The Wars of Yore

"'...and so Renaut, the Bringer of Dawn, took up the sword of late King Auro and held high, that the light of dawn bear down over the millions that now kneel before him. Renaut spoke for them to stand and hold their hand in the air as He did. Then, the Sword of Auro shattered from Renaut's grip, and found itself, identical, in the hands of all free Men, Aelvi, and Drouggi. The War of Yore had begun.'"

"― Preuciphus of Jaaig Dronour, scribe of King Auro at the start of the War of Yore, exact date unknown."

The Wars of Yore, known also as The War of Tears, The End Times, The Era of Armageddon, The Lost Days, and a plethora of other names was a series of events that affected all Orbis near the end of the Untold Eras. Many scholars doubt the validity of the Untold Eras, including the Wars of Yore due to the historical discrepancies from the time and are subject to much debate from the academic communities of all Orbis.

Though it can be disputed that the Wars of Yore began millennia earlier, the war would officially be declared with the rebirth of Aurobis, now Renaut, at the ancient Aelvi city of Arbor Haith. The death of Aurobis whom was proclaimed the saviour of all Man, Aelvi, and Drouggi was struck down by his father Aruges, for violating the Pact of Sentience and seeking to aid the younger races. Aurobis's corpse was brought to Arbor Haith with the aid of Auro, King of all Mankind, aswell as Bolus, Forefather of Drougus.

Aurobis would then be reborn with the aid of Seoureia Alyulellen, Queen of Arbor Haith utilizing bloodmagic (Bhřuzshic) to revive Aurobis. Bolus and Auro's lives, aswell as the most fervent toward Aurobis's cause would die to resurrect Aurobis, leaving the free Men, Aelvi and Drouggi of all Orbis to follow the newly crowned Free King of all Orbis, Renaut.

Upon Renaut's return great battles would be fought, fields would run red with martyr's blood, entire landmasses would rise and submerge with every passing year and entire nations of freed peoples and armies of Aólochi chattel would perish overnight. The records saved from this era depict catastrophe of an inconceivable magnitude. Because of the scale of warfare, the academics and professors of Orbis do not cite from the Wars of Yore as it does not compare with any wars on all Orbis, it is it's own category.

History
"'We exist, for we always have. Naught shall we have our own children seek to usurp us for petty justices. You exist, because we willed your creation, and you shall die, because we demand it.'"

"― Dhaecus, Chieftain of the God's response to the Aluͤm-Hoĝth, the first of the freedmen."

From the earliest of primordial existence, Mankind, aswell as the races that would come after, were slaves to the Old Gods. This world-spanning collection of early rulers, blood sorcerers, demi-gods, and Greater Evils, was known as the Principate of Aóloch. This thousand-millennia old hierarchy reigned eternally over the slave chattel that was the lesser races.

What is known of the servitude of the lesser races is morbid, malignant, and monstrous by any other comparable standard from across the whole of Orbis. Young Mankind was subject to the horrors of chattel-running, Åłlyrd flaying, and Šsărtorelfasž harnessing. These particularly brutal methods of both culling, controlling, and cultivating the population of Mankind would lead to the many 'Menning' Revolts that would occur over the Untold Eras, with varying degrees of failure.

Eventually, escaping from one of the Aólochi citadels came Aluͤm-Hoĝth, or 'One-Limb' in Halroukē. Though Aluͤm-Hoĝth was not the first to grace the wind-swept grey plains of Old Orbis, nor was he the first to wrest with Lindelwurms and Urobears. He was the first to survive the wilderness of Old Orbis and not succumb to it like many have before.

As the years of the Untold Era continued, more of Mankind heard the name of Aluͤm-Hoĝth, and many desired to join their free kin, though many lacked the strength for open conflict, and more the courage to abandon their masters outright. Though eventually, Aluͤm-Hoĝth would muster enough freemen to construct the great city of Jasna Vrak atop the hill of Han'en S'aal.

Over the following centuries Jasna Vrak grew to become a hub of trade for freemen. Great subterranean tunnels were dug between lesser Kingdoms and Mankind was no longer dependent on freeing their own kin for manpower, they could breed freely and thus Mankind would spread across the whole of Orbis. Though this unfounded era of unity and peace would end abruptly for Mankind with the death of the last Vrakian King, Aluͤm-Maajag hap Hustus. With the death of the King, and with no heir made apparent, many of the weaker Kingdoms of Man sought to claim the leadership, this war, known now only as the Days of Dread would eventually culminate in the destruction of Jasna Vrak, and the untold deaths of millions.

Matters turned worse when Banienon, King of Henp Hannerus, seeking to establish some sort of deal with the Aólochi, gave all information he had known of his kinsmen to the Principate. Enraged that their domestic chattel had ran free for so long without notice, a war would be waged to recover them. Aruges would task his son, Aurobis, to return the freemen, and personally lead a retinue to crush any resistance. To further strike fear into Mankind's heart, so that no revolt would ever again occur, Memvana, Goddess of Spite, would recover and resurrect all of the fallen kings of Mankind's short history of freedom. These great rulers would be debased of their chivalry and virtue, and would be naught but avatars of destruction, a living symbol of the Aólochi's dominance over all.

The war would last two years, and be forever remembered as the Two Winters of Pleading. Mankind was so bitterly outmatched that many of the remaining Kingdoms would but fall to their knees and beg for mercy from Aurobis, but would receive none. Those that would not indignify themselves would fight to their last, being burnt alive with soulflares, or cut asunder by Aurobis himself. These deeds would eventually earn Aurobis the title of Defiler.

The Two Winters of Pleading would end with the deaths or recovery of most of the free Human populations on Old Orbis. Banienon would be left to rule his own realm, and was gifted by the Aólochi to never wither and always be fair. Banienon's realm however, which wore a mask of perseverance for Mankind, but in truth nothing more than it's own offshoot of decadence - the same the Aólochi themselves worshipped. Banienon would remain true to his vows for millennia, and as his Kingdom of Henp Hannerus grew, so did his arrogance. For thousands of years Banienon would be praised unwaveringly as a God, a last bastion for freemen across all Orbis, but was in truth another fork-tongued lie.

A Spark of Hope
"'He was the greatest terror of our ancestor's era, and would eventually become the greatest hero of our time.'"

"— Unknown, though likely spoken by Preuciphus of Jaaig Dronour."

Mankind was forever scarred from the Winters of Pleading, in those waning years of Mankind's short freedom ignorance was rampant, and many had forgotten the stories of slavery for millennia. With Mankind now once more at the mercy of their master's torment, and with further fail-safes established by the Aólochi it appeared that all hope was lost.

Yet, for millennia Aurobis would begin to doubt his actions, no longer did he revel in suffering as his colleagues did, nor attend any audiences regarding his family. Gradually, Aurobis would believe that the title of Defiler was a black mark on his growing compassion for the peoples he butchered. Aruges would see the behaviour of his son but would not inquire as to his feelings until Aurobis became so disillusioned with the lifestyle of his Aólochi compatriots that he would leave the citadels of the Principate, and live a nomadic lifestyle.

Not willing to let his son venture freely, Aruges would task the newly born Aelvi to seek out his son and return him. This band of Aelvi, which would later become the precursors of their entire species would tirelessly seek out Aurobis, but to no avail. For centuries Aurobis would meditate among the early world, and during this time seed his own life to prepare for aiding a resurgent Humanity. Trees would begin to sprout from the seas of marshes and bogs, lesser, more domestic animals such as bovines and swines to provide a source of nourishment. Every passing year, the world of Old Orbis would now take form, and the beauty of the world would finally take shape.

Aurobis would then confront his Aelvi hunters, and with his enthralling charisma, convince them to seek their own freedom. Aurobis would bring the First Thousand of the Aelvi to a clearing among jagged cliffs and harsh crags and found the first city in thousands of years, Arbor Haith, the Holdfast of Haitheon. Out of white marble and aucrete, matched with elaborate and extravagant architecture, the city of Arbor Haith stood as a beacon of hope for those longing for freedom, and a flare of defiance to the Aólochi. Aurobis would be hailed not only as 'the One' of Arbor Haith, but as a Living God for all Aelvdom. Aurobis would leave to return to the Citadel of Hrü-s'aal, the greatest fortress of the Followers of Aóloch to meet with his father and plea for the existence of the Aelvi after millennia in voluntary exile. In his absence, Aurobis would delegate all responsibilities to Haitheon the First.

Aruges would not welcome his son back with open arms, for he long since knew of Aurobis's actions regarding his seeding of life around Orbis, and the enlightenment of the Aelvi. Aurobis failed to recognize Banienon as an informant for the Principate, for few even knew of his treason and fewer remember it. Aurobis was thrown in chains, restrained in the Sepulcher of the Lesser, a great, hundred of mile long pen of skeletons, dead, dying and tortured Aelvi, Men, and Drouggi. Aurobis would make question of the new species - the Drouggi, to his father Aruges, who would respond - "Look unto them, see their aging bodies, their ailing skin, the blood pouring from every rendition of cut there is. Know that I made them to suffer for you antics."

Aurobis would be forced to plea before Dhaecus, the Chieftain of the Gods for violating the Pact of Sentience. For years so long that the mind cannot comprehend, Aruges would torture his son through those he planned to save. Aurobis was condemned to Hukuz H'azdafhanor - the Dormitory of the Less in Halroukē. There, Aurobis was subject to the true conditions of all Men, Aelvi, and Drouggi. All remembered Aurobis, even millennia later his face was burned into the cumulative racial memory of all that dwell there. Aruges took particular glee in breaking his son, no doubt in hopes of once again reforging him into one of the Aólochi. Whenever Aurobis would look upon anyone, they would disappear. Whomever would touch Aurobis would find themselves a bloody mess the following day. Aurobis would find himself a pariah to those he wished to save. Though they saw Aurobis as a curse and a blight to their already miserable lives, Aurobis would be eternally adamant toward his cause from now to his last day.

Though Aurobis languished over the millennia in the halls of Hukuz H'azdafhanor, his suffering was not in vain. Those Aelvi whom were descendants of Arbor Haith knew well the tale of their living god, aswell as those who bound him, and prepared for a Great War that would eventually erupt. The Holdfast of Haitheon would stand against the inevitable waves that would crash upon it, seeking to destroy all they know. A thousand years would pass and forges would burn all the same, Aelvi drilling and mustering in preparation for the final hours of the world.

The Aólochi, remiss with the return of the wayward son, would once again succumb to their decadent desires. As the Aelvi would muster for the eventual discovery of their presence by the Aólochi, it would not come for millennia. Over these millennia the Aólochi would drain themselves, their power waning as they reveled in perverse excess.

Breaking their Chains
"'My forebears cut the iron that bound your arms, freed you from perversion of spirit, and decay of mind. We've done naught but serve the God you burn me for.'"

"— An Aelvi, captured by The Holy Kingdom of Pevia before being burned on an Altbon" With Aurobis returned and punished for his treason the Aólochi were free to descend into their perversions once more, and with this so did their perception of the outside world fade. Over the eras, those followers of the Principate would wane in power, resting well on their laurels from the prior wars. So arrogant did they grow, that they could not see that their own doom was underneath them.

The construction of great tunnels across the whole of Orbis was one of Haitheon, King of Arbor Haith's first decrees upon realization that Aurobis may never return. Though these tunnels would eventually evolve into sprawling megalopolises, their primary function was to transport their populace outside the gaze of the Aólochi. Over time, Haitheon would shred autonomy, allowing his close allies to form separate 'Hollow Empires' to better consolidate the vastness of all Orbis. With this, the semi-autonomous nations of Pendon Marr, Luppushal, Taleon Mathi, and Ammemnonaith would form.

It was Meloshod, Lord of Taleon Mathi's audacious assault on the false kingdom of Henp Hannerus which would spark the first cinders of the Wars of Yore. No longer would those who'd escape Aóloch's citadels flee into Henp Hannerus, only to be dragged back to their chattel pens, confused and disheartened. Though the exact documentation of Meloshod's assault are lost to time, it was noted that Banienon, King of Henp Hannerus, was taken captive by Meloshod and brought to Taleon Mathi.

Meloshod's actions were reprimanded by Haitheon, knowing well that his audacious assault could've warranted the attention of the Aólochi. When told that Meloshod had captured an ancient human whom had acted as regent of their own kingdom, Haitheon's spurn would turn to intrigue. Those that had successfully fled from Aóloch's Citadels were oft unorganized, fractured, and weak, yet beholden to Haitheon was a man of unwavering beauty, of uncompromising charisma, and lord of a land that had evaded keen Aelvish eyes.