenged enough rations to last him four days, found a sword the Andreans had not found and made the hardest decision of his life. It would take him a little longer by foot but armies move slower than a single man, what would take him three days on foot would take them four or five. Anyways he might even find a horse on his way since he was passing through darken wood, the one place no man dared to travel.
For those who lived in Solace through the War of the Lance and the Chaos incident, they grew to know hardship and despair like many of the other cities and towns throughout ansolon. When the dragons burnt their treetop homes, enslaved the majority of its people for the Pax Tharkas slave mines, and Hederick took complete control of every aspect of their lives, leaving them to live unhappy and futile lives. When the Seeker Hederick was killed and their town finally given back to them, they rejoiced and threw a huge celebration. Solace was home to the majority of the Heroes of the Lance and became a central point for historians and religious men seeking to discover how such a group of heroes came out of a relatively unknown treetop town. Solace quickly became more than what it was and blissfully grew beyond anyone's imagination. No longer just a treetop village but now a growing community, more and more people came to live in the town. The Vallenwood trees, that had housed the community, no longer could support the growing population. Houses and businesses sprung up on the ground and a governor was elected and a city guard was chosen. Walls were erected, to either protect the city itself from crime, or to prevent the tremendous growth from getting any bigger is unknown.
The Governor elected was Theros Ironfeld. The man who helped forge the lances that albeit turned the tide of the war. Theros was respected by all, even his political adversary's, which was a rare thing indeed. He was a fair Governor in every sense and while he governed Solace, it prospered and live was simple and easy for its inhabitants. But all good things must come to an end. When Theros came down with a life threatening disease and could not take care of the day to day business of the city, he was deposed and a new Governor was elected. By a landslide, Andreas Lachanse won the popular vote and took office. This heralded great change for the City. Andreas's first act once taking office was to demolish the city walls and order the expansion of the city. Within the first four years of his office he expanded the city tenfold. Solace was unrecognizable from the time of the War of the Lance. Its paved streets bore the weight of thousands of merchants, vagabonds, travelers, clerics and thieves. When time came for another election, Andreas' issued an amendment to the Solace Charter that made it possible for him to rule indefinitely, and choose his own heir. This would make Solace a monarchy. Now that Solace rivaled any other city in sheer size and population, its government became the concern for many others. Making Solace a Monarchy would mean a majority of problems could erupt in the future. A congregation from Panthalas, Qualinesti, Silvensti, Solamnia and the Plains of Dust went to Solace and begged Andreas' to not go through with his plans. When he laughed in their face, they begged the people to realize what the consequences of their actions might be.
At that point, Andreas' did something that hadn't been done since time not remembered. Andreas ordered each member of the congregation beheaded in the town square. They were imprisoned and beheaded the next day. Andreas then issued ultimatums' to each nation. It stated that if they wished to remain on good terms with Solace, then they would never again interfere in its politics. It also stated that since their actions were unwarranted and unnecessary, the Monarchy issue had become a mute point. Andreas stated he didn't want to be a king. He wanted to be Emperor. And that from this time on, Solace and all its territory would henceforth be known as the Andreas Empire and trespassers would be executed without prejudice.
Andreas immediately closed off his borders and issued a curfew on the populace. Many citizens protested but those who did, found their loved ones in the dungeons the next day. The people of Solace, now deathly afraid to speak their mind, set into a daily routine of the city guards parading through the streets and staying in their homes.
The nations who had sent the representatives where shocked at the actions Andreas' had taken and closed all trade with the newly formed Andrea' Empire. That would have been the end of it except for an incident that occurred. A Solace youth fled the new Empire in the dark of night to find heroes to help his family. He fled to Solamnia and the knights took him in. Andreas, when he learned about the youth, immediately executed his family and ordered the Knights to relinquish the boy to their custody immediately. The knights of course refused, and all hell broke loose.
The night the Knights refused a division of Solace's finest soldiers marched to Solamnia and demanded the youth's release. Once again the knights refused. That night a strange plague spread throughout the Solamnic Keep where the boy was being kept. The plague decimated their ranks. Those who got it, died within hours and those who didn't die wished they had. Their skin distorted into lumps of flesh and their bowels burned like a fire had been set in their bellies. The Solamnics were then attacked by the Solace soldiers, who the plague had not affected at all. The Solamnics were easily defeated and the boy was slain in the battle. Vingaard Keep heard the news days later and instantly declared war. Andreas' declared that the territory that belonged to the knights was now property of the Andreas' Empire and they were trespassing.
*** *** *** ***
"Wake up! Fredrick, the soldiers are advancing." Michael Gainer shook Fredrick once more. Michael was a knight of the Crown and was currently stationed at the frontline of the battle. His group was in charge of fending off any attacks while word got back to Vingaard that the Andrean's had made their move. For months the battle lines had been silent and not one casualty had been counted on either side. The non - activity had been disturbing and baffling to the High ups and Michael's group was to be on twenty four hour watch. Finally, movement of the Andrean troops had been spotted. A platoon had been advancing on them for at least an hour and preparations for battle were being made. "Are you deaf man? Wake up, the battle is almost upon us and you seem intent to sleep through the whole thing!"
Fredrick stirred and his eyes fluttered open, "I'm awake Michael. I'm awake damn it. Who could sleep with you making all this noise? How long away is the enemy?"
"Not more then twenty minutes away the scouts say. I was told to get my armor sword arm ready. Battle is imminent it seems." Fredrick immediately got up and shoved past Michael, heading towards his armor! They were in a tent on the outside of the camp. Both being Knights of the Crown, they were expected to be at the forefront of the battle, honor demanded such. Strapping his armor into place, Fredrick unsheathed his sword and the two knights exited the tent and entered hell!
The scouts, needless to say had been deceived. A mirage spell had been put upon the Andrean army, to disguise their numbers and their position. A platoon of about two hundred Andreans had just reached the tents and had begun to light them on fire when Michael and Fredrick had left their tent. Knights shouted commands and orders while attempting to organize, to no avail. Andrean sharp shooters were in the trees with crossbows, and were instantly killing any one who issued an order.
"Michael, someone needs to get word to Vingaard Keep, we couldn't have gotten anyone out yet. I want you to....GACK!!!" The shaft of an Andrean Arrow, now jutting from Fredrick's neck, was glistening in the moonlight as Michael caught his friend before he fell to the earth!
"FREDRICK!!! Fredrick! My friend, you shall be avenged! YOU SHALL BE AVENGED!!" He laid the fallen knight down to the earth and unsheathed his sword and bellowed a war cry that shook the heavens themselves! Michael rushed towards the frontline, dodging other knights in his way. He cut his way through a swarm of Andrean Soldiers only to find more still coming. He fought on and on, his sword arm never tiring, in his bloody haze! Suddenly a huge beast burst out of a crowd of Andrean he had been fighting and charged right at him! Michael raised his sword and uttered a prayer to Paladine, before his mind swam in a sea of red!
*** *** *** *** ***
When Michael came to, it seemed as if Reorx himself had moved his forge inside his head and was pounding away. He tried to get himself up but a wave of dizziness overcame him and he had to catch himself from falling back down. Slowly the pain went away and Michael looked at his surroundings for the first time. Bodies, of his fellow knights and of fallen Andrean's lied everywhere. Tents were burnt to the ground and weapons had been taken along with the armor of his fallen comrades along with his armor and sword. Michael franticly checked every body he came across in case someone was still alive.
He was the sole survivor of the massacre. He was three days from Vingaard Keep by foot but the Andrean's tracks lead in that direction, which meant an assault on Vingaard Keep was inevitable and they would be caught unaware that they were coming and had mages with them and who knows what else. Michael scavenged enough rations to last him four days, found a sword the Andreans had not found and made the hardest decision of his life. It would take him a little longer by foot but armies move slower than a single man, what would take him three days on foot would take them four or five. Anyways he might even find a horse on his way since he was passing through darken wood, the one place no man dared to travel.