The troop managed by Slundar Vicarius was currently residing at one of the estates of the hated Maphilios of Haevva, an exceedingly rich man of a proud and haughty disposition. Ragallis his wife was worse as she seemed to strive to outdo her husband in all things.

Eluntor seized his chance, he persuaded Gravak his fellow slave and the current gladiator of their little troop that the time he had foretold was at hand, together they were able to free some of the slaves of their chains the armed with a few daggers and repurposed agricultural implements they stormed the estate killing everyone they found that wasn’t a slave.

Eluntor and those he had freed the remaining slaves of their chains. Eluntor gave a speech whilst using his magic to hold their attention. He easily persuaded four hundred of his fellows to arm themselves and follow him in seizing the nearby town of Haevva, the most telling argument for the slaves was the fact that Maphilios and Ragallis were currently in Haevva.

Eluntor led his little army into Haevva, he used fireballs to demoralise what little opposition they found and the illusion that he was covered in fire to inspire his followers. They poured through the gates of the town and surged with the utmost bloodlust into the houses therein. The slaves army, such as it was rapidly grew as most slaves they encountered gleefully joined in the slaughter first executed their rage and cruelty upon their own masters, and slaughtering anyone else.

The slaves having been rendered animal like by the cruelty of their masters sated their lusts, they raped and tortured the citizens of Haevva sparing not even the babes in arms.

As the carnage was ending, Eluntor having managed to save most of the smiths in the town, ordering them to be chained to their forges to make weapons for the armies that he would need to free the resrt of Scalsil. The original four hundred had searched everywhere but had still not found Maphilios and his wife Ragallis. Then they were informed that they were hiding in an orchard near the city.

Eluntor ordered some of his men to capture them and presently the ill disciplined horde returned with them, securely bound with their hands behind their backs, taunting and ill-treating them all the while. Surprisingly they showed kindness and compassion to their daughter, because unlike her parents, she had shown pity and compassion towards them and when possible had helped them.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Maphilios and Ragallis, somewhat the worse for wear were taken to the town’s open air theatre currently containing the majority of the triumphant ex-slaves Maphilios pleading all the while for his life whilst his wife maintained a stony faced silence. It did them no good, Ragallis was tortured to death by her servants and Maphilios was forced down onto his knees and had his head hacked off with a dull axe.

Eluntor stood on the bloody stage and praised his followers for their courage and dedication, he told them that hard times were ahead and great challenges had still to be met before they could live in peace and prosperity.

Then Gravak and a few other personal friends raised the chant, King Eluntor, Be our King, and the like. Soon all the slaves who had heard his prophesies before were roaring in agreement.

Gravak then joined his friend and commander on the stage and in front of the assembled masses handed him a simple crown and an ornate sceptre. Eluntor placed the crown on his own head and proclaimed in a loud carrying voice, “The goddess Atargis is with me, I proclaim myself King Lantiarchus of Tyrixa. Let this island forever more bear the name of Tyrixia, a name free of the Empire’s taint.”

The ex-slaves cheered wildly.

Eluntor, or rather King Lantiarchus then made several appointments, amongst them Gravak became his chief of security and Traeus another ex-slave from Auricia and a former senior officer in the army of King Selippus V became his commander in chief.

* * *

The news spread rapidly especially amongst the slaves and less than a week later Leonata led her own slave rebellion in the port city of Akragas on the North coast. Leonata saw her forces rapidly grow in size and despite some stiff opposition the slaves triumphed storming the cities citadel with the fury of desperation. Here however most of the local Scalsilian natives joined the slaves against the citizens of the Empire of Light as soon as it was obvious the slaves were going to win.

Leonata shrewdly used them and ensured that all the prominent citizens had ample opportunity to display their vindictive spleen attempting to ensure they would have a near impossible task if they wanted to get back in the Empire’s good graces.

She was able to procure decent equipment for about a third of her forces and leaving a garrison behind led her forces to Haevva taking several towns and sweeping up many slaves on the way. She left Akragas with an army of three thousand and arrived to hand King Lantiarchus six thousand eager volunteers.

She was welcomed with open arms and appointed second in command of the army.

It didn’t take long before King Lantiarchus controlled most of the centre, north and east of Scalsil, or rather Tyrixia.

As for Maphilia daughter of Maphilios and Ragallis who had once attempted to alleviate the slaves’ sufferings, was delivered by a suitable escort to the Empire’s garrison at Katanja by order of the King.