The Fifth Era of Vendir

By the time Olgossus had the ships, and warriors, needed to invade *Twilow* at the scale they hoped- many years had gone by and the then *Empress of Olgossus* had since been replaced by an all-new Empress: though she inherited her forebearer’s ambition. The masses of *Sclom* cheered in celebration as they watched The Army of Olgossus set sail from the harbOr- heading across the water to *Twilow*.

The Army of Olgossus’s attempted invasion of *Twilow* was the first Phase in what would come to be known as ***“The Great War of the Continents.”***

* The Great War of the Continents: Phase 1: “*The Olgossi invasion of Twilow”:*

The ramifications of these battles led to the dissolution of *Galdos’s* democracy and the formation of a monarchy. The first ruler, **Queen Yessika**, was incredibly popular- her judgment never doubted by the people. While The Army of *Galdos* had slaughtered much of The Olgossus Tribes, driving many more back home across the water, she remained uneasy- concerned they would come back any day.

* The Great War of the Continents: Phase 2: *“The Fall of Stygian”:*

Knowing the people wouldn’t dare question her actions, **Queen Yessika** felt it was important to ‘send a message’ to The Olgossi. **Yessika** swiftly commissioned the construction of *Twilow’s* very own harbor and boats. A mere few years after the *Olgossus* retreat and, much to the surprise of The Olgossi- who thought the war was done, The Army of *Galdos* marched onto Olgossus territory with a plan in mind: they would destroy all they could. An epic seven-year-war erupted and the *Army of Twilow* relentlessly battered all that they could. While Sclom survived the attack, *the city of Stygian,* the Twilonians main target, was battered to the ground. Every building was reduced to rubble. Every home burnt to the ground.

This was supposed to be it: a message to the Olgossi to never again step foot on Twilow territory. But, in destroying every-last inch of Stygian, the Twilownians learnt something new, and terrifying, about Olgossi culture: The existence of Witches.

* The Great War of the Continents: Phase 3: “*The Burning of the Witches”*

This fact was reported back to **Queen Yessika**, who felt a great deal of discomfort in knowing ‘the enemy’ had access to Black Magic. Despite insisting they would not cause trouble, despite promising to never again invade *Twilow*, it simply was not enough for the Queen. At her command, every known witch in Olgossus was rounded up and burnt alive- along with their every parchment, book and text. Not only did **Queen Yessika** order EVERY witch dead, she wanted every bit of evidence that magic EVER existed to be destroyed. One witch, and her book of spells, was chosen at random to be left alive: a witch called *Aenbak’jjhik*. She was taken hostage by the Twilownian army, taken to **Queen Yessika’s** home- *The Grand Hall of Thaydos*. There she was held hostage, kept imprisoned in the basement. **Queen Yessika** promised never to utilise **Aaenbak’jjhik’s** skills, leveling the playing field between the two continents. But, if Olgossus ever dared try to conquer *Twilow* again, **Yessika** vowed to use the witch’s talents to hurt the Olgossi more than ever before.

During her reign, **Queen Yessika** commissioned an architect to redesign *The Grand Hall of Galdos*, from which The Council of Galdos had ruled, into a castle. So it would not cost her a single piece of gold she had her army kidnap an Olgossi architect to be forced into doing the job: **Jhomi’s** descendent **Sentellios Thwiti.**

* The Great War of the Continents: Phase 4: “The Cold War”:

Throughout the reins of the next few monarchs, starting with **Yessika’s** son **King Filsior,** the relationship between *Twilow* and *Olgossus* was tense. While neither dared to step foot on the other one’s land, the fear that the other might was always lingering in the air- creating an atmosphere comparable to a Cold War. Throughout The Cold War the people of either continent developed derogatory slang terms for each other.

Twilonian insults about the Olgossi:

* *Botcher*: An insulting name to call the Olgossi, rooted in the fact the Olgossi “botched” their attempt to invade Twilow.
* *Brute*: An insulting name to call the Olgossi, referencing the Olgossi “tribal” heritage.
* *Iggslave*: An insulting name to call the Olgossi, referencing their idiotic (to Twilonian thinking) devotion to The God Igg.

Ologssi insults about the Twilonians:

* *Burner*: An insulting name to call the Twilonians, rooted in the fact the Twilonians burned the witches alive.
* *Ashbreath*: See above.
* *Slackers*: An insulting name to call the Twilonians, in reference to the manner in which The Affluosa died out.
* *Shameblood*: Knowing how desperate most Twilonians are to escape the part of their history in which Galdos was known as The Lawless City of Shame, this insulting name for Twilonians is in reference to Twilonians having “shame in their blood/heritage/history.”

The castle was not complete until after **Yessika’s** passing, so it was named in her honour, and her son, **King Filsior,** became the first to rule from it.