Prologue
The Kingdom of Tsukuyomi fell quickly, much to the shock of the surrounding nations and the horror of the citizens of that once-happy kingdom. Many citizens of the former nation scattered and became refugees overnight, traveling by the cover of darkness to the surrounding kingdoms, many in the end having to travel for weeks carrying all their worldly possessions. Its citizens were scattered and left, terrified of what Tsukuyomi would become under the new ruler.
The once-white palace in the capital carried a large scar from a bomb created from the gunpowder and shrapnel which had been encased in a large metal trunk that had been made especially for that purpose. What was left was a huge gaping hole in the throne room and the nearby hall, killing the Queen, most of her advisors, and the crown princess: her one and only heir —Princess Serenity.
The vile man who rose to take credit for the destruction and to rule the broken kingdom was the leader of the once-thought-to-be-weak Black Moon Clan. The head of the clan and the self-proclaimed king was Demande, whose soul was backed by a pact with a sorcerer calling himself Wiseman. Demande had ruled and brought along his siblings, Saphir and Esmeraude, who were by his side from the beginning.
A year then passed, and the refugees that had made it to other countries had formed their towns in the vast, previously uncultivated areas. As a result, the spread of the artisan and the crafts that had been unique to Tsukuyomi began being incorporated into the styles of the different kingdoms, creating entirely new styles of craftsmanship.
Still, the former citizens of the formerly great kingdom mourned the death of their royals and their previous lifestyle. Gone were many of the towns in which generations of their families had grown up and died —abandoned like graveyards in likewise abandoned homes.
Demande had troubles of his own to contend with, too. Foreign nations resisted and, in some cases, were downright hostile to him. After all, he came to power by usurping the rightful queen and killing her. Something they were very much afraid of happening to themselves.
He was left with a half-abandoned, fractured kingdom with no allies. Leaving their King glad that his arm was so vast that he felt he didn't have to fear invasion. He could exist without allies for a time based solely on his might.
Demande lamented his siblings that he felt he was saddled with. To him, the only halfway intelligent sibling he possessed had been Ruby, and she forced him to have to kill her for her failure during the coup.
So he was left with his council, which he humored by listening to their recommendations and then promptly ignoring them. Wiseman was the only one who had any sway with him, but that was still limited.
And so it was that the Kingdom of Tsukuyomi struggled to regain any of its former glory a year after the war. Meanwhile, surrounding it were strong nations that, while disregarding the destruction, refused to have any political or economic relations with them.