With the descendents of Chandrilar at the helm, the good people of Klydor prospered. In the hundred and fifty years since his passing, the intense devotion his people had felt for him had evolved into an organised religion. Worship of Chandrilar, and the ideals of chivalry, duty and loyalty, were the dominant faith in Klydor. Within twenty years his Clerics were able to call upon him with prayer in the same manner as those of Xarron and Zankeine had been able to after the Battle for Micronia. His ascent to godhood was complete.
But there was also a darkness coming. For many people had packed their things and come to Klydor, seeking a new life after word of its idealism and prosperity spread east. And not all of these arrivals held the ideals of Chivalry in as high regard. In time, some of these new peoples rose to positions of power. Humans had settled peacefully in the western regions of the Llewyrr forest, but their ever growing numbers was causing unrest with their Llewyrr allies, and while no direct bloodshed had occurred, the rumours were growing that the elves had begun to curse crops, and desecrate water supplies, to starve and drive the humans off.
The problems were not just internal. Others had also made the trek west, and new empires had been built all over Driax, and all around Klydor.
The most powerful of these was the militant empire of Cthrag Merlo. A martial empire, with structures devoted to support and glorify its warriors, the Merlos strange honour-bound customs and rituals ensured that each generation of warriors were stronger and better than the ones who had come before. They were masters of battlefield formations, melee combat, and strategy and tactics. And they were rapidly becoming an unstoppable force, having already conquered or destroyed all of their neighbours.
And so it was that King Andurien found himself besieged both from within and without. The Merlos had landed a significant army on the shores of the Sea of Tranquility, and more reinforcements were due each week. And within his own empire there was, for the first time, a growing unrest with the rule of the descendents of Chandrilar, as poison-tongued nobles spread rumours of weakness and an unstable mind throughout the land.
Those Dukes still steadfastly loyal to Andurien were torn on how best to address the problem. Dukes Hammersfell and Norfolk wished to send the army to where the Merlos had landed and drive them off before more could arrive, while others wished to prepare a line of defences at the mouth of the peninsula. Meanwhile, Andurien’s youngest son, Starick, who had spent much of his youth in the Llewyrr forests, had gone off to gather allies from their neighbours, refusing to believe the elves would not assist them in the coming conflict. Some even said he had fallen in love with one of the Llewyrr princesses.
As supreme commander of the Klydorian armies it is likely that Duke Hammersfell’s arguments should have won out, and the Klydorian forces would have set out immediately to crush the Merlo beachhead. As strong storms (which many Sages continue to attribute to magickal interference) had destroyed much of the Merlo fleet in the crossing, the Klydorian forces would likely have eliminated the small Merlo presence with little bother.
However, Hammersfell mysteriously died in his sleep. Several other loyal supporters of the King also befell sudden accidents while on horseback or travelling to the capital city of Rashan, and when the War Council was formally convened, the numbers were not in Andurien’s favour.
Chief amongst those who sought the throne for themselves was Duke Blackstone, or Korrux the Black as he was “affectionately” known. Korrux had been a simple blacksmith’s son, but had lead a large contingent of his people to Klydor years earlier, then helped as these hard working folk established the city of Royal to the North. He had been named Duke shortly thereafter. And he had found several like-minded individuals in Duke Garrison of Lleyton, and Lord Warwick of Chandrex to support him.
Never perceiving how real the threat the Merlos posed, Korrux saw this an as opportunity to make the King look weak, and to finally remove him from power in a swift coup. As such he instructed those loyal to him to keep the main army in Klydor, but to council that a smaller force be sent out to dispatch the Merlo beachhead. He knew the forces being sent were too small, and that the most likely outcome was a bloody defeat that would further weaken the King.
This plan was a huge success, as not only was the smaller Klydorian force defeated, the Duke of Norfolk had insisted that he would not “order others to do what he would not,” and had lead the forces into battle himself, dying at the hand of the Merlo Emperor, Karshak Kerensky. Within Klydor, Korrux was able to use the defeat as a sign of indecisiveness on the behalf of the King, and that this weakness proved he would not be able to handle a problem as strong as the Merlos. Through clever politics, and the deaths of Hammersfell and Norfolk, this allowed Lord Garrison to assume control of the armies, despite having never been a Knight, and for Lord Warwick to obtain a key position in the legal and judiciary systems.
But Korrux still had his concerns. While the elves had withdrawn somewhat from their role guiding the Klydorian court, Llarissa Ent’arryl still remained a faithful adviser to Andurien and Korrux knew she despised him and his cohorts. If the elves remained a strong presence, Korrux feared they could bring him undone.
And so he dispatched Drasak Assassins to kill the Elven Queen, whom he knew was visiting the Western sections of her realm, with every intention of laying blame for the attack on the citizens of Klydor, and if possible, King Andurien himself. Unfortunately for Korrux, the attack failed. Both the Queen and her youngest daughter, Alyssa, were saved by Starick and a small group of Klydorians, tribal Indians from the north, and elves who had pledged themselves to him. The main assassin was killed by Starick himself in the Queen’s own chamber in Anwar, while the Queen and Princess looked on.
But the assassin’s poisonous blade had cut the young Prince, and he too would have soon perished if not for the magick of the elves. While their healing powers were indeed formidable, even they had no cure for the dark poison of the Drasak assassin. And so to save him the young Princess, Alyssa, bound herself to him, lending the considerable strength of her immortal soul to his. This saved him, but forever bound their two fates to each other. Now nothing could happen to one, without now also affecting the other.
So moved was the Queen by the young couple’s actions that she consulted the Grey Seers and immediately drafted the Pact of Anwar which was a pledge of unity between her people, the Klydorians, and the human Indian tribes who inhabited the Indiana Peaks to the north. The Pact was signed by herself, Starick and Kan’Tuk, an elder of the Kestrel Indians who had assisted in her rescue. This would prove to be a momentous occasion in both Driax and Klydorian history, which may not have happened if not for the traitorous actions of Korrux.
Back in Rashan, Korrux was told his attempt was successful, and that not only was the Elf Queen dead, so to was Starick. He was ecstatic, and his mis-informed success also made him cocky. While the King lead his army out of Rashan and to the east to meet the Merlos on the narrow expanse of land at the entrance to the peninsula, Korrux invited the Crown Prince to dinner under the pretext of a truce during the Merlo conflict. But rather than offer peace, Korrux instead murdered him. He had his men hold the young man’s arms, while he cooly stabbed him through the heart with his own dagger.
With the King now gone, Korrux was free to manipulate this as he liked, and instead told the story of how the Prince had attacked him, and that he had only narrowly been able to fight his would-be killer off by disarming him and using his own weapon against him. Whether the people believed the tale or not was irrelevant. The brief investigation was handled by High Justice Warwick, and it was quickly declared an act of self defence. With all the forces loyal to the King now riding East to try and save the kingdom, there was seemingly nobody left to oppose Korrux.
Two days after the conclusion of the investigation, High Justice Warwick was found hanging from the chamber-rooms of the Court House, with the symbol of Chandrilar burned into his chest. The only witness said a Black Knight bearing a white mark of Chandrilar was responsible, but that this mysterious Knight had not spoken, even when he strode past the witness who had stumbled in to see the aftermath. The witness could not explain it, but once the Black Knight looked at him, he was not afraid. The witness reportedly said, “True Sons and Daughters of Klydor have nothing to fear from the Black Knight.”
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The Klydorian army force marched to the mouth of the peninsula, with the Knight orders as their vanguard. The pennants of the Sword, Shield and Rose all flanking the magnificent Order of Chandrilar in the middle. What they lacked in numbers this army made up for in dedication, valor and honour. They arrived two full days ahead of their Merlo opponents, and immediately began construction of field fortifications and massive siege engines. Andurien surveyed the battlefield, carefully trying to find the advantages to ensure victory. While he lacked the numbers of archers and foot soldiers he ideally needed, he would at least have the higher ground from which to launch his cavalry charges, and also from which his few precious wizards and sorcerers would operate.
When the Merlo army did arrive it was at once a most awesome and yet terrifying sight to behold. Their numbers were considerable, easily outnumbering the Klydorian defenders by more than two to one. By indoctrinating the survivors from the various empires they had conquered, the Merlos had built a massive force, with footmen, spearmen, crossbows, and of course their elite Clan Warriors. But perhaps above all else, it was the colours of the Colleges of Magick that spelt the most doom for Klydorian souls. The Merlos had many years ago conquered the old Archeron who had established their empire, and now they had at their command the many Ashar Wizards and Sorcerors whom the Archeron had taught the secrets of magick. It was not enough that the Merlos had the most experienced and elite army in Driax. On this day, they had the most powerful magicks as well.
The Merlo army made camp only a short distance from their opponents defensive line, and after some honour duels between their own commanders over who would enter the battlefield first, and from where, the Merlo army began to advance. While the Klydorian forces were confused and staggered by the duels, several of which resulted in the death of the commander involved, they could not fault the ability nor aggression of the troops when battle was joined only a short time later.
From the beginning it was apparent the Klydorians did not have the numbers required for victory. Their knights were easily a match for the Merlos when they charged, but the Klydorian foot troops were easily bested by their Merlo counterparts, and they could not hold the lines long enough for the Knights to withdraw and prepare for the next charge. Quickly it became apparent that many of the Knights would need to be used to just fortify the lines, and so members of all the Orders were filtered throughout the foot troops after the first day.
The Merlo advantages in Magick were also taking a heavy toll, with several Knight charges turned back by a sudden hurricane in their midst, or breaches in the Klydorian lines being opened up by hellish blasts of flame. While the Klydorians were slowly giving up ground, and using their progressive lines of defence to allow them to withdraw in good order, none of it would be enough to turn the tide of battle.
Added to this was the ineptitude of Duke Garrison, who while in command of the Klydorian’s right flank, had foolishly over-committed his largest unit of Knights, and then failed to provide enough support for them to withdraw, losing over two thirds of the unit. And then three times he had allowed the Merlos to penetrate deep into his lines, and only narrowly avoided losing the flank altogether when reserves from the Klydorian centre were deployed to shore up his lines.
A mixture of shock and relief spread through the camp on the third morning when Garrison was found dead in his tent, his sword stabbed down between his shoulder blades such that it appeared to still be in its scabbard, and the symbol of Chandrilar burnt clearly into his chest. A small scroll lay at his feet with the message, “True Sons and Daughters of Klydor have nothing to fear from the Black Knight.” The only thing the guards recalled seeing was a Black Knight wearing a white crest of Chandrilar around his tent shortly after midnight. But when the camp was searched, no trace of the Black Knight could be found.
By the morning of the third day the beleaguered Klydorians were nearing breaking point. They had been backed into their final defensive positions, and the Merlos were even now beginning to flank and surround the Klydorian positions. With the final battle about to commence, Emperor Kerensky sent in massed formations of his elite Clan Warriors. It was time to finish it.
Andurien gathered his elite Black Falcon Guard around him, and they anchored the centre of the Klydorian line against the best the Merlos had to offer. Time and again they repelled the Merlo assaults, fighting off waves of fresh and ferocious Merlo clansmen. Each man gave his life as dearly as possible, often fighting on with several wounds that would have felled a lesser man. For they were fighting with their King, for the survival of everything they had worked so hard to build. If they were to lose the day, then the enemy would pay a most horrendous price.
Finally Kashak entered the midst of the fray himself, leading his clan of Wild Cats straight into the Black Falcon Guard. It is said the ferocity of that battle was so intense, that around them many troops found themselves no longer fighting, but simply watching these two units match each other blow for blow. But the Wild Cats had not been in battle for eight hours already, and fatigue eventually slows even the most hardened warriors. One by one the Black Falcon Guard died defending their beloved King, until with a surge through their now crumbling lines, Kerensky came face to face with Andurien.
Out of respect for each other they first bowed, then gave each other a Klydorian salute, before each traced half a circle in the blood-stained dirt that would form their Circle of Equals, the traditional Merlo way of two warriors settling their differences. Andurien’s shield was already broken, so Kerensky threw his away. And then they fought.
Andurien was valiant, and exhaustion most surely played a part, but on this day he was no match for Kerensky. Kerensky quickly broke one of Andurien’s legs. The Klydorian King bravely got back to his feet, and even landed a blow that broke three of the Emperor’s ribs, but the next telling blow would be the last, and Kerensky’s axe caved in the King’s chest. The emperor allowed his remaining bodyguard to gather up his body and to depart the field, but with their King dead, the rest of the centre of the Klydorian line collapsed.
At the same time, over on the right flank the Klydorian line was again crumbling, and this time it was Ulderan, the 2nd son of Andurien and now heir to the throne, who was being surrounded by Merlo forces. His banner bearer was crushed by a huge Merlo axe, and Ulderan stepped into the breach to reclaim it. But he slipped on the blood of the fallen and crashed face-first to the ground.
As the first of the Merlos stepped in to finish the young Prince off, a Black Knight stepped through the lines and parried the finishing blow. Within seconds he had killed the three nearest Merlos, and was dragging both the Prince and his banner back behind the Klydorian line. He was safe for now, but the flank was now completely surrounded and there was to be no escape.
The Merlo battle-horns sounded, signalling it was time to mount the final charge. But they were answered by a chorus of new unfamiliar horns from both the north and south. Both sides looked up to see the two new armies enter the fray. From the North came a horde of Indians, led by Kan’Tuk. From the South came the Llewyrr elves, led by Starick and Alyssa.
The arrival of the elves was devastating. Their massed ranks of archers and rangers tore holes in the Merlo ranks with their unerring accuracy and precision. And their High Mages were more than up to the task of neutralising the Ashar wizards. Within moments of their arrival the Merlo forces found themselves fighting nature itself, as the trees and ground lashed out at the Merlo forces. More than one Merlo regiment was swallowed whole by a sudden and horrible fracturing of the ground beneath its feet.
The left flank, anchored by the Order of Chandrilar, was actually holding up much better than either the centre or the right flank. As such, the Merlos there were too occupied to adequately respond to the arrival of the Indians at their rear. Within minutes their lines had broken and they were trying to withdraw.
By dawn of the fourth day the Merlos had surrendered, and the Klydorians owned the battlefield. Their King was dead, but Ulderan had survived. And they now had an alliance with both the Llewyrr and the Indians that had been forged with blood. If the Merlos ever dreamed of sending another army, then it too would be crushed.
The aftermath of the battle was that the Llewyrr agreed to gift half of the forest to the Klydorians as long as they allowed any elves who were living there to remain if they so chose, and to never exploit or destroy the forests or the Earthmother. And as Starick and Alyssa were soon married, the people responded positively to the alliance, forgetting all of the previous grievances, and resulting in most of the elves remaining to become Klydorian citizens. The site of the battle was forever renamed the Plains of Victory, and a massive military fortification, Fort Ajaxin, was built to repel any future attacks.
And finally Korrux received his justice. When word came back that the Merlos had been defeated, and that both Starick and the Elf Queen were alive, he immediately prepared to flee. And that was when Llarissa found him. Using an old elven prayer, she forced him to confront and relive all the sins of his life, forcing him to be judged by his own conscience. When he saw all the innocent men that had been killed by his machinations, manipulations, and even murder, he lost his mind, running down the hallways of the Royal Palace screaming before throwing himself from the top of the highest tower.
It is said that his soul still lingers in Klydor. Too laden with guilt to ever forgive himself and allow his soul to move on, but too strong is his lust for power and revenge to ever stop working against the throne. To this day, when Lords or Dukes are found to have done evil they often claim the spirit of the Black Baron has possessed them.
As for the Black Knight, he has continued to appear in times of the greatest peril for the descendents of Chandrilar. Some believe it is the spirit of Chandrilar himself, others believe it is the spirits of either the Dukes of Hammersfell or Norfolk. But regardless of his identity, the calling is always the same, “True Sons and Daughters of Klydor have nothing to fear from the Black Knight.”