Frengo — Roleplayer Guild

The Scalethein Empire

441 - 500 A.E, Rise of the Stone Guards

The Zaqiri Invasion of the summer of 440 A.E had left the Empire in a constitutional and governmental crisis. The untimely death of First Minister Ironstone, and the total destruction of the Reserve Army, had paralysed the entire southern quadrant of the Empire. The Senate lacked the authority to issue decrees without the Queen - who was busy leading the war - or the First Minister, who had been killed. Furthermore, they lacked the authority to elect a new First Minister, who had traditionally always received the Kobold Queen's blessing. 

As a result, Uthein was powerless to make any further attempts to commit to the war. Her forges fell silent, her peoples grew fearful, and a brief period of panic-induced anarchy broke across the city. In one fell swoop, the Zaqiri had inadvertently destroyed the Empire's industrial infrastructure, and rendered it ripe for the taking. 

Senator Florin, who was recovering from near-fatal wounds, took it upon himself to march from his bed - much to the dismay of his attending physicians - and stormed into the Uthein Senate House with his household guard. At spear point, he forced the Senators to elect him First Minister under pain of death. 

Upon election, his first decree was to disband the position of First Minister, and in turn granted the position's regal powers to the Senate. These reforms happened under the nose of the Kobold Queen, who was far too busy contending with the invaders to simply turn back and silence Florin's shenanigans. 

Senator Florin resumed his post as a "humble servent of the Empire", but by now his position as the Alpha Male was established. He bossed and bullied the Senate into introducing sweeping reforms. His experiences at the hands of the Zaqiri had disillusioned him with regards to the Empire's potential and Kobold-led direction, and now he had become a nationalist. 

In a single session, he introduced the mandatory inclusion of Dwarven women into the army, abolished the legionary system in the south, and ordered a total rethink of a Dwarf's use of weapons. Kobolds were excluded from much of his political manoeuvring - which speaks volumes of his nationalist intents - though they tried to bar his motions when they could. However, Florin was not above having his political opponents imprisoned on bogus charges, and used the Queen's absence to make his words law. 

By the War's end, Uthein had already started to assemble a new Dwarf-bred army. It had done away with shield walls and pikes, and now took on the ideals of the Zaqiri - their emphasis on furious charges and single combat. The problem was, there were no Dwarves to train this new army, and most of the early doctrines were purely theoretical.

And so when the Zaqiri delegation arrived to offer Uthein gold for their part in the "Glorious War", Senator Florin silenced any calls for their immediate execution, and entered speedy negotiations. 

"A hundred of me kin, taken to yer land to lern tha' way 'o tha' warrior. Keep yer gold, consider it me payment fur yer services!" - Senator Florin, to the Zaqiri delegation.

Senator Florin thus departed the Empire with the delegation, at the head of a hundred of the biggest and bravest Dwarf-folk he could find. By the time the Kobold Queen's issue for his arrest for treason had arrived in Uthein, he was long gone. 

From 441 A.E until 470 A.E, the Senate bowed to the Queen's authority and kept its use of powers to a minimum. For this period, the Kobold Queen assumed the Empire's sole head of state, and her word became law. Business ran as usual during this time, and Uthein was left to its own devices. Many of Florin's reforms were repealed, and the city entered its pre-war state. 

A key technological achievement during this time, worthy of note, was the discovery of steel making in 465 A.E by the Uthein Smith Consortium. Steel proved hardier than iron, though it was more complicated to make. It would not see mass production until 480 A.E, but already it was laying the framework for the Empire's continued military dominance. 

In 470 A.E, Senator Florin returned from Zaqir... though he was no longer a Senator. He was Warmaster Bloodaxe, otherwise called Bloodaxe the Wall Breaker. His beard was long, his muscles bulged, his armour was strong and ornate - and a giant two headed axe established his appearance as some exotic warrior. 

A half hearted attempt was made to arrest him, but Bloodaxe demanded a "Test of Blood" to determine his innocence. Therefore, he was quickly shipped under guard to Scale Home, where he would face impossible odds on the bloodied sands of the city's arena. The Queen and some members of the Senate no doubt sought to see him killed, and his memory cast into the void. 

Bloodaxe was a one eyed giant of a Dwarf. His armour was of rare Zaqiri steel, as was his giant battleaxe. He moved quicker than any one his size had the right to, and his vitality seemed to draw itself from a bottomless well of feral rage. 

The Queen watched in silence from the Royal Balcony, as Bloodaxe confronted ten of his kinsmen - condemned Dwarfs, equipped with iron armour and swords - and slew them all in under a minute. His skill at arms was like nothing the arena had seen, but many of the spectators howled in outrage and disgust. They saw him as a lucky chancer, a thug that had rolled two sixes in a game of dice. This Dwarf was a traitor, and the crowd's call for his swift death echoed across Scale Home.

With a nod of her head, the Queen obliged them; Azak and Frenki, Cobold battle masters, entered the arena to a thunderous applause. Azak was small but agile, his fame lay in the use of daggers - and Bloodaxe was eerily familiar with such an art, from his time in Zaqir. Frenki was taller, broader, and carried a large hammer. Bloodaxe regarded Azak with barred teeth, but Frenki with a challenging nod. 

Azak struck first, his daggers moving almost faster than the eye's ability to track them. Bloodaxe allowed them to fall harmlessly on his armour, or took glancing blows to his flesh when he could afford to, and launched a series of axe swings that missed their mark by several inches - as intended - until Azak sought to slip past the Dwarf's apparent clumsiness. However, in adherence to his own martial style, Bloodaxe's vulnerability suddenly evaporated in a single instant, and Azak fell backwards with a grievous gash across his chest.

Frenki approached, hammer high, and the Cobold and Dwarf fought in a test of raw physical strength. At one point, it seemed as though Bloodaxe was done for, as Frenki's hammer planted itself into his chest. A couple of broken ribs now hindered Bloodaxe's movements, and he fell to his knees and faked a drama. As Frenki moved forwards to hear the Dwarf's yield, Bloodaxe gripped him by the face and in one sudden movement, broke the Cobold's neck. 

The crowd roared with displeasure, and thousands of voices called for the Queen to kill the Dwarf - to issue his death warrant, Test of Blood be damned - for his heinous display. Bloodaxe got to his feet, held his arms abreast, and roared at them in response. His free hand beat his chest, and he hurled insults at the crowd. 

"BRING ME SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO FRIGGIN' FIGHT!" He bellowed, unashamed.

The Queen inclined her head, and now a gate at the far side of the arena rattled open. Bloodaxe turned to face the threat, and found himself face to face with a giant monstrosity. It seemed to be a simple forest bear, but it was easily the size of a small house, and it towered above Bloodaxe as a mountain of fur and muscle. A Kobold madwoman danced and cackled on the beast's neck; apparently the bear was her pet. Her crazed eyes settled on her opponent, and for a moment she sobered from her eternal delirium. 

"What is this?" She asked, curiously. "An impotent Dwarf that shall stoop in the muck, if it means victory?" 

"And what be this?" Bloodaxe retorted. "A Kobold bitch that lays with bears?"

And thus, battle was joined. 

It took nearly a thousand Kobold soldiers to escort Bloodaxe safely from the grounds. The bear's death had not been pleasant, indeed, it had been perverse. Some say he had laughed as he tore the beast's eyes from their sockets, that he had become aroused as he hacked away at its bulk like a mad butcher. The Kobold madwoman's fate was such, that the record was simply struck from the histories - though to this day, it is said her tortured screams haunt the grounds.

What we do know is that, were it not for a loophole in the laws regarding a Test of Blood (specifying a respect for "foreign conduct" in battle), Bloodaxe would not have left that arena alive. Indeed, such a despicable and monstrous display contravened all forms of known "martial honour". The Queen released him, with great reluctance and regret - but the Divine had obviously decided his innocence, for he would not have survived if they had not.

Bloodaxe returned to Uthein, as somewhat a hero and a legend, and was granted a seat on the Senate. Having picked up a boat-load of riches from his time in Zaqir, Bloodaxe used his wealth to influence certain motions, and the Military Academy of Uthein was abolished on his word. In its place, the War Summit of the Stone Guard was erected - though the structure was itself unmolested. 

With the rest of his riches, Bloodaxe raised his own personal army - with reluctant Senate approval - and ten War Bands (a thousand Dwarves each) were consolidated into the Imperial Stone Guard. The Stone Guard were a paramilitary force dedicated to the warrior's code, and in theory answered to the Queen and the Senate, but who in practice answered to one man: Bloodaxe the Wall Breaker. 

The Stone Guard became a symbol of Dwarf nationalism, and through them, the Mountain God - who had remained fairly quiet for over a century - started to find his way back into mainstream religious beliefs. Bloodaxe erected mighty monuments of He Who Made the Mountains all around the capital, in a bid to please his forgotten God. 

In 480 A.E, Bloodaxe oversaw the construction of the Arena of Heroes - a massive marble and stone construction in the centre of Uthein, which could house over 50,000 spectators. Here he would continue to hone the skills of his Stone Guard, and here he would gain the means to keep his warriors funded outside of Federal reliance. 

A Stone Guard Warrior of the Late Ancient Era

Political Summary: The position of First Minister was abolished in the aftermath of the Scalethein-Zaqiri War, although the Senate took on more formal powers of state as a result. The Kobold Queen is now the sole head-of-state. 

Military Summary: Steel is now in common military use, and a Dwarven paramilitary force known as the 'Stone Guards' has risen to prominence. The Stone Guards are based on the Zaqiri warriors, and have become a symbol of Dwarven nationalism and strength. 

Cultural: The Mountain God has made a return after centuries of obscurity, and monuments of him have been erected across Uthein by the Stone Guard. 

Territorial: Awaiting Neo's post.

MONSTER TRACKER

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Fort Buckmere

Three Werewolves, who are hunting Arth Bek.

UPDATE: Arth pushed one from a castle tower, though his sword was still buried in it. It is presumed dead. He injured the other two by tipping over a brazier on to them as they climbed the walls; however, they have now chased him into the keep and are searching for a way inside.

Berran Woods

A squad of zombified American GIs, who are stalking Gunsō Haruka Kazuko amidst the trees.

UPDATE: Haruka killed one, and ran from the rest. They have now vanished, but will ambush him periodically until they have all been slain. They will usually appear during a moment of respite, such as sleep. 

Marlon's Crossing

A changeling disguised as a small crying girl is awaiting Natalie Heartwarm's curiosity.

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Bishop Thomas is the last living native of the land. He is an insane priest, but who might hold the answers all characters shall eventually seek.

Church Demon, a timeless evil of unfathomable origins haunts the grounds of the Church of the Creator; it is relentless in its quest to consume the souls of the living, to quench a thirst that is without end. - Defeated by Danielle Mason, although perhaps only temporarily.

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