Wandering
Eastward - After the Empire
"The undead lost the war
pretty badly, in the end," began Soff. "I guess... You were around
until near the end, as the history I was taught says that this was one of the
last regions to be cleared out. The death of the King left the Kingdom's forces
in disarray for a while, and some holdouts lasted until Mechanis reached the
coast.
"It took another hundred
years for the undead to be... cleared out completely. Over time, the forces
that had come to our aid left for their homes. The area east of the mountains
is still not safe for humans, but along the coast four countries emerged: The
Republic of the Saved, Secondaire, Terryd, and Faron. We are in the republic at
present, the largest and greatest of the countries."
"Interesting," said
Taoten, "I presume they are where the old provinces were, roughly?"
"I have no idea," said
Soff. "Look at a map sometime."
"I'm sure we will have
opportunity to do so. Please, continue."
"Even up to the present
undead still wander out from dark holes and hideaways, but the coastal
countries are safe. Around the mountain, and reaching down to the coastal
countries' borders, ten or so small countries were founded. The idea was to
prevent the fall of one being the fall of the entire region around the
mountains. Together, they would prevent a feared re-emergence of the undead.
"Um, although the Empire
was broken, there is - not the primary citadel, which was torn down and
demolished, but there is an underground fortress, hidden in the mountains. None
could ever enter it; and whoever was inside inflicted great harm on those who
approached - even the greatest mages and Psionese. It was left alone, as there
was much else to be done. After the war was over, as it was seemingly harmless
unless provoked, none bothered with it.
"Some feared that it was
from there that the undead would re-emerge, but most suspected it would be from
deeper in the mountains. One hundred and forty years later, sixty years ago
now, the undead re-emerged."
"Really?" asked
Taoten, curious.
Soff shot him a mean look, and
continued. "Yes. It wasn't a valiant striding forth, or a dark army coming
from nowhere. The countries were rotted from within, and all fell within months
of each other. A simultaneous, slow attack on each. It quickly became widely
known that the mastermind of the attack was whatever power lives in the
fortress. Rumour says it is a master necromancer, but beyond that, none know.
"The new undead lands
surround the mountain, and keep to themselves. They call themselves the 'Undead
Republic'. Supposedly they know the danger of taking on humanity again; and
have made many overtures of peace. We are ever watchful for them, however, and
undead are not welcome in any country that was once part of their Empire.
"There is now an empty
region between the Republic and the coastal countries, lawless and crawling
with undead. We are heading towards it, although if we follow the road we will
head into the empty region that has never been properly reclaimed. A similar place,
but larger and emptier, especially as you head further out. I will not follow
you to the Republic."
They walked in silence for a
while, Taoten mulling over what Soff had said. Eventually he spoke, "We'll
follow the road. There were... secrets amongst the upper echelons of the Empire
that I was never privy to. One I heard, a rumour, makes me cautious about being
part of this 'republic'.
"Heading east past the
mountains, even all the way to the death blight, will be no issue for us. Our
kind is unaffected by it. Truth be told, whatever causes uses a similar method
as we; though none ever discovered its source. Thank you for telling me of what
I have missed. I have two questions; firstly, I am curious as to how the
Kingdom coped with the loss of its King?"
"It's called 'the Duchies'
now. The story is something like the Dukes couldn't agree and did not want to
war, so they appointed no King. It's still the Duchies today, although there
have been rumbles from time to time. And a new Duchy founded, and one lost, and
Gracewood is run by the 'regent', who is the baron of Gracewood. 'Lesser yet
greater in matters of all' or the like. There are... many who love the Duchies,
who fielded the greatest army in our aid according to the stories,"
explained Soff.
"Yet few love the Lady,
whose army was the more effective than any other against us?" asked
Taoten.
"She is begrudgingly
accepted, or feared," said Soff with a shrug. "She has an army of
undead creatures. There is no love for them."
Taoten smiled. "My second
question is this; will you tell me about yourself? I have shared a summary of
my life, will you share one of yours?"
"So long as you don't
complain of its mundanity, sure."
"I am interested. My life
has been long, but I doubt ever what you consider normal. Even my living days
were likely completely different from anything you have experienced. So I will
listen, intrigued."
"Okay. My twentieth
birthday was two months ago..."
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