The War

**Year 20:** The gods have long since abandoned the mortal realm, taking a step back from the mortal world. Things do seem to be at peace, as if the world has been created anew. Even with the gods retreating back to their place amongst the stars, the occasional sign of the ethereal beings watching can be found.

**Year 24:** The Holy Kingdom of Adrastea is formed, taking the colder, northern portions of Alemdas for themselves. They seem to keep to themselves for the most part, enjoying their life in the mountains. The first queen, Constance Fane, rises to power; forming the first matriarchy.

**Year 27:** The Alliance of Soleil is formed, created by several members of nobility as well as merchant families. The choose one representative to rule them all, selection a king of sorts to be responsible for the alliance as a whole. Archduke Basri is the first representative of Soleil.

**Mid-Year 28:** The Ardeurian Empire is formed. After watching the other two nations sprout up, those who dwelled in the desert came to the decision that it would be best to form themselves into a nation as well. The first empress, Akane Okano, rises to power, starting a long held dynasty.

**Late Year 28:** The Holy Kingdom of Adrastea delcares themselves as the religious powerhouse of Alemdas. They claim their Archbishop is the speaker of the gods. While the Empire could care less, while the mentions of a prophet turns the Alliancel's attention to the north.

**Year 29:** Archduke Basri, declares he has a prophet of his own. The Holy Kingdom labels it as blasphemy.

**Early Year 30:** Sensing tensions rising, the Empire silently begins to build its own military force. Military outposts, that are hidden as small trading towns and villages, begin to pop up along the borders.

**Mid-Year 30:** Queen Constance demands that the Alliance denounce their prophet.

**Late Year 30:** With no word back from the Alliance, the Holy Kingdom declares that they will pay for their blasphemy. That they will act out the gods' divine punishment. It is unclear how the Alliance feels, as even after the threat, they remain silent.

**Mid-Year 31:** Queen Constance is found dead in her bed chambers. Those closest to her are immediately questioned, sending the nation into an uproar.

**Late Year 31:** The Holy Kingdom labels the Alliance responsible for the death of their matriarch. Their militant forces act quickly, heading south for the Ardeurian border. Somewhere, far beyond the stars, Dyrene watches. War would soon sweep over the nations once more.

**Year 32:** Ingrid, daughter to the late queen, is soon brought to the throne. She holds a bitter taste in her mouth for the Soleil Alliance. With one sentence, she declares war on their southern most neighbor.

**Year 33:** The only thing that seems to keep the north and the south from fully tearing each other apart is the desert. Theose who aren't accustomed living within the wasteland soon find that it proves to to be more of a challenge than what they planned for. Empress Akane watches as sand dragons and other creatures alike devour and swallow all that steps forth into her sands.

**Early Year 34:** Seeing as the desert is no battlefield, the Holy War takes to the water. The Alliance holds the upper hand. The Holy Kingdom backs off after a few months of fighting, hoping to draw the Alliance forces onto their own ground.

**Mid Year 34:** The Alliance falls for it. Taking it as the Holy Kingdom showing a sign of weakness, they follow them onto their own turf. They don't stand a chance. On their own soil, the militant force that is the Holy Kingdom reigns supreme over them.

**Year 37:** After six long years of war, the Ardeurian Empire has decided that enough is enough. Forces break out from both sides of their borders, heading for the south and the north. Having been left alone for the majority of the Holy War, the Empire holds a major advantage over the others. Their soldiers are fit and strong. It doesn't take long before both sides agree to a stand still.

**Mid-Year 38:** A parley being the Alliance and the Holy Kingdom is held within the Empire, overseen by Empress Akane. Both sides are closely watched as the meeting comes to a head. The Holy Kingdom claims that the archduke must pay for their sins; claiming a false prophet as well as murdering their queen. The archduke merely laughs in response.

Year 39: The Empire, feeling they done all that they could, backs out all together. They are no longer willing to help the opposing sides come to peace. In the empress' words, they must end it themselves before both nations fall.

**Mid-Year 40:** Archduke Barsi dies under mysterious circumstances. His death ends a ten year war.

**Late Year 40:** Petar rises to power as the next archduke of Soliel.

**Year 41:** The Soleil Alliance pays a heft price to both the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, a feeble attempt at making up for all the damage they had caused. It does little to repair the bonds and trust that had been broke. Though it seems to sedate the need for another war.