'1356'
Chapter 1: 'The Sword Sisters'
Equestria in the Middle Ages was a growing superpower in both magic and military strength. Ruled by Princess Celestia, there seemed to be no power of magic or brute force that could match Equestria's might. In the Northwestern Territories, discontent was brewing in the villages and cider halls as a new power was just beginning to rise up: 'Chefal'.
The land known as 'Chefal' is the homeland to a unique non-pony species, the 'Mountain Hippogriff'. A different species from their Seaquestrian counterparts, these hippogriffs are more griffon-like in appearance and have wing-shaped ears. Their griffon neighbors to the east know them as 'Classical Hippogriffs' and often export iron to the Griffonlands.
As the 'Mountain Hippogriffs' began to rise up in rebellion as the 'Tax Act' was enacted on 'subjects of non-pony species' by Princess Celestia, that meant that the Griffons and Hippogriffs had to pay higher taxes than the Ponies, and the Hippogriffs of Queen Novo are exempted from that tax and pay the normal tax that the Ponies do. It has now begun
Mountain Hippogriffs and Griffons began to gather in the Northern Mountains of Chefal, or 'Les Montagnes de Fer' where they will forge weapons and train ordinary the citizens-griffs into soldiers. This 'Tax Act' prompted one Hippogriff Knight to kill the hated Pony treasurer known by the Mountain Hippogriffs and Griffons as 'Golden Mane the Bit-Biter'.
Meet the Mountain Hippogriff that took the flayed light brown pelt off the Pony's back, and had it fashioned into a sword belt: 'Wilhelmina De Faucon'. A widowed bride on the day of wedding when her groom-to-be was executed, she wore chainmail and plate armor in place of her wedding dress. And with her longsword 'Talon', she is a formidable warrior.
"You came, Genève," said Lady Wilhelmina, smiling warmly
"As I said I would," said Lady Genève, grinning to her best friend
The griffon with white fur and grey beak is Genève Van De Falk. A blacksmith by trade, she forged Wilhelmina's sword as a gift. A longsword with an overall length of 42.75in with a 33.375in and 1.56in wide double-edged blade with a 7in wide guard, a 9.38in grip and a wheel pommel, Genève made an exact twin sword for herself for battle named 'Fang'
The combined forces of the 'Mountain Hippogriffs' and 'Griffonstone Griffons' met on a rocky mount in the Griffon Kingdom highlands called 'The Roost'. The armies of knights and soldiers cheered as the best friends embraced as sisters-in-arms, and raised their weapons in pride. Some rumors circulated that these two are lovers, not that it mattered.
Their full and mature flanks gently wiggled and their tails wagged as they embraced. Their plate, chainmail, and brigandine armor clinked and rattled as they placed taloned paws on their shoulders as a sign of their sisterhood to the ways of chivalry and way of the sword. Wilhelmina can see in Genève's honey-colored eyes a fire that is in her brown eyes
"This is our time to rise," said Genève, their army was a mix of young and eager soldier-griffs as well as veterans that have seen their fair share of the battlefield. The banners of the two kingdoms were a blue flag with a pouncing golden hippogriff while the Griffon Kingdom has a white top and green bottom with a black pouncing griffon in the center
A soldier wears a kettle helm and chainmail coif. They wear a brigandine over a tunic-length hauberk of chainmail and plate armor on the legs and paws, and a heater shield. A broadsword is plain looking, but high quality at 39in long with a 33in long by 2in wide blade and a 7in wide guard. Thy also have spears, flanged maces, poleaxes, and battle axes
"It's our flyers" said Wilhelmina seeing two griffons return
"Well? What news?" Genève asked of the two tired griffon-soldiers
"The Ponies gather at Hawksbill," said a griffon named Georgia
"The nobles won't commit to battle, but the South-Birds and North-Birds are coming in the hundreds...and thousands" said Galena, the Ponies had been making their presence known in the Northlands with their castles and the fortifying of Griffon and Mountain Hippogriff villages that they annex with wooden palisades. Now it's time to meet the enemy
The North Regions of the Chefalien and the Griffonlands harvest timber. The South Regions of Chefal produce cork for the famous cider. A few types of axe hail from the regions. 'The Four Lugged Chopping Axe' and 'The Two Lugged Bearded Axe' come from the North, and the 'Cork Harvesting Axe' come from the South. They are improvised weapons
"To war!" Genève and Wilhelmina cried out to their army of soldier-griffs and knights. They roared, and raised their weapons proudly and ready to fight. Griffon and hippogriff knights are trained from the time they are hatchlings. They wear chainmail, plate armor, heater shields, and brigandine. Their surcoats emblazoned with their family coat-of-arms
Weapons are the lance, sword, mace, and axe. There are 2 types of axe. A single-hand axe has a 35in long haft with a 6.25in blade length and weighs a little over 3lbs. It's rather light weight makes it a good pair with a combatant's heater shield. A two-handed axe is a 5lbs beast with a 56in long haft and a crescent-shaped head with a 10in cutting edge
The spear and lance are popular among soldier-griffs and Griffon and Hippogriff knights as they are simple and effective. The spear is over 2m long with an 11.8in by 1.97in steel head and a 7.5in socket. The lance has the same head as a spear, and a hardwood shaft of 3m long. The armies are on the march. Their war banners flying in the spring breeze