Rulers of Earthius: Dawn of the North

Chapters

The War Begins: Chapter I: The Burning Village
The War Begins: Chapter II: Palace of the Rising Sun
The War Begins: Chapter III: The Fields Were Stained by Blood
The Summer War: Chapter I: Meeting of Generals
The Summer War: Chapter II: The Siege of Baltimare
The Summer War Chapter III: Council of the King

The War Begins: Chapter I: The Burning Village

Fallreach was a grand city that is far bigger than most in the eastern world. It sat at the center, right at the foot of the Gold Mountains. With its tall walls constructed for protecting its denizens from the biting winds of winter, and the many vagabonds and enemy kingdoms around (Though now they seldom bother them). Within this grand city where much trading happened, lived King Rignar II The Tower made his home.

He was magnificently tall and broad, standing beyond even a Northerner, who were known for their height. His hair was a deep black extending past his shoulder, he sported a beard that went to the top of his chest marked with golden pieces that often found worn by Dwarven Kings. He lived in the keep at the west end resting on a mound of rocks cut from the mountains where near all of Niln's valiant kings made their home ever since the grand days of New Olma and Germylor.

It was a magnificent building with its tall roof extending far, resembling a church in some ways, carved from stone with windows cut into the walls and engravings all upon them. A grand staircase led to the great wooden doors of the keep from the city, much of the keep was within the mountain itself, hiding just how large it was from the public eye. King Rignar lived in this keep with his wife, Queen Taleeria The Huntress.

Taleeria a Forest Elf who was younger than Rignar by five years with the brown skin common of Forest Elves and long braided red hair that went down her back she stood right at Rignar's chin in height and was far thinner than him, the King and Queen seemed almost complete opposites.

Youngsun 3rd, 145 Post-Imperial Era

Fallreach, Capital of Niln

The horse galloped hard north, galloping to the southern gates of Fallreach, it's black main flowing in the wind. On its back sat a young girl in a blue dress, she could not have been more than a teen, her locks of golden blonde hair flowing in the wind behind her, she galloped through the open gates and down the long streets. She reached the foot of keep steps, climbing from her steed and running herself up the ancient stone steps. She reached the peak and stood at the porch just in front of the doors.

There stood two men, dawning what must have been expensive armor. They dawned glinting steel plates that covered most of their body with mail covering the rest. They wore crested helms upon their heads with black horsehair upon them. On their hips were two weapons, decorated darkly colored pistols dawning large barrels and flintlocks and a long thin-bladed Northern Sword within a leather scabbard.

In their off-hands, they dawned blue, steel kite-shields, painted with a gray marking of a horned helmet and sword to symbolize the King's Royal Family, in the opposite hand they held spears made of steel on the ends of red wrapped poles. The young girl who was now exposed be a Forest Elf of maybe thirteen winters in age wearing a tattered and charred blue dress, her face was reddened slightly by what must've been an immense heat, approached the tall and ancient doors of the keep.

The two guards moved their spears to block the door, the one to the left calling in his hoarse voice:

"Halt, no one is allowed beyond the door unless thou art on official business!" the two men stared at the young she-elf, gazing upon the tattered dress they knew what she was there for, there was an attack somewhere, and it needed to be reported as soon as possible.

The guards lowered their weapons, the one on the left moving to push open the heavy doors with heavy groans revealing the wooden hallway that led to the throne room. Stain glass windows lined the carven stone walls, letting in light, also lined by suits of aging metal armor and Royal Guards in their crested helms and blue capes. The floors were polished black oak planks glinting in the afternoon sunlight.

The elf reached the end of the hallway where there stood the doors to the throne room, it was a beautifully carved wooden door inlaid in gold with the words carved in Ancient Northern above reading Hear beyond this doors, lies the King of the North and Protector of the Faith. Two guards stood on either side, pushing the door open with a similar loud groan like that of the main entrance's doors.

Within the throne room was the large King of the North, RIgnar II The Tower, donning black noble clothes and the fur of a bear as a cloak on his back, with a horned steel crown upon his head. He sat upon his wooden throne with his wife, the Forest Elf Taleeria being sat to his right. The walls were lined with windows made of clear glass that let in sunlight with guards between each window. Behind the thrones on either side were doors that led to the castle courtyard.

Above and between the thrones was the skull of a great wolf and two swords crossed behind it that looked worn and aged. King Rignar stood from his throne, towering above all those within the throne room, his voice was deep and thunderous, though calm in the presence of the young elf when he spoke:

"What is the reason for thee to intrude on my Throne Room?"

The young girl got on her knee before him "Your H-Highness... an attack has occurred to the south of here, at the village of Nelcreed, they were large people in glinting bronze armor atop horses," She began to sob and fell on her knees "They killed whoever they could find, and burned it all to ash,"

The queen in her green dress got up and walked over to the young elf who lay sobbing on the ground, Rignar paid them no mind as he made his way to the door on the right side of the throne room. Beyond this door was a short hallway that led to an open courtyard surrounded by walls of natural stone with a large garden at its center, surrounded by walkways of ancient quartz stone, the circular garden, a fountain at its center, held generations-old plants from the distant lands of the ancient Grand Olmarian Kingdom.

Exotic vines and flowers, fruits that did not require water to grow. This garden did not matter to the king, he walked onward to the large wooden door beyond the garden which led to the rest of the keep, being the servant quarters and guard barracks, he opened the door to the dimly lit chamber beyond, brick walls and wooden floors, a doorway at the end, it was open with a door on the very end. On the south end was a large lit fireplace, to the north end was a woman working with laundry at a bucket that steamed as the woman who wore black and white worked.

"My king, welcome" proclaimed a young blonde servant in the same dress as the washer "What does his majesty request" her voice was calm and of a respectful tone.

"Bring me my sword at once, it is a most urgent matter" he responded in his demanding voice "And I request my horse and fifteen Wolf Soldiers be at the south gate within fifteen minutes"

Rignar walked down the Kings exit from the city, a magic stone door carved into the mountain made as a gift by the Dwarves in the Gold Mountain, outside of the main gatehouse, the Soldiers sat atop horses, their spears in hand, two holding their's with flags at their end, showing the wolf head and crossed swords of Niln. At their lead on the back of a black and white horse was a man wearing dark-colored armor, beautifully engraved with gold inlays, he bore a resemblance to Rignar though he stood far shorter, his name was Wulfgar of the White Mountains.

Rignar, still wearing his normal clothes, climbed on the back of his red and white warhorse that stood over the height of his guard's own horses that were also tall and thick with muscle. Rignar raised his gloved hand to signal for his men to ride forward on their horses. The regiment of soldiers galloped onward to the south, down the stone main road. As they neared the village, they came across a wagon train of people who appeared to be worn, many had their faces covered with soot from the fires and expressions of their broken spirits with their hair and clothes singed.

The group of soldiers followed the king as he trotted down the main road through the village. Nelcreed had been located on a great lake which made its surrounding land fertile, around the village were fields of wheat and other crops, the houses often had silos built into their side using stones. As they trotted down the main road, the sound of prayers could be heard to the east of the village. Rignar climbed from his horse and grabbed its halter.

"Men!" he shouted "Go and search the village for evidence of the attack, bring whatever you can to me!" he walked to the sounds of prayer and found a preacher, bald with a white beard down to his hip, and two younger monks bald with shorter blond beards, all wearing decorative white and gold robes. They stood over freshly filled graves, four there were with a fifth being dug by a soldier who had stripped his corslet helm and gauntlets revealing him to be young.

He could not have been more than twenty-three winters old. The soldier saw the king standing over him, he climbed from the hole, dropping the shovel and kneeling before Rignar, he raised his sweat and ash-covered face to face him: "Your highness, we tried to fend them off but there were hundreds of them, they slaughtered us like we were cattle and left our corpses to burn with the village,"

"You fought valiantly, and did not retreat," responded the towering man "You will find yourself with your brothers in Kanhallo,"

"Thank you, My King," he said before climbing back into the hole with the shovel in hand

"M'lord!" he heard Wulfgar cry out in his booming voice "Come quickly!" The king made his way over to a gathered group of soldiers, Wulfgar directed his attention to the remains of an Equestrian Soldier clad in bronze armor, similar to the light armor of Niln's soldiers, sabatons, gauntlets, shin plates, corslets, and helmets that were like the wolf soldiers, near fully enclosed but lacking the crest, a massive wound in the chest from what seemed to be a pike.

"So it is," RIgnar bespoke quietly "Queen Twilight has now found herself facing the wolf, and the wolf shall attack fiercely," Rignar made his way to his horse and climbed atop "Come now, we must make it back to Fallreach, the sun sets upon the west when tomorrow's sun rises a new age shall begin with blood" with that his men climbed upon their horses and rode north, for they were done there, their ambitions were now southward, to Equestria.

The War Begins: Chapter II: Palace of the Rising Sun

The city of Canterlot was a grand city, its palace was washed with white and gold, sitting atop a mountain with a grand sprawling metropolis below. An ancient city grown in size by its trade, it was the trade center of Western Oriana it was home to little poverty, its buildings were painted the same as the palace with brilliant white and gold colors.

It is said that no one is Poor in Canterlot and the very reason could be because it is home to the greatest trade of any landlocked city. It is a city that is ruled by the merchant class, numbering in the thousands, a diverse city of goods from across the continent, swirling with legends of distant lands and grand cities to the east.

The city is the home of Queen Twilight, a distant relative of the last queen of Equestria who is young at only thirty years of age, she has a youthful face with violet skin and hair that was of a violet hue with lighter streaks, she wore a white and gold silk dress, matching the palace in color. Her throne room was brilliant purple and decorated with stained glass windows of the history of her kingdom, with the twin alicorn banner of North Equestria behind her golden throne, it was indeed the sign of a wealthy kingdom.

Youngsun 4th, 145 PIE

Palace of the Sun, Canterlot, Equestria

The sun rose over the horizon, hitting the palace and reflecting its sparkling light over the city. As the sun broke the horizon, the grand bell of the clock tower at the city's center tolled, signaling that it was now morning. Queen Twilight walked into her throne room, taking her place on her throne. Her Equin Bronze-clad guards stood next to the white door at the front of the room, keeping their bronze glaives stuck to the floor, facing forward their faces concealed by crested helms marked by blue hair.

Twilight was ready to greet her soldiers when the white doors swung open and a courier burst through, he wore a brown tunic and gray trousers with black shoes, he was older with gray hair and clutched a rolled piece of parchment, sealed with the crossed wolf of Niln and a burlap sack in the other.

"[M'lady, the King of the North sends a message to thee]" he bespoke to her in the Northern Tongue, she understood little of what he said, instead opting to rip the parchment from his hand and to read.

It was written in the merchant's tongue and read short "You have brought war upon your people and upon your kingdom, my mercy is minimal and the wrath of the gods shall befall upon thee," she crumpled the letter in her hand, rage filling her eyes, she grabbed the sack from the courier's hands and remove the heavy object from its binds. In her hands was a blood-stained helmet of one of her soldiers, a black crossed wolf painted on its face.

Out of blind fury, she threw the helmet over the courier and down the hallway before the throne room, it clattered on the hard ground. She turned away from the door and made her way back to her golden throne, sitting herself down once again before saying:

"If its war he wants, it is a war he shall receive,"

Two golden carriages rode through the east gate of Canterlot followed by two horse riders dawning the golden cloak of generals and full Equin Bronze Armor. They made it to the steps of the great city, out from the first golden carriage climbed a young lady wearing a pink noble dress and a gold and platinum necklace going down her chest, her skin was bright pink and a full head of curly pink hair.

She was part of a powerful house in the city of Rockville at the foot of the Stone Hills, her family-owned many mines near the city, making her family the most powerful of the noble houses in the City. She was known for her taste for sweets and baked goods it is even said that the manor she lives in just beyond the walls of Rockville has five kitchens within. Despite her supposed obsession with baked goods, she was quite thin with a curved figure.

Following behind her was Fluttershy, her background was mysterious to pretty much all. The names of her parents were unknown, it seemed she had just appeared in Canterlot one day. She was small and thin, with long flowing pink hair and light yellow skin, and seemed to walk with a limp. Despite her mysterious origins, she was fairly wealthy, living in a manor on the edge of the large and expansive Everfree Forest with her manor supposedly overflowing with animals.

The two generals climbed down from their horses, removing their crested helmets. One was General Applejack, her hair was long and blonde tied up in a ponytail with paler skin. She was well built from her years as a soldier, it was known she had no real home but mostly stayed in the fort of Brastwin in the south close to Cloudsdale. She was a member of House Apple, the northern region was where she was raised, but her family farm burned down around the years 130 PIE when a battle was waged between Equin soldiers and Wolf Soldier in which her parents died.

Applejack was a veteran of the Morion War and was known for being against the modernization of the army. Rainbow Dash stood at her side, a general like her with short rainbow-colored hair and bright blue skin, she was born to a wandering family in Cloudsdale on the southern coast. She lived a life on the road, traveling across Equestria and Oriana.

She was only on the Council of Harmony that had gone beyond the Stone Hills, she was famous for this, people often asked her to tell tales of the lands beyond the mountainous peaks of the Stone Hills. The council entered the War Room within the palace, it was a round dark blue room, lit by a large chandelier above a round stone table. Around this stone, table were six chairs marked with the symbol of everyone's house.

Twilight sat at the table, her wife and second queen Rarity sat next to her left, and a Royal Guard to her right. The Royal Guard was General Venius Lunius from Callamar, a distant land to the north of Oriana, a bitter and cold land. He was fair-skinned like the Northerners but in true Callamarin fashion, he kept his facial hair sparse unlike the Northerners who saw beards as a sign of manhood, he also kept his hair short and well-combed again like Callamarin tradition.

The Council sat at their respective chairs around the table. Twilight stood up and placed her hands on the table, a look of immense focus on her face. A few moments later, an ethereal image of a map appeared on the table, its smoky image soon shifted to form a map of Niln with all its mountains and forests and plains. Twilight sat herself down and began to speak:

"As you may know by the message my doves have sent you, King Rignar of Niln has declared war on our nation," she grabbed a wand-like tool that had been sitting on the table and began pointing to certain areas "This city is Deildunga," she pointed to a city in the southwest "It is one of the twelve major cities in Niln and is ruled over by House Catstooth" a red banner depicting an orange saber cats head appeared over the city.

She moved her wand further west to a city on the coast "This is West Shore, a major port city with a large shipyard ruled over by House Seafinder" a blue banner with a white coiled serpent appeared over the city. She moved her wand over further east "This is Myrr, House Elkhorn Rules over it" a dark green banner depicting a white eight-pointed set of antlers appeared over.

"What do we need to know this for?" asked Rainbow Dash curiously but almost annoyed "Are we planning an invasion?"

"No" responded Twilight "But General Venius says it is likely that we won't be seeing the full force of the army at this point"

Venius bespoke in the formal manner he had obtained from years in Equestria "I believe that we will see little of the official organized army, but instead we will see a force of possibly these three cities combined since they are closest to the border,"

"And what brings you to that conclusion 'scholar'?" questioned Applejack

"I have studied the tactics of Niln for years, the Military Academy of Callamar has a library filled with strategies of near all armies on Earthius, I have studied through volumes about their battle tactics from their times as raiders on the coasts of the eight continents, to their conquest of East Olma, and I have known that most of their fighting is done by lords and their private armies, even in the Imperial Days," responded Venius

"But do you know who this man is, we are talking about Rignar II here" Responded Rainbow Dash, in her years of travel she had gathered much knowledge about the Kings of Niln "He is a hulking beast of a man, taller than most Northerners when he was a teenager, he supposedly slew a White Bear with only a long ax, while in hiding after his brother claimed he'd died, he became known as the Butcher of the North when his brother tried to overthrow his rule and he executed him and his conspirators," Rainbow Dash finished her story and sat back in her chair

"Do you think he'll come down here and fight our army himself?" he laughed loudly "We have some of the best horsemen and soldiers in the West of Oriana," He proudly exclaimed, "and what makes you think that because he would slay his own brother he wouldn't shy away from the older traditions?" He asked Rainbow Dash, unmoving from his position "I believe I've heard a tale in fact, that says he wishes to restore their old Empire or 'Grand Kingdom', am I right in this?"

Before it could get any more heated, Twilight stepped in and put a stop to it "Quiet the two of you, we don't have time for silly games of who knows more, we need to focus" she pointed at Pinkie Pie who shot up and put her hand up in a salute with her usual joyous smile upon her face "Your family and the other mines in Rockville will be responsible for providing the metal for our soldier's weapons and armor"

"Okie Dokie!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie gleefully

She moved her wand to Fluttershy said "You are a healer, you will stay here at the palace and train new healers,"

"B-but what of the animals at my home?" asked Fluttershy in her meek voice

"Your servants will have to take care" responded Twilight "You will remain here until further notice," she pointed her wand at Applejack and Rainbow Dash "You will command my Army, they are at your will and will answer to you" they saluted and removed themselves from their chairs, all except for Fluttershy got up and left the chamber, Twilight sat down and whispered to herself "They will not take our kingdom, I'll see to it until my dying breath"

It is said that before sailing North to Callimar, Germylor the North Raider told his men that if they fall they shall go to a grand hall known as Kanhallo, to the Northerners, even their enemies will go there if they fought bravely. After all, there are no enemies once they are dead.

The War Begins: Chapter III: The Fields Were Stained by Blood

The first battle of the war was known as the Battle of Red Grasses, it is named as such since the battle was supposedly so brutal that the valley it was fought in was stained red from the blood.

Midsummer 3rd, 145 PIE

Between Canterlot and Fallreach, close to Niln's Southern Border

The bronze-clad soldiers stood at arms, their bright plates glinted in the sun, their pikes stuck up high like giant porcupines. The rising sun warmed them, though it was not a particularly cold morning as it was the middle of summer. Rainbow Dash stood with her soldiers, a bronze great sword similar in shape to that of their traditional Xiphos' was plunged into the ground the face of her helmet was lifted, giving her better visibility.

To their north was a wide yet shallow valley they stood at the top of the southern side though they still had a poor view over the other side. The sun was slowly rising overhead, the soldiers were largely young and inexperienced. Within the month it had been since the war was declared, thousands had joined the army, mostly looking for glory and honor. One look at their young faces and you could tell that some were almost regretful of their decision.

Most were farm boys trying to get away from home or those who just wanted to prove they were worthy of their family's name. Whatever it was it seemed they were there amongst the bronze-clad men. The sun was well over the horizon when the sound of beating war drums and the thunderous rhythm of boots and clanking armor could be heard. It mixed with the light sound of soldiers shaking with fear.

Over the hill appeared the banners, banners from Myrr and Westshore, and a red banner, depicting a mace held by a black hand. The soldiers, tall and broad men, appeared over the hill, on the western side were the soldiers of Westshore who wore glinting steel burgonets on their heads and steel corslets over light blue tunics, they wore steel shinguards and gauntlets, they also dawned flexible sabatons over their boots.

As for weapons, they dawned a diverse array that consisted largely of pikes with thrusting swords and basket hilt swords with small round shields, with axes, claymores, and halberds throughout, and the occasional one with a musket. To the east, it was no different with men wielding much the same in terms of weapons and donning similar armor. Between them on horseback was no militia of Holdsmen hired by the Jarl.

These men were Kartignian Knights, they dawned mail armor hidden by long tunics showing the mace and black hand of the Kartignian Family, they dawned steel gauntlets, shinguards, and sabatons. They hid their faces with glimmering great helms that concealed their heads. They wielded diverse weapons as well, though most wielded heater shields with the Kartignian symbol, swords, axes, maces, hammers, picks, and greatswords, were worn upon them.

The soldiers screamed and hollered, yelled and shouted, their voices seemed like those of beasts from the forests in old fairy tales. The Knights stood silent at attention, keeping their horses steady with their weapons sheathed. The Equin Soldiers shook in place, breathing ragged and nervous breaths. A shorter and bulkier man on a white horse, with long red hair and a red beard, donning steel plate armor and a large ax, grabbed a large horn from the side of his saddle and blew long and loud into the mouthpiece.

The soldiers began charging down the hill, Rainbow Dash lowered the visor of her helmet and raised her great sword before screaming "CHAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGEEEEEEE" the men, now filled with a sense of power and bravery lowered their pikes and charged forward towards the Northerner hoards. They met at the center of the valley, crashing hard with a thunderous boom. Pike met chest plate, ax met helmet, blade met throat.

Rainbow Dash trusted and slashed her blade into any soldier she met while the pikemen struggled to hold the line against the barbaric warriors and their axes and swords. Loud cracks echoed as the Holdsmen fired shots from their muskets. "MUSKETS!" cried Rainbow Dash over the sound of battle, men wearing bronze Morion helms marched forward and hastily loaded their matchlock muskets with fire-powder and led balls.

The men held their muskets up in a volley and with a fizzle and crack, they fired into the crowd of Northerners knocking many down like dominos. While the first line reloaded a second fired, knocking down more soldiers. The Holdsmen backed up and lowered their pikes for a charge, they ran into the force of bronze soldiers with their pikes and halberds and thrusting swords readied. With a loud boom, they met in a thunderous clash, pushing the force of Equin's back and the cracks of muskets on both sides sounded.

The Northerners backed away, their pikes still down. Their eyes burned with rage and their cries still rang out, now their weapons and armor dripping with blood. They seemed battered and broken, the sun was now peaked in the sky, this battle had taken all of two hours and her men were tired. the rainbow-haired general lifted her sword and yelled out one final call: "CHAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEE!" her men raised their pikes and drew their swords, they ran to the lines of Holdsmen, and with another clash, they pushed them back and continued pushing until it seemed they retreated.

As they ran, the Equin soldiers began chanting celebratory praises to Celestia they felt they were victorious, they trusted their weapons into the air and continued to shout in celebration. Their celebration turned to horror however as the sound of a horn traveled over the wind, followed by thunderous hoofbeats on the solid ground. From the cloud of dust that had been left behind by the retreating Northerners, Knights on horseback charged out.

It was absolute chaos as the soldiers struggled to prepare, being cut down in the process, many did manage to strike down the horses of knights, but they continued fighting on foot. In the chaos of the charge, Rainbow Dash managed to hit a passing horse. The horse's stomach was cut open, spilling its guts on the ground, causing it to fall over with the knight. The knight got up from the ground, holding his claymore.

The knight charged towards her, raising his blade high to slash her open. The bronze-clad general lifted her sword to block him with a loud clink. The two fought with swing after swing striking each other swords. In one hit the knight knocked the helmet off of Rainbow Dash's head and onto the ground. Undeterred she fought on though she felt herself growing weak while the knight seemed unphased by the fight, with every swing of the sword she grew weaker and weaker.

She missed a swing landing her sword into the ground and with one fell swoop the knight slashed down on her face, seemingly killing her as blood pooled around her head and bringing loss upon Equestria for the first battle, foreshadowing the years to come in this bloody conflict.

The Summer War: Chapter I: Meeting of Generals

Generals are very high-ranking soldiers in Niln's army, they are usually wealthy and will often be seen donning full plate armor like that of a knight and will often observe charges on horseback, and sound the horn for battle. general leads every force, sometimes multiple are present on the battlefield.

Midsummer 3rd, 145 PIE

Red Grass Camp, Northern Equestria

The round tent was lit by numerous lanterns hanging from the posts. It was a simple tent with chests on the walls but it bore no cots or weapon holders, or armor stands. Instead, only a round wooden table sat at the center. I was hardly a table at all, appearing more like a wide spruce wood tree trunk rather than an expertly crafted table with smaller stumps surrounding it. There were three flaps on the sides which were shut, and chests around the edge of the tent's soft walls.

Three men walked in from either side. From the western side came Grahfor the Half-Dwarf of Westshore, a bulky man who stood shorter than most Northerners with long red hair going down his back and a red beard down past his chest. His features were hard and aged, the center of his face marked with the bulbous nose of a dwarf, though his brow met more of a human appearance rather than the protruding brow of a Dwarf.

He wore an arming shirt and black woolen pants covered by brown leather boots, his armor had been left in his tent though he still carried his double-bladed ax, crafted from Dwarven Steel, gray with golden specks throughout. From the east entered General Floki Elkhorn, donning the typical armor of a Holdsmen Army, instead opting for a great helm like the Kartignians. His face was young and bare with short blonde hair and a smooth, bare face but like most Northerners, he stood tall and broad, he wore a basket hilt sword at his hip.

From the north entered the Kartignian general; Arathor Kartignian. He donned the mail and tunic of a Kartiginian knight, and a long sword at his hip, he had long brown hair and rough features with a scruffy bit of a beard on his face. He did not wear his helmet as he entered, in his arms was a large roll of parchment. They all approached the table and sat upon the smaller stumps, General Arathor unrolled the parchment on the table, revealing it to be a highly detailed map of Equestria, from the Stone Hills to its white beaches, it marked every fort, city, village, and mine that the kingdom held within its borders.

General Grahfor pointed a large round finger at an open area of land that was marked with an X drawn in charcoal with Red Grass written above it in Nilscript and bespoke: "We are here, fifteen ways northwest of the city of Baltimare" he moved his finger along the map to a drawing of a walled city with a noticeable palace at its south end that stuck up in the shape of a tower. "If what I've been told is right, the city has a large garrison of soldiers there and is ready for defense, our first attack should be here,"

"But sir" interrupted Floki "We don't have enough men, we've no supply lines or siege weapons, we've not a cannon beyond that of a horse cannon, nor even a trebuchet,"

"Quiet boy, do you think I don't know this?" responded Grahfor "When morning comes I'll be sending a pigeon to Fallreach, addressed to High Commander Wulfgar, it'll be asking for two-thousand soldiers and the request of twelve trebuchets and thirty larger cannons," he smiled gleefully after finishing, letting out a quiet chuckle, as quiet as someone who was part Dwarf could muster, which isn't very quiet.

"And I'm assuming you've also solved the issue of supplies?" bespoke Arathor, who had been quiet the entire time "I mean, you know how important the supply lines are right?"

"As a matter of fact I do, unlike you, I wasn't born into nobility and with a sense of upstanding that puts an elf to shame," responded Grahfor standing up and facing Arathor, standing just at his nose, Grahfor snorted loudly and continued "I was born to a Dwarf father and Northern mother and I've been in the army longer than many of the soldiers I lead, I have learned the inner-workings of an army from firsthand experience, not from fancy little books like you knights,"

Arathor, angered, grabbed the beard of the Half-Dwarf and pulled him up by it until their eyes met. As Grahfor winced in pain and kicked his human-like legs, Arathor spoke through gritted teeth: "Listen here 'Half-Dwarf' Just because I didn't grow up in a dank cave in the side of a mountain, doesn't make me any less capable of leading an army," he dropped the general on his rear "I was a soldier like you once, I fought at the siege of Jarvillor nearly twenty years ago, where were you then?"

Grahfor stammered with his words before finally getting out "Forget about that," He got himself up, rubbing his rear "We need to focus on the war, and not this petty silliness,"

"So you've finally come to haven't you," responded Arathor grinning ear to ear "Realizing that its better not to bother someone over their past, but rather over their prowess in battle," He said this in a sarcastically dignified manner

"Bah" proclaimed Grahfor, waving his hand at him and storming from the tent in anger into the dark and cool summer night.

Arathor, still smiling, looked at Floki and said jovially: "I think he understands," before rolling the large map back up and tucking it between his arms, he then turned and left the tent, returning to the Knight's area of the camp.

The pigeon flew over the vast swathes of farmland, filled with wheat and barley, and other crops. The bird flew over roads where traders walked or rode. It flew over the ancient barrows where dead were housed millennia ago, their bones have long turned to dust since then. The vast plains gave way to forests of pine and spruce, and villages, and lone longhouses with earthen rooves. The pigeon found itself at the expansive River Jord, passing above the nearly mile-long bridge.

Over the bridge and some three ways (Six Miles) was the ancient city of Fallreach, it did not approach over the city. Instead, this bird went behind the keep, to a balcony on the south where metal cages sat, filled with pigeons. The pigeon landed on the stone-cut railing where a man awaited. This man was older, with a long white beard and a shaved head, wearing black robes. He grabbed the bird, gently he took the small brass tube tied to its leg, the word Addressed to Wulfgar written on its sides.

The man took the capsule to Wulfgar, who was drinking mead and playing a game of Hnefatafl with a Wolf Soldier, an older one with short white hair and an aged face, his helmet sat to his side. The old man entered the room through a door at the southern side. He didn't say a word, just walked over to Wulfgar with the capsule in hand and handed it over to the man, who wore but a blue woolen tunic and trousers. Wulfgar opened the capsule and unfolded the parchment within.

Without a word, he got up from the seat at the table and walked out of the southern door, leaving the two men.

They marched along the road in a straight line, marching loudly. They donned nasal helms that went down the back and sides, flaring out at the bottom. They covered wore gleaming breastplates over green tunics, wore long woolen pants with steel shinguards that went past their knees, and sabatons over leather boots. Green capes with the crossed wolf marked on them in white were draped behind them, at their hips were rapiers with simple guards and hilts.

In their hands, protected by steel gauntlets, they carried long rifles, silver barrels glinting in the sunlight, their dark stocks carved decoratively, with large wheellock mechanisms on their sides. They were the Marksmen, the feared elites of the Nilnish Army, a force that few wished to trifle with as their tactics were orderly and brutal. Any army should feel fear at their site as they show no mercy and stand quietly in the face of death as the battle rages on.

The Summer War: Chapter II: The Siege of Baltimare

Baltimare was the northernmost city in all of Equestria with walls of stone bricks, two walls to be exact, each with bronze gates on the north, south, east, and west sides. It was built like a large fortress, with towers all along the walls. The city was built over the River Kai, a massive river much the size of the River Jord where ships could pass directly into the city which made it almost as wealthy as Canterlot. Its city was built out of red and white stone that sat wrapped inside the dark gray stone bricks of the walls.

Its palace was most certainly unique, it was near the center of the city at the edge of the water on the southern side, it was surrounded by a whitewashed wall with numerous archways that led to a large garden with four paths leading to four doors, the main building was a tall tower that stuck up like a needle into the sky. A balcony going all the way around was constructed at the base of the large steeple that went up near to the clouds. The city was surrounded by vast farmland, fed by irrigation from the RIver Kai.

Midsummer 5th, 145 PIE

Baltimare, Northern Region of Equestria

The sun was rising over the horizon, bathing the city in bright orange light, the cool of the previous night was warming to the warmth of the coming day. A normally peaceful day was anything but as the bells throughout the city tolled, the bells of temples, the bells of the towers, the small bells of the shops and taverns, the bells of schools, they all rang with their metal song echoing down the streets. The sounds echoed over the rushing of people stampeding throughout the streets, closing down shops and taverns, temples sealing their doors, houses barring up their doors, and slamming their windows closed.

Farmers and others were rushing to the gates of the city in an attempt to find safety, many were trampled under each other while trying to rush to the closing gates. Their hopes for safety were quickly dashed as the gates were shut and locked. Some tried to enter by swimming in the river, but stone doors rose from the water, closing them out from the sanctity of the great city.

The song of bells alerted the lord of the city who was still sleeping within his keep in the early morning hours. He was a young man, tall and thin, with a bare face that was a pale red. He climbed the winding staircase to the balcony atop the main building. He ran from the spiral staircase that led to a large reading room to the northward-facing archway onto the white balcony that gave him a view of the city and the fields outside the walls.

He let out a horrified gasp at the horrifying sight outside the walls. It was near around 40,000 soldiers of the Jarls and of the King who stood in the grassy fields, behind them in a row were twelve towering trebuchets standing some sixty feet tall, tread wheels on the sides and casks being loaded onto their slings.

"Celestia be praised!" he exclaimed, turning away, his golden cape flowing behind him, he made his way down the spiral staircase, as he reached the main throne room and called out "Squire, bring me my armor at once, I need to meet with their commander,"

The artillerymen stirred around their towering beasts, walking in the tread wheels to position the for firing, loading casks into their slings, and dousing them in oil. The soldiers in front stood in lines, the Nilnish soldiers cloaked in blue lined up with the Marksmen, holding their long pikes in the shouldered position, Holdsmen stood with whatever weapons they could get, axes, maces, swords, pikes, even guns.

Behind the trebuchets, over a hill north was a camp and in between this camp was General Grahfor the Half-Dwarf, facing east, kneeling on his ax. He was doing what was customary of Dwarves before a battle, he prayed in the direction of the nearest mountains, he muttered the old prayer his father taught him when he was young:

"Nilfki give me strength, Horkin give me honor, Jurim give me vision, Saediir give me bravery, and Hergimul give me protection" his prayer was repeated as the sun continued over the horizon until he felt a gloved hand tap against his plated armor, he looked up and saw Arathor standing over him, annoyed he asked "Well what is it?" still kneeling on his ax

"Look" Arathor bespoke pointing south

Grahfor got up and looked south "Merciful gods below," exclaimed Grahfor laughing aloud, he looked at the man who rode towards their lines on horseback, surrounded by bronze-clad guards. He donned silver plate armor with flower engravings all over and a helmet with a visor that appeared to be made of vines. Grahfor spoke "I hope he doesn't expect much fighting," his companion Arathor stood serious, which caused Grahfor to lose his jovial laugh and conform his face to a rock-hard sternness.

The two generals approached the silver-clad lord before the city, between the lines of soldiers and the massive walls, the lord removed his helmet and loudly declared in a distinguished voice: "I am Fire Heart, Lord of Baltimare and its rightful ruler, state why your armies are at my gates,"

Grahfor spoke up first since he was the General of the Nilnish forces: I am here on the orders of King Rignar Germyon II of Niln, he has ordered that we invade Equestria, and on my own order I approach your city,"

"And by what right do you claim this city, for my father Blazing Heart was the ruler before me, and his father Light Heart before him, my birthright give me this city and Celestia's blessing secures my position on its throne," responded Lord Fire Heart.

"I do not come here claiming birthright to this city, I come here claiming that your city and all its properties must be handed over to the Royal Family of Niln and you may keep some of your wealth," Responded Grahfor in an as distinguished voice he could muster, he changed his voice to a firm, hard one before continuing "If you do not hand over your city, then fire and blood shall fill its streets and my men shall slaughter yours and pull you down from your throne by force,"

"I will not hand it over, you shall have to take this city from me by force, let fire and blood, fill my streets and you shall feel the fury of Celestia in her rage" responded Fire Heart, angered now by the notion of surrender

"Your goddess is but a gnat under the boots of Nilfki, and the neck of a traitor under his ax, and to my Northern brethren she is but a bloodstain on Morrinoks greatsword," responded Grahfor, still just as serious "And you shall feel my ax upon your neck.

Fire Heart was angered, his face contorted in unbridled rage as he quickly spun his gray horse around and trotted back to his city, to the safety of his bronze gates and his white palace.

Corpses sat in the streets, covered in blood and bruises from the feet of the living who trampled them down, their blood pooled on the stone streets. Beggars huddled in alleyways, under market stalls, in the sewers, wherever they could find an illusion of safety in the now barren and shut city. Boats sat empty along the river shore within the city, abandoned for fear of being sunk, many were broken into by beggars and robbed of all goods.

Families huddled in the corners of their houses, their children kept tightly at their side, their houses dark with the bits of sunlight peeking through the shutters. Farmers were packing their things onto animals and making their way down the roads, further south to safer regions where they believe the war won't reach, some stayed within their homes, releasing their animals into the wilds.

A single solitary bell tolled over it all, from the grand Celestial Temple at the city's east end, a single bell chimed its song as soldiers stood, pike in hand, on the walls around the city, sternly looking over the fields, they seem to have accepted their fate, death or not they would not abandon their city to the northern barbarian hoards. The loud chiming of the bell was overshadowed as the long blast of a horn rang over the city, beggars cowered deep into alleys, families huddled tighter, and farmers who left turned back in one last goodbye.

The thunderous sounds of trebuchets echo through the air, followed by the booming explosions of casks of gunpowder exploding within the city's walls like an orchestra of war drums, signaling death.

The Summer War Chapter III: Council of the King

The Keep of Fallreach was dug deep into the Gold Mountains, close to the Dwarven Stronghold of Gal-Bulduur (Which translates to Hills of Gold in Dwarvish). The keep was massive with an open courtyard hidden by the mountain and, balconies in numerous areas allowing for messaging from pigeons. The chamber of the king and queen were hidden deep, near the end of the keep to allow for protection from outside threats. At the west end, there was a large porch cut from the stone where feasts were often held that gave a view for miles and miles.

Midsummer 5th, 145 PIE

Keep of Fallreach, Niln

Rignar sat in a decoratively carved wooden chair, he faced westward, looking over the western end of the mountain range, shrouded by fog, a light mist pecking at his face. He was wearing his usual noble attire, black noble clothes, and a bear pelt on his back. He did not sit by himself, he sat with his good friend Wulfgar wearing a white blouse, black pants, and black shoes. To his right and Wolf Commander Horki Ice-Eyes standing at his left.

He donned the usual armor in the Wolf Soldiers, the cheek guards of his helmet opened out like wings on a bird, revealing his rugged aged features, white beard and short white hair, and the icy blue of his eyes. He held in his hand a long-handled battleax, opting out of the usual sword and spear of Wolf Soldiers, but keeping the large wheellock pistol. Rignar and Wulfgar drank from steel pints, mead was what they were drinking, a traditional drink of Northerners.

Between the two Northerners was an object wrapped in white cloth, lying on the stone floor.

"I suppose now's a good enough time," bespoke Rignar, he adjusted himself in his seat and tapped his hand against the armor of Horki, and said "Bring me, my son, tell him I have a gift for him,"

"Yes M'lord," responded Horki, his voice was deep and hard like stone. he turned away, crossing the porch to the wooden door at its front.

"More mead?" asked Wulfgar in his deep battle-hardened, rough voice

"Sure," responded Rignar quietly before loudly calling "SERVANT," a young man wearing red clothes approached them, holding a golden pitcher, pouring mead into both of their pints, "Thank you lad," bespoke Rignar before putting his lip to the steel cup. as the servant walked away, Horki returned with RIgnar's son, Rignar. "Come here boy," called Rignar in a happy manner, a smile forming on his aged bearded face.

Rignar was a tall boy as were most Northerners with broad shoulders and deep red hair like his mother and a young round face, he wore a red tunic and blue pants with a wooden sword tucked into his belt.

"Son" bespoke his father in a jovial manner, a smile still on his face "I know your thirteenth winter is coming, so I asked the smiths in Gal-Bulduur to craft you a gift, they agreed and have given me this blade as the gift," he grabbed the cloth wrapped object and unwrapped it, revealing a sword within a black leather and silver scabbard, its hilt and small crossguard decorated with gold engravings of wolves. The young Rignar took it from his father's hands and drew the sword from its scabbard with a loud ring.

The blade was broad and a fair bit short, like a traditional Dwarven sword but its blade was black, blacker than the darkest nights without stars, it looked like the void had been crafted into a blade, it was so black that it absorbed light and it wouldn't reflect. King Rignar let out a gasp of shock at the sight of the blade

"Great frosts of Vilkheim," Wulfgar muttered in shock as he leaned forward "That... That's Black Iron, by the gods,"

"thank you father," Rignar said joyfully, sheathing the sword and running back to the keep.

Rignar leaned back in his seat before saying quietly "It would appear Gal-Bulduur's riches are far more than we once thought, the Dwarves may make great allies," he rested his chin on his fist and let out a long drawn out sigh, looking over the rocky expanse beyond the porch "I remember my 13th Winter" he bespoke "I was given a long battle-ax, with a blade that had a dragon carved into it, a handle of redwood,"

Rignar took a sip from his pint before speaking yet again, this time to Horki who stood at his side "Do you remember that day Horki?"

Horki responded "aye, I was just starting as Wolf Soldier, I remember Jori training with you when you were young, you were his height by then too, and Jori was no small man,"

"And what was your first weapon?" Asked Rignar

"I was the less fortunate child of a mother from a village on the north coast, and the seed of a Bearded Raider from the Bearded Islands, my mother was shamed upon my birth, a hideous abomination with horns upon my head and blue eyes," He took a deep breath "My mother was pushed from the village, we lived in a shack in the Great Pinewood until my mother sent me to the capital and I became among the Wolves,"

"And you brother?" asked Rignar, looking to his friend Wulfgar.

The Northerner adjusted himself in his seat and responded "My first weapon, was the greatsword I wield, a beautiful steel blade with a crossguard made from ram's horns and a hilt made from pine wrapped in black leather, carried that blade into battle with me when I first joined with Holdsmen Army of the Old North, I killed my first man with that blade, a bandit who had been held up in a cave east of Ritlrik, my blade cut through the hide he called armor like it was air and came out his back,"

"The first kill often fills one with a sense of power, and strength, I still remember the first time I killed a man, it was a bandit somewhere in a cave on the Arm of the Gods, I was one of two survivors of the attack," responded Rignar, his voice growing dull "I was hung by chains against a wall, next to a rotting corpse for two weeks, being flogged and kicked and cut all that time, my rage built inside me like burning fire powder, ready to burst outward, I remember the day I escaped well, I had managed to convince the man who was torturing me that I was too weak to fight, that I could be set free from my binds when I fell to the ground, covered in my own blood and piss and shit, he laughed at me, a taunting laugh, at that moment the fire within me erupted and I grabbed the dagger from his belt, an ornate one of Black Iron and I thrust it into his eye, the smell of the blood seeped through my nose, the sound of his screams dug into my mind and made me feel," He stopped to gather his senses "good, like a king, like a god amongst men, like I could conquer all the lands of Earthius"

Wulfgar stared at him with widened eyes, Rignar had never once told him the story, all the years they had been friends he had never told the story, he had always said I will not tell that story, for those memories still haunt my dreams. Wulfgar had witnessed entire cities burn, men get ripped apart by beasts, he had seen the gates of Vailstar blown down by cannons, he had slain more men than he could count within the city.

But, when he heard Rignar's story it shocked him, but it made him curious as well, surely this was not the whole story, surely there must be more to it

"Wulfgar!" Rignar cried out, snapping the old soldier from his thoughts, "Assemble my High Council at once,"

"Yes, M'lord" was his only response.

The King's High Council met in an ovular room, dark oak floors, and stone walls and rooves. A long rectangular table ran through the room, east to west, a large wooden throne with blue seats being at the west end, a small fire pit sat at the table's center. Many of the seats were empty, only six sat in there with the King who sat on the throne, all gathered in the tables north side facing the door. There was Coin Master Josef Voiluk, a Jularthi from the south with a long dark brown beard and well kept brown hair, wearing a green nobleman's tunic with a golden Gerum coin pinned to his chest.

He sat closest to the king, next to him was Trade Master Viignel Adlfiir, a Northerner from the city of Iklfrik on the western coast. His hair was fair blonde and long, his face aged and bare, he wore a blue tunic that covered him to his knees and a pin that depicted two hands shaking. Next to him was Wulfgar in his dark armor, his great helm on the table, his long greatsword with a crossguard made from goat's horns leaning against the table.

Next to him sat Horki Ice-Eyes in his armor, helmet on table and ax against it. Next to Horki sat Harbjorn River-Rider, the Sea Master of Niln, he was an aged man with white hair, bald on the sides and long on top, combed to one side and a long and thick white beard, he wore minimal clothing, it appeared to be made of animal hide, hanging over his shoulder in strips down to a full hide cloak complete with trousers and boots, similar to Griinan Tribesmen.

Next to Harbjorn was the High Priest Herlim of Fallreach, a Northerner who was bald with a long white beard stretching to his stomach, wearing white and gold robes, tremendously aged he was. Rignar sat with two Wolf Soldiers at his side, he leaned forward in his throne and questioned

"What news do we have from the holds?" It was the usual weekly meeting of the High Council to discuss important issues.

"Well," bespoke Viignel "We have reports of strange black longships prowling the northern coasts, many suspects that news of the war has reached the Bearded Isles and they're prowling for raids,"

Rignar rested his chin upon his fist before responding: "I'm assuming Jarl Hagrid knows of this news?"

"He does Your Grace, but he claims that it is no more than tall tales and drunken illusion" responded Viignel

"Maybe... we should look more into this possible threat" Rignar proposed "I want you to send a message to Jarl Hagrid after our council concludes, tell him he needs to place more soldiers on his coast,"

"You can't be serious Your Grace," Interjected Wulfgar "You can't be suggesting that Jarl Hagrid put move men to the coast purely out of a conspiracy, out of a possible illusion?"

"He has a point," Responded Horki "We've had villages cry out that dragons were circling over near their homes, only to find that it was just drunkards who thought eagles were dragons,"

"By the gods, Wulfgar!" bespoke Rignar annoyed "I feel that you and Horki would understand that people claiming the black longships of the Bearded Isles are prowling our coasts are more realistic and pressing than dragons," RIgnar leaned back "Horki, I feel that you of all people would want to help quash the threat of Bearded Raiders, seeing as your mother suffered more than most during one of their raids" Rignar looked back to Viignel "Ignore them and send my message at o-" Rignar was stopped when a knock came from the chamber door "You may enter" he called out.

A young man entered the chamber, a brass tube in his hand "It's for you, your grace" he said

Rignar got up and grabbed the tube from his hand, popping the tube open and reading the message within

"What is it?" asked Viignel

"A request of surrender," responded Rignar, shock painted across his aging face.