The Pegasus Rising
While House Blackreyne settled in Westeros, House Whitehall had a mind to carve their own king in the far east of Essos. Unlike the Blackreynes. House Whitehall was focused purely on conquest. Led by Aric Whitehall their first target was the Shadowlands. House Whitehall descended upon the city of Asshai. Though it was lightly populated, it had some value. They sacked the city and freed the slaves the lived there. Though this liberation was not out of any sympathy, they intended to use the ashai'i slaves as new subjects. After Asshai they marched north conscripting the Shadow men and even looting the corpse city Stygai.
At first House Whitehall considered settling here and making Asshai their new capitol. But in the Mountains of Morn the Whitehalls came face to face with the Dragons of Essos. The Eridonians looked in awe at these magnificent beasts. With fire that could melt stone and large enough to swallow a elephant whole. The Dragons wrecked havok on the Eridonians. Unwilling to let this stop them, the Aric unleashed their Pegasus on them. The Pegasus proved to be a formidable against the dragons, though their featherblades could not pierce the dragon hides, some did go into the dragon's eyes. It was the equivilant to getting blinded by crushed glass. The Pegasus' would then drive their 3 foot long horns into the necks of the dragons, punctering vital arteries. Pegasus became victims to smaller dragons who were able to match them in speed. They clamped the jaws on the winged horses and refuse to let go. In the end ot the dragon crisis, hundreds ofdragons layed dead, but the price of victory was steep for House Whitehall. A fifth of their pegasus had been slain leaving many of their seasoned Paladin knights without mounts.
After facing the Dragons, Aric led his people and marched north seeking a better place to settle. They sacked the city of Carcosa and subjugated it's people. the sorcerers who lived their were given a choice, Serve House Whitehall or perish, though they had great power, the sorcerers feared the Pegasus of their conquerors. The sorcerers showed them the path out of the shadowlands and into the Land of the Shrykes. The lands of Far-East-Essos was inhabited by half humans and savage people. To House Whitehall it was ripe for conquest.
This land though dangerous was fertile and ideal for Eridonian lifestyle. As they explored this territory, the Whitehalls stumbled upon the City of the Winged Men. The Whitehalls would of normally found any people who wasn't normal to be gastly. But the fact that these people could fly intrigued them. They decided to make the city their new capitol and named it Skyfall a name that the winged people took a liking to. With a capitol established, the Whitehalls now sought to rid the land of the Lizard-men (The Shrykes). But instead of simply wiping them out, The Whitehalls made a sport of it known as the Great Hunt. Every week, Eridonian nobles hunted the shrykes on horseback seeing who could slay the most. Before long, the shrykes were driven out of the homelands.
With the fleeing of the shrykes, the Eridonians could now begin to build permenant settlements on their new homeland. They build a cities near the nearby Bleeding Sea and the Hidden Sea. farms and villaiges were established on any place with a river. The city of Skyfall thrived under the Joint rule of the winged people and the Eridonians.
But the Whitehalls were not content with this and desired more. they learned that the winged people feared their neighbors to the north the K'Dath. These people committed such atrocities that the Eridonians felt obligated to put them under heel. So they gathered their knights and invaded K'Dath. Lacking a proper army, the K'Dathi were quickly overrun and thousands became servants to the Eridonian nobility. K'Dath city and Bonetown came under the rule of selected Eridon Earls and the entire territory was added to the Whitehall kingdom now named Alvion.
Seeking to continue their success at K'Dath, the Whitehalls decided to look further north. That is when they came across the Grey Waste. The cold barren expanse was almost enough to deterr them from going further. But some were curious as to what lay beyond. Sorem Whitehall led a small expedition of 1,000 men across the grey coloured desert. Eventually they came to the great forest region of Mussovy. Realizing the value of such a large deposit of wood Sorem decided that Mussovy would become Eridonian Territory. Upon exploring the forest, the adventurers came across the demon hunters. It didn't take long for the two groups to befriend each other. Sorem and his party decided to spend a year in the region to discover it's secrets. In that year they took part in the 'demon hunt', slaying many shapechangers and other strange beasts. After a year, Sorem gave the hunters an offer to join their newly growing kingdom. He promised them lordship over the region and the finest equipment that Eridonians had to offer. The Huntsmen accepted and returned with Sorem to Alvion where they were made Eridon nobility.
Sorem was more determined than ever, they had to have Mossovy. Unfortunately, the grey waste stood in the way. So Sorem gathered the captured sorcerers together with a deal, if they made the grey waste fertile, they would be granted their freedom. Realizing the chance, the sorcerers agreed. It was gruesome and bitter wrk, but within five years, the sorcerers manage to turn the grey waste into a vast grassland. They even created a river that started at the bleeding sea and extended deep into the former desert. Once their work was completed Sorem carried out his promise and sent them to the city of Qarth where they joined the warlocks there. A small number however had grown accoustomed to Eridonian culture and ended up adopting it as their own. So instead of fleeing to Qarth, these few chose to stay and serve House Whitehall.
House Whitehall now ruled a kingdom that stretched from the southernmost part of the Hidden Sea to the coastline of the Shivering Sea. The already existing settlements had grown into large cities and others had been built. After the Eridonians annexed Mussovy, they named the Demon hunters the lords of the region and a city was built right on the edge of the vast forest. From Mussovy, they marched west and siezed the kingdom of N'Ghai. Eridonian lords would ride into the cannibal sands and take it's inhabitants into servitude.
Over the next 1,000 years, Alvion became wealthy and prospered enjoying an era of peace. Much of the kingdom had been transformed into vast farmland. These farms, each maintained by large peasant towns produced all manner of crops. Near Skyfall, along the banks of the Hidden Sea, the Whitehalls constructed their seat of power. The Great Castle of Eridon, named in honor of their lost homeland.
The conquered peoples slowly became part of House Whitehall's Peasantry. They were closely watched, forbidden from practicing their barbaric ways and were kept in line by the presense of brutal Earls. Lacking proper education, their individual cultures were forgotten and they began following the culture of the Eridonians. A few rebellions occured, but they were quickly and brutally put down often they would slaughter the adults and forcibly 'educate' the surviving infants. In half a millenium, all evidence of the savage cultures had been erased from the minds of the new Alvion peasantry and their obediance was now absolute. Most of these men would become martyran fanatics as they were good for little else. It is worth mentioning that the pure Eridonian peasants were given better treatment than the conquered peasants. Albiet the difference it minor at best.
Knowing they needed to make ties with their neighbors in order to establish trade and commerce. The problem was that their weren't many developed kingdoms near Alvion and even Alvion itself had been lightly populated with 'normal' looking people. The only civilized kingdom near Alvion was the Golden Empire of Yi Ti. Fortunately, Yi-Ti was significantly more developed for the age and that made it easier for Alvion to develope relations with them. With ties to Yi-Ti established, Alvion's prosperity increased.
The Zorse War
Unfortunately, peace in the realms of men cannot last and it wasn't long before a storm founds it's way to Alvion. This storm had a name, the Jogos Nhai. With a nation as prosperous as Alvion, it was only inevitable that it would catch the eye of their nomadic neighbor to the west. The Jogos Nhai possessed a beligerence that would of disturbed House Blackreyne. When the Eridonians first set eyes on them, they couldn't help but laugh at their ridiculous physique. Bow legged and squat with small faces and dark skinned. They were hardly intimidating compared to the tall, strapping and comely Eridonian nobility. But it was their pointed skulls that the Eridonians found highly amusing and at the same time revolting. espacially when you consider that how hard it was to tell their genders apart. Despite this, the Eridonians took a keen interest in their mounts. The zorses of the Jogos Nhai became a fascination for their knights. Eridon knights were in need of new mounts, since they had arrived in essos, they had lost all their destriers, and the Paladin knights had taken to using coursers as a substitute.
At first, House Whitehall chose to ignore them and focus on their own affairs. For a time it was enough. The Jogos Nhai were focused on wealthier kingdoms. Most notable of these Are the Patrimony of Hyrkoon and Yi Ti. Compared to these great powers, Alvion is but a young upstart province, with little wealth. However as Avlion grew in size and prospered, the zorse riders now looked to Alvion with a gleam in their eyes.
The Jogos Nhai had been in a war with Yi Ti. After the Jhattar Zhea Zorseface defeated the vast army of Yi Ti Emperor Lo Bu, they now turned their attention to Alvion, Yi Ti's long time ally.
The Jogos Nhai began their offensive with a series of raids by the numerous clans. But unlike Hyrkoon and Yi Ti, Alvion is prepared. The warbands swoop in and raid the numerous villages near the Alvion border. But afterwards as they are returning to their homeland, the warbands find their way blocked by the Eridonian cavalry. The Jogod Nhai are fierce fighters and even better riders. But when it comes to cavalry warfare, the Whitehalls had no peer. The fact that the Jogos Nhai were unarmoured and had no fixed line didn't help matteres either. Eridonian knights cut them down like a scythe with wheat. Dozens of Jogos Nhai warbands rode into Alvion and none return.
As the war dragged on Zhea grew worried as the number of warbands decreased and sent her finest scouts to see what has become of them. One scout returned with e dreadful report. The first thing he had found was that many of the Pilgrim Knights now rode zorses, going further in he found the remnants of the warbands. The sight before him sent fear up his spine.
Every warband had been captured and dealt with in a very unique and cruel way. The males had been slaughtered and the females in the warbands were put into camps. In these camps Jogos Nhai females were paired with conquered peasants for breeding. The babies were then taken to eridonian peasants who were chosen as foster parents. These children would not have the pointed heads of their mothers and raised to be loyal and obediant. Once the females was no longer able to produce children they were executed.
Enraged by the treatment of her people at the hands of the Eridonians, Zhea began to plan a campaign of vengence. Her target, the capital city of Skyfall. Using the enslaved Yi Tish, Zhea constructed an enormous bronze statue inthe form of a pegasus. This statue was sent to Alvion as a peace offering and a gesture of surrender. The Whitehalls took the gift without a second thought and brought into Skyfall. Little did they know that within the statue was Zhea and 100 of her fiercest warriors. On the night they entered the city. Zhea and her warriors climbed out of the horse and under a new moon, they slew the guards, and opened the gate. The moment Zhea gave the signal, 10,000 Jogos Nhai wariors rode into the city and proceeded to sack it. The sack of Skyfall left thousands dead and thousands more taken captive. But the greatest grievance was the deaths of the winged people. The Jogos Nhai slaughtered every last one of them. For House Whitehall the sack led to the deaths of much of the family including the King Farlow Whitehall, all but one of his sons and most of the counts and elder nobles.
The Sack of Skyfall sent a shockwave throughout Alvion. The death of their kings and most of his heirs and many senior nobles was a devastating blow. Zhea returned to the Plains with new slaves to serve her. Unfortunately while the Sack of Skyfall was the greatest victory they achieved, it was also their greatest mistake. Zhea expected the new King to be rash arrogant anda man of action. The truth however was far from it. Zheanew opponent was none other than Hammond Whitehall.
Much of the Eridonian ladies and knights had been in Eridon Castle attending a feast held by King Farlow's fourth eldest son Hammond. Of all of Farlow's sons Hammond was the most dangerous. Compared to his elder brothers he appeared unremarkable. Lean and and quick while his brothers had been stocky and strong. Despite this Hammond was Zhea's equal in cunning and unequaled in ruthlessness. it is said that he forsaw the sack of Skyfall and ensured that the nobility he favoured was with him while it happened. Namely his sisters, female cousins, younger brother, the knights, and the ladies.
When word reached Hammond of the sack of Skyfall, the Eridonians were burning with anger. Hammond however was secretly thrilled and decided the time was right to launch his counter attack. Hammond acknowledged that the perfect way to defeat such a warlike race is to counter with the tactics of an equally warlike people. And House Whitehall happened to know one all too well. Hammond decided to take a page from House Blackreyne's tactics
Hammond knew that the Jogos Nhai lived in small bands so he divided his pilgrim knights into equally small groups to search and destroy. As they were not bound by the same code of Honor as Paladin Knights, they were able to use underhanded tactics to achieve their goals. The Pilgrims slept during the day and rode in the cover of night. They took each clan by surprise. Some even dressed in their attire so other warbands would ignore them. Along the way they discovered the captured nobles of skyfall as well as thousands of slaves from Hyrkoon and Yi-Ti, every one gladly joined the Eridonians.
To counter this Zhea ordered her people to melt away deep into their homelands. Hammond then declared that he would raise a large force to invade the Plains of the Jogos Nhai and eliminate Zhea once and for all. For a whole year Hammond mustered a huge army numbering two hundred thousand strong. Most of which was made up of conscripted peasants. This force was assembled at the border of the Shrykelands and the Plains. Zhea responed by gathering all the warbands together into a force of equal size. Zhea assumed that Hammond was going to attempt what Lo Bu had tried many years before.
But Zhea had been decieved, Hammond's great host was but a diversion. The real invasion force was assembled in absolute secrecy in the north. Zhea believed her northern borders to be safe since the Cannibal Sands seperated her land from Alvion. But Hammond was about to do the unthinkable. He was going to cross the Cannibal Sands. The great host was led by Hammond's younger brother Verden. Hammond crossed the now inhabited desert and crossed into the northern Plains. Once he and his host had finished the crossing, hesent a raven to verden to march on Zhea.
As soon as Zhea saw the great host moving she quickly moved to intercept. Zhea had decided to attack them at night thinking that this host cound not perform a fight in night time like their small mounted forces could. Unfortunately a scout spotted Zhea's host approaching and was able to warn them about the attack. The Eridonian hosthad surrounded their huge camp with trench and spikes. A rope fence was made meant to trip the zorses. When they heard the thundering of hooves. It was the telltale sign of the approaching Jogos Nhai army. The Zorse riders galloped right into the fence stumbling and flinging them into the awaiting circle of spikes. many zorses or their riders were impaled. Seeing their calvalry charge fail the jogos Nhai dismounted and attacked on foot. Twice they charged the defensive ring until finally breaking through on the third change.
The first soldiers they would meet were the Martyrans. The mad savagery in which the Martyrans fought took the Jogos Nhai by force. One account reported of a martyran who had lost both of his arms so he ran forward and chewed into the neck of the fisrt Jogos Nhai he could reach, the martyran manage to kill the man before succumbing to his injuries. Martyrans literally had to be beheaded inorder to stop them quickly otherwse they were able to kill at least a dozen enemies before being slain. The Battle of the Southern Plains raged all through the night. Neither side gaining a true upper hand. Zhea confronted Verden who was ddisgiused as hs brother. Zhea was a fierce warrior and the two fought. "It is a pity we face each other as enemies." She told him. "I would of taken you as a consort."
Verden laughed and shook his head. "Sorry Zorseface," he quipped. "I only like women."
This enraged her and she attacked him with new vigor. eventually she manage to slash him in the stomach and removed his helm. "You are nor Hammond," she said angrily.
Verden laughed, "I know that, but you didn't."
"Where is your brother?"
"Away."
"Well the coward will never see his little brother again."
Verden laughed a coughed blood, "it was worth it to seen you cfail your people this day."
Zhea knelt down and and pulled him up. "What do you mean?"
Despite the pain he pulled himself, and whispered in her ear. "If you are here, who is guarding the north?"
It was then that she realized Hammonds deception. gripped by panic she order her men to retreat. The Eridonians were victorious loosing 30,000 men to Zhea's 50,000. Verden died laughing.
While Zhea had been busy with Verden, Hammond and his invasion force of 100,000 knights swept through the Plains of the Jogos Nhai. he cut down the undefended clans following his usual procedure. By the time Zhea confronted him, most of her people had been slain or subjugated. She knew that she had to stop him here of her people and her land would be added to the Kingdom of Alvion. Unfortunately, a fourth of her army had been lost in the battle with Verden. Though she still outnumbered Hammond's force. The Eridonian Knights were superior riders and fighters to her own warriors.
Zhea must have known that the situation was grim and decided that death was better than servitude so in a final act of defiance she led the remnants of her army in a desperate charge. Zhea's warriors were in an arrowhead formation. hammond divided his army in three parts, 30,000 Pilgrims on the right flank, 30,000 on the left and his 40,000 Paladins in the middle in the form of a V. An Arrowhead charge is strong in the front but weak in the flanks and Hammond intended to exploit it. The the point of the arrow clashed with the paladins, The Zorse riders were hit from the flanks by the pilgrim knights. The Battle of the Northern plains lasted only 20 minutes. The Jogos Nhai were overrun and trampled by Hammond's heavy horse. Zhea was allowed to pass through in order to duel Hammond. In the duel that followed. Hammond beheaded the Jhattar and placed it on a pole for all to see. Despite the death of their chief, the remaining Jogos Nhai fought to the last warrior. In the end 150,000 Jogos Nhai lost their lives, Hammond only lost 10,000
The Death of Zhea Zorseface marked the end of the Jogos Nhai. With most of their warriors dead and no Jhats remaining, the remainder of the nomads surrendered to House Whitehall. As with the others Hammond made no exeptions. The men were slain, the women sent to the camps and the children were to be trained as martyrans or breeders. The zorses Became the mounts of the Pilgrim Knights while the Paladins now used coursers.
House Whitehall gained the praise and respect from Hyrkoon and Yi Ti for eradicating the Jogos Nhai. Both kingdims showered the Whitehalls with gifts. In Hyrkoon, the women fight and the men were eunuch workers. Only 1 in every 100 were selected to become one of the Great Fathers. So the Whitehalls made an unusual request. They wanted 40 out every 100 of their men. The Patrmony gladly accepted, in exchange House Whitwehall helped elimitate the wild men of the bone mountains. Often taking them back to Alvion to become peasants.
With the fall of the Jogos Nhai, the Plains they had called home for centuries were annexed by Alvion. Adding the plains of the Jogos Nhai doubled House Whitehalls territory and allowed them to do business with The Patrimony of Hyrkoon. Hammond tasked his sorcerers with making the Plains suitable for farming. Avlion gained millions of new subjects, many came from Hyrkoon and Yi Ti so they chose to return to their homeland. Others however chose to stay and serve the Whitehalls. Due to their more civilized nature, many of these people joined the Eridonian nobility in time. House Whitehall was now the most powerful kingdom in Far-East Essos with land and a population surpassing that of it's neighbors.