The Dark Hours

"In a time of weakness, the most willing shall prevail"- Merlin Faully

Written and Developed by: Neo-Earth Models Inspired by: Ideas/Real History

Lakuay 3rd, 1511 ECE, UY- The Dark Hours

In the early hours of Reggio 34, 1511 ECE, the Perman Naval Fleet breached the Cerzgian Ocean Defensive. The Defensive was unable to communicate the breech as the Perman Navy mercilessly eliminated any of opposition and used the Ghost Ship tactic to slaughter the crew with out sinking the ships. This was done at such an incredible pace that the later force had to be called early in order to keep the element of surprise and efficiency. The ships that had been taken over by the Permese were then used to infiltrate the Bay of Permia, followed by a much larger Perman Armada. This delayed the Cerzgian reinforcements that were mobilized as soon as the first sighting of Perman ships were reported.
It is difficult to say exactly when the next fleet had reached Cerzgia, however, it is specified that almost an hour after the battle in the Bay had commenced, the 2nd Perman Invasion Armada made its presence.
The fleet began its assault by launching a bombardment on the city of Aukford. Thousands of shells were fired at the defenseless settlement as thousands more men deployed onto the shores. The bombardment was halted and moved to the next location, Neo Town. As the assault dragged on, a state of emergency was called in the current Capital of Arullis. All major objects and people were relocated to a safer position west and the city began to fortify itself, preparing for the worst to come.
The final invasion force was deployed on the Mango Shores near the city of Mangoville. This final launch saw the grand total force of nearly 150,000 warriors sent onto Cerzgian soil. This force would be lowered to around 145,000 as the following battled for the cities ensued. The militias would be stretched thin as they were defending their land on three fronts, including the Battle of the Bay. A little after noon, the remaining militia would be called back to defend the city of Arullis.
The retreat allowed for the still strong Permese force to march into the cities and wreak havoc upon the surviving people. In this time, Permese soldiers raped, pillaged, and looted the ruined cities. Many were killed as the forces marched through the cities. In Aukford alone 13,000 were killed in the bombardment and later slaughter of their people, 11,000 in Neo Town and 7,500 in Mangoville.
The Permese Meishals gave their soldiers an order that was short and simple. Take the capital, destroy the opposition, and murder the traitors. As the Permese marched through the peninsula, they murdered thousands of defenseless citizens and burned hundreds of buildings. The darkest of the hours were soon to come.
At around 5 o'clock PM, the three invasion forces met at the gates of the city of Arullis. Short words were exchanged between the first General of Cerzgia, Thom Zhahal, and the Prime Meishal of the Greater Permese Army.
Here is where General Zhahal gave his famous "Last Stand" 'speech' that boosted the moral of the defending soldiers.

"We shall not submit to the foreign powers that be. We are a nation of freedom and bravery. We shall fight to the last man, and live to the last word. This country sits on the greatest soil and offers the greatest opportunities. It shall stand independent- beholden to only its people and its people alone." - General Thom Zhahal

The General then walked off. The Permese Prime Meishal then stated to his subordinates, "Take them. Take them all" (Translated from Permish) Thus began the siege of Arullis. Although the fortifications were strong. Cerzgian Militia was unprepared for the bombardment that would commence just under 2 hours later. The Naval guns had been removed from the ships and brought across the peninsula. After they fired their first shots, the walls surrounding the city were severely damaged and the gates repelling the invaders were destroyed. The Permese charged in and met the heavy resistance of the Cerzgian forces. General Zhahal ordered the Raw Point tactic and launched the entire bastion of archer arrows onto the Permese.
Caught off guard, the massive Permese force suffered a huge loss as around 3,000 men were injured or killed as soon as they crossed. Zhahal ordered another barrage that eliminated another 1,100 Permese troops.
However, the General would be unable to call for a third strike as the bombs fell once again. This bombardment lasted for 12 minutes and saw the demise of a 1/3 of the Cerzgian troops. General Zhahal then launched the frontal attack on the invaders. He is said to have died in this clash when his horse was hit with a spear.
The violent clash of the two sides resulted in the casualties of over 100,000 total on each side. When the Cerzgians begun to wear thin, the remaining troops fell back and collapsed on their final location: MidBrook.
The Permese marched through the streets, violently slaughtering and destroying any remainder of Cerzgian existence. They burned every shop and home that they could and completely decimated every inch of the city.
When they final reached their position around MidBrook, the Permese launched a final bombardment which only lasted three minutes due to the lack of ammunition. The Cerzgians then began their frontal assault on the invaders once again and used every tactic they could to repel and kill as many Permese as they could. When the Permese began to gain ground on the capital, the remaining Cerzgian defenders began to get frantic, hurling themselves at the enemy- hoping for a quick death- using every last round of ammunition before grabbing their swords and once again, hurling themselves at the enemy's sharp ends and bullets. Over 88,000 Cerzgian soldiers and 97,000 Permese were killed in this battle.
When the Permese eventually broke the lines, they stormed the building. Cracking the glass, vandlising its walls, leaving rotting corpses in and around inappropriate areas. Some accounts claim that the soldiers even defecated on the property. MidBrook was ultimately burned and collapsed later in the early morning of Lakuay 4th, 1511 ECE.
As the battle ended and the soldiers moved on. The Dark Hours and been in their prime. From the beginning of the Siege of Arullis to the collapse of MidBrook, the Dark Hours shrouded the minds of all Cerzgian citizens at the time. It was on Lakuay 14, 1511 ECE that the Arullan Address was given by Merlin Faully, the first president of the USC. Later that week, on Lakuay 17, 1511 ECE, the Permese were defeated at the Battle of Incrocio. Almost all of the remaining Permese soldiers were tried and executed for their participation in the death and destruction of hundreds of thousands of Cerzgian citizens.
In this time of despair, the United States of Cerzgia arose and rebuilt their government, cities, and dignity.

The Conflict

Prelude

The entire conflict sprang because of the The Declaration of Independence from the Peoples of Cerzgia . The Permese government saw the succession as unacceptable and sent small small fleet to quell the issue. This force was decimated by the growing Cerzgian Navy.
Later on, the Perman Imperial Navy broke through the Cerzgian Defensives in the south and made their way to the Bay of Permia where another battle commenced, the Battle of the Bay.
This cleared space for the Perman Imperial Armada. The Armada was stationed to land on three separate locations on the peninsula the current Cerzgian Capital was located.
The invasion force made a successful landing, thus beginning the Dark Hours.

Deployment

The Permese planned to land on three of the main coastal cities in Arulla.

• Aukford
• Neo Town
• and Mangoville

These towns were selected for their naval significance and cultural centers they were. After a bombardment by the ships guns, the actual invasion force would begin its deployment on the shores and docs. After a certain period in time, part of the Armada would stay, providing any needed support while the others would go and start their deployments.
The invasion was successful in attacking and taking the cities they were aimed at.

Battlefield

The battlefield would encompass the entire Arullan Peninsula. The initial landing spots on three major coastal cities made the invasion much less even to handle. Within a couple hours, all three of the cities would resemble the ruins of a volcanic city. Corpses strewn all over the place as men from both sides engaged in conflict with one another. Smoke-filled, blood puddled fields saw the sight of many battles across as the Western Retreat commenced.
The battlefield was an entire state, and the odds were against both.

Conditions

The conditions of the Dark Hours were of sheer bloodshed and death. Because the dark hours were in a period of over 18 hours, there was so much negativity packed across both sides of the conflict that men on both sides committed suicide using various methods. The violence involved caused many to suffer severe PTSD after the war had ended.
Almost all that were involved on the battlefield had sustained a wound to their soul. The dirty, smoke filled battle grounds caused many to die of not just sword and bullet, but infection and asphyxiation.
The brutality the Cerzgians faced at the hands of the Permese had been to unbearable to witness. Rape, murder, execution, torture, infection, and delirium were common in those hours. The entire continent was in a frenzy as they tried to escape the Permese.
Of course, not everyone did.

The Engagement

The Permese and Cerzgian forces first clased at the battle of Aukford. The Permese had a much greater advantage with naval support and man power. The other three engagements unfolded in similar fashion. Only difference in population and location.
The violent meet ups across the state prompted for many to head West in fear of Permese wrath. The Permese eventually caught up to some of these retreating groups, showing no mercy.

Outcome

The eventual capture of MidBrook by the Permese led the entire nation into a deep hole of despair and confusion. Almost every citizen had heard the new that MidBrook had fallen, but not the government.
The entire nation of the United States of Cerzgia was in a moment of shock.

Aftermath

The Permese had moved out and the USC eventually decimated the remaining forces in their land.
Today, there is a Cold War type situation, and defensives are set across much of the South Coasts to protect from the Permese. Perma and the USC are very wary of each other.

Historical Significance

Legacy

This conflict left a long term effect on how we view the government. The response was solid and MidBrook was reconstructed in another location. Many of those whom were involved in the conflict had some remembrance of their name in history.
Some more than others.

In Literature

Many poems, documents, and historical accounts have been written in the name of the Dark Hours. On poem of which was written by the famed writer Denmar Lossich.
In his famous poem "From the Smoke", he tells of the Cerzgian will to continue the fight despite the loss of one of their greatest cities and capital.
In this 4 stanza piece of famed literature, Denmar tells of the sudden attitude of determination many felt after the conclusion of the Dark Hours.
As the news of trouble beheld us As the fortress burned its final blaze We stand atop the throne of despair As the smoke settled its haze
The triumph of spirit gripped the soul The crossroads of pity forked away The beings of the grander scale Laugh at the immense plunder and shame
Structures held dear to us Whether of material or inner word Grasped us once again The Belief that we shall emerge
The regain of the Dream The final push onto sacred land From the cities and grander plains Albeit, rather insane

Technological Advancement

This conflict led to the Fire Strip Method. An efficient way to alert the high command of a threat at a specific location.
It would be a stretch across two major centers. If their was a disturbance somewhere in the line, the two centers would receive a message (a fire would light up, and then another in another area and another in another area until the message reached its destination), usually one side faster than the other. This difference in time showed the what area of the line was experiencing troubles

Other Points in History

Various other points in Cerzgian history have replicated emotions similar to that the Dark Hours had. Some of these events include:

• The Bombings of Poly City
• The Assassinations of the 3 state leaders in the Coral Plane Crash
• The Cutler Mall Mass shooting. Concluded with almost 170 dead and almost 130 more injured.
• The Great Cerzgian Economic Crash of 1890. (The Great Crash)
• The Veces-Quizamac Nuclear exchange during the Western War. Miraculously, the tensions in the Angulus region didn't escalate outside of the North Western Regions.
• The 3rd-5th Red Pox pandemics, mainly the 5th.
• The Permian Tsunami
• The collapse of the Postin Bridge
• The GreatWheat take over of the Faully Plains (although this was more domesticated, the effects were felt all over the country)
• The Rhinar Flood
• The Bloom (a spike in the population and aggression of Mare creatures around the Eastern and Southern coasts. That year saw the highest recorded death toll in sailors and the destruction of hundreds of trade ships and other ocean-bound creations)
• The Red Coup. (an attempt to overthrow the Cerzgian government that ultimately failed)
• The Cold Years (a brief period where the global temperature dropped by 3 degrees for unknown reasons)
• The Merlin Avalanche
• The Great Surrian Hurricane
• The Wordian massacre in Mystal
• The Disappearance of Jana Whoppers
• The Twin City power surge of 1991 ECE.
• The Cornell Burnings
• The Oil Spill of Lake Moral
• and The Poaching Party of 2001 ECE.

The Dark Hours were upon some of the worst times in Cerzgain history. In that 18 hours period, Cerzgia saw the loss of nearly 300,000 citizens, the downfall of 4 major cities, and the destruction of countless buildings.

Other related articles
• The Cerzgian Constitution
• The Declaration of Independence from the Peoples of Cerzgia
• MidBrook Capital Building

Included under Conflict

The Dark Hours

Included Conflicts

• The Dark Hours

Conflict Type

Military Campaign

Battlefield Type

Urban

Start Date

Lakuay 3rd, 1511 ECE, Union Period

Ending Date

Early Morning Lakuay 4th, 1511 ECE, Union Period

Conflict Result

The Permese captured and destroyed the MidBrook Capital Building, plunging the nation into grief and confusion.

Location

MidBrook Capital Building

More to come, this story isn't done.

Belligerents

The United States of Cerzgia

The Perman Imperial Army

Strength

Decent strength. Although lacked man power. The strategic and geographical attributes were on their side.

Very strong, high man power and strategic capabilities. Good technological advantage with the Naval Guns.

Casualties

Sources do conflict in number of casualties, the most states seemed to be from 120,000 to 295,000.

There seems to have been a total death count for about 154,000 troops.

Objectives

Defend the homeland from the Permese invaders. Under no circumstances should they capture the government

Eliminate and capture the Capital. Destroy any opposition and re assume control over the people.

The Cergzian Dream

After the conclusion of the Dark Hours, fear, loss, and despair gripped the entire population. The realization that a foreign force and crippled much of their country did not sit well with the majority of the people. After the Dark Hours, the Cerzgian Dream took hold of many. An immense feeling of hope and emergence gripped many. This in turn sparked mass favor in retaliation, and the Permese Imperial Army were then defeated at the gruesome Battle of Incrocio.
Because of this triumph of the human condition, famous Poets, Artists, and Philosophers tried to decipher the sudden change in attitude and response to such a tragedy. One such example as cemented itself as one of the most famous pieces of literature in Cerzgian History.
Written by the famous writer and philosopher, Denmar Lossich, the Poem "From the Smoke" expertly described the switch from the events of woe to the feeling of what is now called The Cerzgian Dream.

As the news of trouble beheld us As the fortress burned its final blaze We stand atop the throne of despair As the smoke settled its haze
The triumph of spirit gripped the soul The crossroads of pity forked away The beings of the grander scale Laugh at the immense plunder and shame
Structures held dear to us Whether of material or inner word Grasped us once again The Belief that we shall emerge
The regain of the Dream The final push onto sacred land From the cities and grander plains Albeit, rather insane

Other poems, documents, and other forms of art have been made to express the feeling. Others include "The Compass" by Christian Kunthro, "The Cerzgian Dream" by Emanuel Doggart, and the famous piece "Renaissance" by Pam Aisson.