Astos II of Great Skull

***“**I have cast my doubts and regrets to the wind. I have no doubt that we will lose this battle and our lives. Yet, I have no regrets. If I were put in this situation a thousand more times, I would lay down my life for our people and our families without hesitation each time. Come, heroes of Great Skull! We fight to the death!**”***
— Astos II before the Battle of Taragha

**Astos II of Great Skull**, born **Astos Annuhin**, locally referred to as **Astos the Unwavering**, was the last King of Great Skull, reigning from 632 AW until his death in 650 AW. A beloved warrior-king, Astos has entered folklore and legend amongst the descendants of Great Skull as a man who sacrificed everything to defend his people, even in the face of overwhelming Wyrsian might.

## Biography

The only son of King Fangor IV of Great Skull, Astos was the crown prince of Great Skull from the moment he was born. While a traditional education for a crown prince included various subjects, Fangor IV insisted on focusing Astos' education around the art of war. Whereas most princes grew up surrounded by teachers and courtiers, Astos grew up amongst soldiers and generals, learning complicated tactics at an incredibly young age.

By the age of thirteen, he became an officer. Then a proper general at seventeen. Astos was reported as being very close with his soldiers, treating them as equals and generally not caring much about his status as royalty. This made him beloved by his warriors. When Fangor IV died suddenly in 632 AW, Astos was crowned Astos II of Great Skull.

Now the King of Great Skull, Astos II set out to reform and strengthen the tribal kingdom's military. He appointed new officers based on merit and somewhat controversially included Faerian units into his ranks. He also commissioned multiple fortifications to be built, mainly on the militarized border with Hykkfjord.

In late 649 AW, a vast raiding party attacked the Kingdom of Wyrsia, looting the Redlyrian countryside before returning to Great Skull. It was most likely a locally organized raid not endorsed by Astos II. This, however, did not calm the Order of the Red Dove, the rulers of Redlyre who also controlled the Wyrsian puppet monarch, Edward III. The Red Dove formed a military force and invaded Great Skull in early 650 AW.

Astos II was initially furious at local raiders dragging all of Great Skull into a war, yet he responded to the Wyrsian attack by raising every last man he could. It was primarily due to his popular leadership that smaller local clans – many of which were rivals – rallied to the side of Astos.

Yet, as the Wyrsians captured Cnoc Kirne and defeated Astos' eldest son, Garlog, at the Battle of Fioll, it became clear to all that the current harassment tactics against the Army of Woodhall weren't working. Astos II put out a rallying cry, urging all available soldiers to converge on Taragha, a significant settlement. Many heeded the call, but more did not. Most notable was Larkhel Faeskull, who rushed into Wyrsian territory, attacking the Duchy of Redlyre directly before being hunted down and killed. Such bold and rash actions would spell the doom of Great Skull, and Astos II knew this. Yet, as the Wyrsians drew closer to Taragha, only a minority of officers and chieftains had heeded Astos' call, and many continued to fight their own skirmishes.

As the overwhelming Wyrsian force arrived on the horizon, it became clear to Astos that Taragha would not be able to defend itself. The Wyrsians attacked the town on the 16th of Greenburst, and desperate fighting broke out to hold the line, yet Red Dove battlemages tore through the Great Skull lines. By the end of the day, the Great Skull army had taken a beating, and the Wyrsians settled into their night camps. Astos II summoned his last remaining son, Enyon, to his headquarters at Taragha. He put Enyon in charge of most of his forces, then ordered him to abandon the town. Enyon initially protested, but he knew that Taragha was lost. With a heavy heart, he said his goodbyes to his father and began packing up the small army he now commanded and left Taragha, heading eastwards to link up with what little garrisons remained there.

As the second day of fighting broke out, the Wyrsians quickly realized that most of Great Skull's troops were absent. Zachary Mitthel initially expected an ambush, but when it became clear that the missing troops had simply left, he ordered an all-out assault on Taragha. Astos' officers begged him to flee, but the king refused. Astos gathered what little remained of his honor guard and personally led a suicidal countercharge against the Wyrsian troops. He reportedly killed well over a dozen enemies before being cut down.

Astos' death would heavily demoralize and disunite what remained of Great Skull's forces. While resistance continued, the various groups no longer had a leader after the death of Astos II and mostly fought on their own. This made them easy pickings for the larger Wyrsian army. While Enyon would have been the next King of Great Skull, many disputed his leadership. The disunity that arose after Astos II's death would further divide Great Skull after its defeat and annexation, as the Great Skull Migration happened around divisions formed during the war.