The Twilight Struggle

In the dark corners of the Drakonis Empire, a sinister and fanatical cult known as the Black Sun worships the Nebeus, the Wicked Eclipse, god of the moon. Their teachings and practices are widely shunned and regarded as abhorrent by most. The cult's beliefs revolve around a twisted perception of purification through death and the eradication of males as a means to achieve their ultimate goal. According to the teachings of the Black Sun, males are considered to be corrupted by dark energy and are seen as impure. They believe that the cause of this corruption lies in the sun itself, and they seek to end the cycle of reincarnation by blotting out its light. Ritual slaughter is deemed necessary to achieve this goal, as the death of males is believed to purify their souls and bring about the destined end.
While it may come as a surprise to those unfamiliar with the cult, many of its followers are women. However, the leadership of the Black Sun, including the high priests known as the Lords of Ruin, is exclusively composed of men. This distinction stems from the presence of the Maiden of Ruin, an oracle-like figure who selects the twelve high priests through ritual combat. These chosen priests then travel the land, infiltrating towns and cities with their flocks, spreading the cult's influence over the course of years or even decades.
Once firmly embedded within the populace, the Black Sun cult initiates a series of horrific practices. They abduct men, targeting the vulnerable such as orphans, travelers, and beggars, to be used in rituals of mass murder away from prying eyes. The killings are carried out by the high priests themselves or their acolytes, known as the Black Flames. The cult members believe that the act of killing other men purifies their own souls for a certain period, with the notion that men of higher status possess greater souls capable of cleansing them forever. This twisted belief has led the cult's male members to become obsessed with hunting down highly influential individuals, considering it a macabre sport, and displaying the skinned faces of their victims as patchwork cloaks, which they proudly flaunt.
Disturbing tales of entire male populations in villages being wiped out by the Black Sun cult have circulated from time to time, spreading fear and horror throughout the land. Their secretive and elusive nature, combined with their extreme beliefs and gruesome practices, have marked them as a dangerous force that strikes fear into the hearts of those who hear their name.
The existence of the Black Sun cult serves as a stark reminder of the dark depths to which fanaticism and warped ideologies can descend. Their actions bring terror and chaos to the Drakonis Empire, as their insidious influence spreads and their vile rituals claim the lives of countless men in their pursuit of a twisted form of purification.

The Conflict

The Engagement

2A 1003: The Rise of the Black Sun: The Black Sun cult gains prominence as its influence spreads throughout the Drakonis Empire. Their subversive activities and recruitment efforts begin to catch the attention of the empire's authorities.
2A 1005: The Black Flames Emerge: The Black Flames, acolytes of the Black Sun cult, begin carrying out their first targeted killings of influential individuals within the empire. Their macabre acts send shockwaves through the populace and draw the empire's attention to the escalating threat.
2A 1007: Imperial Crackdown Begins: Emperor Saeron, recognizing the growing danger posed by the Black Sun cult, issues a decree to the imperial forces, ordering a widespread crackdown on cult activities. Imperial troops and Inquisitors are dispatched to hunt down cult members and suppress their influence.
2A 1009: Cult's Massacre in the Outskirts: The Black Sun cultists orchestrate a brutal massacre in a remote village on the outskirts of the empire. The entire male population of the village is wiped out, leaving behind a gruesome scene of carnage. News of the atrocity further fuels fear and anger within the empire.
2A 1012: The Battle of Shadow's Embrace: A major confrontation erupts between the Drakonis Empire's forces and the cultists in the region known as Shadow's Embrace. Both sides engage in a fierce battle, with the empire deploying its well-trained soldiers and the cultists relying on dark magic and guerilla tactics. The conflict culminates in a significant loss for the cult, but they manage to evade complete annihilation.
2A 1014: The Dragon Knights' Purge: The Dragon Knights, driven by their zealous devotion, initiate a large-scale purge targeting suspected Black Sun cult members. Inquisitorial raids are carried out across the empire, resulting in mass arrests, interrogations, and public executions. The cult's followers are pushed further into hiding.
2A 1018: Cultist Insurgency: The Black Sun cult launches a series of coordinated insurgent attacks across multiple cities and provinces, aiming to destabilize the empire's control and strike back at their oppressors. These attacks range from assassinations of key imperial officials to acts of sabotage on crucial infrastructure.
2A 1022: The Black Sun's Inner Sanctum Revealed: Imperial intelligence agents manage to uncover the location of the Black Sun cult's hidden sanctuary. A daring assault is launched on the cult's inner sanctum, resulting in a fierce battle between the empire's forces and the cult's elite fighters. The outcome of the assault remains uncertain.

Outcome

After years of intense struggle, the conflict concluded with the victory of the Drakonis Empire over the Black Sun cult. The empire's relentless campaign and overwhelming military strength eventually wore down the cult's resistance. The empire's forces, led by Emperor Saeron and his loyal Dragon Knights, managed to dismantle the cult's network, eliminate their leaders, and suppress their influence across Saera.
The defeat of the Black Sun cult marked a significant turning point in the region. The empire solidified its control, reinforcing its strict hierarchical structure and maintaining its dominance over the land. The cult's twisted beliefs and practices were widely condemned and shunned by the populace, with remnants of the cult dispersing or going into hiding.
In the aftermath of the conflict, the Drakonis Empire strengthened its grip on power, ensuring that the teachings and influence of the Black Sun cult were erased from public memory as much as possible. The empire's rule continued, albeit with a lasting impact from the conflict, as the scars of the struggle remained embedded in the collective consciousness of the people.
The outcome of the conflict established the Drakonis Empire as the prevailing authority in Saera, maintaining its strict order and centralized governance. The cult's dark legacy served as a reminder of the dangers of fanaticism and the lengths the empire would go to preserve its control. The victory of the Drakonis Empire over the Black Sun cult contributed to the stability and continued dominance of the empire for centuries to come.

Conflict Type

Covert Operation