War in Fahiamel

The Ugranta Motan (War of the People) was a territorial dispute over control of the Upper Desert, otherwise known as the Desert of Ashes after the war. The noteworthy organizations involved were numerous: The Alchemists' and Historians' Guilds, the Eagle Association, Il Vire, The Colleges of Brackehail and Mornhaven, and the Vi'hic Brotherhood. The conflict itself happened when the land was lawless in 330E when the Historians' Guild began a study on the lost civilization of Juaka. Nearby tribes of Dwarves and Vedalken who were denied access during the study revolted and attacked the Guildsmen, reclaiming the land they lived on in what they referred to as the Vedam Union (Vedalken Union). The battle was short and insignificant but sparked newfound ideas of ownership from the tribes which were contested by the College of Brackehail. The College claimed that recourses in the lost cities are valuable and should be kept open to study, and argued that no one owns land in the Upper Desert.   When the Lopanag and Y'ntun (Vedalken) tribes refused the Alffur (Dwarven) tribe joined them in the defense of their lands, and the College sent officials to negotiate. The tribesmen attacked the officials on sight, killing both Arela Powell and Havord Stamment. In response, College-master Goln personally visited and single-handedly massacred the entire Vedam Union, and resumed studies at Juaka. This caught the attention of the Eagle Association, a group of self-righteous individuals under oath to protect the masses by killing the malicious and evil. The group served under the Satyr Goddess Eaman and consisted almost entirely of paladin warriors, who attacked the College and attempted to burn it down, sparking a conflict between the Association and the College. The Historians' Guild saw this as an opportunity to resume their studies and sided with the College from the belief that Brackehail would defeat the Association. This battle was slow but bloody and lasted in small skirmishes for years, until 327E.   Since the conflict began, a demon-led group of superstitious Simic Hybrids named the Vi'hic Brotherhood (No translation) were lurking and feeding their artifacts with the hatred and death of the battlefield. The Brotherhood is powerful and feared, they hold many mystic powers that seem impossible or unheard of to outsiders. Of the little that is known, they possess weapons that grow stronger with each life they take, and Vi'hic gems (synthetic) that feed off of death, harnessing the lost energy and storing it to be used as an energy source to unique spells entitled "Abyssal Casting". Rumors say that they use the energy of death to connect with the Abyss, the realm of all things that are not real, since those who have died return to the abyss when their energies are captured. When they use the energy, they release the spirits of those they trapped in the Abyss and draw on the Abyssal power to cast spells that do not exist for unparalleled versatility and power. The Brotherhood also collected knowledge that the College and Historians' Guild recovered during moments of confusion.   Strange and ancient artifacts were discovered entombed within a lost Temple in Juaka by the College, which they attempted to test and activate resulting in the birth of the Il Vire. These were odd people trapped within objects with no memory of their past, their race was later named the Dhampir by Professor Strenge. The Il Vire was informed of the conflict for Juaka and concluded that the fighting was pointless and petty, denouncing both sides publicly before taking a post near Juaka, and attempting to prevent battles in what may be their territory. The Historians' Guild recognized that the Dhampir might also be a cursed race that terrorized the people of the city and had been trapped in these objects and locked away within a tomb for the protection of their people. This theory was popularized, and the College and Association both feared Il Vire as otherwordly and potentially dangerous. Both sides were at a standstill, so the Brotherhood brainwashed the Dhampirs' appointed leaders to send their people into battle sided with neither side. The Association was at a stalemate with the College and agreed to a truce to combat the Dhampir.   Their forces drove the Dhampir away, who began to colonize in lands that were under the rule of a Warforged, who met with and agreed to serve under him. The Warforged went by Steel but had no birthname from its creator. This Warforged controlled an experimental guild known as the Alchemists' Guild, though their activities were much more universal. They practiced studies of anatomy, mapping, alchemy, history, and even conspiracy. Using a wide array of practices, they acted as a powerful intelligence for Steel and his territory. The Dhampir managed to convince Steel that the College was dangerous, and intended to usurp him and steal the knowledge assets of his guild. At this point, the Association was uninvolved again and returned to everyday duty.   This territory was Steel's, but he appointed a Commander to each district, divided by the area of study and general architectural characteristics. Commander Apline was the head of District Fin (One), which held the Dhampir. Alpine had jurisdiction over their safety and deployment and ruled that they would lead the combative effort as it was their proposition. In cooperation with Apline, they devised a strategy to expand their territory for more manpower before overwhelming the College. The Dhampir used this as a means to grow in influence and power and began militarizing the nearby land under Steel's control. This plan quickly turned violent as nearby tribes and settlements were forcefully controlled by Il Vire forces. The actual Dhampir population was few, there were only seven to the organization's name and their origin is a mystery.   Revolt followed soon after by the culturally complex settlements that were unhappy under their new ruler. Militia for Steel increased significantly in size as the Dhampir recruited peasants and workers. Eventually, Il Vire was adopted as a term for the militia that these Dhampir controlled. In a way, the Alchemists' Guild focused on information and Il Vire focused on power and size. Together, these organizations flourished and Steel gained great power in the Upper Desert. The College of Brackehail caught wind of the expansion, and rumors of strange creatures. To satiate their suspicion a mole was planted into Il Vire, professor Gamias Strenge under the alias Forage Alps. After serving with them for only a week, he returned to the College to report that their suspicions were not baseless, and the Il Vire will likely attack them soon.   College Brackehail sent for College Mornhaven in the lower regions of the Upper Desert for help with a "mutually impending threat", the letter reads as follows.   Fellow devotees of Knowledge, We contact you formally today in lieu of a representative, as the dire straits of our near-future challenges the availability of our staff. We have reason to believe in otherworldly patrons, dark beings, or perhaps even demons lurking among us and conquering the land. The threat of these creatures is imminent and has been observed by Professor Strenge who worked with you in your introductory transmutative properties coursework. Though we have only shared studies in the past, we request a new form of an alliance of more grave importance. In an exploration of Juaka, we exposed a tomb and unsealed what may have been locked away. Inside of this place were sandstone walls beautifully adorned with painted patterns and drawings, and many items isolated to pedestals that seemed to hum and whir. In further use, these items released entities, which are now known as strange beings in our area serving a dangerous warlord.   These creatures are mysterious in origin and motive, and cannot be left to overtake our college and eventually yours. To address the mutually impending threat we ask your aid in defensive combat, and to rediscover the spell used to seal them away in order to return these beings where they belong. We apologize dearly for our actions, to indirectly threaten your safety and ask for your help in cleaning up the mess is truly unacceptable. Nonetheless, our choices are few and we resort to your kindness as in the past. Had we the option to handle the issue directly, you would have no letter. The losses of this battle may be great, we will convene prior to the College's victory for topics of reparations and thanks.   This is sent with great urgency of time, any people or recourses that can be sent should be immediate. Dangers of unknown origin are of paramount importance, and although your support is far from mandatory we beg your ethics. Your assistance may not be necessary, but more likely it may, there are few allies of the College in these deserts with who we have appropriate relations for such a request.   Respectfully, College-master Goln Podes.   The College of Mornhaven was quick to respond whereafter many meetings determining their cooperation and strategy were held. Mornhaven sent a great deal of their staff to help combat offensive Il Vire forces, which eventually arrived after two weeks of anticipation.   Steel's vizier (Jiban Olls) advised that he withdrew his forces from expansion and secured his borders, arguing that revolt and assassination grow more likely by the day. Acknowledging the threat, Iv Vire was commanded to abstain from expansion and collaborate with the Alchemists' Guild to suppress tensions and opposing organizations. Mornhaven began to doubt the dangers as they went nearly three weeks without any attacks, and forced Goln to send for Steel in search of contact and answers. Goln's letter was delivered the following day from the hands of Prefect Stamment Jr, seeking to end the conflict that began with his father's death. The letter detailed a plead for peace, and loyalty to their nation so long as the Colleges remained individually ruled entities.   Steel and Olls were pleased and agreed to accept after a discussion with the Forge Cabinet, a board of advice from political leaders in Steel's territory. Their ambitions were not met by Il Vire, who did not want the violent and unstable leaders that began this war to retain power. In the night as the document was being drafted, Steel was killed and drained by Nightking Makatsa, accompanied by Serpent Master Boholo-holo and All-Seer Fetola the Brush. At the time of his "execution", Steel was accompanied by a calligrapher responsible for transcribing the letter, vizier Olls, a trusted Commander Alpine and less familiar Commander Deers, and several guardsmen. By the next morning, the individuals had disappeared.   The Nightking had corrupted the calligrapher's mind after Steel, Olls, and the guardsmen were killed. Boholo-holo and Fetola restrained the Commanders with ancient magic, like a glowing green rope that bound their arms to their torso and fed on their energy. The corrupted calligrapher forged the completed letter of acceptance to the Colleges' plead, and will from Steel detailing the Nightking's succession to his army, land, and fortunes. He was made to grip the sword which seared through Steel's body before they attached a blade arm to Steel and stuck it through his heart. The illusion was obvious, but this was an intentional play from the Nightking as the vizier was hidden away with the Commanders. The scene was later discovered when the next guardsman shift arrived at Steel's doors and saw them open, alerting the Forge Cabinet at once.   It was concluded through suggestions and manipulative magic from Fetola serving on the Cabinet that the vizier created this obvious illusion, and wanted it to appear as though Steel was killed this way so he could take control of the region. The "will" had been hidden in Steel's chamber, upon its discovery brought to the attention of the Cabinet. After a week of formalities and investigations, Nightking Makatsa was the ruler of Steel's region and named it Il Vire in reference to the group's legacy title. Passing on the tragic news of Olls' banishment, Commanders Deers and Alpine were stripped of their memory from the event and returned to lead their district.   Nightking Makatsa feigned the intention to ally with the College of Brackehail for two weeks to learn about their army and their leaders. They assured the College of Brackehail cooperation and safety in committee with the representatives of the College of Mornhaven in order to urge their return. Mornhaven was monetarily compensated and sent back to their place in the lower regions of the Upper Desert as ordained by the committee after their College was left understaffed for over seven weeks. After four weeks when communication on the issue had completely dissolved, Il Vire launched an all-out offensive on Brackehail and its defenders. The conflict was brief, Goln and Makatsa ended up using Juaka as battlegrounds since Goln suspected the Dhampir could be resealed. The ancient city was ruined when College-master Goln realized he could not seal them here, and destroyed the Incosa Oabus using Wish in order to incinerate the area.   Most of Juaka and many peoples of the College were killed, but the scourge of the Dhampir had been eliminated. Only one Dhampir was not participating in this battle, Blooddrainer Bophelo had been surveying Mornhaven. The weakened College was then overrun by Commander Deers and his militia of district Niefan (Two). The Commanders disbanded the Forge Cabinet and appointed Bophelo as a ceremonial head, while collectively banding together as the military leaders of Il Vire. Bophelo became the center of worship in Il Vire, being praised as a great conqueror. Under this rule, the economy and government flourished as Bophelo became a religious head as well, praised as the God of the Ancient.   Il Vire retained control of most of its territory along the Upper Deserts and settled as a nation, marking the end of the Ugranta Motan.