Iwakita Guild Uprising

The Iwakita Guild Uprising was an event that happened in the 4th Century of the Third Era. It started when the adventuring guild ‘The Reapers’ and some members from the Blue Heroes began a violent uprising to take over the city of Iwakita, capital of Hashin.

## Background

### The Reapers

The Reapers were, at the time, a very famous adventuring guild based out of Iwakita. Taking advantage of the Iwakita Alliance, they extended their influence into Sokjin and began their excursions into the Jave Woods.

The guild quickly picked up a good reputation, known as the individuals who got the job done, no matter the cost. This helped them pick up new members and jobs, increasing their financial power and number.

In **407PR**, the guild elected controversial leader Asier Avila to the position. He had already picked up a reputation from his abrasiveness and superiority complex from being an Awakened, unlike many of the other nobles in the city.

### The Blue Heroes

The Blue Heroes Guild at the time was one of the biggest guilds in the world, towering over any competition. They had connections in every part of the coastal nations in South-East Arlec, only the islands of Vosqis and Uhek escaped their reach.

Having so many members meant they got their tasks done, using their global reach to snag jobs from other smaller guilds and grow their membership.

Iwakita chose to elect Oyama Tome as their nation leader in **408PR**, a close friend of Asier Avila.

In **410PR** they elected Ditlev Loren as their South-Eastern leader, a populist who continued to gain the support of the people, giving back where he could.

### Plans

Before the election of Ditlev in the same year, the guilds leaders of Asier and Oyama met in a secret meeting in the city. There they discussed plans to take over the young nation of Hashin and establish it as their own, a place where the strong rule the weak, the strong all being Awakened.

Their first goal was to take the Iwakita Palace, where King Kitajo Takanaka resided. Once the palace was taken they could deal with the rest, having a strong claim of leadership by holding the physical throne room.

When the two returned to their guilds, they began secret preparations. Bringing all their guild members back their halls and giving influential speeches about how their strength is what will rule the world.

After the election in **410PR**, they made their move.

## Uprising

The Uprising began in the month of Jika in **410PR**, a month after the election of Ditlev Loren.

### Iwakita

The guilds began their move in the morning of the 3rd day, marching their guild members out of the halls and towards the Iwakita Palace. Initially the guards thought nothing of it, either being bribed or convinced that it was a parade of sorts, when it became apparent it wasn’t, they tried to fight. For the city, it was a bloodbath. The guards held very little training compared to the guild members and were not Awakened, never standing a chance. It didn’t take long for the grounds to be covered in corpses and the rest of the guards returning to their houses and barring the doors.

Passing the inner forest, they made their way across and surrounded the Palace. When the King noticed, he tried asking the guild leaders what the reason for their insurgence was, but only met silence. Hearing no response, the King retreated inside the Palace, using the underground tunnels to escape the city.

With the King back inside, the two guilds moved in on the palace. This time a fight broke out for the guards of the palace were not the same in the city. Staying behind the walls of the palace, the Royal Guards continued to fire arrow after arrow into the approaching guild members, killing many before getting overpowered by the superior number.

Taking the palace was a huge victory for the guilds, who had spent the day fighting to get there. Though they had taken one loss, the King and his family were nowhere to be found, retreating through the secret tunnels underneath the palace and outside the city.

Instead of dwelling on it, Asier decided to give a speech to his members, congratulating them on the first stage of their victory.

### Aliquam Guild

Just outside the city walls stood the Aliquam Guild, a more neutral guild than the others, mainly used to help other nations if they needed a third party. Though that was not to discount their strength, they still held some of the best Awakened individuals in the area,

When they saw the chaos initially erupt, they decided to stay low and calculate their position. Now that the Palace was taken, they had to make their move. While they were better in quality than the other guilds, they were not as numerous. So, they began reinforcing their building first, believing it could become besieged later.

As the guild reinforced their building, their leader, Itami, also sent out scouting parties to see what was going on in the city. It was worse than he expected. Bored and covered in weapons, the Reaper Guild began to start stealing goods from the cityfolk, breaking into their houses and killing whoever stood in their way. The rotting bodies of the previous guards were now joined with random civilians, littering the street even worse. Outside of Iwakita it began to get the name of the Red City, describing the red roads of blood.

Not standing for this any longer, Itami and some of the stronger Aliquam Guild members ventured out of their building to go and protect the civilians. After passing the gates into the city they immediately ran into some of the Reaper Guild members. Without second thought, Itami and his soldiers charged into them, killing the Guild members and protecting the civilian house they were trying to raid. Hearing the commotion, more Reaper Guild members arrived, outnumbering Itami’s group 3 to 1. Enraged by the slaughter, Itami chose to fight, charging ahead.

The group itself they were fighting wasn’t strong but it was numerous, giving some difficulties to Itami. Though, angry and bloodlusted, he fought his way through, ignoring the wounds that now riddled his body. When the fight finished and all the Reaper Guild members were dead, he and his party retreated, helping evacuate the civilians nearby.

Asier was furious when he heard about the insubordination from the Aliquam Guild, and ordered his members to go and attack their building. Subsequently, he sent scouts to Sokjin to recruit new members from the guilds in that city.

### The Siege of Aliquam

The Reaper Guild members didn’t take long to get to the Aliquam Guild building, besieging it immediately. Initially, some of the Aliquam Guild ranged members tried to slow down the siege with attacks but were repelled by the Reaper Guilds own range.

Stuck in their building, the Aliquam Members and Itami could only wait for the attack to eventually come.

It came, 4 days later. Feeling confident, the Reaper Guild members rushed the door, triggering the traps set the week prior. In the first attack, no member managed to get to the door because they were either covered with acid or exploded with fire before they got even close. On the walls of the building, Reaper Guild members, more soldiers now, climbed up and met a similar fate, either impaled by the released spikes or covered with acid.

Eventually, the soldiers returned to their camp for the night, not wanting to continue the assault. When everyone was sleeping, Itami and some of his members came out and reset the traps and triggers, placing them in different spots or making it look like they’d already been used.

The next day the assault began again, charging the walls. This time, the soldiers were more cautious but the lower-ranked individuals still were beaten back by the traps, causing many deaths. Seeing that this was futile, the Reaper Soldiers decided to try a different tactic. Rather than use themselves to attack the building, they would force monsters too.

It took a few days for the Reaper Soldiers to capture the monsters needed but it was worth it in the end, using the creatures to trigger all the traps at no great cost. Feeling safe, they began another attack on the wall.

Now with nothing blocking them, the walls began to crack and the door swung open. Inside, Itami and his soldiers began their fight, fiercely bringing down whatever the Reaper soldiers had to offer them. On the walls and upper floor, the newer members fought against the Reaper soldiers, hitting them when they were weakest and through the window. While the siege had started with the Reaper Guild having more members, the failed assaults had dwindled them down to even. The battle quickly turned into quality over quantity, the Aliquam Guild having the upper hand.

Seeing the battle was failing them, one of the Reaper Guild members tried to call for a retreat but was stabbed through the neck by Itami before the horn was blown. Now fully committed, the Reaper Guild could not escape their slaughter at the hands of the Aliquam Guild.

After the battle, Itami calculated his next move. He wanted to go in and take the Iwakita Palace but knew that the Blue Heroes members still held it. So, he instead retreated, taking what members remained with him. By the end of the week, the Reaper Guild had lost two thirds of their forces, while the Aliquam Guild lost half.

### The Return of King Kitajo

After King Kitajo escaped the city of Iwakita, he made his way to Sokjin to build an army. Knowing that the guilds could get convinced here too, he used some of his royal spies to infiltrate their ranks. Thankfully, when members of the Reaper Guild came later to recruit they were turned away by all guilds.

In reward for their loyalty, he would purchase their labour at a higher cost, recruiting them into his army to fight back against the Reaper Guild and the Blue Heroes.

Itami and the remaining members of the Aliquam Guild would later join him, being hailed as heroes for saving some of the cityfolk.

At the start of Jantuary in **411PR**, King Kitajo marched with his army to reclaim Iwakita.

### Reclaiming of Iwakita

Unprepared but eager, the remnants of the Reaper Guild and the Blue Heroes prepared for battle. It was now or never to prove Asier’s statement true, that if they were strong, they would win this.

Not knowledgeable enough to defend the walls, the fighting happened in the city. Initially, the Reaper Guild soldiers tried to block the King’s Army at the gate, using mostly ranged attacks, but retreated when they kept advancing. Now in the city, the King’s Army spread out and cleared the streets. Itami himself led his own force, consisting of his Aliquam Guild members and some other adventurers.

In the streets the fighting was chaotic with all types of magic being thrown causing heavy destruction of the city. The King tried to order for these attacks to be minimised but was ignored, his soldiers too distracted in their battle to take the orders. Frustrated, the King grabbed his own group of soldiers and helped evacuate some of the citizens in the fighting zone, bringing them to his HQ where he could keep them safe. It is estimated through his actions he saved most of the remaining citizens in the city.

#### Itami Betrayed

On Itami’s end he was finding success, defeating both a group of Reaper Guild members and Blue Heroes. He was getting so far ahead that even Asier had to enter, facing off against the opposing Guild leader.

When the two met, Asier revealed his trick. The adventurers alongside Itami outside of the Aliquam Guild turned and betrayed him, drawing their weapons and attacking his Guild members. Enraged, Itami charged Asier, leaving his remaining members to fight against the traitors. Though a Guild Leader, Asier was not a fighter, revealing another trick to his opponent. Out of the streets on either side of Itami came more Reaper Guild members, some of their strongest and outnumbering him 10 to 1.

#### The Guild's Turn

Hearing about Itami’s situation, King Kitajo sent soldiers to his aid, warning every one of his officers about the guild members betrayal. The messengers came just in time, as many of the adventuring guilds from Sokjin turned and betrayed the Hashino soldiers. Only some guilds remained on their side, fighting their fellow adventurers for the sake of good.

Still holding the advantage, King Kitajo entered the field. First, he grouped up with an injured Itami and the remainder of his Aliquam Guild, giving him a recap of the situation. Next, he went straight for the palace. Using the distraction of the betrayal, Kitajo and Itami were able to force their way through the streets and reach their target, finding it relatively undefended.

Hearing about the King’s objective, Asier and Oyama moved to stop him, bringing some of their best members alongside. Though it was now Itami who became the trickster, ambushing Asier and his soldiers on their way and capturing the Reaper Guild Leader. On the other side, Oyama was blocked off with some of the cities rubble, defending the soldiers near the Palace.

Making the best of this opportunity, King Kitajo broke into the palace, leading the way with his own sword and shield. With relatively little people in the Palace, he made his way to the top and raised the Hashino Flag, giving him the victory.

#### Surrender

The Guilds, seeing that it was an Hashino flag raised at the Palace, surrendered to the soldiers. Oyama would later be captured, fighting alongside her soldiers for what she believed was right. It would take 4 members experienced in grappling to bring the Guild Leader down.

## Aftermath

It would take years for the city to fully recover from the Guild Uprising, losing a great number of individuals and taking heavy damage from fighting within the streets. The people were content to get through it, holding King Kitajo in high regard who held speeches every month to lift their spirits.

### Itami and the Aliquam Guild

The Aliquam Guild was seen as the saviours of the Guild Uprising, even by the King himself. Every guild member at the time, both dead and alive, were given the Medal of Iwakita, honoring them for their efforts and sacrifice.

Outside of Iwakita, the Aliquam Guild heavily grew in influence, being used much more for their use as a neutral guild. In a few years they would angle this influence with the region and world to give them the power to regulate and administer the other guilds, becoming a Guild Police of sorts.

Itami was honored and hailed as a hero, later retiring from the injuries he suffered in the battles. He was seen as one of the greatest Aliquam Guild members, and now has an award named after him to be given to guild members who have shown his values.

### The Guilds

All Guilds involved with the uprising against the King were criminalised, letting members who did not participate either leave and join a new guild or be imprisoned. Members that did participate were given punishments in relation to their actions, most were executed or forced into slavery, while others were imprisoned for varying terms.

#### The Blue Heroes

The Blue Heroes Guild was outlawed by the King, claiming them to be an enemy of the nation. This was later taken down to a ban from the guild conducting business in Hashin.

Internationally the Blue Heroes lost their position at the top, losing a significant amount of influence and power. For a time, the Blue Heroes had to accept the lowest of jobs to make money, losing many members. They have grown since then but have yet to reach the same levels, still banned in Hashin.

#### The Reaper Guild

The Reapers Guild members were all arrested, being a Hashin only guild, they had nowhere else to go. Many were executed with the rest forced into slavery.