Sanguine Age

## The Crusade of Sanguinius

#### The Ascension

Having completed his great crusade, and in doing so cleansing the Blood Lands of all trace of Sooraj Ka Baagh and his empire, Sanguinius enters the last stage of his reign. In order to choose someone capable of leading The Blood Court into a new and prosperous age he and Aristotle agree that it would be best to start with fresh clay. So Sanguinius employs a significant portion of his now abundant power and Ascends 6 mortals to near godhood.

These 6 mortals become Hayid, Nyx, Sage, Morpheus, Barstad and Force; The Coutiers of the Blood Court during the Sanguine Age. Each of them is set the task of remaking the world in whatever image they see fit; a gambit that Aristotle had used before to create strength through conflict. The 6 of them travel to the far corners of the Blood Lands, compelled by Sanguinius' will, and found their own nations, each with its own vision for the future.

* Nyx journeys north and makes her home among the mountain nomads, founding Skogrid;
* Barstad wanders aimlessly for a year on the central isle before finally crossing Wanderer's Span and settling in the east among the Earstwild tribes of the Kreichwald forest, here he begins the work that would create The Duskwyld in years to come;
* Force to travels across the Wanderer's Span with great conviction and comes to rest in the north east. Here he leverages his significant power against representatives of the Charging Yeddim. They relinquish to him their slave stock, taken from the same Kreichwald forest that would become Barstad's home. He gathers the newly freed slaves together and founds Droman Kass at the base of a great mountain range;
* Sage crosses the southern seas and makes her home in the grasslands. She grows the first of the Weirwoods of the **Sanguine Age** and burrows deep to create the first settlement of Pangow, with her new found ally, the scorpinox Knotweed;
* Hayid travels south west, despairing at his plight, having been thrust into greatness in a world he can barely comprehend. He draws the desert folk to him through charisma and the magnetism of his personality and founds his nation of Rhas'cton. Together with the people there he will become both teacher and student for some time;
* Morpheus ventures west, after some tribulations and one death, he settles with the islanders of the shattered continent, and invades their dreams to bring them enlightenment such as he himself has experienced. Atlantean undergoes it's first renaissance.

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### **901 SA**

#### Early conflicts

As each of the Courtiers established themselves among the disparate populations of the Blood Lands early conflicts began to arise. At this point they are little more than border skirmishes and could be likened to siblings needling one another to gauge their respective tempers. Two significant confrontations that go on to have long lasting ramifications throughout the Blood Lands martial and political landscape occur during this period.

The first confrontation is a border skirmish between Skogrid and Droman Kass that results in victory for Skogrid and their claiming of the northern wastes; This claim will remain uncontested by Droman Kass throughout the **Sanguine Age** and the Gifted Age.

The second ripple begins when Rhas'cton, still grappling with the old ways of life meeting the new philosophies of Hayid, launch raids on the nation of Atlantean. The first of these raids results in the death of Samuel. As a direct result of these attacks a small number of Atlantean citizens abandon the new capital to live in Rhas'cton. Soon there after Marius of The Duskwyld and the Blood Banners raid a small Atlantean farming settlement named Pig Farm: This begins a course of events that leads Atlantean to adopting a policy of total isolation before the end of the **Sanguine Age**. A course of events that would go on to be further exacerbated by Rhas'cton would continuing to raid Atlantean settlements until the year 906 SA.

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### **902 SA**

#### The Master's Gifts

The Skogridian capital Kaer Vahlen becomes the first in the Blood Lands to suffer deaths from the plague that would later come to be known as the Master's Gift. At this point Nyx and her advisers suspect the hand of Hayid in the deaths of their people but are unable to prove anything.

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#### The War of The Fecund Oath

The Charging Yeddim petition the Court for aid in alleviating the effects of a famine caused by an invasive species known as woppletinger. The Skogridian military is volunteered to cull the animals, and the Vahlen 1st is renamed The Wild Hunt in honour of their undertaking. Mihai of The Duskwyld uses his newfound magic to neuter what remains of the population of woppletinger. Unbeknownst to the Courtiers at this time, the woppletinger are a stock animal of the Fecund, and protected by ancient law.

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### **903 SA**

#### The Master's Gifts - Nyx' Fury

Acting on her suspicions that the plague in her capital city is Hayid's doing; Nyx unleashes the Panserbjorne led by Skold to raid Rhas'cton by way of vengeance. They are met by Bitterclaw, who patrols the northern borders of Rhas'cton during this time. A fierce battle between the beast and the Skogridian army takes place; the Panserbjorne are defeated and Skold is grievously wounded. Nyx's frustrations continue to grow.

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#### Earstwild Feud - Duskwyld Aggression

Both Droman Kass and the The Duskwyld were founded from the same population, known as the Earstwild. These two nations come to blows quickly after their founding. The hostilities are initiated by Barstad of The Duskwyld who's armies attack Tython and steal a significant amount of Khyber.

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### **904 SA**

#### The Master's Gifts - Uncovering Aled

The Master's Gift takes hold in Kaer Vahlen, and hundreds are laid low by the pox that quickly consumes the lives of the weak, old and young of Skogrid. Nyx petitions the court for aid in discovering the source of the plague. Vellon Victos and Albert of Atlantean are given authority by The Blood Court and are sent to Skogrid to investigate and uncover the source of the plague there. In the course of their investigations they uncover a priest of Rhas'cton named Aled. Aled is confirmed to be the source and soon after he is placed in Court custody the plague begins to recede and Kaer Vahlen begins the road to recovery.

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#### The War of The Fecund Oath - The Wild Hunt I

The Charging Yeddim petition the Court for a second time, this time as a response to aggression from the hostile eastern nation of Fecund. Fecund claims that the woppletinger culled by The Wild Hunt were protected by an ancient oath between The Blood Court and Fecund. As a direct response to the culling, Fecund war bands begin roaming the Ashen Plains and killing any Charging Yeddim they encounter.

Jakt of Skogrid leads The Wild Hunt in confronting the Fecund war bands. with the help of Chingachgook they are able to bring their quarry to battle. The skirmishes are short lived and the renown of The Wild Hunt grows.

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#### Earstwild Feud - Battle of the Ashen Plains

Border skirmishes and raiding becomes common place between The Duskwyld and Droman Kass. Tempers reach a critical point in the summer of 904. Force commands the Imperial 1st and Vellon Malice, his greatest champion, to attack Harrenheim. Meanwhile the Blood Banners of The Duskwyld, led by Marius, march north to visit a similar fate upon Kass. The two armies meet in battle at the half way point and fight the Battle of the Ashen Plains, a battle which would see Droman Kass victorious despite a war party of Charging Yeddim intervening on behalf of The Duskwyld. The conflict would leave deep scars in the memories of both nations, and lead to the Earstwild Feud spilling into the The War of The Fecund Oath.

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#### The Expeditions - Temple of the First Blade

The first expedition was commissioned by Aristotle and would reveal the location of the Temple of the First Blade. The expedition would later be revealed as a machination of Aristotle to uncover which of the Courtiers had a thirst for greater knowledge, and serve as a way to begin the Coronation Trials by gifting Harpe to the Courtiers. As fate would have it, both Hayid and Nyx answered the petition of Aristotle, and the feuding Courtiers set aside their differences briefly to uncover the secrets of the temple. The greatest of those secrets was the sword Harpe, which rested at the heart of the temple behind a series of trials. Skold was present at the expedition and was responsible for completing the trials, but it was the Rhas'ctonian soldiers that took Harpe from the temple. Hayid would later gift Harpe to Bitterclaw to carry into battle.

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### **905 SA**

#### The Master's Gifts - The Trial of Aled

Hayid retreats from public life and his duties in the Court. An exalted of Rhas'cton named Fabius is given stewardship of Rhas'cton and speaks for Hayid in all matters. Aled is brought before the Court for judgement for his crimes. All present at court decided that Aled's fate will be left to Nyx alone to decide. Fabius contests that Rhas'cton should be given the task of punishing their own wayward criminal as his actions bring shame upon the good name of Rhas'cton. The court disagrees and Fabius is overruled by majority vote. Nyx remakes Aled into a wendigo and binds him to servitude under Namira, the beast's new name is Nazuuk and he roams the frozen forests of Skogrid, defending it from harm and feasting upon lost travelers.

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#### The War of The Fecund Oath - The Wild Hunt II

The Fecund war bands continue to range across the Ashen Plains slaughtering anyone they find there. Skogrid alone continues to fight alongside the heroes of The Charging Yeddim to repel the invaders, cementing a bond of mutual respect between the two nations. Whilst living among the Charging Yeddim, Jakt is honored to receive the Mark of the Blood Child from Magua, it is a powerful ward that grants him great strength in his battles against the Fecund.

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#### Earstwild Feud - The Razing Tython

Conflict between The Duskwyld and Droman Kass continues to escalate and Barstad sends Marius, the Blood Banners and the Shadewatch north into Droman Kass. The army descends upon the mining town of Tython and quickly overcome the newly founded Imperial 3rd garrisoned there. Marius and his forces put the town to the torch and its peoples to the sword. By the time the armies of The Duskwyld are finished, every man woman and child in Tython is dead.

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#### Bombing of Jahrak

An explosive device is detonated in the market place of Jahrak, the capital city of Rhas'cton. The damage is extensive, as is the loss of life, and the presence of Khyber at the bomb site leads to Droman Kass being blamed for the attack. At a much later date it will be brought to light that this attack was staged by Atlantean agents as an act of vengeance for the death of Samuel.

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### **906 SA**

#### The Master's Gifts - Retribution of Skogrid

The Queen of the Hunt declares that Aled's remaking was not enough to balance the crimes committed by Rhas'cton against her people. Spurred by her frustrations at the Panserbjorne's defeat at Bitterclaw's hands in 904 SA she commands Skold to lead the Battleclaws and the great drake Vorlek south into the heart of Rhas'ctonian lands.

The Skogridian army meet the Atlantean Misery and Bitterclaw in open battle. The casualties are high on both sides, but the it is the clashing of each nation's great monsters that determines the outcome of the battle. Both Vorlek and Bitterclaw are terribly wounded and neither will ever fully recover, but Vorlek is the victor and the Skogridian army route what is left of the Rhas'ctonian forces. Skold is able to reclaim Harpe from the battlefield, discarded by Bitterclaw as it fled.

Following the battle Skold, Vorlek and the remaining Battleclaws march south to sac the town of Mukka; the resultant devastation is absolute. It has been suggested that so many of the Rhas'ctonian war beasts, the Mukkali, were killed in their stables that Rhas'cton was forced to entirely abandon its aggressive campaign of raiding Atlantean settlements. Atlantean would never realise that it was Skogrid's actions that caused Rhas'cton to cease its raids on the island nation.

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#### The War of The Fecund Oath (Earstwild Feud) - Treachery of Droman Kass

Frustrated by resistance mounted by Jakt and The Wild Hunt; Fecund declares open war against Skogrid and The Duskwyld. Willow, who at this time is an ambassador of Fecund, declares that Fecund will kill ten Blood Court citizens for each slain woppletinger. Although Skogrid is responsible for the greatest grievance against Fecund, it is The Duskwyld that will bear the brunt of the attacks due to it's geographical proximity to Fecund. The Duskwyld purchases the Redwood 2nd, a small contingent of Redwood soldiers from Pangow, to bolster it's defences at Harrenheim.

Droman Kass, still reeling from the devastating loss of Tython, seizes upon the opportunity to gain a powerful ally against The Duskwyld and openly supports the claims of the Fecund. In order to prove his loyalty to the Fecund cause Force orders Vellon Victos to kill Governor Mihai; the assassination is successful. Soon there after a formal alliance is made between Fecund and Droman Kass.

In the late winter of 906 A.S. Vellon Malice marches south with the Imperial 1st and 2nd to join with the Fecund armies in preparation for attacks the following year. The armies of Droman Kass decimate the population of the Charging Yeddim as they pass through their lands.

Barstad declares Force a traitor in open court and denounces the actions of Droman Kass.

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#### The Expeditions - The Frost Court I

Aristotle commissions the second expedition, this time to investigate an ancient fortress high in the MOUNTAINRANGENAME. Pangow answers the call and sends an exploration force led by the exalted Nastur. The Duskwyld sends Egwene and Mihai to support the investigation. Mihai never arrives. The investigation team discovers how to access the inner chambers of the fortress before being forced to retreat for the winter.

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### **907 SA**

#### The War of The Fecund Oath (Earstwild Feud) - The invasion of The Duskwyld

Vellon Malice and the Imperial 1st accompanied by War beasts and raiding parties of the Fecund launch attacks into The Duskwyld, targeting Delvenhoff. A defence is mounted by Daria the Shadewatch, supported by the recently acquired Redwood 2nd. The defence force finds themselves ultimately unprepared for the sheer scale of the invading army. The battle is ferocious and the day is carried by the superior numbers of the invaders. Daria is killed on the battlefield by Vellon Malice, and the Redwoods fight to the last soldier to ensure her body is carried safely from the field of battle by her mount Bloodhowl. The Shadewatch mount a fighting retreat that spills into the streets of Delvenhoff itself, where the few remaining Shadewatch soldiers make expert use of the cover provided to harass the invaders giving the last of the population time to flee.

Simultaneously another attack is made upon Acrewald. Here a Fecund Ent and the Imperial 2nd hope for an easy victory and are denied. The now famed General Marius leads his Blood Banners in defence of the farming settlement with exceptional skill and carves the invaders forces and plans to ribbons. The people of Acrewald rejoice as they are spared the true horrors of war by The Duskwyld's mightiest heroes.

Anise, the spies of Pangow, are given licence by Barstad to operate inside the borders of The Duskwyld and locate the enemy forces that hide there. Marius hopes to exploit this information to persecute the war favourably by leading surgical strikes against the invaders camps. The troops of Droman Kass withdraw to their homelands before Marius is able to bring them to battle. This is widely regarded by scholars as being a great tactical mistake as the Droman Kassian withdrawal allows The Duskwyld to consolidate its forces; whereas a continued assault alongside the Fecund army may have been enough to end the war. The Fecund remain to prosecute the war alone, a grievance they will not soon forget.

Droman Kass purchases the Redwood 5th, a small contingent of Redwood soldiers from the nation of Pangow, and begins to reinforce and resupply its military.

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### 908 SA

#### The Master's Gifts - The Resurgence of The Master's Gift

The capital cities of Skogrid, Atlantean and Droman Kass all suffer from plague. The symptoms and virility of the plague lead many to believe that this is the same sickness that was revealed to be the result of Hayid's agents years before in Kaer Vahlen. None accuse him in open court.

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#### The War of The Fecund Oath (Earstwild Feud) - Victory for The Blood Court

With the forces of Fecund and Droman Kass now separated The Duskwyld turns to its allies to help finish the war quickly. Through closed channels Barstad invites Nyx to participate in a joint invasion of Droman Kass, she agrees.

At the same time, through open court, Barstad requests that the other nations of The Blood Court lend military aid to repel the invasion of his own lands. Droman Kass naturally declines the invitation, having completely dedicated itself to the Fecund cause. Pangow, Rhas'cton and Atlantean all pledge to aid The Duskwyld recognizing the truth in Barstad's argument; that The Duskwyld acts as a bulwark between the Flourishing Lands and the Blood Lands, and it it were to fall, anyone of them could be next.

Force recognizes that political opinion is turning against him and seeks to improve his position. Ambassadors are sent to Lady Nyx to request a truce between Droman Kass and Skogrid. The request is refused; Nyx responds by making clear that no peace can exist between the two nations for as long as Droman Kass is at war with The Duskwyld, and that her armies will continue to fight to release it from the grip of foreign of invaders.

Skogrid rejoins the war by raiding Droman Kass at Barstad's request. Half of the Battleclaws are deployed to raid Ord Mantel. They find the town well defended, meeting both the Imperial 2nd, which were stationed at Ord Mantel for recruitment and resupply, and the newly acquired Redwood 5th. The defending armies of Droman Kass are victorious, but are left under-strength and battle-weary.

The Duskwyld wastes no time in exploiting the damage done by Skogrid's raiders and quickly mounts an attack against Yavin whilst the Droman Kassian military tries to recover its losses. The newly resurrected Daria is deployed in the conflict, much changed by the necromantic magics that Barstad has begun to learn. She is accompanied by the Shadewatch, many of whom now have a deep burning hatred for the Droman Kassian people. The Imperial 1st are defeated in open battle and forced to retreat, allowing Duskwyld forces to besiege the city. This action precludes Droman Kass from accessing the vital Ironwood resource produced at Yavin, and will go on to greatly hinder its attempts to resupply its military.

The Anise successfully uncover the elusive forces of Fecund, and quickly deduce that they plan to mount a second attack on Acrewald, this time committing everything they are able to the battle. Marius enacts a plan to feign weakness and draw the enemy in. The Blood Banners are deployed to the field of battle alongside Bitterclaw of Rhas'cton to face off against the superior enemy. Once battle is joined, the trap is sprung. Dionysus of Atlantean as well as Jakt and The Wild Hunt launch a flank attack on the enemy locking them into a battle attrition. The fighting seems to be at a stalemate with the potential for high losses on both sides, until a hero name Bulb, a newly exalted Warbringer of Pangow, reveals himself. In a glorious feat, the young hero fells an Ent in single combat, breaking the spirits of the Fecund attackers. The Fecund army is routed and the War of The Fecund Oath comes to an end soon after as Matsudana redirects his attention to more pressing matters further east. Leaving The Blood Court to resolve its own internal conflicts.

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#### The Expeditions - The Frost Court II

Nastur and Orkin of Pangow alongside Skold of Skogrid act as agents of The Blood Court and once again lead an exploration force into the fortress in MOUNTAINRANGENAME. This time they are able to delve deeper and uncover the fortress' true purpose as a seemingly abandoned meeting place belonging to now absent Frost Court. Before long they uncover its immortal custodians who are later revealed to be vessels for the Frost Court themselves. Reawakened by the actions of the agents of The Blood Court, the Frost Court are incensed and move repel the intruders by force. The fight is briefly stalled when the Jack of Frost recognises that he blade carried by Skold is Harpe. The Frost Court offers to spare Skold's life in exchange for simply handing the sword over peacefully. Skold refuses, and the battle recommences. Both Skold and Nastur are killed. As he dies Nastur commands Orkin to flee from the fortress and deliver the news, and Harpe, to Lady Sage.

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### 909 SA

#### The Master's Gifts - The Gifts Continue

Kaer Vahlen suffers increasing casualties from the plague. Evidence emerges that an unnatural selection has begun to take place among the populace. Only the strongest of Skogridian's are able to survive the plague, and the weak die off, leading to the people becoming ever more resistant to illness and hardship. Kass too suffers continue casualties, but at a slower rate than Skogrid. Atlantean undergoes it's Second Renaissance and as such becomes forever immune to the Master's Gift.

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### The Earstwild Fued - The Pacification of Droman Kass

With the withdrawal of the Fecund from the Blood Lands, Droman Kass is left exposed. Verrator Force continues to posture and show outward strength whilst sending repeated attempts to open diplomatic talks with the Fecund in the hopes of retaining Matsudana's support. The Fecund refuse to engage in talks and Droman Kass' position in The Blood Court becomes increasing under threat as The Duskwyld seeks to settle the Earstwild Fued.

Droman Kass sends the bulk of its remaining military might to liberate the besieged town of Yavin. Here Vellon Malice personally leads the Imperial 1st and is accompanied by Vellon Victos. When he arrives he finds that The Duskwyld have constructed siege weapons and are attempting to press their advantage and sac the town. His army attacks the besieging force, catching them unprepared and successfully breaking the siege. During the fighting Daria makes a direct attempt on his life which is thwarted by Victos. The Liberation of Yavin is complete.

Meanwhile with his work defending his home completed; Marius of The Duskwyld marches north atop Nighthaunt, accompanied by his Blood Banners. Once in Droman Kass he is joined by the Battleclaws of Skogrid. Together the march upon Ord Mantel. The Droman Kassian military has yet to recover from the battles the previous year, and what little remains is occupied at Yavin. This means there is little resistance from Droman Kass and the Battle for Ord Mantel is a swift victory for the Wild Duskgrid forces.

News reaches Marius that Yavin has been released from Duskwyld control. This leaves him three options; he could reinforces his position and await Vellon Malice at Ord Mantel; retreat back to the safety of The Duskwyld; or march on toward Kass and try to ensure a swift end to the war. He chooses the latter and gives the command for his army to march north once again.