The Great Fairy Hunt

The Great Fairy Hunt stands as a harrowing chapter in the annals of Silius' history, a grim period where a formidable band of ruthless bandits waged a relentless war against the once-thriving community of pure fairies, driving them perilously close to the brink of extinction. This remorseless hunt would ultimately birth a new race, now recognized as "half-fairies" – a unique blend of fairy and human lineage, characterized by their conspicuous absence of wings and diminished magical prowess when compared to their illustrious pure fairy predecessors.

In the heart of this tumultuous era, the serene glades and mystical forests that once provided sanctuary to the fairies became battlegrounds soaked in sorrow and despair. The half-fairies, born from the ashes of this cataclysmic struggle, emerged as a testament to resilience and the enduring spirit of a beleaguered race.

The Great Fairy Hunt was set into motion by a tragic and unintended event: the untimely demise of Ikkor, a name destined to echo throughout the annals of fairy folklore as the very first of their kind to fall prey to ruthless bandits. This fateful pursuit commenced just beyond the boundaries of the beast fairy borough, unfolding with deliberate and calculated precision. As the bandits gradually assembled their forces, converging upon the ancient shores of Ilius, an unlikely army took shape, fuelled by a thirst for vengeance that would ultimately lead to the downfall of the esteemed Beast Fairy Elder, Dhokasi.

With the passing of Dhokasi, the true conflict ignited, ushering in a dark and tumultuous era marked by relentless warfare and a desperate struggle for survival.

In a chilling, relentless procession, the bandits methodically pursued their grim mission. Each fairy ward and elder, one after another, fell prey to their malevolent designs. The defeat of the fairies, tragic as it was, inadvertently bolstered the strength of the bandits. With macabre ingenuity, they utilized the remains of the fallen fairies to fortify their weaponry and armor, crafting unholy artifacts infused with the essence of fairy flesh and blood. These dark alchemical concoctions granted them an unsettling advantage in battle, enabling them to equalize the odds against their once-magical adversaries.

The Mirage Fairy Elder, Arsha, presented a formidable challenge for the bandits. Her fairy borough was cloaked within an impenetrable shield of relentless sandstorms, a natural barrier that rendered it nearly impassable for any human intruder. Paradoxically, however, Arsha's cove also stood as one of the most diminutive and fragile among all the fairy enclaves.

Despite the treacherous sands that encircled her realm, the bandits, driven by their insatiable thirst for conquest, eventually unearthed a means of breaching the protective barrier. Once inside, their merciless efficiency left no room for respite, swiftly adding Arsha to the growing list of fallen elders. In this cruel turn of fate, even the most elusive and resilient fairies could not escape the relentless grasp of the marauding bandits.

Aelfis, the indomitable Flame Fairy Elder, was the next to be targeted by the relentless bandits. A formidable adversary, Aelfis and his fiery fairy kin were known for their unwavering courage and their mastery over the element of fire. They were a breed unafraid of the heat of battle. Yet, in the face of the relentless bandit onslaught, even Aelfis found himself cornered with no escape from his impending doom. His valiant struggle would prove to be a formidable challenge for the assailants, a testament to the power and resilience of the Flame Fairies.

Kethru, the gentle and benevolent Storm Elder Fairy, soon followed Aelfis into the shadow of death. Her untimely demise was a heartrending loss for her kind. She was celebrated for her kindness and nurturing spirit, her presence a soothing balm to the world around her. In the wake of her tragic passing, the skies above wept and thundered for a staggering 300 years, the very clouds themselves mourning her death, for she was a symbol of peace and benevolence that had been cruelly extinguished by the bandits' ruthlessness.

The Bandits, despite their relentless victories, would finally encounter an insurmountable obstacle when they faced Fi’il, the formidable Ice Elder Fairy. Consumed by anger over the loss of her fellow elder kin and all the fairies who had fallen before them, Fi’il stood resolute, refusing to concede defeat. Her unwavering determination would ignite a monumental battle, pitting her and her loyal fairies against the marauding bandits.

For 137 years, Fi’il and her fairy brethren would relentlessly fend off the bandits, never wavering in their defence. With each passing year, the bandits grew increasingly desperate, launching wave after wave of attacks in a futile bid to overcome Fi’il's indomitable spirit. In the climactic clash that followed, Fi’il ultimately succumbed to the bandits' combined onslaught, but not before exacting a fearsome vengeance upon them. In her final moments, she unleashed her Leyawiin, annihilating the entire bandit force that had dared to challenge her. Fi’il may have lost her life that day, but she emerged as a legendary figure, a true elder to be revered. She did not merely fall; she stood tall, defeating her foes even in death.

Following Fi’il's epic confrontation with the bandits, the remnants of their once-formidable army retreated into hiding for a staggering 419 years. Instead of pursuing violence, they turned to the insidious weapon of propaganda, launching a campaign of words against the fairies. This marked a shift from a battle of swords to a battle of narratives, as they sought to undermine the fairies' reputation and sow discord through cunning manipulation of information.

With each elder's tragic demise, an insidious imbalance began to creep into the world, a tangible manifestation of the void left by their absence. This unsettling disruption cast a shadow over the natural order, giving rise to negative consequences that rippled through the world. The bandits, cunning as ever, seized upon these ill effects to spin a deceitful narrative, attributing all the world's misfortunes to the fairies' supposed malevolence.

As the fairies' reputation deteriorated, they transitioned from revered mythic guardians of balance to sinister and power-hungry creatures of darkness, vilified as agents of destruction willing to sacrifice the world for their own dominion. The bandits masterfully manipulated public perception, sowing the seeds of mistrust and fear among humanity. They managed to turn the world against the fairies, isolating them from potential outside support in their ongoing struggle.

Simultaneously, the bandits leveraged their newfound influence to slowly rebuild their formidable army, harbouring ambitions of continuing their relentless hunt. As their propaganda machine churned, they strategically reinforced their ranks, determined to maintain their grip on the world's narrative and continue their campaign against the beleaguered fairies. After successfully orchestrating a relentless hate campaign and years of meticulous regrouping, the bandits were finally prepared to wage war once more.

The confrontation with the Water Fairy Elder, Lafal, presented a distinct set of challenges, not rooted in sheer physical strength, but rather the daunting expanse of the ocean itself. The cunning bandits understood the complexities of this unique battle and dedicated considerable thought to devising a strategic approach. Once their plan was set in motion, the outcome seemed all but certain.

Employing specially crafted ships designed for this precise purpose, the bandits embarked upon the perilous waters to face Lafal and her water fairy guardians, who held dominion over the vast oceans. In this unconventional showdown, the battleground was not defined by brute force but by a battle of wits and strategy. The bandits, armed with their newfound cunning, engaged in a high-stakes game of tactics and intellect, maneuvering to outwit Lafal and her water fairies.

With determination and calculated precision, they navigated the treacherous waters, inching closer to victory. This unique clash on the ocean's expanse would test the limits of their resourcefulness and cunning, as they overcame the guardian of the seas and her loyal water fairy companions.

This time, their sights were set on the Rock Fairy Elder, Koeh. The battle that ensued proved to be a formidable challenge, but the new generation of bandits had absorbed the lessons from their forebears' mistakes, adopting a more strategic and cunning approach to their warfare.

Despite Koeh's resilience and the tenacity of his fairies, it didn't take long for the bandits to wrest his domain from his grasp and ruthlessly eliminate his fairy kin. However, one sombre mystery lingered: Koeh's body remained unaccounted for, lost in the aftermath of the chaotic battle. Its whereabouts remained shrouded in uncertainty, a riddle that confounded both the bandits and the fairies.

Though the bandits conceded this minor loss, their focus remained fixed on the grander objective of their campaign. While they may have lost the physical remains of an elder fairy, they had achieved a darker triumph: the capture of the entire population of fairies from Koeh's borough. This sinister prize fuelled their determination, casting a long shadow over the ongoing conflict as they continued their relentless pursuit of power and domination.

The penultimate elder in their sights, the bandits turned their attention to Naitra, the revered Nature Fairy Elder. Years of conflict had bestowed upon them an arsenal of power and resources, making the final battle seem almost inevitable. Their greatest challenge lay in tracking down the elusive domain of the Nature Fairies, a task that demanded precision and perseverance. Once they had finally pinpointed its location, however, the outcome seemed all but certain.

With their amassed might and ruthless determination, the bandits set about dismantling the sanctuary of the Nature Fairies. In the final confrontation, their superior resources and strength gave them a decisive advantage. Naitra, the guardian of the natural world, faced a formidable adversary, but it was a battle where the odds were overwhelmingly stacked against him.

Ultimately, the once-vibrant domain of the Nature Fairies was reduced to ruins, and Naitra met his tragic end at the hands of the bandits. The bandits' relentless pursuit of power had reached its apex, leaving only one final obstacle in their path: the Grand Elder, Aertiabaelna, whose fate would determine the course of this protracted and harrowing conflict.

The Grand Elder, Aertiabaelna, faced with the dire threat of the fairy race's near-extinction, embarked on a last-ditch effort to secure the survival of the few remaining young and vulnerable fairies under his care. He discovered a hidden human village untouched by malice or hatred towards his kind. With unwavering determination, he transported these delicate fairies to the village, promising them safety and security. Aertiabaelna shrouded the village in a protective enchantment, rendering it untraceable, as he set forth on a mission to end the war once and for all.

The bandits, despite their amassed army and newfound power, were no match for the ancient and formidable Aertiabaelna. In a titanic final battle, he fought valiantly, vanquishing every last one of the bandits to ensure they could never harm another fairy again. However, the toll of this epic confrontation left Aertiabaelna severely wounded, and he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on the battleground.

The fairies he had safeguarded emerged after some time, discovering Aertiabaelna's lifeless body. They undertook a solemn burial ritual, laying their beloved Grand Elder to rest. In addition to honouring him, they collected the armor and weapons tainted with bits of fairy essence and retrieved any remaining fairy bodies from the battle, giving them a dignified burial. From these sacred fairy burials sprouted lush forests, rolling hills, and meandering rivers. And from the very place where Aertiabaelna's life had been extinguished, a grand and majestic tree grew, becoming a symbol of his enduring legacy.

The land, known henceforth as Silius, became a realm ruled by wise and just queens, its people largely unaware of the epic battle that had once unfolded upon its soil. Meanwhile, the half-fairies born from Aertiabaelna's sacrifice dedicated themselves to preserving his memory and the delicate balance of the world, striving to ensure harmony endured amidst the challenges of life in Silius.