Annhelm Historia

by MissJasonos3750

Summary:

The lore of the Warpath of Legends, from the dawn of the universe to current events.

Notes:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. Many of the original characters and plot are the property of the author of this work. Many of the original characters are not the property of the author of this work; they are used with permission. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 1: Prelude

Long lasted the First Peace 

but it was disrupted by a Vile God.

After the Holy War came the Second Peace.

It lasted fifty years, only to be shattered 

by the greed of the Crusaders’ children and grandchildren.

Annhelm has not known peace for a long time…

When will the prophesied Third Peace come?

— — —

At the dawn of the universe, there were four eggs. Three that shone brightly and cast light on the void around them, and one as dark as night, black and foreboding. Then, they started hatching.

Out of the first shining egg came the Goddess Naga, stretching her graceful wings and letting out a magnificent, powerful roar of creation. From the shards of her egg, the stars were lit, the sun was forged, and the moon was made. The second egg to hatch was a vibrant purple, and from it came the Earth God Loptyr. From his shattered egg shell he formed the earth, piecing it back together - but imperfections were left over. Mountains, valleys, rifts, all scars left over from when the world was made. Then came the third glowing egg, yellow and golden. However, it didn’t hatch - it exploded, turning into dust, with nothing but fine powder surrounded this last god - Zeus, the God of Thunder. With his power, he turned the powder of his egg into the air we breathe. Then, the three Gods of Creation came together in a Grand Counsel and decided what they would do with this world they had made. From this discussion, they decided to make more gods to govern the blossoming world.

From Naga came Wodr and Bloda, Dinraal and Salamandr, and with Zeus she made Holsety. From Loptyr came Hodr and Dagda, Sifa and Skadi, and with Zeus he made Tohr. Then, Zeus made his own gods to rule; Working with Loptyr, he made Demeter and Hades and Poseidon. And by working with Naga, Pallas and Hestia and Hera were born. Then, Zeus made Lelantos. The world truly began to bloom, as the gods worked together in harmony to nurture for the blooming world. Eons passed, during which life evolved and grew sentience.

While no-one was looking, the last egg hatched. It was vantablack, darker than anything else you could think of. And from it emerged the six-winged beast Grima, God of Destruction and Ruin. From his wing beats he recreated the void swaths at a time, slicing the universe apart and leaving great voids of nothing.

— — —

The sun rises on the dawn of another regular summer morning. The year is… well, it doesn’t matter what year it is. Each year is the same as the last and the next, with each lord measuring the span of time differently. It’s chaotic but no-one cares.

Then, the Dark Swarm emerged from the sky. Black as night in the light and blood-red in darkness, these marauders destroyed everything they could. Claiming to be servants of the Great God Grima, they destroyed and conquered and subjugated, leaving nothing but ruin and death behind. The first of the gods to try and combat this was Loptyr - he dearly loved this world whose foundation he made, and so from the depths the Earth Dragon rose, letting out a great and terrible roar. He vanquished many of the Dark Swarm with his power, the Loptous.

But tragedy knows no limits. Just as Loptyr thought he had won, Grima himself appeared and did his most vile deed yet - with his power, the Grimvald, Grima corrupted Loptyr’s mind, turning him from a divine beast into a raving monster, a slave and puppet to the Fell Dragon. Then, two humans were selected from the quivering masses, and to them were given the bloods of the two Gods. This is when first blood bonds were formed, the first Holy Blood and Holy Weapons given. This is the start of the Age of Suppression.

— — —

Nowhere was safe. The earth was your foe, for its god was a slave of Grima. Grima’s Dark Swarm could descend from the sky to anywhere, leaving the sea or air vehicles unsafe. Destruction reigned, sorrow grew, and resentment built. But as this was occurring, those gods who were untainted began to plot how to battle Grima and Loptyr. Using their priests, they began inciting rebellions, encouraging the spirit of the people to revolt against the Fell Dragon. They continued this for years, unceasingly encouraging even as hope dwindled and chances of recovery became bleak.

At last, the forces of Grima had confined the last vestiges of humanity to the Süderen Peninsula. There, on the crest of Valhalla Hill, when hope seemed lost and death the only way out, the gods descended upon the world and themselves gave power to mortals, tasking them with beating back evil and protecting the world. Twenty weapons were given, twenty Holy Bloods given to the bloodlines of mortals.

Wodr the Dragon God of Justice blessed the elf Baldo the Holy Knight with a sword, the Mageslayer, Tyrfing.

Bloda the Dragon Goddess of Loyalty blessed the human Odo the Blademaster with the Star Saber, Balmung.

Hodr the Dragon God of Darkness blessed the dwarf Hezul the Dread Knight with the Demon Blade, Mystletainn.

Dagda the new Dragon God of the Earth blessed the human Noba the Hero Knight with the Cavalry Pike, Gae Bolg.

Dinraal the Dragon God of Power blessed the dwarf Dain the Dragon Master with the Dragon Lance, Gungnir.

Sifa the Dragon Goddess of Protection blessed the dwarf Neir the Axeheaver with an axe, the Cleaving Shield, Helswath.

Skadi the Dragon Goddess of Hunting blessed the elf Ulir the Marksman with the quiver Vailskad and its companion bow, the Golden Hunter known also as Yewfelle.

Maera the Ascended God of Life and Healing blessed the human Blagi the High Priest with the Resurrecting Stave, Valkyr.

Salamandr the Dragon God of Flame blessed the human Fala the Flame Warrior with a fire tome, the Sun’s Rays, Valflame.

Tohr the Dragon Goddess of Thunder blessed the dwarf Tordo the Storm Knight with a thunder tome, the Lightning Hammer, Mjolnir.

Holsety the Dragon God of Wind blessed the elf Ced the Gale Bard with a wind tome, the Green Hurricane, Forseti.

Demeter the Goddess of Plants blessed the elf Prospine the Forest Knight with the Stolen Scythe, Chronia.

Hades the God of the Undead blessed the elf Zagran the Occult Mage with the Dark Bident, Erebosia.

Pallas the God of War blessed the dwarf Perses the War Master with the Doomfist Gauntlets, Warfarrah.

Lelantos the God of the Wilderness blessed the elf Selena the Raptor Rogue with two daggers, the Silver Hunters, Aeria and Ourania.

Hestia the Goddess of the Hearth blessed the human Khallum the Spirit Mage with a fire tome, the Warming Hearth, Vesthome.

Poseidon the God of the Seas blessed the human Okena the Ocean Warrior with an ocean tome, the Great Trident, Maurus.

Hera the Goddess of Light blessed the dwarf Hemitha the Grand Priestess with a light tome, the Divine Wrath, Junglare.

Zeus the Great God of Lightning bestowed Hellenios the Master Bolt, a powerful javelin capable of shaking the ground like thunder, to the human Jason the Sky Knight.

And Naga the Great Dragon Goddess of Creation bestowed the Scourge of Evil, Jugdrangeld the Holy Tome of Naga, to the human Heim the High King, who was blessed with the title of Lord Crusader.

These twenty heroes, dubbed as saints and Crusaders, lead great and grand armies and fought long and hard against Grima, his Dark Swarm, and his Corrupted God-Slave Loptyr. Their chosen champions, Thabian the Hierophant and Galle the Dark Prince, clashed especially with the Twenty Crusaders, each proving to be undeniably difficult to slay even with the power of the gods. Ultimately, the Holy War of Annhelm lasted ten years, ending when the Champions of Darkness were slain in the heart of Annhelm, right in the middle of the Gerrond Mountains.

— — —

After the Holy War, each of the Crusaders established their own lands, erecting new castles or co-opting old ones to safeguard their Holy Bloodlines and Weapons. Fifty years of peace there were: The great and seemingly-mythical Second Peace. With how war-happy modern descendents of the Crusaders seem to be, it seems surreal, fake, even impossible, but records everywhere have proof of this incredible span of time.

It isn’t known what the first war was after this; a series of border conflicts arose everywhere. It was as if the whole tapestry of peace was a piece of glass that shattered all at once. The descendents of Hezul ravaged and pillaged the villages and castles south of the Gerrond Mountains, leaving the Kingdoms of Isaach, Jungby, Grannvale, and Stromhelm vulnerable to the untouched Kingdom of Agustria, which then wasn’t yet associated with any Holy Bloodlines. The small kingdoms of the prosperous Anieatol region were beset by wyvern-riding raiders from Danheim. The Kingdoms of Panalenos and Silesia began a series of bloody wars in the winter snows of Cyronac.

Many states have disappeared since then, absorbed into the stronger and more militant states. The mountainous Kingdom of Issach, the prosperous and famously-affluent Halidom of Ylisse, the Kingdoms of Dalmatia and Achaia, and the Republic of Süderen, all gobbled up by one nation or another. Within a hundred year span, these governments all disappeared as expansionism became the new predominant mindset of the royals.

— — —

Year 209 AHW - 137 years ago - In an effort to encourage peace and diplomacy, the Bragil Church had the Antheos Academy constructed. While at first it was very small, by the end of the century it grew to the greatest academy one could be taught at. Of course, this meant only the exceptional could join - but there were plenty of sorcery schools, military academies, and other such locations for people to become exceptional enough for the Antheos Academy.

The Antheos Academy did not discourage war, unfortunately. In the year 298, the Kingdom of Panalenos launched an invasion of the Phoeban Federation, swiftly taking its capital and thereby the rest of the state. Soon after, on the opposite side of Cryonac Island, it launched an invasion of its rival the Kingdom of Silesia. However, Panalenos was only able to conquer the Dack territory. Regardless, it was a success, and after these successful conquerings, the Kingdom of Panalenos became the Jovon Empire.

In the dawn of the year 316, a great war had just been settled - on the dunes of the Falar Desert, countless soldiers had fought in the name of their homeland, or glory, or gold - whatever their motivation was. And yet, the Kingdom of Velthomer won, led by the experienced and charismatic King Jude Velthomer, who previously led the conquering the Republic of Gerrond a few years ago. Just as before, he easily subjugates the ruling Plutos family, taking their land and giving them a small sliver back to rule, a mere Margraviate on the border of Danheim. At this point, the Kingdom renamed itself into the Falar Empire, with Jude the first Flame Emperor.

While the Falar Empire was occupied assimilating the formerly-free citizens of Pluton and Gerrond into the fold, the Royal Family of Jungby began a pilgrimage to Antheos in the year 330, as a celebration of 325 years of a free reign. During this trip, bandits attacked the family’s transport. Despite everything, everyone was unharmed except for King Ring’s heir, the eight-year old Crown Princess Brigid Jungby - she could not, and still cannot, be found, and many consider her to be dead, despite the efforts of King Ring and Brigid’s twin sister Edain.

In the year 340, Emperor Jude’s son, Victor, lead the Falar Empire into battle against the Kingdom of Cerenia. Despite the death of King Lambert Blaiddyd, who was popular for his handsome features and his citizen-focused decision-making, the Kingdom of Cerenia resisted the Falar Imperial Army long enough for Victor to call for negotiations. Cerenia lost a fair bit of land, but it remained free and independent regardless.

In the year 342, a revolutionary device was crafted - known as the Outrealm Portal, it could connect the world of Annhelm to other dimensions. Placed in the Bragilon Fortress where it could only be used by those with permission from a council of the five most influential world leaders, the portal was, at first, stable. Then, it started activating on its own, and spitting out people of all sorts - animals who had wandered into a Outrealm Portal somehow, mortals who barely survived the destruction of their realms, people who claimed to be the children of the gods, biomechanical creatures who could manipulate the elements just as any regular mortal could. If you could conceive a creature, it appeared through the great doorway, and even some creatures that couldn’t be imagined. Many valiant and pious priests were lost in combat against an indescribable mass that appeared, and it was only Junglare’s might that was beat the vile eldritch abomination back into the portal.

Chapter 2: The List of the Gods

Naga, the Divine Dragon, the Oathkeeper, the Star Mother

The Great Goddess of Creation, Authority, Judgement, and Light. Ruler of the Jugdrans. Blessed the High King and Lord Crusader Heim with her blood and her power.

Loptyr, the Earth Dragon, the Earth Father

The Great God of Creation, Growth, Life, Rebirth, and the Earth. Slave to Grima. Forced to bless the Dark Sage Galle with his blood and his power.

Wodr, the Light Dragon

The God of Light, Hope, Bravery, and Justice. Blessed the Holy Knight Baldo with his blood and a divinely-forged weapon.

Bloda, the Solemn Dragon

The Goddess of Loyalty, Honour, Solitude, and Swordsmanship. Blessed the Blademaster Odo with her blood and a divinely-forged weapon.

Hodr, the Winter Dragon

The God of Ice, Winter, Darkness, and War. Blessed the Dread Knight Hezul with his blood and a divinely-forged weapon.

Dagda, the Land Dragon

The God of Horses, Plains, Tradition, and the Earth. Blessed the Hero Knight Noba with his blood and a divinely-forged weapon.

Dinraal, the Great Dragon

The God of Dragons, Wyverns, Ambition, and Power. Blessed the Dragon Knight Dain with his blood and a divinely-forged weapon.

Sifa, the Scaled Dragon

The Goddess of Shields, Armour, Defense, and Sacrifice. Blessed the Axeheaver Neir with her blood and a divinely-forged weapon.

Skadi, the Life Dragon

The Goddess of Survival, Hunting, Accuracy, and the Wilderness. Blessed the Marksman Ulir with her blood, a divinely-crafted quiver, and a divinely-blessed weapon.

Salamandr, the Sun Dragon

The God of Fire, Heat, Summer, and the Sun. Blessed the Flame Warrior Fala with his blood and a weakened version of his power.

Tohr, the Storm Dragon

The Goddess of Thunder, Storms, Power, and Innovation. Blessed the Storm Knight Tordo with her blood and a weakened version of her power.

Holsety, the Air Dragon

The God of Air, Wind, the Sky, and the Arts. Blessed the Gale Bard Ced with his blood and a weakened version of his power.

Maera, the High Martyr

The God of Morality, Healing, Doctors, and Martyrdom. Born as a human but achieved godhood. Often worshiped alongside Jugdran gods. Blessed the High Priest Blagi with his blood and a divinely-crafted staff.

 

Zeus, the Sky Father, the Thunderer

The Great God of Creation, Leadership, Lightning, and the Sky. King of the Hellens. Blessed the Sky Knight Jason with his blood and a divinely-forged weapon hosting his power.

Demeter, the Grain Giver

The Goddess of Plants, Agriculture, Harvesting, and Food. Blessed the Forest Knight Prospine with her blood and a divine weapon.

Hades, the Wealthy One

The God of Riches, Shadows, Souls, and the Earth. Keeper of the Underworld. Blessed the Occult Mage Zagran with his blood and a divinely-forged weapon.

Lelantos, the Silent Hunter

The God of Nature, Solitude, Hunting, the Wilderness, and the Wind. Blessed the Raptor Rogue Selena with his blood and two divinely-forged weapons.

Pallas, the Blood Rager

The God of War, Battle, Death, and Bloodshed. Blessed the War Master Perses with his blood and divinely-forged gauntlets.

Hestia, the Home Mother

The Goddess of Flame, Family, the Hearth, and Cooking. Blessed the Spirit Mage Khallum with her blood and a weakened version of her power.

Poseidon, the Sea Rider

The God of Oceans, Earthquakes, Storms, and the Seas. Blessed the Ocean Warrior Okena with his blood and a weakened version of his power.

Hera, the Fair Judge

The Goddess of Light, Wisdom, Justice, and Judgement. Blessed the Grand Priestess Hemitha with her blood and a weakened version of her power.

 

Grima, the Fell Dragon

The Great God of Darkness, Destruction, Ruin, Corruption, Evil, and Voids. Blessed the Heirophant Thabian with its blood and its power.

Chapter 3: Map of Annhelm, 340 AHW

Summary:

The map of Annhelm in 340 AHW.

Chapter 4: Prologue

Summary:

A summary of the events that occurred in the Prologue of the Warpath of Legends.

346 AHW -

Another bright, sunny spring dawns as Antheos Academy opens its doors once more for students the world over, and even many from not this realm. Many high-profile individuals, such as Princess Edelgard and Princes Halbern and Azelle of Velthomer, Prince Khalid of Jungby, Prince Apollo and Princess Elyssa of Jovon, and Crown Prince Dimitri of Cerenia, are in attendance, beginning their pre-academic studies in preparation for the coming year.

As the student body grew in size and bonds deepened between individuals, the four Classes of Antheos Academy - Yellow Terns, Green Lions, Red Hawks, and Blue Bears - prepared themselves for a Mock Battle, with Prince Khalid’s Blue Bears being especially interested in crafting a scheme with his band of talented tacticians: Eruca Fiore, Queen of Deasyn, a Kingdom of an Outrealm; Daniel Solvaster, Master Tactician and another outrealm guest; and Sophia Baumgarten, the mysterious adopted daughter of a Viscount in Jungby.

While preparations continued, William Azai, the Adjunct Professor of Mystiology, found himself in a crisis of identity, and while sitting in silent solitude found himself blessed by the Dragon God of Ice, War, and Darkness - Hodr. He would later begin planning a trip to Cryonac Island.

Then, the day of the Mock Battle came - and though it was tough, the Blue Bears, thanks to their preparations, won, with the poverty-stricken Lia finding herself as one of the MVPs of the battle. But, ridden on the intoxicating effects of victory, two boys - Chrom Ylisse and Prince Arjan Chalphy - engaged in roughhousing and subsequently found themselves on the bad side of the Crown Prince of Cerenia. The following night, as dusk settled, a bloodmatch nearly began. But, thanks to Daniel’s attempts at diplomacy and Eruca’s forethinking, a professor was able to get to the site of battle in time to cease the conflict.

As the dawn broke on the next morning, only one thing was certain - the world was on the cusp of change.

Chapter 5: Arc 1 - Ripples of Fate | Chapter 1 - Opportunities to Learn

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the first chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

The school year began in earnest, students beginning their studies of religion, politics, the world, and warfare. Some students took upon themselves entirely too much, while others took only the bare necessities for their graduation. Lessons were had, both academic and ethical.

One of Antheos Academy's students, Lia, in a random exploration of the area around her new residence, found a strange pit in the ground with a hole in its side leading into darkness. With the help of Daniel, the two were able to explore this new found location - and discovered a final bastion of civilization. Vydar's Keep, a sprawling dwarven stronghold large enough to house a dozen cities and their armies... and a place that was visited by the Crusaders of yore. Here, Lia would find herself wondering why her father looked so similar to the depiction of the Crusader Ulir in one of Vydar's Keep's murals.

Soon enough, spurred on by his visit from Hodr the Dragon God of War and Winter, William began his sabbatical to Cryonac Island, though it was rife with conflict and hesitance and changes in momentum. When he finally arrived at Panalenos Palace in the Jovon Empire, he and his travelling partner - Princess Elyssa Jove, the daughter of the Jovon Emperor - were placed under a soft house arrest, never permitted to leave the palace. Despite this, William was able to learn much about magic, Ice Magic, and his newfound patron and... potential friend.

While studies happened abroad, a wonderful time came to the whole world - The Month of the Miracle, a grand celebration that paid homage to the gods, to the Crusaders, and the mercy that the Crusaders represented. On the day that celebrated the Miracle of Valhalla's Crest itself, the Divine Dragon Naga spoke, renewing an ancient vow she and the gods made to mortals of ancient times but no-one had heard of. A few weeks later, the cathedral would be closed.

A few months after the Day of the Miracle, tragedy struck the academy. In a routine murder spree, the Mad Prince Dimitri Blaiddyd, Crown Prince of Cerenia, brutally maimed and slaughtered whole crime gangs with little difficulty. That very same night, a fierce tropical storm battered Antheos City and Antheos Academy, inundating the city and destroyed lives, livelihoods, and belongings. Despite the immense sorrow, Antheos City was rebuilt better than ever, with many thanks given to the helpful presence of the students of Antheos.

At last, the students were allowed to go to battle: The Green Lions fighting an armed and just rebellion, the Yellow Terns confronting a pack of Ice Manaketes, the Red Hawks battling a pack of feral and enlarged beasts, and the Blue Bears a bandit gang. Princess Miranda Alster, the ambitious Class Leader of the Green Lions, saw the just cause of the rebellion she was forced to confront, and set her mind on ensuring the leader of the rebellion, a cousin of her's named Perceval, would not be executed for standing up for the right. William and Elyssa escaped Panalenos Palace, flying to and saving the Yellow Terns from a disastrous defeat. And Lia, the small rogue who shared many physical similarities to Jungby's Prince Khalid, would have a memory resurface that revealed her name: Liana Yewgrove.

While the classes did battle, Daniel Solvaster embarked on his own journey, echoing the journey of William and Elyssa before him. His intention was beginning a courtship with Princess Elyssa, but he ended up wrapped up and consumed by a mystery first started twenty-six years ago... where did the Holy Weapons of Cryonac Island go?

Chapter 6: Arc 1 - Ripples of Fate | Chapter 2 - A Land to Cherish

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the second chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

Life at the academy, despite the grim reality of battle and bloodshed setting in, continued on as normal. The rumour mill blossomed as the students finally became comfortable, and the bonds between students deepened.

The Yellow Terns, en route to help in the escort of a precious Cerenian relic, were beset upon by pirates. Princess Elyssa, in her arrogant foolishness, charged forward to fell the swashbucklers, only to find herself and her squad captured - and, as the Yellow Terns captured and killed the pirates with brutal efficiency, the simple group of six pegasus knights found themselves down to five in number. Tragedy only piled up as the Yellow Terns discovered after the fact that what they were escorting was Chronia, the Holy Scythe given from Demeter to Prospine, the First Queen of Cerenia, and that the one who was storing Chronia was neither blessed with holy blood nor seemed to have good intentions in mind. Duchess Cornelia Arnim used what was either dark or deep magic (sources differ) to lift the weapon without touching it and store it away in the reliquery - and, on high nerves, Jasonos got the Yellow Terns into a bit of trouble by drawing her sword in defense of the weapon.
The Yellow Terns did not return to Antheos in the greatest of moods.

Khalid and Liana took some time to travel to Khalid's home in Almyra, Ichiavell Castle itself, the home of the Jungby Royal Family. There, Lia found at last her mother, thought lost forever, and discovered a deep familial bond with Khalid - and a part of herself that only left her with more questions than answers. The trio of Tiana Jungby, Khalid, and Liana then gave a visit to Liana's home village of Faedlun, which was in a state of peaceful disrepair, and found that the grave where Liana's father was buried... did not have Liana's father within. In fact, it seemed that he dug himself out. Again, more questions than answers for the young elf who'd gone from street rat to princess.

While the royal duo were away, Robin found himself the target of what was either an assassination attempt or a cold-blooded murder by the hands and magic of Adjunct Professor William Azai, blessed of Hodr. Defended by Jacob and Nex, Robin would recover with no serious injury and William would find himself underground and, soon, off the island entirely.

Then, the Blue Bears journeyed off to battle against a collection of monsters that were terrorizing the northern part of Agustria. Meeting the beasts at the shore, the Blue Bears handily defeated the foes, even when a fourth appeared chasing a friendly bard by name of Selwyn. The Bears then found themselves in the middle of a cult plot in Nordion Manor, which the clever and brave work of Lachesis, Liana, and Corbett resolved handily - though not without consequence. Viscount Eldigan and Corbett saw the visage of an unspeakable evil and were given power by it, though to what extent is unknown. Selwyn's presence was a boon, as it gave the academy a much-needed boost in morale, though not all equally were receptive of this - Prince Arlen and his retainer, Erinys, had a suspicion, but they were unable to confirm it, much to the prince's frustration.

347 AHW-

The Red Hawks began their journey to Fortress Romul, a stone keep standing where Mount Romulus used to be before the War Master Pallas levelled it through Holy Weapon-fueled punches alone. They briefly stopped along the way to stop some pirates that were intending on assaulting the fair city of Antheos - though it was by almost every mean a success, one of the Outrealmers, a pirate named Legolas, departed the Red Hawks looking for the captain of these pirates - Bonfire Bonny.

Soon, a threat to Daniel's sanity, health, and presence in Annhelm came knocking - Martha, the Goddess of Strategy, Combat, and Tactics, and the mother of one Daniel Solvaster. Marth attempted to take him back to his home realm, but his combined bonds with the world and his commitments gave him the strength to overcome her skewed challenge, and she was able to see, for the first time, her son not as a fragile vase but as a human being. Apologies and hugs were had.
Soon after, the beloved Professor of Mystiology, Damien Farlance, would find himself called back to service - before Marth's arrival, Damien was given back his Mjölnir tome, and the purpose would soon be revealed. There was a demon cult of some form in the basement, and Damien was to vanquish it. With the help of Professor Matreon and her Junglare, and his other world self's daughter, Jasonos, Damien was able to succeed, though the distance between the two Farlances merely grew.

The Green Lions left soon after, sailing to help quell a peasant revolt in the Pluton region in the place of the Red Hawks. Given Prince Dimitri's volatile state, this went expectedly terrible, and the Green Lions found themselves down two key members, both hostile against the Falar Empire which the Lions were in the midst of and nowhere to be found. The Green Lions returned in a less than stellar mood, while the Red Hawks returned by and large motivated and encouraged - only for the threat of final examinations to be dropped on them immediately. Whoops.

Despite the tensions of war slowly coming to a boil and secrets of conspiracy unraveling, final examinations and the future begin pressing on the students of Antheos Academy.

Chapter 7: Arc 1 - Ripples of Fate | Chapter 3 - A Past to Honour

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the third chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

The Academic Year for Antheos Academy finally comes to a close! The pain and dread of final examinations presses on the student body for a total of one month, and then it is swept aside for the excitement of the Mock Battles, a chance to prove you and your peers as the most capable students of that year. The Blue Bears, in a shocking (or maybe not so much?) twist of events, prove themselves to be the superior class of Antheos Year 346-347.

Before all was to be ultimately said and done, however, there was the chance for a ball - dancing, food, all sorts of fun things. Music filled the air of the academy as a large group of fifteen-to-twenty year olds (human, dwarven, elven, others too) all took the time to celebrate their year, their accomplishments, their victories, and their connections with one another.

As the dances occur, there is an attack in the dead of night - Prince Dimitri Blaiddyd, assisted by his companion Mina, launches a raid of Fortress Bragilon with the intent of gaining a set of armour that resonates with his soul and his goals - the Ebonspike Armour, black and spiky and dreadful and terrifying to behold. He loses his eye, fulfilling his own prophecy, and both he and Mina further lose their grasp on reality; Mina to the point that Dimitri (the child who sees ghosts) is the one who must ground her to what is real and what isn't. Their continued isolation from any form of society does little to help their mental states.

Now graduated, the former-students of Antheos Academy take the opportunity to leave Bragilon Island - a collection of Cryonac Island's nobles and royals, accompanied by two knights of Silesia, two Outrealmers, and an angel, set their course to the Cloud City. Meanwhile, Damien Farlance, forcibly freed from his bonds to the Bragil Church and evicted from his occupation at the academy, is carted away by Stromhelm's King Freege to the grand technological masterpiece that is Freege City, as well as Damien's family and a gathering of others.

Chapter 8: Arc 1 - Ripples of Fate | Chapter 4 - Flaming Seas

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the fourth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

WAR! The Kingdom of Cerenia, currently ruled by the Regent Rufus Blaiddyd, orders a formal assault of the Falar Empire in retribution for the invasion of seven years ago, in response to an ultimatum given by the Falar Emperor, Victor Velthomer. The people of Cerenia rally under the banners of Blaiddyd and Marigold, with the Legendary (but not Holy) Weapon called the Stellar Bow sending high-power arrows into the Falar lines and shattering the defenses for the Cerenian cavalry to sweep. Ingrid Daphnee, a recent graduate of Antheos Academy, is given a serious mission by her friend's father, Rodrigue Darius: Find Prince Dimitri and bring him home. Ingrid's mother is sent south to Yllistol for safety once Ingrid departs, while Margravine Emmeryn, the ruling noble of Yllistol in Agustria, continues her efforts in Cerenia to sustain the innocents on behalf of Abhali Marigold.

Suddenly, all of Bragilon Island is attacked at once! Pirates, lead by Bonfire Bonny against Antheos City and by the infamous mysterious Pirate Lord against Bragilon Fortress, sail into town with intention to plunder, loot, and cause mayhem. The city watch repels the pirates attacking Antheos City and captures a prisoner or two, while the Knights of Blagi in defence of Bragilon Fortress, beset by four pirate crews instead of just one, finds itself overwhelmed. Only by the lucky appearance of a nameless conniving Castle Knight armed with ice and wind are the pirates repelled, though the Archbishop's health still begins to rapidly decline. Morale falls until one Blagi Knight Captain, Jane Stinau, suggests a radical proposition: Utilize the prisoner First Mate of Bonny, Legolas, to create an amphibious assault force that could attack the base of the pirate attack, Shipgrave Mount, located in the Bay of Gerras

Volunteers for this attack are also called for, and a high-profile guest by name of King Desmond of Conote even arrives to graciously donate his soldiers, which already somewhat experienced in battling on the seas. Over the course of four stressful months, a collaboration of all divisions of the Knights known as the Amphibious Bragil Knight Assault Force (or A.B.K.A.F.) trains up under the joint tutelage of Jane Stinau and Legolas - with international eyes watching the whole time.

The expedition to the Cloud-Top City reaches fruition: Apollo V and Elyssa Jove, Lewyn and Arlen Silesse, Haru Asteros, Erinys Illia, Nyssa Alaric, Deavolt Naru, Captain Tabitha Quick, and Daniel Solvaster all arrive at the grand golden angelic city inhabited by and made for angels. There, the three Holy Weapons of Cryonac Island are retreived: The Master Bolt, Hellenios; Forseti, the Green Hurricane; and Aeria and Ourania, the Silver Hunters. Then, Elyssa and Daniel begin riding south for commitments in the Süderen while the others return to their homes or obligations.

The former students of Antheos form groups, leave for duties and responsibility, or otherwise find their purpose, and yet plots are hatched in the background - the shadowy corners of familiar places, the underground tunnels snaking beneath the world, the letters of the affluent, the dingy taverns across the world. Fate itself seems to be preparing for a momentous, awesome occasion; a dread bell rings in the minds of diviners, warning of an ambiguous ill tiding for all of Annhelm.

Chapter 9: Arc 1 - Ripples of Fate | Chapter 5 - Hopes of Legacy

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the fifth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

The A.B.K.A.F. takes the pirates of Shipgrave Mount by surprise! The pirates being uncoordinated and disoriented, the A.B.K.A.F. is able to swiftly and handily kill two of the members of the Pirate Brethren Court - Captains Garcia and Raven. Of the remaining members, Admiral Basalt the Pirate Lord evades consequence, Captain Lifis is captured, and Captain Bonny is... nowhere to be found. Strange. The Dusk Brigade, meanwhile, finally receives the first portion of its startup capital, from Prince Quan on Leonster in Alster Castle - the Prince, of course, being a general nuisance to Princess Miranda while he was there. The ABKAF arrives there shortly after, and General Nader Montenos agrees to hire the Dusk Brigade for the remainder of the mission.

Schemes, meanwhile, hatch in the background; Commander Freehandson of the Knights of Blagi and Prince Chagall of Agustria meet, Khalid and Robin work with Sophia to counter whatever Freehandson has in store, Emperor Apollo and Regent Rufus formally agree on a defensive alliance, and Emperor Apollo contacts various men and women across Annhelm.

In the late evening of one early autumn day, Captain Lifis escapes the bounds of the A.B.K.A.F.! Injuring one of the members of the Dusk Brigade and slaying some of Alster's town guards as he does, Lifis incurs the wrath of basically everyone and thus the A.B.K.A.F., new volunteers and mercenaries in tow, singlehandedly gets their shit together and splits in two directions; one group, consisting of the Mansterian volunteers and the Dusk Brigade, hunts down the rat bastard Lifis, while the other group, consisting of the Knights of Blagi and the remaining volunteers, hunts down Admiral Basalt. Both missions are successes, despite minor losses for the ABKAF. The ABKAF now begins to reunite in Manster Castle, which Bonny seems to have attacked recently. The end of the Brethren Court is very, very near, if the Dusk Brigade or the Knights have any influence on the matter.

Hunted down by Captain Zelot of the Jovon Empire, Daniel Solvaster and Princess Elyssa Jove find refuge in Chalphy Castle, where they meet up with their good friends the Princes of Velthomer: Arvis and Azelle. Now all Daniel needs to create a weapon unlike any other is his good friend, Prince Khalid of Jungby, and then they can begin an expedition for the Forge of Stars - but they are not the only ones seeking the cavern. The Baker siblings, guided by premonition from Robert and vague encouragement from Jim, pack up from their comfortable and friend-filled life in Stromhelm and make east for the Gerrond Mountains, the most likely place for a cavern to lie in wait.

The symphony of fate has begun to reach a crescendo - but where? When? How? It is only a matter of time before someone does something to forever upset the balance of Annhelm.

Chapter 10: Arc 1 - Ripples of Fate | Chapter 6 - Tracing Destiny

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the sixth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

Victory(?)! The A.B.K.A.F., gathered together in Manster Castle, wastes little time in racing to take down Bonfire Bonny, the last of the pirates who attacked Bragilon Island. As they find her, she is in the midst of being mutinied, which only make matters easy for the ABKAF. Bonny, as it turns out, is a lost princess of Jungby by the name of Brigid, only remembering so thanks to the memory-restoring capabilities of Yewfelle. Now officially courting pirates, the Jungby crew makes south after everyone gets paid their dues. As people move about, Duke Marricle of Isaach calls an Agustrian Grand Council. On the Wodenteg, there is grand ball full of dancing and all sorts of other ball things, and then on the Salasteg Marricle reveals himself to be a diviner and that war is certain and on the horizon. Mares, the Pearl of Annhelm, is where the die of destiny shall be cast. Agustria immediately begins preparing for invasion.

The Blue Bears of Antheos Acadamy, while on a Yggdrasili excursion to defeat some monsters, dispel the darkness around a young boy named Alm thanks to the assistance of Princess Deirdre. Less than a week later, however, Emperor Azmur is assassinated in front of one of their number! Political drama ensues, resulting in Deirdre and her father being expelled from House Valhalla (by her father's command), the Blue Bears present in Yggdrasil being expelled from the academy, and a high-ranking figure in the Knights of Blagi becoming the Holy Yggdrasili Emperor - this figure a Castle Knight named Kratos Freehandson. The Blue Bears who were present make their escape to Freege City, where Damien Farlance kindly takes up their burden of education.

Sophia Baumgarten, an eccentric sorceress with a mission, intervenes in a battle between Cerenia and the Falar Empire on the behalf of Edelgard Velthomer, temporarily bolstering the number of the Tortoise-Dragon Regiment enough to force Duke Conn Kisco into retreat. This brings little relief to Edelgard, though - she soon discovers that there is not enough food to sustain combat anymore, and that a solution is needed fast. Sophia brings Edelgard to the seat of her father, and at a war meeting the Falar Empire resolves to conquer Mares and determines the best route to such - and immediately, preparations begin.

As this is happening, the hunt for an ancient location begins. Daniel Solvaster, Jim Baker, and their friends and family search for and eventually find the Forge of Stars, the place where Lucifer's champions where appointed and the place that honours their sacrifice and enshrines their failure. There, Daniel and Jim both gain new powerful weaponry that are far above their current capability, and Jim makes an unknown final pact with Lucifer. Elsewhere, there is more bolstering - after a meeting with a powerful and incredibly hot Wyvern Manakete by name of Ymir, Pymm is accepted into the Dusk Brigade to continue the bolstering of that mercenary force, and soon after the Dusk Brigade accepts a protection duty of former-King Travant von Thrace and his nephew. But why does Travant need protection? Danheim has fallen and been partitioned. A trap set by Regent Rufus of the Kingdom of Cerenia was sprung, resulting in Cerenia, the Kingdom of Conote, the Kingdom of Manster, the Jovon Empire, and the Bragil Church all suddenly taking slices of the Danheimian pie. The only remaining sovereign corner of Danheim is the Duchy of Epirus, ruled by old and steadfast Duke Yasim Epirus.

On the 3rd Day of the Month of Celebration, the Falar Empire attacks Silvail Castle with frightening ferocity and force. Silvail falls within a few hours, with many Agustrian soldiers retreating or never being seen again. The fires of Valflame burn once more, and the Third Great War has begun.

Chapter 11: Arc 1 - Ripples of Fate | Chapter 7 - The Pearl of Annhelm

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the seventh chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

The Falar Empire easily conquers through the Tallassia Peninsula, and by the end of two weeks Mares Castle is conquered and the draft of a treaty is formed. The Agustrian hold on any land north of the Gerrond Mountains is utterly shattered, and the fleet that made Mares so formidable is now either in Falia's hands, sunken by the crew of the Caeldre, or clogging up the ports of Bragilon, Madino, and Mackily. The tide of war is, officially, on the side of Falia.

But Agustria is not yet defeated. Their pride stung by the humiliating defeat, they call upon all their allies - the Kingdom of Conote, the Jovon Empire, and the Yggdrasil Empire -  to prepare for open warfare against Falia. At this, the Manster Alliance finally shatters, and Conote declares war against Alster in addition to the Falar Empire. Leonster and Manster remain neutral, though curiously Prince Quan and the Gáe Bolg have gone missing. The Church, meanwhile, at last threatens an invasion and occupation of Stromhelm, something which would destroy the lively spirit of openness and liberty that Stromhelm has enjoyed in the past century. The Treehaven Alliance and Silesia, as of yet, also remain neutral. Thus, five states out of fourteen are now immersed deep in the Third Great War.

Chapter 12: Excerpt 1 (History and Politics) - Great Wars

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's history and politics.

The First Great War, the War of Maretian Succession, started just over a hundred years ago and was fought in Mares. It escalated as quickly as an un-cared-for tome went off as various states rushed to form alliances that would benefit them. This established the now-status quo of Velthomer, which Falia was born from, being Agustria's continental rival.

The Second Great War, the Falar War or the War of the Sun's Dawn depending on who's talking about it, started thirty-five years ago and was fought in what is now Falia. It started a lot slower, with the Kingdom of Velthomer only beginning their invasion of Pluton a year after they began invading Gerrond. This is another war that brought alliances into conflict with one another - Agustria aligned itself with Gerrond by nature of its rivalry with Velthomer, the Treehaven Alliance nominally aligned with Pluton, and Cerenia aligned itself with Velthomer. This resulted in Velthomer rapidly expanding in influence and size, becoming the Falar Empire.

After the Falar War, many people agreed that another Great War was to be avoided, and so began taking steps to ensure that one would be as hard as possible - the chief champion of this cause being Archbishop Peter von Rhea of the Bragil Church. Through him, the leaders of the four most powerful states (Yggdrasil, Agustria, Falia, and Jovia) all had a peaceful medium through which they could commune without retaliation or threats. The Archbishop's sudden silence and the invasion of Mares can only mean that the Archbishop is dead, on a sudden sabbatical, or something else unideal.

Falia, now, fights a two-front war (again): the largely stagnant northern front against Cerenia, and the incredibly active eastern front against Agustria - it seems Falia has learned well from their Cerenian failures seven years ago. There is a chance that the large mountainous southern also becomes a front for warfare, leaving Falia surrounded and fighting on all sides. This could well be the Third Great War, but only time will tell.

Emperor-Apparent Kratos Freehandson of Yggdrasil has sent King Imca von August a letter stating the support of both the Bragil Church and the Holy Yggdrasil Empire - this means the Manster Alliance will either fracture or align with the Bragil Church. Cerenia, needless to say, was already fielding troops against Falia, and Jovia might also join in with their brand-new Brontes warships. The Falar Empire's allies, though, seem few and far between. The Kingdom of Alster seemed poised to be their ally, but an assassination of the king and queen has left that bridge unfinished, and the Manster Alliance is currently under question. The Treehaven Alliance itself is caught between two camps - siding against Agustria or not joining at all. Time will tell who will prevail; this goes for both the Treehaven Alliance and for the grander war on Falia's borders.

Chapter 13: Excerpt 2 (History and Politics) - The Kingdom of Stromhelm

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's history and politics.

The Kingdom of Stromhelm is a small state in the Süderen region. A little smaller than Manster or Leonster, it is the smallest fully-sovereign state in the whole of Annhelm, though this is due in part to its poor history of warfare and its geographic limitation to a peninsula. Now centered around the ore-rich Ishtari Mountains, the Kingdom of Stromhelm is a bastian of technological and magical research and development. Stromhelm also has a number of freedoms: it has a freedom of press, freedom of physical and social movement, equality in marriage, and freedom of assembly. While other states may have one to three of these, all five at once is near unheard of, and thus many states avoid informing people about Stromhelm.

As previously mentioned, Stromhelm has a terrible history in regards to warfare. Stromhelm has engaged in three major conflicts against Agustria. The first, Agustria started and Stromhelm lost. The second, Stromhelm started and Stromhelm lost. The third, Agustria started and Stromhelm lost. The only victory Stromhelm has in when they sided in favour of Pontus von Neptunia (and thereby Agustria) in the War of Maretian Succession.

Stromhelm is strongly opposed to the overreach of the Bragil Church in recent decades, and has been diplomatically isolated since the end of the Falar War a little less than forty years ago. Ideologically, Stromhelm is very distinct, and because of that it has few allies and many enemies. Perhaps its strongest potential ally is the Falar Empire, but many Stromhelmians lived through or are descendants of Gerrondi refugees from the Falar War making them view Falia rather negatively.

The vast majority of Stromhelmians live and work in bustling cities surrounding the two Stromhelmian castles, making Stromhelm also a place where many ideas are discussed and debated. The freedom of the press also means that many Stromhelmians have access to more information about continental events than most Annhelmians.

Chapter 14: Excerpt 3 (Culture and Society) - Champions of War

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's culture and society.

Warfare in Annhelm, at least since the Holy War, has had a strange aspect to it: the presence of so-called "champions". Everyone, of course, starts off not particularly strong or capable, and everyone can eventually become capable warriors. The difference between commonfolk and champions is that champions learn so much faster and can become so much stronger. The Crusaders are go-to examples of champions, quite justly, but even many modern-day descendents of the Crusaders are still champions, and many people not related to the Crusaders in any way are also champions in their own right.

These champions are important because they can change the tide of conflict single-handedly. While sheer numbers is always an important role, having one or more dependable, reliable, and capable champions can do just as much to turn the tide of a battle as a hundred men. Because of this, many strategists often dabble into politics, if to at least get another lens interpreting information regarding champions - allied or opposing.

Champions come in all shapes and sizes. Many champions come from lineages of champions - see the House of Ylisse or any royal or imperial House. But champions can also spontaneously appear from seemingly nowhere. Champions can be born in the humblest and meekest of circumstances and still reach above and beyond even the comfiest-born royal. This had lead many scholars to suppose that being a champion is not something innate to our physical forms, but instead something about the spirit or soul. Perhaps it is a particular common trait among the mindsets of champions that makes them so able to go beyond their means and mortal binds. Perhaps it is a blessing from the gods. Perhaps it's random circumstance.

Whatever the case may be, champions have a massive effect on the battlefield. Because of their sheer capability, they can utilize fighting styles or take actions that would ordinarily be death sentences to any non-champion, and have that succeed dramatically - for example, there are very few brawlers that aren't champions, because brawling is itself a very risky style of combat, and many dagger-users are also champions. Because of their capability, too, they provide a massive morale boost to their allies. In smaller scale conflict, the champion does not matter as much, but when you find yourself at war, you had best have a champion to call upon.

Many armies, thus, have a nuclear, modular structure, centered on champions of decreasing importance going outward, with each champion given supporting combatants to form a military unit. This type of army structure is sometimes known as Archkyrian army structure. Due to this, considering how champions will act and react to circumstances is a very important aspect of strategizing, as if you can capitalize on a moment of weakness or press a crucial advantage, you can turn a battle in your favour because of how dependent military units can be on their champion for efficiency.

Chapter 15: Excerpt 4 (Notable Figures) - Peter von Rhea, the Archbishop of the Bragil Church

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Archbishop Peter von Rhea was born in the autumn months in the Two-Hundred-Seventy-Fifth Year After the Holy War to a small aristocratic family in the Holy Yggdrasil Empire, the House of Rhea. His father was Baron Coirpre von Rhea and his brother was Baron Gerome von Rhea - the father of the current Baron, Lord Rhys von Rhea. Yes, this means he is older than Agustria's annexation of Mares. He attended Antheos Academy during the 292-293 AHW academic year, primarily studying religion and politics. This was the point during which Peter developed a tense relationship with Stromhelm - primarily, at their scholastic and unyielding then-Crown Prince Reptor. After this year at Antheos, he joined the priesthood of the Bragil Church in earnest and settled in an abbey in the Lucian territory.

In the 295th year AHW, he received a vision from the High Goddess Naga, the Divine Dragon herself. She gave him the divine task to put down and tame the increasingly restless demon tribes that had been causing disruptions in many parts of Annhelm. He joined a group of adventurers and, over the next years, he and those adventurers would have a hand in dispelling, scattering, or destroying those demons, eventually even slaying the Devil-King himself with a blast of Aura in 298 AHW. After this, he would settle into a comfortable role of a humble priest in a village near Lucian Castle.

In the 312th year AHW, the Bishop of Lucian died peacefully of old age, and Priest Peter was chosen to then be the Bishop of the cathedral in Lucian Castle. Here, he developed a friendship with the then-Heir of Lucian, Marco Larcei. In 316 AHW, at the peak of the Falar War, he began advocating for the Church to start pursuing a peace amongst all the states involved, though the hard-headed and stubborn King of Velthomer, Jude von Velthomer, held little regard for the Church's opinion or stance. In 318 AHW, Peter was appointed a Cardinal by Archbishop Donovan, where he began the continual peace efforts that have defined the 320s, 330s, and early half of the 340s. The absolute failure of the system in the later months of 347 AHW can only mean something has happened to him.

In the 321st year AHW, Archbishop Donovan died of natural causes, and voting amongst the Cardinals began soon after. After three rounds of voting, Peter was elected as the Archbishop in 322 AHW, where he would begin his efforts to firmly establish peace as a status quo and natural state. The Falar War and failed Jovon Invasion were terrible and bloody messes, and he would not stand any more bloodshed. To this end, he assumed the position of Headmaster at Antheos Academy, which he served in from 325 AHW to 347 AHW, ending his tenure before the 347-348 academic year began. He was the Headmaster during the years of Crown Princes Sigurd, Chagall, Bloom, Arvis, Quan, and Apollo, Princess Deirdre, and many other prominent or notable political and religious figures.

Chapter 16: Excerpt 5 (Philosophy and Science) - Casting Magic Spells

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's philosophy and science.

To cast magic, instead of merely channeling it, you must have Power, Reason, Desire, and Spirit. There is no spell in the world which is cast without any of these aspects.

Power is the connection to your inner magic and the world’s ambient magical power. This is rather self-explanatory. If you don’t have Power to cast magic with, you won’t cast magic.
Reason is the most concrete way of understanding casting and magic. As described, Reason is not the reason for casting; that is a part of Desire. Instead, Reason is the reasoning of the magic itself, the understanding of how it is formed, how to cast, how it will affect the world, and so forth. Summarized, Reason is the understanding of the casting. If you lack the Reason to understand your magic, your magic will fail you.
Desire is the impetus to cast the magic, the explanation as to why the caster are attempting to cast. It is the drive to cast, the inner push from the soul to conjure the desired effect, the belief that the magic will be conjured in the first place. If you don’t have the Desire to cast, you plain won’t.
Spirit is the most ambiguous aspect of casting. As described, Spirit describes the correct vibe in the caster, which is incredibly subjective to the environment and is also personal to each caster in many cases. This vibe can vary from compassion to impulse to rage to apathy, and it depends almost entirely on the medium of casting. Spirit can also be connected to Elemental Affinity when discussing Deep Magic. If you don’t have the proper Spirit for casting, you will fail.

In general:
• Staves call upon equal amounts of Reason, Desire, and Spirit.
• Pathos-style Tomes, such as Fire and Wind, mostly call upon Desire and Spirit.
• Logos-style Tomes mostly call upon Reason and Desire.
• Ethos-style Tomes mainly call upon Spirit.
• Deep Magic mainly calls upon Desire.

Chapter 17: Excerpt 6 (History and Politics) - The Royal House of Chalphy and the Kingdom of Grannvale

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's history and politics.

The Royal House of Chalphy is one of the most reputable, morally-grounded families in the history of Annhelm. A family of humble piety, sincerely devout to the gods and strong believers in peace, the House of Chalphy does not have many grand chapters in its long story.

The House of Chalphy presides over the Kingdom of Grannvale, which is more accurately a close-knit confederation of three separate entities; the Principality of Chalphy, founded by the Crusader Baldo Chalphy and ruled by his descendents; the Province of Pathos, whose military is headed by the House of Horura and whose domestic policy is lead by democratically-elected persons; and the Duchy of Treehaven. Each state is de jure independent, but de facto they all share common laws and legislation through a long, on-going process of compromise, collaboration, and congruence.

The Kingdom of Grannvale is also a part of the Treehaven Alliance, of which the Kingdom of Jungby, a far more regular Kingdom, is the sole other member. Previously, the Halidom of Ylisse and the Süderen Republic were members, but their lands have since been conquered and their governments dissolved or incorporated.

The members of the House of Chalphy have historically been advocates for peace, acceptance, and integration. Many kitsune live in Grannvalean lands, as do a small number of the oft-marginalized Shades. King Vylon, by far one of the most moderate Kings of Grannvale, has still done more to enshrine basic sentient rights than most progressive monarchs - and perhaps this is because the House of Chalphy has created an environment where such things are seen as commonplace and acceptable.

If the House of Chalphy is one major flaw, it is that their Kingdom lacks the martial prowess of other major powers. Grannvale has not, once, sided with a victorious power or won a war. Their culture of compromise, funnily enough, compromises their ability to engage in meaningful warfare.

Chapter 18: Arc 2 - Churning Waves | Chapter 8 - Troubled Waters

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the eighth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

348 AHW -

The world has been consumed by war. Alster is attacked from all sides by its treacherous neighbour Conote. Cerenia's continued invasion of Falia drains the resources of the Falar Empire. Agustria prepares for an extended naval excursion to recapture Mares. The Bragil Church and the Holy Yggdrasil Empire prepare a new naval invasion force. The occupiers of Danheim (Jovia, Cerenia, the Bragil Church, Manster, and Conote) face regular guerrilla combat. Even neutral nations, such as Grannvale and Silesia, see heightened military activity, as well as their combatants venturing onto the battlefield voluntarily under a variety of banners. The Falar Empire succeeds in establishing a new trade route though - the newly-resovereign Duchy of Mares. With Mares' independence and an exclusive trade deal secured for the duration of the war (one that Jungby, Grannvale, Stromhelm, and even Leonster and Manster may take advantage of), Falia may finally be able to turn the tide of the war against the invading forces of Cerenia.

Agustria, of course, refuses to let their possession be taken away. They launch many attacks against Mares and Falia, trying to regain the tight hold they lost. A variety of beachheads (the term for a military force landing on an enemy-occupied beach) are intercepted, and though a few do break through, the Falar and Maretians are able to definitively repel the Agustrians. As this occurs, a number of events begin occuring around the world, fate seeming to take advantage of the relative lull in major events in the war; Stromhelm establishes a diplomatic and economic tie with Mares through an unsanctioned but beneficial visit of Prince Bloom. As well, Silesia gets attacked by a force of some form, likely Jovon in nature, and the political strife of the Archduchy intensifies deeper despite the attempts of the House of Silesse.

In the midst of global unrest, the Bragil Church finally appoints a new Archbishop, after the long ago death of Peter von Rhea. Surprising many individuals across the continent, on the first week of the 348th year after the Holy War, Emperor-Apparent Kratos Freehandson is crowned as the Archbishop. Already biased against Stromhelm, the goals of both of his lofty offices eventually lead him to pursue the conquest of Stromhelm. Halfway through the fourth month of the year, he finally orders the conquest proper, and within the first proper day of invasion the capital of the technologically-advanced kingdom, Freege City, falls - though not without a light show. Damien Farlance, an Outrealmer Crusader possessing vast knowledge and life experience, proves an ultimate obstruction. At the cost of his consciousness, he conjures a powerful enough thunder spell that the effects on electromancy all across the continent are felt and disrupted or otherwise affected - and the defenders there can only barely escape with their lives, both because of Damien's massive attack and the sheer quantity of Yggdrasili and Bragili forces that were fielded in the conquest.

After some weeks recuperating and planning, Stromhelm's evacuees unite their forces with Falia's and begin an offensive to reclaim the Ishtari Peninsula from the Yggdrasil Empire. The Falar Empire, despite the strategic foolishness it would take to take and hold the land, fully agreed to assist - and all hands were on deck. In the north, the Second and Fourth Falar Corps launched an offensive against Duke Conn and his Gold Knights. In the south, the Third Falar Corps, under the commands of former-Duke Lombard Dozel, current-Duchess Bellona Marro, and General Ashnard Deina, launch an offensive on the treacherous mountain border with Agustria. The Pirate Lord, Brigid, launches a surprise raid on Antheos City again. And, in the midst of all this chaos, a vanguard and main force launch a three-pronged attack on the Stromhelmian coast.

It is a success! Lead personally by King Bloom of Stromhelm, the force presses forward and routs the Yggdrasili troops, and establish a Forward Operating Base on Stromhelmian soil. It is but a matter of time before there is a proper liberation of Freege and Melgen.

Chapter 19: Excerpt 7 (Myths and Legends) - The Templeborne

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's myths and legends.

Supposedly, there exists in the world twelve beings that are perfect representations of a particular element, each known as a Templeborne. Such a being has only disputed sightings, but they are proven to at least exist by the calculations of many sages through a variety of methods. To summarize the calculations, unless there is some factor being missed, these Templeborne act as conduits between the realms of the gods and the mortal plane, functioning as exclusive transferrers of energy bringing to Annhelm the specific energies that make Deep Magic and sorcery even possible.

It is not known what form these beings would take, where they would come from, or how they would come to be. All that is known is that they seem to act as a bridge between Deep Magic and the magic of the gods. According to legend, each resides in or around a special Temple, hence their name, and when their element is threatened they will fight back against whatever is damaging their element.

The twelve Templeborne are believed to be the following: The Earthborne, the Plantborne, the Fireborne, the Sparkborne, the Skyborne, the Forceborne, the Waterborne, the Iceborne, the Lifeborne, the Lightborne, the Deathborne, and the Shadowborne.

There are very few proposals where such beings could exist. Perhaps the Iceborne and the Ice Temple can be found on the border between Silesia and Jovia near Thove and Areos. Perhaps the Lightborne and the Light Temple can be found in an isolated village in northern Agustria. Nothing can be proven for certain, however, due to the danger that travel possesses and the risks involved in engaging such a raw elemental force.

Chapter 20: Excerpt 8 (Notable Figures) - The White Fang

Summary:

An excerpt on some of Annhelm's notable figures.

From nineteen to sixteen years ago, there was a legendary adventuring group known as the White Fang. They journeyed across the Süderen region and helped destroy the Sword of Tormer and a sect of Dark Mages in Yllistol, whom are now believed to have been involved in the mad and genocidal actions of Duke Luca Ylisse. There were only a few members of the White Fang, but they made up for their small number in their large power.

The leader was a powerful monster-slaying fighter named Ghira, who was unyielding in the face of vile odds. His second-in-command was a teleporting lancer named Summer, whose preferred weapon was a halberd. Other members included: Whinona von Lumimyrsky, a disgraced Silesian noblewoman who was a powerful mage; the cleric who took her in following her fall of grace, Klein; and Lochlan Coon, an expert swordsman.

Ghira disappeared sixteen years ago, which marks the dispersal of the White Fang. Lochlan would continue his wilderness wanderings and become a mercenary and monster slayer, before taking a lucrative contract at Antheos Academy. Summer would settle down and was later killed in a nighttime bandit raid - foul play is suspected. Whinona and Klein would, in 335 AHW, form a mercenary agency, the Whitewings, which connects mercenary griffin riders and their contractors, houses them and their steeds in between contracts, and provides lodging and medical support for them.

The Whitewings maintain operation to this day along the southwestern section of the main continent, including Yllistol, Ichiavel, Isaach, Ganeishire, Dozel, and Yngvel in their range. Recently, though, Whinona's husband Jankin, an Agustrian nobleman too low in his father's inheritance to receive much, has been appearing in her stead frequently.

Chapter 21: Excerpt 9 (Culture and Society) - Shining Pegasus

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's culture and society.

Notes:

Disclaimer: The lyrics written below belong to Parry Gripp, and have been modified for the setting. The author is in no way associated with Parry Gripp or those he works with. No copyright infringement is intended.

The following is a traditional lullaby sung in Silesia and parts of Jovia.

Spread your wings, shining pegasus
And go flying through the night
They can take your glitter,
but they can't take away your sparkle.
And the thousand-armed pitspawn of the deep
will try to grab your golden reins
But your wings are strong from the battle over Cupcake Mountain.

Never again to be lonely
Never again to be without a home
Never to bow to the Terror Dragon
Never again! Never again!
Never again to be put down
by the Almond-Sweet Legions of Silverlake Lounge
Soaring over it all, high up in the clouds
Never again! Never again!

Unbreak your heart, shining pegasus
And go climbing through the stars
Out there with your dreams
Your sparkling dreams.
And the experimental Dark Mage mercenary
with a face reverent of Galle
Can't track you down with the Cattle-Rancher Wyrm from Romul.

Never again to be lonely
Never again to be without a home
Never to bow to the Terror Dragon
Never again! Never again!
Never again to be put down
by the Almond-Sweet Legions of Silverlake Lounge
Soaring over it all, high up in the clouds
Never again! Never again!

No matter how ridiculous or insane they seem, you must follow your dreams.

Chapter 22: Excerpt 10 (Myths and Legends) - Tohr

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's myths and legends.

Tohr is a Goddess of Power. But what kind of power? If she represented electrical power, why not be a Goddess of Energy? No, Power is a specific choice, just as Storms, Thunder, and Innovation are. And isn't that a strange and interesting union of domains? Tohr is worshiped by many Jugdran devout as a specific figure.

Tohr is the patron of the underdog.

Tohr is the goddess of the working class, always progressing and getting stronger. Is it a coincidence that Stromhelm has the strongest middle class of any state in Annhelm? Tohr is the goddess of progress and empowerment and revolution, of protests large and individual. She is the goddess of machines, of mechanics, of wonders beyond reckon, and the power that comes with technological and social progress.

Tohr is the goddess of the modern era.

Chapter 23: Arc 2 - Churning Waves | Chapter 9 - Grinding Conflict

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the ninth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

After seven years of planning, the revolution Dimitri and Abhali have been planning together finally comes to fruition! Dimitri's Army, gathered from all corners of Cerenia, launches an assault on Fhirdiad Castle, tearing through any knights loyal to Rufus with no mercy. It takes hours for the Army to conquer their way through the town and to the castle, and another half-hour to get to Rufus himself. Regent Rufus, unwilling to concede defeat or abdicate the throne for the Crown Prince, challenges Dimitri and his companions to combat - even with supernatural resilience and endurance, Rufus is still cut down and slain brutally. Now on the throne, Dimitri proclaims himself the Tempest King and the Sovereign of Cerenia. What this means for the House of Velthomer, whom Dimitri has sworn to destroy... no one knows.

Stromhelm, with Falia's direct aid and Mares' indirect aid, retakes Freege City and Melgen City, destroying the Yggdrasili occupiers and devastatingly shaking the hold which the Holy Yggdrasil Empire has on the Ishtari Peninsula. As fighting occurs in Stromhelm to resecure it out of the hands of Yggdrasil, Agustria's King Imca passes away and the crown is passed to his ambitious young son, Chagall. Chagall, with none of the reservations of old age, declares war soon after on Grannvale and Jungby, and forces the two allied elven nations onto the backfoot. 

During a rescue mission on Fortress Bragilon by some agents of Falia and Stromhelm, a supposed assassination attempt took place on the life of Archbishop-Emperor Kratos. His response was to utilize Yggdrasil's army in Jungby and neighbouring Grannvale - and the two kingdoms found themselves conquered and reduced to a single fortress in the foothills, respectively. Though the Royal Families of each are both relatively intact, King Vylon of Grannvale still is personally slain by Kratos' lance. At the same time, the Duchy of Mares, a sovereign protectorate of Falia, finds itself under attack by the Bragil Church's Knights of Blagi. Yggdrasil, additionally, refused to accept their defeat in Stromhelm, and launched an attempted-siege of Melgen in cooperation with Agustria (with plans for significant arson). After a hard fought battle that saw King Bloom himself grace the battlefield with his armour and magic, Stromhelm pushed the two armies away temporarily, and began drafting plans to invade Mackily.

Many factors would converge to see this plan fall through, including a reinvigorated Falar-Cerenian frontline that Cerenia shatters through with ease. Forced even more onto the defensive, with food supplies only somewhat restored, Falia recalls any troops that were in Mares or Stromhelm, leaving the two states to fend for themselves. Stromhelm's engineers, thus, get to work putting the technology developed by Stromhelm's past king, Doctor Reptor, to good use, and Falia gears up for a series of long and hard conflicts. Velthomer fell quickly to the sheer brute force that was the Tempest King, Dimitri. But there was no time to greive - the Falar First Corps gathered in Thebes and stayed there for two week, before marching out. They first met resistance at Corinth, where they encountered Dark Mages, Robin's boyfriend Chrom, and Cerenia's army. There, Robin and Sophia learned the vile nature of Dark Magic, and the scions of many crusadorial lineages gathered together to renew the vow to combat Dark Magic, as made long ago. Only a few days after arriving at Corinth, the Falar Army moved out once more - there was eighteen days of marching ahead.

As this happened, Stromhelm found itself under siege! The forces of Agustria and Yggdrasil began joint incursions all over the land, and it was only thanks to the inginuity of Stromhelm's engineers, the bravery of Stromhelm's mages, and the resilience of Freege that Stromhelm saw any victory. Freege was left a broken ruin from the nineteen days of fighting, and many noble souls of Stromhelm were dead or exhausted. Of note, Grace, B.R.E.N., Tailtiu, Len, Setsuka, Robert, Ekato, and Ledus put their lives on the line or abilities to the test to ensure that Melgen, Freege, and Stromhelm as a whole would survive.

The Falar Army arrived at Velthomer Palace ten days after the end of the Siege of Stromhelm, and thus the Battle for Velthomer began. The First Falar Corps as a whole pierced into and surged through the Cerenian-infested palace, and the whole castle erupted into combat. The throne room, in particular, saw intense combat; the Azure Wolves, Dusk Brigade, Brethren Court, Falar Imperial Family, and others all risked everything to ensure that Velthomer Palace would be won back. King Dimitri was an indomitable force and Victor a powerful mage; they nearly killed each other, and it was only Victor's apologetic eulogy that won him the day. Dimitri's spirit was broken and he disappeared into nothingness.

Chapter 24: Excerpt 11 (Society and Culture) - Lords, Ladies, and Losps

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's society and culture.

As the Holy War was coming to a close, out of the Wyrmscale Mounts came a wave of migration - these people spoke one of the ancestor languages of Common, now called 'Thracian' for the region it originates from. Many facets of Thracian hold fast in Common, including the base grammar and many common words.

Among these common words is a title for superiors. Back in Thracia before the Age of Suppression, it is theorized, the wealth of your estate was determined by how much bread you had and the quality of your bread. This meant that three very important roles were established - the 'bread warden', the 'bread kneader', and the 'bread tracker'. Old Thracians called their bread wardens 'hlaford', their bread kneaders 'hlafdige', and their bread trackers 'hlafspyr'. For example, "a good day to you, Hlaford Roderick." During the Age of Suppression, as Old Thracian became Thracian, the initial 'h' of these words was dropped and they were shortened as bread became more and more valuable - until the words 'Lord', 'Lady', and 'Losp' were a part of the language that would form one of the precusror languages to Common. Thracian is now an extinct language, both because of the actions of King Derrick of Danheim and Queen Louise of Manster and because its daughter language Common is both more, well, common and better established.

At the end of the Holy War, as Annhelmian society began to settle after the tumult of uncountable lifetimes, there came for there to be a separation of and specialization into duties, now that danger was no longer Fell. Men, already better able at developing physical prowess, became assumed to be lords (bread wardens), and women became assumed to be ladies (bread kneaders). This, however, left 'bread tracking' an empty role that came to be claimed by those who were contrained by the gender binary. It is because of this that the title of 'Losp' is celebrated by gender nonconformists and denied as ahistorical by traditionalists.

Chapter 25: Excerpt 12 (Myths and Legends) - The Night of Nihil Prophecy

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's myths and legends.

The Crusader-Saint Blagi is accredited with the art of divination, and it is believed by some that all diviners are ultimately descendents of He Blessed by Maera, He Who Was Taken Up at the End. He appears to have written many prophecies - indeed, it is Blagi's mouth that uttered the promise of Three Peaces. The first prior to Grima, the second abandoned by the children of the Crusaders, and the third at Grima's end.

In one of his lesser-known writings, there is the following phrase that supposedly heralds the Third Peace - "the Seventeenth Son of the Sunbearer shall enter the ground like a setting sun, and the Night of Nihil will follow soon after." Fala herself didn't have many children, but Velthomer and the Falar Empire has an unbroken line of sons inheriting from fathers, and Arvis will be the sixteenth son to do so. Since Arvis' birth, many Bragil-adherent have been finding the words of a particular apocalyptic cult, currently going by the name of the Odorhans after their founder Odorha, intriguing and ringing scarily true, giving this emerging cult a lot of sway. Odorha also taught that Saint Blagi spoke of the remergence of cults and dead magics as being signs of this Setting Son.

Chapter 26: Excerpt 13 (Myths and Legends) - The Power of the Crusaders

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's myths and legends.

According to legend, during the final parts of the Holy War, the Crusaders were at their absolute wartime peak of power and presence. Even though they would only grow stronger and wiser over the years up to their death, that godlike prowess would (thankfully) never be called upon.

Still, there are many signs, particularly in the Falar Desert and Gerrond Mountains, of the sheer extent of the deific power of the Holy Weapons and the Crusaders. Still-molten patches of glass and rock from Valflame and impossible valleys and holes in the mountains from Maurus and Forseti are but two examples. Whatever demigodly power the Crusader's scions are capable of in this day and age... is but a candle in comparison to the bonfire of the Crusaders.

Chapter 27: Excerpt 14 (Myths and Legends) - The Runesword

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's myths and legends.

This is but one legend of the Holy War.

In the waning days of that divine fight for Annhelm those centuries ago, Tordo commissioned a weapon from the finest enchanters he could find - one that took the concept of the Levin Sword or Shockstick and elevated it to the grandest level. After months of toil, this weapon was delivered to Tordo the Storm Knight, and he dubbed it the Runesword.

The Runesword, a one-of-a-kind weapon, was said to have been compatible with any and all tome users. Before the formalization of the Training Tome, this was dismissed as folly and hearsay, but with how much has been forgotten since the Holy War... it is very possible that it was truly akin to a Training Tome, capable of emulating any tome magic. Using his Runesword and Mjölnir, Tordo was said to have been a monsterous threat, adaptable beyond reasonability.

At the close of the Holy War, the Runesword disappeared. Perhaps it was destroyed by the foul wielder of the Fell's magic, lacking the divine protection that Mjölnir had. Perhaps it was used in a grand ritual to seal away some threat. Perhaps it was handed off to another hero or Crusader, who has since forgotten it or sold it off. Whatever its fate, the whereabouts of the Runesword are unknown, as of now - but many an adventurer, including Lochlan Coon and Peter von Rhea, have spent some time searching their corners of the world for the Runesword, to no avail.

Chapter 28: Excerpt 15 (Society and Culture) - The Memorial Ball

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's society and culture.

In the first decade after the Holy War, many teaching of Saint Blagi found a comfortable home in the hearts and minds of Annhelm's many survivors. The idea that all life was sacred and deserving of dignity, the idea that all sentients were worthy of mercy, was particularly pervasive given the cataclysmic and awesome power that was beheld in the Holy War. Thus, it became practice to ask the final wishes of someone as they lay dying, be it by nature or by a hand - particularly by one's own hand. To withhold this final wish was seen as a declaration of vitriol and unfettered hate.

As warfare erupted in earnest, though, this practice lost practicality - but the cultural zeitgeist remained.

It was Danheim that hosted Annhelm's first Ball of Conquest, so to speak. In 92 AHW, at Dalmatia Castle, a memorial service honouring the lives of all lost in the conflict was held, afterwhich a solemn and dignified ball was held. For a single month, the warfare between the Manster Alliance and Danheim came to a close. This had a massive ripple effect on continental politics - it showcased that though the Second Peace was shattered, lower-case peace was still possible. At first, it was a mere Thracian Custom - after every victory, you would host and pay for a memorial ball to interact and negotiate with allies and enemies alike. It was a wonderful social opportunity, after all.

In 179 AHW, Agustria hosted its own memorial ball following the end of the Second Bloodstorm War, establishing a precedent that would be followed into 253 AHW, where Agustria again hosted a memorial ball, this time in Mares at the close of the War of Maretian Succession, thereby cementing the memorial ball in the minds of all Annhelmian aristocracy. Though often shot down, more then one socialite noble has suggested declaring war on a party if solely for the social benefits that come at the close of conquest.

Memorial balls, sometimes called Balls of Conquest, have excellent social and economic benefits. As they are open to every single soul, regardless of land of origin, alignment, or purposes, memorial balls are wonderful for creating an economic boom in a newly conquered territory. In addition, they are easy to make coincide with or preface treaty summits, and are regarded as heralds of peace, initiators of reconciliation, and opportunities to settle old grudges and bury bloodied blades.

Since 253 AHW, every single war has closed with a memorial ball with two exceptions: The Falar Invasion of Cerenia in 340 AHW, and the Yggdrasili Conquest of Grannvale. It is considered the gravest of insults to not host your new subjects a memorial ball without special circumstances; in the place of a memorial ball, Emperor Kratos of Yggdrasil hosted a funeral service for Margrave Anubis and has actively been encouraging Yggdrasili and foreign merchants to host business and trade in Pathos in lieu of the economic benefits of a memorial ball. Often times, it is the defeated party that proposes the ball, in honour of the forgotten practice of the final will, and the victorious party will pay all expenses.

Chapter 29: Arc 2 - Churning Waves | Chapter 10 - A Solemn Duty

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the tenth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

349 AHW -

Following the Emperor's defeat and the King's self-imposed exile, Cerenia retreated and Falia took the time to reorganize and rest up for the coming campaign in Cerenia - for there wasn't really another option to direct warfare, at this point. Princess Edelgard was appointed the General of the Falar First Corps on the dawn of the new year, and under her direction many veterans of the Second Great War were retired and many soldiers of the Third Great War found new authority and relevance. With morale on the climb and vigour restored, Falia began a large-scale offensive against the remnant forces of Cerenia - a battle at the plains of Duscur lead by Prince Quan and a battle near Pluton Castle lead by Prince Sigurd and Dame Nyssa turned the direction of the front lines' movement toward Cerenia, and the Dusk Brigade's liberation of Yeid Castle guaranteed that Cerenia would not again threaten Falia's towns.

After a brief time spent organizing an offence and campaign, Princess-General Edelgard commanded a invasion of Cerenia, just as what happened nine years ago. This time, though, Cerenia did not have the manpower or leadership to withstand such an invasion. Arianrhod, the Silver Maiden, unconquered by the prior invasion, was captured and one of Cerenia's heroes, Rodrigue Darius, was slain, as was one of their villains, Cornelia Arnim, and thereafter began a long and arduous march, during which many small-scale battles and Cerenia became more and more and more desperate. Finally, Fhirdiad itself, the capital of Cerenia, was placed under attack, and over the course of four days fighting went back and forth - but Falia, ever vindictive, ever powerful, ever unyielding, pushed past the soldiers and gates and engaged in urban combat. By the end of the Month of Destiny, Cerenia had surrendered, and Falia could rest and recover its energy for the more pressing battles ahead.

Chapter 30: Excerpt 16 (Notable Figures) - Master Classes

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's notable figures.

It is said that among any generation some forty individuals are capable of reaching the limits of mortal strength through the use of a Master Seal. Each of these persons stand magnitudes above their compatriots in the fields which they pursue, displaying feats of impossible strength or unparelleled magical intellect. King Imca, Archbishop Peter and Wingmaster Annand are all theorized or confirmed to have survived the transformative powers of a Master Seal. It is hypothesized by scholars that since the end of the Holy War, there have been fourteen such generations of these people, with 350 AHW marking the start of the fifteenth generation.

Chapter 31: Arc 2 - Churning Waves | Chapter 11 - A Friendship Honoured and Scorned

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the eleventh chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

Since the summer of 349, a series of unfortunate and terrible assassinations had plagued Silesia's political class, leaving everyone in or attached to Silesia's elite on edge. Supposedly, the assassin was Wingmaster Annand herself - though evidence was not definitive.

At the end of the Cerenian campaign, a memorial ball was held, paying respects to the dead and injured of Cerenia and Falia and honouring the legacied history of the Kingdom of Cerenia. For a month, dancing was had as soldiers, citizens, and nobility took the chance to relax from the pain, stress, and troubles of war - for the aristocracy, the well-off, and the powerful, it was also a chance to secure their interests. At the end of the ball, discussions began for the 349 AHW Treaty of Fhirdiad, which saw Cerenia reduced to a Duchy and a vassal of Falia, as well as Danheim restored - though only the parts that Cerenia and the Bragil Church held.

At the end of this event, Princess-General Edelgard informed the Silesians who were lobbying for Falia's support that Falia would not be ending their war with Agustria, and thus would not be supporting Silesia militarily. Thus, Lewyn's party, which included the Duchess of Zaxon and her daughters, Angelic Falcon Nyssa, and the heir of Thove, began making their way westward, seeking to instead lobby Manster for assistance. Falia, meanwhile, marched homeward to Velthomer.

Finally, the pegasus' wings broke; the Count of Thove was killed on accident, and so Archduke Makar handed Sailane over to Thove in recompense, taking Zaxon as his personal territory along the way due to the Duchess of Zaxon's years of absense. This was largely unpopular, and so Zaxonese and Sailanian forces begin clashing against the Archduke's forces - and thus, the Silesian Civil War began, one more tragedy to add to the list of the past decade of turmoil.

350 AHW -

Stromhelm, with their southern, western, and eastern fronts secure, looked outward to begin acting in their allies' interests - and thus, sent a force over to Mares to combat the Agustrians and Knights of Blagi plaguing Mares' shores. With the timely arrival of the Dusk Brigade and the Azure Wolves, victory was secured - and two months afterward, Falia marched in with their First Corps, ready to once again enter Stromhelm and this time march into Agustria's vulnerable east. In Mares, another meeting is held; Falia, Stromhelm, Mares, Grannvale, and Jungby, seeing Agustria and Yggdrasil as shared enemies, formally join forces in the Coalition, and reorganization occurs as the Coalition together prepares for the coming years of war.

Emperor Apollo the Fourth, never one to let an opportunity pass him by, took the chance to lead his personal unit against Silesia itself. Silesia bravely put up a defence and Archduke Makar himself, incurring a severe injury, halts Jovia's march. An agreement was then reached - Silesia, finally, would accept Jovon hegemony over Cryonac Island, and become its junior partner in continental affairs. In response, the Duchess of Zaxon and the King of Manster jointly announced an alliance between Silesia and Manster against Jovia, only further dividing the land of ice and snow. As Manster was plenty able to hold off Jovia's mainland advances without Silesia's help, Lewyn and his party returned to Cryonac Island and joined Sailane's resistance against Archduke Makar. At Yenak Village and Yenak Pass, one of the most intense battles of the Silesian Civil War occurred, resulting in the death of one of the Angelic Falcons: Pamelia, Dame Annand's former second-in-command.
 
The Coalition, after but a month of preparations, headed south to Stromhelm and then, a month later, marched into Agustria, catching the Agustrians by surprise. Sorren, a manipulative Bragil agent in Agustria hailing from an Outrealm, was taken out by the Dusk Brigade, severely crippling Agustria's defense, while more diversion tactics were made to weaken one of Agustria's western border castles. And even despite all this, the Coalition is barely able to conquer Mackily, forcing the Lion Knight, Sir Eldigan, into a surrender. In response, Agustria began fielding its reserves and training its citizens to fill its emptying reserves. From here onward, each and every mile of Agustrian territory the Coalition marches shall be paid in blood.

Chapter 32: Excerpt 17 (Myths and Legends) - The Paranoid Bard of Favours

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's myths and legends, as told by Lewyn Silesse.

There are a number of legends, not oft shared but nonetheless known, pertaining to the capricious nature of bards; most highlight their fondness of people's fecundity, many highlight their nature to come and go as they please. One, however, stands out from the rest.

There was once, according to this legend, a bard who was unequaled, having no parallel or match. He knew every story and song, could dance everything, and could make even the dullest story into a lively and gripping adventure. Most important, he knew everyone and everything. However, this unrivaled bard had one flaw - he was a gambler at heart. Not of money, no, he cared not for currency. He gambled with secrets, with favours, with 'I owe yous' and 'you owe mes'. And this is how he acted with everyone; he would ask people for a favour, ask for goods and services in exchange for one of his own. He always paid them back, yet always in his time, instead of someone else's.

Upset with this troublesome troubadour, the Witch-Queen of Light placed a curse on this bard; as he traveled, he developed a paranoia, constantly watching his back for debtors on his tail. This eventually became an obsessive compulsion to have no debts - and, so says the legend, anyone who is paranoid or feels guilty over the smallest of favours is ultimately a descendant of this bard of favours, he who took much and yet gave only when it was convenient to him.

Chapter 33: Excerpt 18 (Society and Culture) - Leaves from the Vine

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's society and culture, as told by Lewyn Silesse.

Notes:

Disclaimer: The lyrics written below belong to Michael Dante DiMartino. The author is in no way associated with Michael Dante DiMartino or those he works with. No copyright infringement is intended.

The second ruler of the since-conquered Kingdom of Isaach was a fair and just non-binary person, named Shivanna. In their youth, Shivanna trained under their father, the Crusader Odo, in swordsmanship, military leadership, and domestic leadership, among other things. Though able to use the Star Saber, Balmung, Shivanna would never draw the weapon themselves. At the age of fifteen, Shivanna would become the Caln of Isaach upon the passing of their father. Shivanna reigned well, guiding his people into prosperity. Fifty years after the Holy War, though, the peace fell apart; distressing to the Kingdom of Isaach was the maraurders attacking their southern borders and the kitsune valley which was an Isaachian protectorate. Shivanna's children, including the future Queen of Isaach Athene, were just as much the grandchildren of Odo as Shivanna was Odo's child, and so they took up their arms to repel the banditry.

In 54 AHW, one of Shivanna's sons, Prince Kazuki, bore Balmung against the then-user of Mystletainn, the Dread Knight Mortimor. Kazuki was slain that day, and Princess Athene picked up Balmung and repelled Mortimor. When Caln Shivanna heard of Kazuki's death, so legends say, they composed a song reflecting on the beauty of life, the ephemerality of beauty, the honour of a soldier, and the regret of death. Many lyrics were lost after the Kingdom of Agustria conquered Isaach - only a single bard, Iroh, was able to escape into the Gerrond Republic, bringing with him the song. He never would play it again, though, and so we only have the following lyrics remaining.

Leaves from the vine / falling so slow / like fragile tiny shells / drifting in the foam.
Little soldier boy / come marching home.
Brave soldier boy / comes matching home.

Perhaps it is most fitting that a song that was by all accounts beautiful, and yet reflected on how temporary beauty was, is now lost. Poetry in action.

Chapter 34: Excerpt 19 (Notable Figures) - Triteia von Neptunia, daughter of Duke Triton

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Twelve years ago, Duke Triton of Mares gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. He and his wife got in an argument over what to name her, and that argument ended in divorce.

Triton's daughter is named Triteia. I don't blame the former Duchess-Consort in the slightest. Even still, Duke Triton has dedicated himself to raising Triteia well, and Triteia lives a happy life with her father.

Chapter 35: Excerpt 20 (Notable Figures) - Okena the Storm Warrior, Chosen Crusader of Poseidon

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

In the opening decades following the Holy War, Duke Okena the Storm Warrior was... not particularly present. He was a Duke pretty much only in name; his wife was the far more competent statesperson between the pair, and many suspect that their wedding was among the first loveless political marriages after the Holy War.

Okena spent most of his days out at sea, exploring the coastlines and establishing safe routes for transport on the open seas. Because of this, he was rarely ever, if at all, to be found in Mares Castle, the citadel named after him. He was able to sire an heir, of course, but he was incredibly absent from Maretian life. To say that he was a man who, after the Holy War, returned to his roots is not untrue.

In the 15th year After the Holy War, Duke Okena left Mares for the last time, sailing off on his most ambitious journey yet - sailing across the north to see what else was on the world. He chose to leave behind Maurus, because it would be too dangerous to leave Annhelm without the Tome of the Great Trident. He was last seen sailing away from Silesia Castle, by Ced the Gale Bard. To this day, it is uncertain what the fate of he and his crew was. Were they slain by remnants of the Dark Horde? Did they fall off the world? Did Fell Sickness, ever the bane of the Crusaders in the third and fourth decades following the Holy War, sweep through him and his crew? Or did they simply... die at sea, as is expected of sailors?

Chapter 36: Arc 2 - Churning Waves | Chapter 12 - Hollowed Greatness

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the twelfth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

The march to Madino was fraught with bloodshed and tumult. At every turn, the Coalition forces encountered an Agustrian battalion and engaged them. Over the course of five bloody months, during which they were ambushed by the Knights of Blagi 7th Expeditionary Force, the Coalition carved their way through Agustria.

351 AHW -

In the Month of Victory, the Coalition caught Madino Castle in a dire pincer attack between them and the Warfarrah, the Holy Doomfist Gauntlets forged by the Hellen God of War and Death, wielded by the Dread Duchess Bellona. The forces protecting Madino were routed, Madino was placed under a siege, and a month later the Count of Madino surrendered. This connected the Coalition's long-extended supply line to become directly connected to the beating heart of the Coalition, the corelands of the Falar Empire, and thus providing them with more men, more resources, and much needed morale. With Mackily and Madino both conquered, Agustria began to unravel as chaos erupted among the minor noble houses. At the start of the Month of Hope, the Coalition forces began marching southward, every day battling a slowly retreating Agustrian force - both sides continued to lose men and shed blood. As the First and Third Falar Corps, the Stromhelmian Army, and the Maretian Army marched southward, a small expeditionary force was dispatched to help deal with rumours of Dark Mage activity - at least, on paper. This group, the Gerrondi Expeditionary Force, ventured into the destabilizing Isaach region and helped to restore order and balance; clashing against Agustrians, Dark Mages, and monstrous mutated wolves, the Gerrondi Expeditionary Force and the Isaachian liberation force together brought peace to Isaach. Soon after, the second Kingdom of Isaach was declared, with Eruca Fiore as the Kijin of this reborn country.

As the marches to Isaach and through Agustria took place, the town of Yngvel became the site of a desparate gambit; King Ring personally lead Jungby's brave defenders against the Yggdrasili force that remained following Agustria's closing of ranks. Success was narrowly achieved, but it was clear that the years of toil were bearing down hard on the Jungbian resistance.

Fortune, however, favours the bold - after four months of brutal warfare, the Coalition's main force arrived at Agusty, and thus began the even-worse Battle of Agusty. The chaos that Agusty's walls once insulated the townsfolk from immediately embroiled the urban area; as siege tomes and engineered defenses fired and soldiers on all sides fought and died, a special force engaged against Chagall himself and his protectors. Hurricanes and quakes terrorized the town thereafter... but, eventually, the bloodshed came to a close. The Coalition had routed Chagall, who ran away through some prepared scheme of Rescue Staves. His location thereafter became unknown.
 
As the Month of Beginnings drew to a close, another special force was dispatched; the Karinian faction of the Silesian Civil War sent out nine of their foremost soldiers and mercenaries to rescue Lady Gunnthra after twelve long months since her abduction. It was a perilous journey to Thove Castle, where she was kept secure, and once there it was a chaotic mess that, ultimately, lead to Gunnthra's freedom. Alas, safety was far from certain. Escaping Thove on horseback and pegasusback, the special forces group and Gunnthra fled east, fighting continually. These skirmishes culminated into a fateful battle at the start of the Month of Glory: The Battle of Thove. Even with further Karinian reinforcements, Karinian victory was only barely achieved, and Gunnthra's sister Fjorm was slain in the fighting.

Over the course of the Month of Glory and Destiny, delegates from Jovia and all of southern Annhelm gathered together in the halls of Agusty, as the continent prepared for the Agusty Memorial Ball and the 351 Treaty of Agusty. The prevalent mood of the ball was that of peace and remembrance, and the solemn duty that those living had to prevent and reduce further death. Still, two weeks of dancing did little to change the minds of the spiteful; on the first day of treaty negotiations, Duke Triton of Mares was shot in the leg in an attempt on his life. Goodwill evaporated despite the best efforts of most; Ylisstol declared war on Isaach and Jungby, a desperate final bid by Margrave Johan to guarantee power for Chagall, presumably. And thus, the actions of very few damn the continent to more months of conflict.

Chapter 37: Arc 2 - Churning Waves | Chapter 13 - For Whose Sake?

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the thirteenth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

As the fallout of the attempt on Triton's life rippled across the southern half of Annhelm, a meeting of Yggdrasil's aristocrats was held by Holy Emperor Kratos Freehandson, and Yggdrasil's conviction to hold and defend their new conquests was affirmed. Independently, Yllistol began to harry and attack the newly sovereign Kingdom of Isaach and the free portions of the Kingdom of Jungby. This meant little in the Coalition's two-pronged assault.

The first was that of Jungby and Isaach, who had just joined the Coalition. They went west to Yngvel, from which they were able to first liberate Ichiavel. It was a relatively effortless endeavour, despite the struggles that were had. Following the easy success in Ichiavel, the western offensive turned their gaze further west to their border with the rogue entity Ylisstol. In a crucial and consequential battle, Yllistol was put under attack, the castle was breached, and Lord Chrom personally defeated Margrave Johan, putting him out of power and putting an end to his cruel father's ideology. In the aftermath, Palt's last remaining family, Theodore, was slain. The Coalition thereafter, with Lady Emmeryn's permission, established a temporary government, once more under the reigns of Lady Lissa.

The second part of the Coalition's liberation was conducted by the hands of Falia, Stromhelm, Grannvale, and Mares. They marched southward, chasing after the runaway king Chagall, hoping to catch him and bring him to justice. Chagall, unfortunately, reached Chalphy Castle before they did; on the third day of his attack of Chalphy, the Coalition arrived and put him, the Agustrians accompanying him, and the remaining Yggdrasili defending Chalphy to utter rout. Chagall, however, defied his fate one last time - when faced by the Coalition's overwhelming might, he called upon all the powers of the Geosphere, Vert, and found himself consumed by its divine power and transformed into an abomination. Despite the attempted rampage, there was no chance; the Vemia Beast Chagall became was put down, and Chagall, somehow alive after the torment, was captured and placed under the harshest security available.

352 AHW -

In a trial in Treehaven, Chagall was found guilty of attempting an assassination of a sovereign ruler, and there Chagall likewise confessed to the clandestine manner by which he rose to power in the first place - ordering the death of his father, knowing it would fail, and using that attempt as pretense to have power bestowed to him. His crimes laid bare and his life officially out of his hands, it was decided by Archbishop Kratos Freehandson, the judge of the trial, that Chagall was to be executed by Valflame itself. All the while, in the background, forces colluded to scheme and develop an ultimate weapon formed of stolen artefacts, stolen souls, and stolen persons' efforts.

Up north on Cryonac Island, the Karinian faction was under immense duress. Lieutenant Forsen, one of Makar's most brilliant strategists and the commander of the most elite Makaran regiment, was deployed to take over the war effort against the Karinians, and his terrible schemes wracked havoc on the morale and psyche of the Karinian's steadfast fighters. Most dreadful of all was the attack on Karina's long-since ruined and abandoned home, Assid. Karina, emotionally fraught and reckless, left in the middle of the night, forcing the Karinians to withdraw and follow after her to save her from herself. In the haze, pain, and turmoil of Assid, many were brought near to death, Fauz' offhand arm was ruined, and Sir Wyn was slain by an arrow.

Yggdrasil, refusing to accept the loss of their conquests in Jungby and Grannvale, continued to attack their border with Grannvale - and the Coalition, driven forward by the wrath of Stromhelm and the justice of Grannvale, will not yield. The Coalition prepares and musters for its march on Yggdrasil, hoping that Yggdrasil surrenders quickly.

Chapter 38: Excerpt 21 (Culture and Society) - Playing Cards

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's culture and society.

There are roughly five separate decks of playing cards in Annhelm, each hailing from a different region. One hails from Yggdrasil, a second from Agustria, a third from Falia, a fourth from Manster, and a fifth from Silesia.

The Valhallan deck was the first made, claiming to originate from before the Age of Suppression. It's four suits are swords, shields, roses, and coins. The cards are numbers two through ten, knight, prince, king, and ace.

The Agustrian deck was derived from the Valhallan deck during the first century after the Holy War. It's four suits are swords, shields, cups, and coins. The cards are numbers two through ten, knight, prince, king, and ace.

The Falar deck was derived from the Agustrian deck in 255 AHW, as an attempt by the King of Velthomer to combat Agustrian cultural influence on his kingdom. It's four suits are swords, flames, cups, and coins. The cards are numbers two through ten, mage, prince, king, and ace.

The Mansteren deck was derived from the Valhallan deck around 76 AHW, following the marriage of King Patrick I of Manster and Princess Charlotte of Barhara. It's four suits are pikes, shields, roses, and coins. The cards are numbers two through ten, knight, prince, king, and ace.

The Silesian deck was derived from the Mansteren deck around 160 AHW, as a result of trade with the Manster Alliance. It's four suits are pikes, shields, roses, and bells. The cards are numbers two through ten, knight, queen, king, and ace.

Playing cards are used for a wide variety of games, and many fortune tellers, phony or otherwise, will use one of these decks, or a derived version specially crafted by the fortune teller for divining purposes, to catch glimpses of the past, present, or future. The Bragil Church does not encourage the use of playing cards for any purpose, citing their association with games of chance and gambling.

Chapter 39: Excerpt 22 (Notable Figures) - Vladmir Zorić, the Archbishop of the Bragil Church

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

There have been ten Archbishops of the Bragil Church as of 348 AHW, only nine of which were formally recognized as such. Of the ten Archbishops, two are enigmatic: the accidental founder of the Bragil Church himself, Saint Blagi the Merciful; and the sixth Archbishop, Vladmir Zović. Saint Blagi is enigmatic because his writings are even now still hard to parse, despite hundreds of years of study and prayerful interpretation. This is just how much connection Saint Blagi had to the gods, that he was so much of their mouthpiece that much of his writings defy mortal comprehension even now. It was under Saint Blagi's long-lived successor, the devout halfling Archbishop Nevan, that the Bragil Church became the organized structure all of Annhelm is at least passingly-familiar with.

Vladmir Zorić, however, is enigmatic because much of what was known about him was lost between 290 AHW and 320 AHW through unknown means. What fragments remain of him are thus: He was remarkably pale, citing a Silesian heritage, and had a skin condition that made him particularly vulnerable to the sun; he aged incredibly well, and died suddenly in his sleep without warning in 293 AHW. Supposedly, he was born 193 AHW, but rumours suggest he looked barely above the age of 30 in the months leading to his death. During his reign, he likely helped to negotiate the peace between the kingdoms of Velthomer and Agustria over the War of the Maretian Succession. And this is all that is known. As well, uncovered rumours have suggested that the clergy in Fortress Bragilon spectulated he was remarkably particular about his wine, and disliked sharing it with others.

All the Archbishops aside from Saint Blagi and Archbishop Vladmir were quite diligent to compose autobiographies or otherwise commission biographies. And Saint Blagi's widespread fame and Crusadorial connections meant that his posthumous biography was easy to write.

But Archbishop Vladmir did not follow this pattern; no biography for this enigmatic Archbishop has been located, meaning the events of his early life are unknown, and the events of his time as Archbishop are also hard to discern. To further the mystery, even across the continent, many records where he should be mentioned are missing major pieces of information. It is either he was remarkably humble and unremarkable, which is bound to happen, or someone or some group is deliberately trying to cover him up. The truth is hard to ascertain, as no Archbishop since Saint Blagi has been able to speak through the eyes of the gods and none are known to have asked a fortune teller of Archbishop Vladmir.

Some theories suggest he was a vampire, which many refute as unserious because the Bragil Church was largely unfriendly to vampires until the 300s AHW under Archbishop Peter. Some theories suggest he was the second son of Heim under a new name. Some theories suggest he was the Crusader Jason the Bold, or even Saint Blagi himself. Some theories suggest that Archbishop Vladmir Zorić really was that uninteresting.

Chapter 40: Excerpt 23 (Notable Figures) - Galzus the Berserker

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Have you heard the tale of Galzus the Berserker? It's not a particularly happy tale, a result of one of the many atrocities Agustria committed throughout its centuries of domination.

Galzus was a simple family man, a gladiator by trade. He lived in Isaach and fought in Isaach's Arena, where he gained the moniker of "Dread Fighter" for his prowess in combat. Rumours circulated that his skill with the blade was due to a blood connection to House Isaach, but there has been nothing to confirm this. His wife was a Falar immigrant, who abandoned her home in favour for the rugged landscapes of Isaach. They had, together, brought a single child into the world - a daughter both doted upon.

During the Third Great War, High King Chagall ordered for all Falar to be gathered. Galzus was fighting in the arena on the day his wife was to be collected - and when he returned to his home, he found his abode was bloodied, with a dead Agustrian soldier in the living room and his dead wife in the kitchen with her head on a pike. His baby girl was nowhere to be seen.

Thus, Galzus began a bloody march. He took what valuables he had, burned his home to the ground, and disappeared into the night. And he began to fight most bitterly against the Agustrians. Rumours even claim that Galzus called upon the power of a Master Seal to become like a demon - and carved a swath soaked in blood. Galzus would later be found by the Falar Third Corps, dead in a valley near Madino during Falia's march on Madino, surrounded by the bodies of Agustrian soldiers. According to sources from a nearby village, Galzus only got stronger the more he killed, found immense pleasure in the art of killing, and was a peerless master of the wide blade he used back during his arena days. It is not known who slew Galzus. It is not known how many he slew. All that is known is that Galzus lived up to the terrible legacy of Berserkers past.

Chapter 41: Arc 2 - Churning Waves | Chapter 14 - Inheritors of Light

Summary:

A summary of the events that happened in the fourteenth chapter of the Warpath of Legends.

With King Chagall executed, the Coalition turned its sights on Yggdrasil at last. As Yggdrasil contested the reclamation of Grannvalean territory, the Coalition began its long march. In the middle of spring, the first of the major battles of the Yggdrasili campaign broke out - the Battle of Ethos, where Yggdrasili forces, lead by Margrave Vulcan II, and the Knights of Blagi fought against the Coalition in a brutal, bloody, and extreme clashing of wills. Over the course of a week, the Coalition wore the defenders down and achieved victory. Yggdrasil did not capitulate.

Indeed, even as the Coalition marched in their war against Yggdrasil, Princess Arlene was visited by a terrible guest - an outlaw priest, an aged archivist and researcher by the name of Anton Grindelvald. Over the many months since the Battle of Mackily, he and his (unwilling) companions studied the spirit and a dangerous Outrealmer artefact known as Lehran’s Medallion. And Anton came to Arlene bearing the horrible product of his research - a Tome named Yunaga, which combined Light Magic with the power of Lehran’s Medallion and the spirit of Sorren Leventis. Anton never officially gave Princess Arlene “Yunaga” - he was defeated, captured, and executed before he could give it to her. Nonetheless, the power of Lehran’s Medallion would steadily wear on Arlene’s mind - with the stress of being invaded not helping matters.
 
On Cryonac Island, an imperial wedding was held; Princess Elyssa Jove and Lord Daniel Solvaster were sworn together in a most extravagant event that saw high-ranking officials from all over Jovia gather for the occasion, and saw bells ring and wellwishes given all across Jovia. The marriage was the latest event in Jovia’s grand second resurgence, which would turn Jovia from one of the great powers into the absolute hegemon of all of Annhelm. Alas, Emperor Apollo the Fourth had many enemies, within Jovia and without, and they all knew that Jovia’s imperialist ambitions must be stopped. They began concocting a dangerous and terrible scheme, one that would either cement Jovon hegemony or shatter it entirely - an ultimate gamble.

A few weeks before autumn, Crown Prince Apollo the Fifth disappeared, supposedly killed in a naval incident against Manster - an ally of the Karinian faction of the Silesian Civil War, which opposed Jovia. In response, Emperor Apollo moved the majority of Jovia’s military management to Dack, the town closest to the Karinian faction’s base in Sailane.
 
After months of marching and warring, the Coalition reached Janus, and the Dusk Brigade and Azure Wolves were jointly deployed to capture the prosperous port town. A deep fog enveloped the town, and there in Janus the Dusk Brigade fought their hardest battle yet - Yggdrasil’s most elite fighters were on the defense lead by Princess Arlene herself, and dark mages had infiltrated the town as well. As the battle progressed, Arlene’s patience wore thinner and thinner... and then she was defeated, and in her desperation she called upon “Yunaga’s” power in full.

The chaos-maddened spirit of Sorren erupted and consumed Arlene, and thus the Consumed Luminary (or Yune-Sorrlenort, depending on preference) began its rampage. As the Consumed Luminary made itself known, Princess Deirdre, an Azure Wolf and a long-time ally of the Coalition, called upon the divine blood in her veins, and summoned to her the the Holy Tome of Naga, Jugdrangeld, marking the Holy Relic's first appearance in over one hundred years. The Dusk Brigade, Azure Wolves, and Yggdrasil’s forces fought valiantly against the monstrosity, and it was taken down before it could damage any property. But Arlene was not so lucky - she fell into a months-long coma, overwhelmed by the spirit magic and chaos energy which so angrily consumed her and suffused into her. Princess Deirdre began to negotiate with the Coalition on behalf of Yggdrasil, hoping to buy Yggdrasil a peace without placing soldiers in Valhalla, her home. The Divine Dragon and Oathkeeper, Naga the Goddess of Authority and Creation, bestowed on Deirdre her greatest blessing, elevating the princess into the most ascended state a mortal could be while still being mortal - and thus marking Deirdre as the Druid Lord. 
 
At last, the time for the Karinian faction to make its ultimate gamble had come. All of their best fighters, as well as Manster’s best, were deployed, and they marched an all-or-nothing highly-mobile invasion of Jovia, staying still very rarely if ever. Within a matter of weeks, the Karinian force burst into Dack and began an all-out battle. Emperor Apollo, his new heir Princess Elyssa, and his son-in-law Prince-Consort Daniel, as well as many members of Emperor Apollo’s inner circle, were all present, and all fought viciously against the Karinians.

For a time, it seemed the Karinian faction was doomed... and then reinforcements arrived: “Byleth”, a wandering tempest in man’s clothes who knew no mercy; Viscountess Remon and her mages; and Prince Apollo and his close friend Gale - Apollo having revoked his family and taken upon himself the name Aristaeus. The ultimate gamble had paid off, the scheme successful. Surrounded on all sides, the Jovon forces fought to their very last - and ultimately, Emperor Apollo found himself without aid and in an unwinnable position, stuck in a position where he had no victory. His defeat was guaranteed. He refused to yield, and so he was mercilessly knocked out. With Jovon support for the Makaran faction firmly knocked out, the Karinian faction finally tasted a proper victory - the first in years.
 
On the other side of the continent, the day after Dack had been fought in, a massive insurrection against the Coalition and the Holy Yggdrasil Empire; within the Coalition, many Falar soldiers spontaneously turned against the whole of the Coalition, fighting against their former comrades for some cause they had secretly harboured. And veritable armies of dark mages and giant monstrosities marched against Janus and Valhalla, trying to cripple the reaction to the attack on Valhalla and shatter Annhelm’s hope in a prosperous future.

The attack in the Coalition encampment and on Janus were successfully repelled, and with a new collective threat to rally against, the failed negotiations between Yggdrasil and the Coalition quickly turned around and a ceasefire and agreement of alliance was formed. Soon after, with all of Yggdrasil’s and the Coalition’s best and brightest all working together, the allied forces began marching out. At the same time, the Knights of Blagi began mustering and rallying to aid besieged Valhalla. Archbishop-Emperor Kratos himself stood guard of the city, preventing the forces of the Fell from breaching the walls with his magic and durability.

353 AHW -
One bloody and stressful month passed, with men and women fighting and dying every day for the salvation of Valhalla and Annhelm. By luck, happenstance, and good fortune, the land-forces of the Coalition+Yggdrasil arrived near Valhalla at the same time as the sea-bound forces of the Coalition and the Knights of Blagi. Thus began the Battle of Valhalla, the act that would end the Dark Mages’ Siege of Valhalla, the final battle of the Third Great War, a six-year long season of terrible warfare.

And Valhalla was, ultimately, saved. The abominations were slain and the dark mages were killed.

To kickstart the return of peace and the settlement of conflict, Archbishop Emperor Kratos called for a parade to be held in Valhalla, celebrating Valhalla's survival and the key part that many heroes had in the salvation of the City of Light. A military parade was held, with soldiers of the Coalition, the Knights of Blagi, and Yggdrasil marching together in celebration of a common, mutual victory. That evening, a grand feast was held; at this celebratory feast, full of joy and merriment, several people received boons. Some of these boons were used to advance personal progress. Some of these boons were used to secure futures. Some of these boons were used to advance social progress. All these boons were accepted, giving all the reassurance that Yggdrasil would become a better place to live.

When the boons were finished, a man dropped in - Duke Triton himself, survivor of an assassination attempt. He gathered the attention of all by arriving fashionably late and fully covered in stone-grey paint. There, he announced with his usual bombasticity that Mares would be playing host to the party that formallized the end of all the warring - and everyone in Annhelm was invited.

At last, after six years of pain, heartbreak, bloodshed, death, conquest, atrocities, and misery... War is Over. 

Men and women from all across Annhelm gathered in Mares, preparing themselves for one of Annhelm's largest social events since the start of the Holy War. At the start of the Month of Beginnings, 353 AHW, the Mares Epibellum Ball began, heralding the end of fighting and the start of peace. Whether one preferred the tavern, the ballroom, or the beach, they found a place to celebrate, gather with those they loved, and secure their now-certain futures.

With the close of the ball, the leaders of Annhelm gathered together and began to prepare for the future - the balancing of power, the allegiance of countries, the exchange of territory and gold and people, the consideration of the dire future. In a grim moment, one of the last diviners, Jasonos Farlance, shares a terrible prophecy:

The Wings of Despair approach, like night after day
Its sight a curse on any whom to gods of good pray
The Earth consumes the Thirteenth Sun
The foretold many united and undone
The Eighteen joined as one can free the Emblem
And cause the rise and fall of gods and antibellum
The Great Four united to banish All Evil
Else the Mother alone shall be its seal

And so... with Annhelm on the cusp of calamity once more, the leaders make their final negotiations and decide the course of Annhelm's fate for the next decades... And thus, with the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares signed and ratified by all the leaders of Annhelm, peace is restored.

Chapter 42: Map of Annhelm, 353 AHW

Summary:

The map of Annhelm in 353 AHW.

Chapter 43: Act 1 Character Roll

Summary:

The fates and destinies of the characters of Arc 1 and Arc 2.

Deirdre von Valhalla - Saviour of Valhalla
Druid Lord, Chapter 6, 3 Battles

Deirdre would stay behind in Yggdrasil to help her sister rule as Empress. Within months of the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, Yggdrasil’s aristocracy, lead by Count Marco Larcei, would begin acting up. In 355 AHW, Marco would declare Lucian sovereign as the Kingdom of Larcei, and thus the Yggdrasili Civil War would begin. In 357 AHW, the Treaty of Janus would formalize the Holy Yggdrasil Empire’s collapse. Deirdre would then be crowned as the Queen of Valhalla.

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Arlene von Valhalla - Broken Imperial
Light Sage, Chapter 14, 1 Battle

Arlene never fully recovered from the effects of Lehran’s Medallion. Kurth von Valhalla would become the Margrave of Heirhein in the Süderen Confederation, with Moira as his heir. After Emperor Kratos left Annhelm, Arlene was crowned the Holy Yggdrasili Empress, and would lead Yggdrasil through the Yggdrasili Civil War to the best of her ability. Afterward, Arlene would abdicate the throne, retire to Heirhein to be with her family, and become her father’s greatest advisor.

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Berkut von Rigel - Brigade’s Justice
Great Knight, Chapter 2, 8 Battles

After the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, Berkut would propose to Rinea, and their wedding would be held in Manster. A couple of years later, the Yggdrasili Civil War broke out, and Berkut returned to his homeland to fight for Arlene. During the Battle of Edda, during which Larceian forces attempted to conquer Edda, Berkut would lead Edda’s successful defense. When the Civil War came to a close, Berkut would establish the Kingdom of Rigel at Janus, and reign justly and fairly.

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Kebet von Horura - Herald of Democracy
Mage Lord, Chapter 6, 3 Battles

With the sovereignty of the Democratic Union of Pathos and Ethos secure, Kebet assumed the first Presidency, to ensure a peaceful transition between the Province of Pathos and the new Democratic Union. During that first presidency, he would marry Alexandria Hamilton, who kept her maiden name. After four years, Kebet would step down, and Alexandria would be elected President, to some controversy. During her second term, she and Kebet would divorce.

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Sigurd Chalphy - King of Confederalism
Knight Lord, Chapter 1, 5 Battles

With the continental recognition of the Süderen Confederation, King Sigurd would begin the work of constructing and adjusting the legal and administrative framework for the Confederation. Sigurd would marry Grand Duchess Melinoë in 356 AHW and come to sire two wonderful children. In 358 AHW, the Süderen Confederation, the Kingdom of Jungby, the Halidom of Ylisse, and Pathos would sign the Verdane Pact, evolving the Treehaven Alliance into the current era.

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Brigid Jungby-Edwards - Pirate Queen
Trickster, Chapter 4, 5 Battles

As the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares came to a close, Brigid would set to work on restoring the Brethren Court, leaving Vailskad with her sister while she kept Yewfelle. Through a truly buccaneer combination of diplomacy, bribery, extortion, and slaughter, the Brethren Court would be restored, with Brigid as the uncontested Pirate Lord. In 363 AHW, broadscale piracy would begin plague Annhelm once more, and many countries would skirmish against the pirates to protect their trade.

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Edain Jungby - Heart of Gold
Knight Lord, Chapter 6, 4 Battles

Many bards would describe the relationship between Princess Edain and Lord Hrid as the most pure in all the land and use their wholesome dynamic as inspiration for many fictional couples. In 370 AHW, King Ring would pass away, and Queen Edain would politely request to join the Confederation. Many Jungbian aristocrats would disagree openly. When the dust settled, only the eastern half of Jungby would join the Confederation. Edain would become the Grand Duchess of Verdane.

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Andrey Jungby - Cadet Scion
Bow Knight, Chapter 10, 1 Battle

Andrey would become a Viscount cadet to House Jungby - a humble destiny, but one he had prepared for. However, during the 370 AHW Jungbian Confederation Crisis, Andrey would attempt mediate between his sister, Queen Edain, and the Jungbian aristocrats who opposed joining the Süderen Confederation. He would unwittingly find himself a position of prominence among the latter camp, and would be chosen as the new monarch of the Principality of Almyra.

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Khalid Jungby - Lord of the Underground
Wyvern Lord, Prologue, 12 Battles
Lissa Ylisse - Pious Prankster
Monk Fighter, Prologue, 3 Battles

Khalid would find little rest after the war’s end. With the Rubayia’s long work of crippling Agustria was finished, “Claude” would take the opportunity to wrest control of the organization and turn it into his own personal covert operations network. Khalid’s primary goal would be, as always, his family’s prosperity - which would come to include his unexpected (even to him) wife, Lissa. Lissa, for her part, would have everyone (correctly) convinced that their union was her idea.

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Emmeryn Ylisse - The Re-Exalted
Priestess, Chapter 12, 1 Battle

After a good few years purging Dark Mages from the former lands of Agustria, Emmeryn would return to Ylisse in 355 AHW, bearing a child. Crown Prince Ares Ylisse would be born soon after, and once he was settled, Emmeryn would properly take on the duties of the Exalt of the Halidom of Ylisse, and lead her Halidom justly and fairly, with the aid of her wife, Phila, and her siblings, Chrom and Lissa. Under Emmeryn’s leadership, Ylisse would experience a golden age of art.

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Chrom Ylisse - Shield of Ylisse
Exalted Lord, Prologue, 7 Battles
Robin - Fell Portent
Grandmaster, Prologue, 9 Battles

Chrom would propose to Robin soon after the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, and invite many people across Annhelm to his wedding. Chrom would spend much time working with Ylisse’s strategist, Etain Goneril, to improve Ylisse’s military, and would also frequently be the Exalt’s ambassador to the rest of the continent - including to the Verdane Pact, the evolution of the Treehaven Alliance. Robin, despite his complaints, would become an instructor at the Verdane Pact Officer’s Academy.

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Lachesis Nordion - Princess of Agusty
Master Knight, Prologue, 3 Battles
Lex Dozel - Brigade’s Lieutenant
Great Knight, Prologue, 12 Battles

Lachesis would lead the Principality of Agusty through a period of intense reconstruction. With the boon of stability granted by Eldigan’s wandering band, the Dusk Brigade, and Falia’s military, the Principality of Agusty would experience immense growth. Lex would remain with the Dusk Brigade as Raoul’s lieutenant until 357 AHW, when he would be wed to Lachesis. Thereafter, the Dusk Brigade would always find hospitality in Agusty. Their people would be prosperous.

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Bloom Freege - Father of Stromhelm
Armour Lord, Chapter 8, 5 Battles

King Bloom of Stromhelm would reign gloriously and, even more gloriously, marry Grace, the love of his life. Having expanded Stromhelm, won a war against Yggdrasil and Agustria, and began the reconstruction of Freege and integration of Antheos and Mackily, Bloom would be a wildly popular monarch. He would take many actions to curb the extent of Falia’s hegemony, including provide clandestine support to rebellions against the Falar Empire.

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Triton von Neptunia - Laidback Lord
Mage Lord, Chapter 7, 2 Battles

Triton’s reign as sovereign Duke of Mares would be excessively comfortable. Being a part of the Coalition and then a part of Bloom’s unofficial anti-Falar league, Triton would see immense wealth flow into Mares and thus would begin the process of bringing Mares up to snuff as a major power, equivalent to the now-lost Jovia or Yggdrasil. Mares’ status as the trade hub of Annhelm would mean that, when the Brethren Court resurged, Triton would begin a bitter rivalry with them.

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Danann Dozel - Highborn Vagabond
Fortress Knight, Chapter 11, 1 Battle

Danann would continue being the Duke of Dozel under Falar fealty until 357 AHW when, in a bid for greater power and during a time of political tumult across Falia, he would declare Dozel as a sovereign kingdom with him as its king. Danann would struggle to lead, and in 360 AHW he would abdicate the throne, give the crown to his brother Lex, and leave. He would soon enough join Eldigan’s band of Dark Mage hunters and give that group the name of “the Dawn Brigade”.

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Arvis Velthomer - Enlightenment Manifest
Sage, Chapter 4, 6 Battles

Arvis would be crowned as the Falar Emperor barely months after the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares was signed. He would rule Falia after the manner of his father, but with fewer expansionist ambitions. This would leave many imperialist aristocrats in Falia displeased - but Emperor Arvis was a clever man and would maintain his reign through well-crafted and well-advised politicking and appeasements. He would also engage in mystiological academia and advance the field.

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Edelgard Velthomer - Princess-General
Armour Lord, Prologue, 11 Battles

In secret, Edelgard would marry her beloved, Y’raishna, and the pair would develop a beautiful blend of mi’qote and Falar traditions together. Soon after, Edelgard would marry Prince Arlen of Silesia, and forge a strong bond between Silesia and the Falar Empire. Edelgard would give birth to a set of twins by Arlen; one would live with Arlen in Silesia, and the other would live with Y’raishna in Falia. She spent an equal amount of time with both her children, loving them very much.

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Melinoë Plutos - Lady of Shadows
Mage Knight, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Melinoë oversaw Makaria’s recovery, Pluton’s prosperity, and the management of arcane umbramancy following the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares. In 356 AHW, Melinoë would marry Sigurd and depart Pluton to live with her husband. With Melinoë’s absence, Falia’s cruelty to the Plutoni became evident, and the whole region of Pluton erupted into revolution, aided by rich benefactors such as the mysterious Erebus. The Pluton Republic would soon be recognized across Annhelm.

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Dimitri Blaiddyd - Lion Wraith
Sentinel, Prologue, 5 Battles

Under the pseudonym of “Byleth”, Dimitri would wander Annhelm for some time with Daniel, Elyssa, Elyssa’s former maid Maria, and Daniel’s friend Fauz. After those four settled in Alster, Dimitri would continue without them, appearing all across Annhelm in times of need then disappearing. When Ingrid found him after many years of her own adventuring, he would issue to her and her alone his ultimate decree: “Live and love”.

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Travant von Thrace - Callous King
Wyvern Master, Chapter 6, 1 Battle

In 362 AHW, Travant would lead a war of conquest against the fledgling Pluton Republic and Kingdom of Dalmatia, the weakened Duchy of Cerenia, and the imploding Jovon Empire, aiming to conquer the whole of western Thracia reclaim lost territory. Travant would only be able to conquer Jovia’s mainland holdings and Fhirdiad, due to a lack of support. At the war’s conclusion in 364 AHW, Travant would rename the Kingdom of Danheim to the Kingdom of Thracia.

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Quan Leonster - Chaos In-quan-ate
Paladin, Chapter 5, 3 Battles

Quan’s return to Leonster was a controversial and celebrated affair, with many criticizing his abandonment of his allies in Manster and Alster and many lauding his glories in Falia, Agustria, and Yggdrasil. In 356 AHW, Quan would inherit the throne of Leonster - and the very next year, for reasons that are lost to time if they ever existed, he would rename Leonster to the Quandom of Leonster. Despite his foolishness, or perhaps because of it, Quan would successfully navigate geopolitics.

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Miranda Alster - Sovereign Queen
Mage Knight, Prologue, 7 Battles

Queen Miranda the Second, having achieved victory and glory against Conote and Danheim, began to assert herself more in the diplomatic and economic fields of politics - and she would firmly establish Alster as an equal partner to both Manster and Leonster. Under her reign, Alster would not only consume Conote, but become the Manster Alliance’s economic core. Amidst her politicking, Miranda would marry a woman. With the aid of Quan of Leonster, Miranda would sire a son.

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Perceval Markus - Folk Hero
Great Knight, Chapter 1, 1 Battle

At the treaties of 353 AHW, Conote would find itself once more without allies and without firm leadership. The new King of Conote, Arcardo von Ruud, would launch a new war against Alster in 357 AHW, and the whole Manster Alliance would effortlessly crush the upstart country. Queen Miranda would entrust Conote to her cousin, Perceval, who would turn the newly-established Province of Conote into a fledging democracy, after the model of the Province of Pathos.

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Aristaeus Schleswig - Clever Compassion
Falcon Mage, Prologue, 5 Battles

Aristaeus Schleswig and his mother would live in Sailane after the dust settled, with Aristaeus finding himself a comfortable and unimportant bureaucrat. In 361 AHW, Emperor Apollo the Fourth would die of an illness, beginning a power struggle known as the Jovon Civil War. Aristaeus would use his position to ensure that refugees of the civil war were able to find quick and stable security in Silesia. Aristaeus’ actions would reward Aristaeus with a knightship in a reputable Silesian order.

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Lewyn Silesse - Archivist of Song and Dance
Tuneweaver, Chapter 1, 4 Battles

Following the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, Lewyn would resume his exploration of Annhelm - starting in Stromhelm, he would wander all through the former lands of Agustria and all through the Süderen, taking the time to learn the music and dance of even the most remote parts of the jungles. He would then return to Mares, Falia, Thracia, and Cryonac Island, and would learn their new tales. Eventually, Lewyn would become a celebrated professor at Antheos Academy.

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Hannah Hearthome - Holy Hearth
Sage, Prologue, 1 Battle

With Kratos banished to fulfill destiny, the Bragil Church needed to find a new Archbishop to lead the faithful in this new era. The Cardinals would thus choose Sister Hannah Hearthome to be the new Archbishpin of the Bragil Church. Though unexpected, in an age where Outrealmers were becoming more there would be few better choices with as much experience. Archbishpin Hannah would lead the Bragil Church well, doing her best to balance piety and politics.

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Liana Yewgrove-Jungby - Child of the Hunt
Assassin, Prologue, 10 Battles

Liana would settle in Ichiavel with the rest of her family, and live a happy life of peace and contentment even as her brothers would move into their own manors and Brigid sailed the high seas. After the Jungbian Confederation Crisis of 370 AHW (which Liana’s anxiety no favours), Liana would move in with Grand Duchess Edain and be appointed the Süderen Confederation’s spymaster. Beneath the cover of night, Liana could be found in shadowed alleys purging evil.

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William Azai - Heart of Ice
Mage Fighter, Prologue, 3 Battles

William established many of the Dacian Republic’s democratic institutions, with the aid of Margrave Kebet and Selena Baker. Though William would never be elected to hold an office due to his severe personality, he would nonetheless be an influential figure in Dacian politics. He would be a good father to Shannan, too. His main occupation would be furthering mystiology and advancing Frost Tomes. Eventually, William would become Annhelm’s first Frost Sage.

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Mina Henkins - Purposeless Power
Adventurer, Prologue, 2 Battles

After the conclusion of the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, Ayra returned to Ichiavel for Mina, allowing Ryoma to return to his family. She, Arfer, and Mina would spend a few years training with one another; Ryoma would give the trio many visits, and sometimes, Hailey would as well. By the end of those years, Mina would find a new purpose to live for - and thus, she would become a Samurai, just as Ayra and Arfer were. Mina would become a retainer for the Isaachian royal family.

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Haru Asteros - Star Sniper
Sniper, Prologue, 2 Battles

The Dominion of Phoebus, first ruled by Haru’s father Boreas Asteros, would become a prosperous country. Following the start of the Jovon Civil War in 361 AHW, Boreas would step down as Chief Minister and allow his adult children to rule. Haru would become the Director of Diplomacy. Two years later, Alcaeus would join Haru as the Director of the Military, having proven himself on the battlefield, and in 365 AHW Yumiko would join her siblings as the Director of Education.

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Sabrina Larcei - Queen of Larcei
Wind Sage, Prologue, 1 Battle

The 357 AHW Treaty of Janus cemented the Kingdom of Larcei’s sovereignty and territory, and the Kingdom of Larcei, first lead by Sabrina’s father, Marco, then by Sabrina herself, would grow to become an equal to its rivals, the Kingdom of Rigel, the Kingdom of Barhara, and Pathos. Sabrina’s rule, starting in 360 AHW, would be peaceful and prosperous. Queen Sabrina, of course, would maintain the Kingdom of Larcei’s rivalries, refusing to concede or accept defeat.

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Sophia Baumgarten - Magic's Devil
Elementalist, Prologue, 11 Battles

Sophia would marry Kijin Eruca soon after the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, becoming the Kijin-Consort of Isaach. Using her position, she would continue working with Khalid and Robin to eliminate significant threats to Annhelm’s stability and peace. In the meantime, she would finish her education and release more controversial academic papers, including one on ‘elder tomes’ and another on ‘standardized sorcery’. After graduating, she would become a professor at Antheos.

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Selena Baker - Nova Neko
Monk Fighter, Prologue, 9 Battles

Selena would hang around Stromhelm for a time after the war. When Pluton began its independence fighting, King Bloom would pay Selena to assist the Plutoni and never return - which Selena would do. Due to Selena’s efforts, republicanism would become popular among the Plutoni. Selena would settle and establish a primary school, teaching critical thinking, reading and writing, history, civics, mathematics, and science to many children. Selena would eventually start dating Merf.

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Elyssa Jove - Jason’s True Scion
Falcon Mage, Prologue, 9 Battles
Daniel Rosanne-Solvaster - Solar Strategist
Sky Archer, Prologue, 10 Battles

In Mares, Daniel and Elyssa would renew their marriage vows where all their friends were able to attend. The reception for the renewal would be one of Annhelm’s liveliest parties, and many would cite it as Lewyn’s greatest performance. Daniel and Elyssa would spend the next few years adventuring and hunting monsters with Dimitri, Maria, and Fauz. When it came time to settle, they would find employ in Alster, where Queen Miranda put them to use in their fields of expertise.

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Deavolt Naru - Graceful Wing
Shaman, Prologue, 7 Battles

Deavolt Naru would spend more years travelling around Annhelm, studying the people and learning more about the natural world as well as the art of druidism from Princess (then Queen) Deirdre, Lefallovrn, and Professor Hebe, and become a Druid proper. Eventually, Deavolt Naru would return to the realm of the gods to be with her creator, Hera, and act as one of Hera’s greatest advisors and warriors.

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Abhali Marigold - Cerenian Marshal
Great Knight, Prologue, 5 Battles

In 357 AHW, Duke Conn would pass away. No expense would be rejected for his funeral, and legends would say that the whole of Cerenia attended Conn’s funeral. Abhali would take the mantle of Duchess of Cerenia with dignity and pride, and would lead bravely the defense of Cerenia against Danheim’s war in 362 AHW. Though Cerenia shrank, Abhali maintained Cerenia’s long history of chivalry, and would lead Cerenia’s reconstruction into veritable military might.

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Alwyn Pendragon - Mage Armour
Light Sage, Prologue, 0 Battles

Alwyn would become one of Antheos Academy’s most beloved professors, known for his empathy and his high degree of knowledge. In 351 AHW, during the war, his past in Jugdral would begin to hinder him, and he would spend the rest of his life battling a fell illness unlike any other. He would pass away in 366 AHW, leaving behind a wife and two young daughters. The Bragil Church would officially recognize Mage Armours and Siege Armours as classes in his honour.

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Eruca Fiore - Kijin of Isaach
Mastermind, Prologue, 10 Battles

Eruca would marry Sophia soon after the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, which was a momentous occasion for all of Isaach - it was the official start of the Kingdom of Isaach’s prosperous future. Eruca would focus on firmly establishing Isaach as a competent political and economic partner for Annhelm, forging many alliances for Isaach. Alongside her diplomatic campaign, Eruca would also focus on a cultural campaign, seeking to renew what was lost during Agustria’s long occupation.

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Richard Skalshed - Caldsteg Knight
Fortress Knight, Prologue, 2 Battles

Though forced to retire after being routed by the Cerenian Army, Richard did survive, by sheer nature of being too stubborn to die. He would join his step-father, Cladsteg, in the smithy, as he was too injured to fight any longer, and he would help his father craft his fearsome weapons. Richard’s experience would end up beneficial, as it allowed him to perform tasks that Caldsteg could not. Richard would inherit everything Caldsteg owned, including his smithy and his blueprints.

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Halbern Velthomer - Lit Velthomer
Mage Lord, Prologue, 1 Battle

Following Falia’s acquisition of the Madino territory, Carmin Herring would be instated as Margrave of Madino, as a reward for his and his sister’s services to the empire. Halbern would marry Sienna Herring in 355 AHW, cementing the Herring family’s loyalty to House Velthomer. The pair, already described as bombastic by those aiming for politeness, would have a lively and unique homelife in Madino Castle, to the longsuffering and joy of Margrave Carmin.

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Brock Hammerton - Low and High
Plasma Mage, Prologue, 2 Battles

In the aftermath of the war, Brock would join up with the Knights of Blagi and adventure around with them, eventually becoming a Captain in the Bragil Knights’ Anima Squad regiment. He served honourably and nobly, and helped to reconstruct the good and diplomatic image of the Knights of Blagi. When he eventually found a man to settle with, he would retire with honours, and settle in Mares. He would end up writing a controversial and accurate memoir of the Third Great War.

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Renier O.W.A. Niioka - Involuntary Immortal
Barbarian, Prologue, 2 Battles

In a new era of peace, with Professor Ivanovsky seeming to have disappeared, Rowan would remain a wanderer. He would document his travels and record the peoples he encountered along the way. Rowan would especially find appreciation for the Pluton Republic, which accommodated his vampiric tendencies with surprising tolerance. Eventually, after many years of travelling and telling his tales, Rowan would compile, write, and publish a Codex of Annhelm.

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Gale Avery - Storm of Deliverance
Mage Fighter, Prologue, 4 Battles

Gale and Mina would settle in Sailane near Aristaeus. Gale would find steady employment as a messenger across all of Silesia, Phoebus, and Dack, and Mina would find a career being a judge in courts. At the start of the Jovon Civil War, Gale would be among the first to volunteer for peacekeeping; through Gale’s bravery, many commoners across all of Cryonac would have their lives saved. After Gale’s return to citizen life, he would be knighted by King Arlen with honours.

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Jim Baker - Gentle Giant
Dread Fighter, Prologue, 9 Battles

While Selena was busy with democracy, her family would occupy themselves with less divisive matters. Robert, the eldest brother of Jim and Selena, would become the Margrave of Mackily. Jim and E.Z. would together venture out into the wilderness, journeying across Annhelm with the aid of their friends and other family members. Jim would battle the curse of Lucifer’s champions the whole while, and seek ways to resolve Lucifer’s anger and return him to Greater Good.

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Rin Tohsaka - Valentine Sage
Fire Sage, Prologue, 0 Battles
Corbett Combe - Phony Patrician
Sentinel, Prologue, 12 Battles

Corbett and Rin would return to Combe Manor with all of Corbett’s family. Corbett would be chosen as the next Baron of Combe, further cementing his comfort. Though Corbett would never again sleep easily after his breakdown in Ylisstol, all of his family would all help Corbett to heal from the scars of warfare. Rin, meanwhile, would make progress in the field of mystiology by crafting a new and controversial fire tome: Purepyre. There was still enough success that Shirou lived comfortably.

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Arjan Chalphy - Grannvale’s Commander
Armour Lord, Prologue, 2 Battles

Arjan would become the Commander of the Confederal Süderen Military, the new name for Grannvale’s long-standing semi-organized semi-centralized military. His experience leading the disorganized decentralized resistance against Agustria and Yggdrasil was highly beneficial to his duties. Under Arjan’s leadership and with the assistance of the other states of the Treehaven Alliance, which became the Verdane Pact, the Confederal Süderen Military would advance.

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Arlen Silesse - Prince of all Silesia
Light Sage, Prologue, 0 Battles

With his only prominent ally now thoroughly defeated, Archduke Makar would continue his reign meekly. In 361 AHW, soon before the start of the Jovon Civil War, Arlen would marry Edelgard. During the Jovon Civil War, Makar would be removed from power and Arlen would take his place as Archduke. Archduke Arlen the Second would oversee Silesia’s restoration to the status of Kingdom, and would be crowned King Arlen the Restorer in 370 AHW. Few were without joy.

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Dayla Farellien - Farlance Savant
Pegasus Knight, Prologue, 2 Battles

Dayla left Annhelm soon after her time at Antheos Academy came to a close. Enlightened by Damien’s love, humility, and compassion, Dayla would begin the long and tedious work of teaching her world the truth of the God Damien Farlance. Her teachings would never kick off in her time, but some generations after her death, they would find new popularity and eventually become mainstream.

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Remiel - Wings of Mercy
Monk Fighter, Prologue, 2 Battles

Remiel would be glad for the end of the war and the chaos it brought. While he was happy to have taken part in helping Brigid and her crew, he had greater priorities. Lehran’s Medallion in his hand, Remiel would return to Tellius where the Medallion could no longer threaten Annhelm (and where the Medallion belonged in the first place). Remiel would always remember his time in Annhelm fondly, and he would dedicate himself to spreading peace in Tellius.

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Jacob Freedman - Misaligned Maker
Mage Knight, Prologue, 3 Battles

Jacob died soon after the Ishtari Beachhead Invasions (Chapter 8), and left behind broken hearts and a legacy of innovation, secrecy, destruction, and ingenuity. As he left no remains, he was never buried, but his lover, Ayra, carried his sword with her for the rest of her days, even after she fell in love with another. Damien, his half-brother, would honour him by naming a son after him and raising that Jacob with as much love as possible.

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Kura Deinia - Crazy Cryodrake
Wyvern Master, Prologue, 2 Battles

With no home to go to, Kura would stay in Fhirdiad and become a gladiator in the Fhirdiad arena. When Danheim invaded in 362 AHW, Kura would join the front lines and fight viciously against Danheim. Despite his best efforts, Cerenia would still lose the war. Kura would abandon Cerenia afterward, partially out of shame, and wander for some time, eventually ending up in and settling in the Kingdom of Dalmatia. There, he would resume his career as an arena gladiator.

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Maria Oak - Imperial Maid
Warrior, Prologue, 0 Battles

With her liege lady, Elyssa, no longer a Jovon Princess, Maria Oak would abandon the Jovon Empire and join Daniel and Elyssa, as well as Daniel’s friends Dimitri and Fauz, in their adventuring. She would even changing fighting style to become a Wyvern Master - to complete the trio of flying mounts, so she claimed. When Daniel and Elyssa settled, Maria would settle as well, finding employ as the Master of the Household for Queen Miranda and her family.

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Grace Keplin - Emerging Engineer
Artificer, Prologue, 7 Battles

Grace would, after the conclusion of the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, return to Stromhelm, continue her studies, and work to pave the way for international growth in mystiology and technology. After graduating with honours, her expertise in many facets of magic would often called upon for intensive studies, seminars, or projects all across the continent. Through Grace’s kindness and resolve, her husband’s reign would have a tolerance unseen in any prior King of Stromhelm.

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Ryo Taigan - Warlord of Dragnor
Wyvern Lord, Chapter 1, 0 Battles

Ryo would be celebrated as a hero of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, and would be offered a seat of power in the Kingdom. Ryo, however, declined, having learned much about himself and gathered allies and strategies to defend himself and his friends back home in Ransei. He would return to his home realm in 360 AHW, and never be heard from in Annhelm again. Back in Ransei, he would jointly lead the Unified Kingdom of Ransei excellently, and be remembered as a great leader.

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Orion Arch - Brigade's Beast
Dread Fighter, Chapter 1, 13 Battles

Orion would head home soon after the war came to a close, filled with a purpose that must be completed. It is said after a pitched battle with Zeus for the sake of a great many, he would finally get a peace of his own. During that peace, Orion would take in a young girl named Andromeda, and give her the best life he could. He would raise her with all the heart he learned through his friends, and tell her of the importance the Wayfinder he still carried had to him and his friends.

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Nex - Spectral Chef
Sky Mage, Chapter 1, 1 Battle

Nex would disappear from the histories for some time after Nex’s year at Antheos Academy, only for Nex to reappear a decade later as the owner of a high-end restaurant in Treehaven specializing in Plutoni- Chalphean blend cuisine. Nex’s gender would remain staunchly ‘Nex’, and Nex would continue to refuse pronouns. Nex’s restaurant would become one of the highlights of Treehaven, and at least once a month the Süderen Royal Family would visit Nex’s restaurant for dinner.

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Jude Monroe - Sun Crusader
Flame Mage, Chapter 1, 3 Battles

Jude would return to his Jugdral soon after Annhelm’s war concluded, and would bring all his experience and ferocity back with him. Thanks to Jude’s efforts, both in combat and on battle preparation, the Holy Army of Jugdral would have an easier time fighting against the Dark God Loptyr and his Empire of Grannvale. After Jugdral’s Holy War was won, he would settle with his new boyfriend and become one of the Kingdom of Yeid’s top military officers.

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Tianna Mendoza - Cheerful Archer
Falcon Knight, Chapter 1, 11 Battles
Narai Risú-Kanai - Necromancy Anew
Sorcerer, Chapter 6, 5 Battles

Risú would finally become the Count of Thove. Tianna followed him, unwilling to leave him behind. Soon, the two would confess to one another, and would have a merry wedding with attendees from across the continent, including a wandering bard, Lewyn. Risú and Tianna would live peaceful lives, making just decisions and promoting egalitarian ideals throughout Silesia and within the County of Thove. It would be said that their love was constant and their joy was plentiful.

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Eren Freiheit - Vigilant Shield
Fortress Knight, Chapter 1, 7 Battles

Eren would reconnect with his family and finally take the time to mourn the loss of his father. During the newfound peace, he would return to Antheos Academy, avoiding the brewing turmoil within Yggdrasil, and focus on offering his knowledge for the better of the academy. Under Eren’s leadership, Antheos Academy would grow away from being simply a school of warfare and politics, and embrace the arts. Eren’s efforts would award him with the title of Co-Headmaster.

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Zolvanos Delhein - Bastard Sword
Swordmaster, Chapter 1, 1 Battle

Zolvanos would, just as he had the entire span of the war, fight in the arena to his dying days. He became so popular a fighter that when Dozel declared sovereignty from Falia, Zolvanos was made one of Dozel’s key cultural points, and was knighted a Sir by King Danann for services to the Kingdom. After Danann abdicated his throne to his younger brother, King Lex and Zolvanos would become like brothers. Sir Zolvanos would eventually become the master of Dozel’s arena.

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Kallen Schariac - Brigade's Champion
Hero, Chapter 1, 13 Battles

When all was said and done, Emperor Arvis would confer the title of Margravine of Thebes to Kallen, rewarding her for her exceptional service. Now occupied by politics, Kallen would hand the Dusk Brigade’s reigns to Raoul. Despite her new title, Kallen would negotiate provisions for the Dusk Brigade quite a few times. She would also use her influence to establish a centralized Annhelmian mercenary guild to compete with Anna’s Annhelm Adventurer Association.

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R.I.X.U. - Avaricious Automaton
Ballista Knight, Chapter 1, 1 Battle

After the war, R.I.X.U. departed for his own adventures, heedless of the warnings of his comrades. Eventually, he would turn up again, but with his memory gone, only to disappear a few months later. He would appear throughout workshops and academies across Annhelm, selling exceptional drinks and food prior unheard in Annhelm. Whenever he was asked about where he learned to make these food items, R.I.X.U.’s only answer would be an uncertain shrug.

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Harper Vaesyra - Princess Spirit
N/A, Chapter 1, 0 Battles

Deep in the night some time after the Third Great War, Dimitri would come to Fortress Bragilon once more. Working with incorporeal Harper Vaesyra and Archbishpin Hannah, he would arrange for Harper to return home. Harper would spend years reassuring her sister from the afterlife. On the day of her sister’s death, the whole of Vaesyra would feel the joy both sisters felt in the afterlife. Thereafter, the death of a loved one would become a time of solemn celebration and reunion.

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Tabitha Quick - Clever Corsair
Rogue, Chapter 1, 5 Battles

Tabitha died during the Ishtari Beachhead Invasions (Chapter 8), and left behind broken hearts and a legacy of piracy, whimsy, adventure, and liberty. A few years later, other pirates, such as Legolas, would be posthumously reburied near Tabitha. Kura, the young neko Tabitha brought along with her, would eventually grow into a fearsome pirate, and earn herself the moniker of “Black Fang”. Queen Grace would visit the pirate memorial on occasion, if only to talk to her friend.

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Belladonna Goldoa - Potion Profiteer
Ninja, Chapter 1, 0 Battles

Belladonna would return to her home realm as soon as she was allowed to, seeking to not spend any more time in a world as rife with chaos as Annhelm as necessary. Having experienced war first-hand, Belladonna would gear her apothecary business even further toward remedies and medical assistance. She would lead the business for centuries more, taking on different names and advancing the field of potions far beyond even her own initial imaginings.

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Legolas Corbridge - Corsair Captain
Warrior, Chapter 1, 10 Battles

Legolas died in the Battle of Mackily (Chapter 11), and left behind broken hearts, bastard children, and a legacy of piracy, honour, swashbuckling, and personal integrity. He was buried outside of Mackily, but a year after the war’s end, his remains, and the Mast Feller, would be brought to the site of Falia’s and Stromhelm’s joint landing and buried beside Tabitha. That old battlefield would become a memorial ground for pirates all across Annhelm.

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Diana Soulat - Sweetsong Siren
Tidal Mage, Chapter 1, 2 Battles

Diana would settle in Stromhelm after the war and join Grace’s inventor guild. With their help, as well as her own sheer brilliance, Diana would invent a device that allowed people across the continent to talk to one another, which she called the televox. The televox and its network would spread across Stromhelm like wildfire, allowing friends and family many days apart to connect without need for letters. Eventually, the televox network would spread across much of Annhelm.

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Astrior Brynja - Rose of Brynja
Minstrel, Chapter 1, 2 Battles

Once the Third Great War was over and done with, Astrior would return to her foster family a war hero. Though there were no immediate effects to Astrior’s actions, Stromhelmian sentiment toward orcs would shift more positively over time as a result of her heroism and the heroism of other Stomhelmian orcs. To fill her time, Astrior would play her flute for local taverns, and gradually her beauty and artistry would would gather for her a cult following of fans.

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Makaria Plutos - Pluton’s Salvation
Great Lord, Chapter 1, 5 Battles

Makaria would recover from the effects of Yunaga slowly but surely. In 356 AHW, she was able to walk her sister, Melinoë, down the aisle for Melinoë’s wedding. Once she returned home, she would begin ruling Pluton in proxy of Melinoë - but all too soon, Pluton would rise in revolt against Falia. Makaria would be a continual diplomat between her people and the Falar Empire. After the 358 AHW Treaty of Pluton, Makaria would move to the Süderen and become a royal advisor.

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Rib - Aloof Pyrodrake
Trickster, Chapter 1, 0 Battles

While at Antheos Academy, Rib has a severe change of heart due to the efforts of Seth Gaias. While she would remain aloof and dismissive, Rib would turn her efforts toward the greater war beneath everyone - the defense of Annhelm against Grima itself. Joining a boisterous Wind tribe manakete named Desmond, Rib would find her life both less quiet and less unpleasant. Thanks to Rib’s efforts, the efficacy of missions against the desert’s Dark Mages increased by many times.

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Rose Squibbler - Thorns of Steel
Gymnast, Chapter 1, 9 Battles

Rose would disappear after the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares. She would be noted as following her family back to their home, but what she did afterward is entirely unknown. Utilizing words she would use, Rose would fuck off into the mysteries of history. Rose would not fulfill many deeds of importance.

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Hikaru Amachi - Brigade's Key
Mortal Savant, Chapter 1, 13 Battles
Kaoru Mirato - Key of Wisdom
Mortal Savant, Chapter 9, 3 Battles

Hikaru and Kaoru would welcome Nami into friendship, hoping to guide her growth and help her become less murder-happy. The three would return to Scala and face down Master Arumon, whose flawed goals would disrupt the worlds’ integrity. Hikaru, Kaoru, and Nami would together defeat Arumon, with Hikaru himself landing the final blow. With Hikaru’s freedom secure and Nami’s journey beginning in earnest, the trio would begin travelling all the worlds, each improving.

---

Verda Rosen - Verdant Healer
Priestess, Chapter 1, 0 Battles

Verda eventually remembered her identity as Natalia Sousettia, and helped to reconstruct Cerenia after the Falar victory over Cerenia. After the Third Great War, she would continue to help rebuild Cerenia and eventually take over as the matron of the orphanage she was raised in. During Danheim’s invasion in 362 AHW, Verda would join the many healers who helped keep Cerenia’s and Falia’s soldiers alive and able to defend. After that war, she continued being the orphanage’s matron.

---

Mara Ferenia - Humble Wing
Falcon Knight, Chapter 2, 0 Battles

Mara served nobly in the Jovon military. After the Third Great War, she would settle in her home village and act as its defender. During the Jovon Civil War, Mara would fend off many threats, only to die during the final year to a happenstantial shot. Mourned by all those she protected and by those who fought beside her or knew her, Mara would become a folk legend whose memory would eventually inspire many pegasus knights in Jovia to be more chivalrous overall.

---

Fan Li - Lonely Sword
Samurai, Chapter 2, 0 Battles

Fan Li attended Antheos Academy as a Red Hawk and graduated normally. She went to Isaach after her time in Antheos, seeking to further her skill with the sword. There, she learned with Ayra the way of the samurai. When Ayra left Isaach, Fan would stay behind. Fan joined in Isaach’s liberation forces in 351 AHW and became a crucial part of the army. After the war, Fan would continue being a part of the military, training recruits in the ways of the sword, bow, and lance.

---

Ashton Farlance - Sunshine through the Snow
N/A, Chapter 2, 0 Battles

Ash would follow wherever their parents went. When they returned to Jugdral, seven years after Ash had left, Ash would begin their training once more, and help their parents throughout the castle. When they became an adult, they would take up their father’s position as the Dunx of Sailane, and rule both justly and fairly. Thanks to many years of their parents’ advocacy as well as Ash’s own prominence, intersex rights would be progressed all across Jugdral.

---

Zoey Faldner - Steadfast Cryodrake
Hero, Chapter 2, 4 Battles

With the Azure Wolves scattering to go their separate routes, Zoey would be without much purpose beyond the sword. She would return to Antheos Academy, finish her schooling, and then disappear soon afterward. Zoey would reappear three years later in Silesia as a part of their military. She would help them rebuild and modernize their military, and serve as a capable commander against Jovia during the Jovon Civil War. She would work with House Niffel for all their days.

---

Merf - Arson Master
Fire Sage, Chapter 2, 2 Battles

Merf would hang around Stromhelm for a time after the war, simply because it was where Damien had been. When Pluton got its independence and was notably an LGBTQ+-friendly state and democratic, Merf decided to move there, hearing good things about their tolerance for the sapient undead. They would eventually invent the Wildfire Tome with Selena’s help, and later start dating Selena.

---

Renatus Allectus - Warrior King
Wyvern Lord, Chapter 2, 0 Battles

The formation and recognition of the Kingdom of Dalmatia would be Renatus’ greatest achievement. He would rule his kingdom well and prosperously. After the Kingdom of Danheim breached its non-aggression pact with Dalmatia in 362 AHW, Renatus would finally be able to bring Dalmatia into the Manster Alliance. Thanks to the Manster Alliance’s aid, Dalmatia would stand strong against Danheim (later Thracia) and grow very important in the Alliance.

---

Pymmadier Gaias - Wild Wyrmling
Wyvern Master, Chapter 2, 11 Battles

Pymm would continue working with the Dusk Brigade for a few more years - but after Lex’s departure in 357 AHW, all of Pymm’s friends were gone, so she would leave the Dusk Brigade as well. She would return to her mama’s side and stick with Ymir for the next long while. On occasion, Pymm would visit Lex in Dozel Castle or Kallen in Thebes Castle. Pymm’s wyvern, Bartholomew, and her pegasus, Wing Boi, would both live happy lives with Pymm and Ymir.

---

Aleshandra Kaijoro - Playful Foxkin
Hero, Chapter 2, 4 Battles

Aleshandra would wander around Annhelm after the war, exploring it in earnest and discovering many nooks and crannies. Aleshandra would become a treasure hunter, finding and selling many lost treasures. After many adventures around Annhelm, Aleshandra would decide to return to their family’s home in what was now the Süderen Confederation. They would live happily and record tales of their journeys in a number of memoirs.

---

Nyssa Alaric - Raptor Paragon
Falcon Knight, Chapter 2, 5 Battles
Annand Illia - Wingmaster of Silesia
Falcon Knight, Chapter 5, 2 Battles

Nyssa and Annand would settle with each other in a nice place in Silesse Castle’s town, becoming a beloved pair across all of Silesia. Both would continue their service as pegasus knight officers, serving Silesia with utmost diligence (especially once Prince Arlen became the Archduke, then King). Nyssa would also take to her duties as Devil- King with utmost severity. Devil-King Falka would aid the demon tribes in facing their many hardships and try to befriend many demons.

---

Mogola - Introverted Explorer
Priestess, Chapter 2, 0 Battles

Mogola stayed at Antheos Academy and with Professor Hebe Matreon throughout her whole time in Annhelm, learning much of Annhelm’s magic through Hebe. Following the end of the war, Mogola would return to her home, and settle there for a few years. Once she gathered her energy once more, Mogola would again set out for extra- dimensional adventure, exploring another new world, and another, and then another. Mogola would learn much with each journey.

---

Donata Amana - Mecha Master
Rogue, Chapter 3, 0 Battles

Donata returned to her home realm some time after the Brethren Court was defeated, having learned much while under the care of Damien Farlance. She would continue protecting the Earth from the Protomorphs that assailed it. Eventually, she and her team would find a way to defeat them for good, and would execute the plan successfully. She was hailed as a hero for the rest of her life, and for the rest of history too.

---

Alina Isadi-Farlance - Herald of Hope
Paladin, Chapter 3, 0 Battles
Damien Farlance - Hundur of Jugdral
Mage Knight, Prologue, 3 Battles

Alina and Damien would leave Annhelm soon after the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares was ratified, causing much heartache. Once back home in Jugdral, Damien, renewed in resolve and purpose, would begin his rule as Duke of Sailane, laying the foundations of democracy in his territory and promoting an equal education for all children across Silesse. Alina was Damien’s ever-loyal aide and advisor, providing clear counsel whenever he needed it. They would raise many children.

---

James Thöstenson - Hope of Melgen
Sky Mage, Chapter 3, 9 Battles

After being faced with impossible standards, James found himself approached by Arvis with an unbeatable offer - James would join Falia’s aristocracy and for fifty years, Falia would not aggress against Stromhelm. James’ position would help to appease Falia’s war hawks. When it came time for James to marry, he found himself settling for someone who was... merely satisfactory. Even after a momentous wedding, James rarely smiled, and remained focused on his duties.

---

Romeo Audovera - Artist at Heart
Warrior, Chapter 3, 1 Battle

Romeo continued working with the A.B.K.A.F. throughout their mission against the Brethren Court, and after that he found himself working all throughout Manster and other regions of Anieatol and fighting many battles. By the end of the war, Romeo would have saved up enough money to pursue his dream career, and he would begin performing with song and dance, and gather together a troupe including the likes of Billy Yole and Gwen Dolen.

---

Koreaia Borein - Numb Power
Swordmaster, Chapter 4, 0 Battles

Koreaia worked with the A.B.K.A.F. throughout their mission against the Brethren Court, and upon the mission’s completion she would find himself working with Romeo all throughout Manster and other regions of Anieatol. During a battle against Danheim and Jovia (Chapter 9), Koreaia would be struck down by a sky knight. She would be mourned by those few who knew her. Romeo would eventually compose a song in her honour, titling it ‘Jessie and James’.

---

Serafina Amalthaer - Twilight Muse
War Dancer, Chapter 4, 0 Battles

Serafina did not feature in many parts of the Third Great War; the only notable event she participated in was the Liberation of Isaach, even if she was taken along for the rest of the war effort through Ylisstol and Yggdrasil. Serafina and Jasonos would continue to find joy in conversation; when Jasonos left Annhelm soon after the party at Mares, Serafina followed behind, seeking a new world free from war. Serafina’s destiny is ambiguous but happy.

---

Hector Dustin - Dusty Mechanic
Machinist, Chapter 4, 0 Battles

Dusty would find himself possessing much money after the war, due to his military pay as well as various sidejobs that only an engineer could handle. He would purchase a manor a little bit outside of Freege City, big enough for all his family, and they would all move there together. Ill-content to stay still, Dusty would continue working in his father’s workshop. When his father passed on, Dusty would inherit the workshop and continue providing for his family.

---

Lucas Blake - Aloof Artist
Hero, Chapter 5, 1 Battle
Kass Clovern - Scholarly Soldier
Adventurer, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

Lucas and Kass would settle in Fhirdiad after the war was over. Lucas would proceed to make many wonderful pieces of art, including a masterpiece called “The War’s End” that would become a cultural icon well after Lucas’ artistic heyday was over. Lucas and Kass would be wed in a chapel in Fhirdiad, then decide to travel to Kass’ home realm. Their destinies are not known, but it is believed they adopted a son after adventuring around Hyrule. It is presumed that they died peacefully.

---

Claire Thöstenson - Faith of Melgen
Priestess, Chapter 5, 4 Battles
Elincia Crimea - Headstrong Healer
Angel Knight, Chapter 5, 3 Battles

Claire and Elincia would send many letters to one another following the close of the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, confessing many personal details to one another and developing a bond without equal. When the Jovon Civil War broke out in 361 AHW, the Jovon warlords began attacking the surrounding countries. Valiantly, Elincia would fight for Lubeck and lead the defence of Lubeck Castle. Though she lost, Elincia would eventually join Claire in Melgen - and in marriage as well.

---

Nolan Rox - Anxious Archer
Archer, Chapter 5, 1 Battle

Nolan died during the Battle of the Caeldre (Chapter 5), and left behind broken hearts and a legacy of cowardice and precision. He was unceremoniously ‘buried’ at sea, and would be honoured as a soldier of the A.B.K.A.F. posthumously. He would be cited as an example of the atrocities pirates could and would commit, inspiring great opposition to piracy around the continent.

---

Chadicus - Seeking Sigma
Barbarian, Chapter 5, 1 Battle
Lupa Romul - Eager Brawler
Hero, Prologue, 3 Battles

After the war, Chadicus would join Fortress Romul’s guard, to train under Duchess Bellona and protect House Romul. While there, He and Lupa would start courting. A few years later, Chadicus would ask for Lupa’s hand in marriage. Polemos, Lupa’s father, would challenge Chadicus to a spar to judge Him, as would Bellona, her aunt. Though Chadicus would not win either fight, Lupa and Chadicus would marry happily, and Lupa would become the Duchess of Romul.

---

Allan Ford - Brigade’s Spark
Elementalist, Chapter 5, 5 Battles

Allan Ford would continue the adventuring life, wandering around all of Annhelm with the Dusk Brigade. His magic and understanding of lightning would advance further, making him a highly valuable asset for the Dusk Brigade - and the Dusk Brigade would be highly valuable to him, too. During quiet moments in the wilds, Allan would write a treatise on sorcerous electromancy that, when released, would challenge many scholars’ perception of sorcery and the body.

---

Alexander Richardson - Spell of Atlantis
Tidal Mage, Chapter 5, 4 Battles

Alexander would return home and defeat the gunmen who were attacking his family, then begin the process of reconstruction and mending. After all of his work in his small home town, his mother, the Queen of Atlantis, would gift Alexander (and Abel) the gift of water breathing, and proclaim Alexander as the rightful heir of Atlantis. Eventually, Alexander would be crowned the King of Atlantis; he would rule justly, knowing personally the price of injustice.

---

Tennon - Cerulean Blade
Swordmaster, Chapter 5, 1 Battle

Tennon died during the Dark Mage’s insurrection in the Coalition Encampment (Chapter 14), having slain many insurrectionists before a stray fire spell took him down for good. He left behind broken hearts and a legacy of justice, excellence, swordsmanship, and a resolve to keep improving. Though he never saw the end of the war, his valour would inspire many swordsmen of the next generation.

---

Cecania Taevas - Guardian Angel
Assassin, Chapter 5, 3 Battles

Cecenia Taevas grappled with the steady dissolution of the Dusk Brigade for a while, and eventually came to realize that, despite everything, they truly cared for the Dusk Brigade. Skadi herself would then congratulate Cecenia for fulfilling her task - learning to love - and offer Cecenia Taevas the chance to stay in Annhelm for a while longer or be assigned to a new mission. Cecenia stayed in Annhelm for a few more years, then departed for her next mission.

---

Daemon Lightstone - Mercy-Touched
Monk Fighter, Chapter 5, 1 Battle

Daemon stayed with the Baker-Velthomer expedition to the Forge of Stars, then joined the Falar army. He fought with Falia through most of the Third Great War - after Agustria was defeated, he joined Eldigan’s group of Dark Mage hunters and aided them all throughout their journeys. He would remain a part of the Dawn Brigade.

---

Set, the Usurper - Playboy Paladin
Great Knight, Chapter 5, 2 Battles

Set fought alongside the Azure Wolves throughout the whole of the Third Great War, bravely battling whatever enemies he was pitted against, and flirting with any feminine thing that crossed his path along the way. After the war, Set would join the Knights of Blagi properly and participate in bandit-quelling and peacekeeping all across Annhelm. Set’s prowess and efficiency would outweigh his sometimes scandalous demeanour and his wanderlust.

---

Helio Solaire - Sunny Hero
Hero, Chapter 5, 0 Battles

Helio fought with Agustria for the rest of his days. He died during the Coalition’s march through Agustria (Chapter 12), fighting to keep his friends and family safe from the effects of war. He left behind broken hearts and a legacy of bravery and hope. His younger brother would have a monument for Helio erected in the village they called home after the war, as a memorial for all the soldiers who died in the Third Great War.

---

Darius Epirus - Epiran Lord
Wyvern Lord, Chapter 5, 0 Battles

When Darius left Antheos Academy, he immediately joined the fight against the occupiers of Danheim. He would inspire Epirus’ morale through all the fight, and King Travant would personally reward Darius with the title of ‘Air Marshal’. When his grandfather finally passed on, Darius would become the Duke of Epirus, and he would continue serving King Travant loyally - through war, through peace, through victory, and through defeat.

---

Milo Wonderfoot - Honest Song
Minstrel, Chapter 6, 0 Battles

When Cerenia was once more invaded in 349 AHW, Milo rallied under Duke Conn’s banner and joined the fight for his motherland. During the march to Fhirdiad (Chapter 10), he was slain by Falar forces. He left behind broken hearts and a legacy of music, compassion, and integrity.

---

Jack Hester - Brigade’s Bushido
Samurai, Chapter 6, 2 Battles

Jack Hester would become a student of Ayra for a few years, eager to learn all the arts of the samurai. In 358 AHW, he would rejoin the Brigade, and begin serving as Raoul’s deputy in the Dusk Brigade, filling in the shoes of the now-married Lex. Under Raoul’s leadership and Jack’s advisement, the Dusk Brigade would continue being Annhelm’s premier mercenaries. Any aspiring member would have to defeat Jack to join the Dusk Brigade, and very few would pass.

---

Abel Richardson - Lance of Atlantis
Sentinel, Chapter 6, 3 Battles
Bren - Unleashed Sapience
Machinist, Chapter 8, 2 Battles

Abel and Bren would settle in Freege after the war, close to Grace’s and Eitri’s workshop. As Bren lived in Annhelm, she began exhibiting more and more extreme multiple personalities. Eventually, a solution would be devised, and over the course of the next ten years multiple small robots would be given form, derived from Bren’s appearance and built off Bren’s core. Soon after becoming parental figures, Bren and Abel would marry one another. Once a year, they would visit Alexander.

---

Tear Lhars - Brilliant Blade
Swordmaster, Chapter 6, 7 Battles
Fir Adela - Exuberant Explorer
Griffin Knight, Chapter 8, 1 Battle

The end of the war did not herald the end of action for Tear and Fir. As the changes of the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares came into effect, the Radiant Order would be called upon to aid in the defense against brigand bands. Tear would lead many of these missions as the Grandmaster of the Radiant Order, and Fir would help make everyone smile even through the loss of her griffin. Under their leadership, the Radiant Order would flourish and grow into a strong organization.

---

Artoria Genneth - Dutiful Knight
Great Knight, Chapter 8, 5 Battles

Artoria would continue serving in the Falar Army after the end of the war, leading Falia’s soldiers through the Plutoni Independence War of 356 AHW and its associated conflicts well and through the Thracian Expansion War of 362 AHW to 364 AHW. At the end of the fighting, Artoria would be awarded with the title of General. All the while, in whatever city or town she was in, Artoria would take some time to show kindness to her fellow orphans and urchins.

---

Miku Hatsune - Songbot Sage
Sage, Chapter 8, 5 Battles

Miku would adventure with the Dusk Brigade for a few more years, keeping the peace across Annhelm and helping her fellow Brigadiers fell monsters and bandits. After 358 AHW, Miku’s more delicate components began to break down, so she retired to Eitri’s workshop. Working with Eitri, Queen Grace, and the others in the inventor guild, Miku would advance magic more. She would also, with the rest of the Vocaloids, delight many events across Stromhelm with her singing.

---

Ezreal Danil - Reserved Foxkin
Sniper, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Ezreal fought for the Maretians as a sell“sword”, defending Mares against Agustrian and Bragil incursions despite his best efforts to avoid fighting. His experiences with the Coalition were quite traumatic, in the end; Ezreal would eventually return home to Cerenia, and he would be one of the first to take up arms against Danheim in 362 AHW. Ezreal would, against all odds, survive, and he would settle back into a quiet life with his family.

---

Deus Rex - Ave Dominus
Mage Fighter, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Deus continued fighting in the war for Stromhelm, seeking to continue advancing his house’s prestige and reputation. When the war came to a close at last, Deus would settle in his manor and begin investing in Antheos Academy, the University of Freege, and many guilds across Stromhelm. He would continue being an advocate for rational piety, which Queen Grace would also support; together, they funded a small non-denominational seminary school near Freege.

---

Orelia Rysn - Tempest Intellect
Storm Mage, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Orelia joined Stromhelm’s army after the evacuation of Freege, and was a part of one of the beachheads. She died on the sandy shores (Chapter 8), and left behind broken hearts and a legacy of intelligence, scientific investment, and magical power. She would be honoured by a memorial in the new Freege’s central park, along with many other soldiers.

---

Len Kagamine - Songbot Knight
Great Knight, Chapter 8, 3 Battles

Len would join the Dusk Brigade after the war, seeking to continue his training and bringing justice and smiles across Annhelm. Five years afterward, both Len’s and Miku’s body would show immense wear, and so they would retire. Len would become a full-time performer, touring Stromhelm with his three siblings. His horse would make travelling much easier for all four Vocaloids. Whenever he had the chance, Len would also teach kids how to ride horses.

---

Carol Brahn - Flickering Phalanx
Fortress Knight, Chapter 8, 2 Battles
Etain Goneril - Goneril Goneaway
Hero, Chapter 9, 4 Battles

Etain and Carol would settle in the newly-independent Halidom of Ylisse, each finding ways to remain active and in-shape. Carol would spend time on everything she knew, from lances to her inner flames, while Etain set herself on track to become Ylisse’s highest-level strategist. Both women would work toward making Annhelm a peaceful continent and keep in touch with their friends and family all across Annhelm. Eventually, they would start a family together.

---

Annette Nextura - Two-Faced Coin
Assassin, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Annette found herself having to defend herself when Agustrian soldiers tried to raid her wares a number of times. Her exceptional fighting lead to her being brought to Melgen, where she was told to either join Stromhelm’s army or be sent to Mares overseas. Annette joined Stromehelm, whom she with fought all throughout the war. Annette would settle back into her merchant lifestyle after the war, becoming a successful seller of wares and goods.

---

Jesse Ashani - Lover of Bottles
Trickster, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Jesse’s membership of the Brethren Court would be the greatest thing to happen to Jesse, aside from the whole war business. Once the war ended and Jesse was on the seas proper, Jesse would find it to be an utter blast. Jesse would be a very successful pirate, and eventually he would take Captaincy of his own ship, the Bottled Dragon. He wouldn’t be a good captain, alas, but with the help of the Pirate Lord, Brigid, Jesse and his crew would be as prosperous as a pirate could be.

---

Kall Mathis - Bitter Mercenary
Hero, Chapter 8, 2 Battles

Kall continued being a Cerenian mercenary after the defeat of Dimitri. With the help of House Marigold, he would learn to open his heart once more; he would eventually marry May Marigold, and the pair would adopt two girls, named Fiona and Clover, and raise them in the art of diplomacy, politics, hunting, and combat. One day, Dimitri would return for just an hour - and as Kall watched his daughters play, Dimitri would confirm that Kall’s father was at rest, just like Dimitri’s.

---

Lisara Melyos - Lowly Beginnings
Fortress Knight, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Lisara served honourably all throughout the war, and she would be brought into the officer corps of the Chalphean Army after the war. She would be taught the ways of tactics and strategy, and Lisara’s flexibility and adaptability meant she would take to it, and eventually become a General. Through all this, Lisara and Elaine would kindle and maintain a friendship. Around a half a decade after the war, Lisara and Elaine would start dating, and they would marry a few years later.

---

Olivier Haistulf - Erudite of Earth
Sage, Chapter 8, 7 Battles
Elain Caldus - Wing Baroness
Falcon Mage, Chapter 11, 2 Battles

Olivier and Elain would, after the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares was signed, travel to Manster with the rest of the Mansterens, and then part ways; Elain to Caldus Manor and Olivier to the Sety School of Sorcery and Wizardry. There, Olivier would become the foremost expert in geomancy, both arcane and sorcerous. Olivier and Elain would marry soon after, with Olivier becoming one of Manster’s most staunch anti- war figures. Olivier would be the primary caretaker of his children.

---

Remon de la Cloyance - Viscountess de Cloyance
Mage Lord, Chapter 8, 1 Battle

With her territory now consigned to a democratic regime, Remon decided to hedge her bets and become a politician, using her words to become a legislator for the Dacian Republic, and eventually one of its few senators. By Remon’s will, the port town of Rausten would be established and built, providing many job opportunities to the Dacian Republic and making trade with the rest of Annhelm easier. Remon would use her affluent status to promote philosophical progress.

---

Arfer Flathill - Samurai Student
Samurai, Chapter 8, 3 Battles
Ayra Isaach - Principled Shogun
Samurai, Prologue, 5 Battles

Ayra and Arfer would return to Ichiavel, relieving Ryoma of his watch over Mina Henkins. Due to all of Mina’s progress, it was only a few more years before Ayra would feel comfortable bringing Mina to Isaach. During those years, Ayra and Arfer would grow closer and become peers and equals. When they eventually returned to Isaach, Ayra resumed her duties as Shogun, Isaach’s commander-in-chief. Ayra and Arfer would marry soon after, living quite happily together.

---

Reino Engel - Arch-Mystiologist
Sage, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Reino would, with Damien’s help, make the Climate Crystals, which would make life all across Annhelm more bearable for many. Wealthy persons from all over Annhelm would order climate crystals for their abodes. With this passive income to support him, Reino would make many advancements in mystiology, including the development of baro-style wind tomes and rushing-style thunder tomes. Reino would be hailed as the greatest mystiologist and innovator of his age.

---

Seth Allie - Cartoon Chaos
Ninja, Chapter 8, 3 Battles

Seth would settle in Antheos City, where all sorts of folks lived and his black-and-white appearance wasn’t too odd. In Antheos, Seth would serve as an agent for Ieyasu, keeping the Koshaku informed of any odd happenings in or near Antheos. Due to his employment and his war riches, Seth was able to live quite comfortably. However, he would begin feeling restless after a few years, so he would become a professor at Antheos Academy. There, he would further his skill in Deep Magic.

---

Anna - Savvy Saleswoman
Trickster, Chapter 8, 0 Battles

Anna would continue working with all the other Annas of Annhelm. Due to Anna’s similar appearance to all the other Annas, her journey isn’t known. What is known is that she wouldn’t find herself in a position of prominence or a position of irrelevance - but a nice happy medium between notoriety and paparazzi treatment. Her investment into innovations would be a large part of her comfortable life, and thanks to her the Annas would grow even wealthier.

---

Hailey Hearthome - Heroic Hearth
Blade Lord, Chapter 9, 1 Battle
Eugene Hearthome - Prototype Halberdier
Sentinel, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Wherever House Valhalla went, there Hailey and Eugene would follow. Thus, Hailey and Eugene would find themselves settling in Heirhein, where Kurth was now Margrave. Hailey would once more join Kurth’s guard, eventually being promoted to captain of the guard, and then to General of Heirhein. Eugene would popularize training to be an infantry user of axes and lances, which would be recognized as the Halberdier by the Bragil Church. Both would retire in their late 50s.

---

Lefallovrn Meinas - Outcast Champion
Priest, Chapter 9, 4 Battles

In 355 AHW, a few months before the Yggdrasili Civil War began, Lefallovrn and Eve would marry, and Lefallovrn would be made a Baron in Valhalla. During the Yggdrasili Civil War, Lefallovrn would be a part of Empress Arlene’s war council, helping direct many successful offensives and counteroffensives. When his liege lady, Deirdre, became Queen of Barhara, she would dub Lefallovrn as her Minister of Education. He would also fund orphanages all across Annhelm.

---

Rhodes Whitlock - Red-Handed Justice
Outlaw, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Rhodes was useful enough during the war to avoid being thrown back into jail, even despite his criminal record. With the end of the war, Rhodes would be informed by General Reinhardt personally that his actions in the war were deemed a suitable compensation for his crimes, and that his good heart had shone through. Reinhardt pulled some strings and even got Rhodes an apprenticeship with a prosecutor, where he could productively deliver justice to those who did wrong.

---

Libra - Youngling Aerodrake
Falcon Knight, Chapter 9, 5 Battles

With her brother, Desmond, still missing, Libra would adventure for a few years, taking April along as a companion so that neither manakete was lonely. Both would garner minor fame along the way. Eventually, she would found a travelling pop-up shop, selling equipment and her smithing services to mercenaries, to the armies she once fought beside, and to the students and faculty of various academies, including the continentally-famous Antheos Academy itself.

---

Fauz ibn Hasan - Muslim Mage
Monk Knight, Chapter 9, 7 Battles

Fauz would take up adventuring with Daniel and Elyssa, as well as Daniel’s friend Dimitri and Elyssa’s former maid Maria, rounding up the group’s immense power with much-needed healing. After adventuring around, most of the group would settle in Alster. Fauz would find employment as a bodyguard for Daniel and Elyssa, keeping them safe wherever they went. He would remain a part of the Islam faith for the rest of his days.

---

Aria Imperia - Militant Legacy
War Dancer, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

Aria found glory and honour in the Third Great War, and would restore her mother’s blade to its former glory. After the war, she would settle in her home village. She would defend her village from bandits well, and inspire many children in her village to join the Falar Army. She would, herself, fade into relative obscurity.

---

Arok Rigel - Heroic Beast
Ninja, Chapter 9, 0 Battles
Dredra - Heroic Excommunicant
Trickster, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Arok and Dredra would wander around Annhelm following the end of the Third Great War, mostly trying to stay away from conflict. After the end of the Yggdrasili Civil War and the establishment of the Kingdom of Rigel by Arok’s younger brother, Berkut, both would be invited to stay with Berkut, their shared younger brother Alm, and Berkut’s wife. Not the kind to say no to safety, Arok and Dredra would become permanent residents of Janus Castle and live quite happily.

---

Nora Bankai - Eager Squire
Sentinel, Chapter 9, 2 Battles
Llywelyn Beguile - Divided Bloom
Mage Fighter, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

With the aid of a master spectremancer, Llywelyn had the demon within his soul, Celestine, removed and placed into a new body - the body of a child whose spirit had passed on. Llewelyn and Nora would take on themselves the care of now-young Celestine, doing their best to raise her well despite her literal bloodthirst. Llywelyn would find employment as a mystiologist for the Bragil Church, and Nora would find himself becoming an important officer in the Knights of Blagi.

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Alice Corret-Stormsong-Solano - Inventive Mystiodrake
Artificer, Chapter 9, 2 Battles
Amelia Hawke-Corret-Stormsong-Solano - Crackshot Gunsmith
Sniper, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

Alice and Amelia would stay in Annhelm for a few years after the end of the war, to work on their projects with their fellow inventors and help the rest of Grace’s inventors guild with their varied projects. Alice would complete her Athame project, creating a dagger that could be used just like a wand, and Amelia would properly repair her laser pistol with Annhelm’s runes and magical materials. Alice and Amelia would explore many Outrealms together after leaving Annhelm.

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Mirabelle - Delightful Damsel
Bard, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

Mirabelle would survive the war and retire from the army. She would settle in Heirhein’s town and wed a lovely man who was a master of the culinary arts. Eventually, after years of saving up, they would together open a tavern of mild repute. Mirabelle and her husband would not find themselves living any grand destiny, but their home was happy, and they were relatively successful.

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Himura Jin’ei - Alien Blade
Swordmaster, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

After the Third Great War, Himura would spend some more time loitering in Annhelm before he decided to return to the realm he came from. It is not known what Himura would do at home, but there is little doubt he treated those around him kindly, lead his soldiers bravely, and saw many things across many worlds.

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Edgar von Hresvelg - Brigade’s Benevolence
Warrior, Chapter 9, 4 Battles

Edgar would stay a part of the Dusk Brigade for a few more years, adventuring around with them and fighting against brigands and monsters alike. After the Thracian War of Expansion, Edgar would disappear. Rumours would suggest that a mighty man still wandered around, fighting on behalf of those who could not fight for themselves.

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Noki Rukisson - Lonely Lance
Sentinel, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Noki served valiantly through all his fighting, and survived against all odds. Upon his return, Noki would settle as a lowly Baron until Dozel declared independence from Falia. Deciding to take up arms once more, Noki would be among the many noblemen who rallied under King Danann’s banner. As a reward, Noki would be conferred the title of Duke. Even once Danann abdicated, King Lex enjoyed Noki’s advice and experience. Duke Noki would be the greatest scion of House Ruki.

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Jayadratha - Lord of the Sindhu
Archer Lord, Chapter 9, 2 Battles

Jayadratha would continue his life serving in the Bragil Church’s diplomatic corps, where he found great success. Through his experiences with Catherine, he learned to tolerate subordination under a woman - especially when that woman was as competent and considerate as Hannah Hearthome. Jayadratha would live a fulfilling life that helped the Bragil Church remain geopolitically relevant despite the loss of reputation it suffered after the Third Great War.

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Eranor Urtle - Wave Tempo
War Dancer, Chapter 9, 3 Battles

As a reward for his valiance, Eranor would be entitled with a Barony relatively near the estate of Viscount Wendri, whose daughter, Reyna, gave Eranor the funding to train and the directive to fight for Stromhelm. During the next Opal Tournament, Eranor would meet a lovely woman named Adeline. After he resolved some issues with some of Adeline’s exes, Eranor and Adeline would marry. Eventually, Eranor and Adeline would open a dance academy near Mares Castle.

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T’visi von Delina - Shadow Attendant
Elementalist, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

T’visi was one of Stromhelm’s chief diplomats during the foundation of the Coalition, and T’visi would continue to fill an important role in Stromhelmian foreign relations on behalf of King Bloom. A large and loose alliance of Falar opponents, the Eastern League, would be T’visi’s greatest achievement, bringing the likes of Thracia, Jovia, Isaach, and Mares (and Stromhelm, of course) all together for a common cause of opposing Falia. His ties to the Tartaran Cult would never be found.

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Baronk Ovesterd - Stromhelm Kingsguard
Fortress Knight, Chapter 9, 5 Battles

Baronk would continue being Bloom’s Kingsguard through the rest of his life, serving and protecting his Blood Brother and Blood Sister with all his might. On behalf of the King of Stromhelm, Baronk would be a liaison to many of Stromhelm’s orcish tribes, advocating to them further integration into Stromhelm’s society and its burgeoning multi- species nationality. Though these efforts wouldn’t fully succeed, those orc tribes that didn’t integrate into the Kingdom would trade more.

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Sengear - GOAT Tank
Fortress Knight, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Following the fall of Agustria and the collapse of peace, Sengear found purpose with Sir Eldigan and his crusade against Dark Magic. Sengear would fight valiantly beside Eldigan and the other members of the future Dawn Brigade, even despite her generally-tenuous hold on life. With the Dawn Brigade, Sengear would adventure around much of former Agustria and, eventually, destroy the dusty and unsettlingly empty lair where her fellow tribesmen were once experimented on.

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Ivaldi Lumens - Canine Faith
Tuneweaver, Chapter 9, 5 Battles
Lapis - Heraldic Heron
N/A, Chapter 14, 0 Battles

Ivaldi and Lapis would explore Annhelm, spending a year on their “honeymoon”. When they decided to settle, they would do so in Yggdrasil, where Ivaldi would be swept away in a whirl of mystiological progress. In 355 AHW, a few months before the start of the Yggdrasili Civil War, Princess Deirdre, Lefallovrn, and Ivaldi would together create phyta tomes. After the Civil War ended, with Deirdre’s help, Ivaldi would become a professor at the Süderen School of Wizardry.

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Chanko - Beast of Virtue
Mage Fighter, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Toa Chanko would spend a few more years in Annhelm, mostly in Yggdrasil. He and Deirdre would get along quite well, due to their shared affinity for flora of all kinds. During this time, Chanko would find in himself purpose, harmony, and resolve to be a hero. It was this that self-discovery that would spur Chanko to return home despite his Hordika infliction. He would become a great hero, defeating the Visorak once more. He would eventually be cured of Hordika venom.

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Aurora Everfeld - Deer Friend
Priestess, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Aurora supported Stromhelm, the Falar Empire, and the Azure Wolves in as many of their efforts as she could. During the Agustrian and Yggdrasili campaigns, she was pushed to her limit. After the war concluded, she returned home to carry out the mantle of saving her realm, now armed and empowered with powerful magic. Upon her success, Aurora would be officially crowned as the Empress of Eveadora, and would lead her people well through many troubles.

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Valora von Hopelight - Countess of Hopelight
Wyvern Master, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

After the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares was signed, King Ring would elevate Hopelight from a County to a Margraviate, making Valora officially one of Jungby’s most important politicians. Valora would thus be especially involved in the discussions surrounding the Jungbian Confederation Crisis of 370 AHW. When the dust settled, her territory would become a part of the Süderen Confederation and Valora would continue ruling the Margravine of Hopelight justly.

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Gerome Steadfast - Legacy of Conquests
Ballista Knight, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

Gerome’s service in the Falar military was glorious. His precision and power aided greatly in the liberation of Stromhelm, the reclamation of the Falar Empire, and the conquest of Cerenia. Even when war turned toward Agustria, the country his grandfather ruled, Gerome continued to serve the Falar Empire. After all the fighting came to a close, Gerome would move to the Principality of Agusty, where he would help enforce and maintain peace and stability.

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Nick Murillo - Magic Patissier
Sorcerer, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

With the end of the war and his reputation as a frozen treat seller established all across Annhelm, Nick would begin wandering around the continent from major city to sell his frozen delights. His food items would be especially popular in the tropical and humid Süderen region. Nick would enjoy great success, and eventually find himself an apprentice to pass on all his knowledge, sorcerous and mercantile, to. Thus would be the start of the Murillo Ice Cream Company.

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Ekato Myala - Occult Scholar
Storm Mage, Chapter 9, 4 Battles

Ekato would marry Natasha as soon as he could, so that his father could be there for the wedding. Ekato would then begin wandering across all of Annhelm, seeking out further knowledge on magic and on the Arcane, all the while contributing to frost, dusk, and elder tomes. With Ekato’s long history of occult acceptance, the Pluton Republic would invite him to become the first Dean of Pluton’s own University of Pluton. He would accept, and bring Natasha with him to Pluton.

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Setsuka - Bolting Storm
Plasma Mage, Chapter 9, 1 Battle

Setsuka would settle in Freege after the war, and use the gold he had gained to enrol and study at the University of Freege. Once he graduated with a degree in mystiology, he joined Grace’s inventor guild and began work on a project unlike anything else. In 360 AHW, after many dangerous experiments, Setsuka would successfully invent the Reszek Tome, combining fire magic and thunder magic in a single, powerful, high-level tome.

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Y’raishna Rhul - Miko'te Captain
Mage Fighter, Chapter 9, 3 Battles

Y’raishna would at first settle in Jungby, through a series of politicking that resulted in any of Captain Brigid’s gifts for her service to Jungby being given to Y’raishna instead. Y’raishna would, eventually, move to Falia and secretly marry her lover, Edelgard. When Edelgard married Arlen, Y’raishna would be her maid of honour. Y’raishna would be entrusted with one of Edelgard’s twin children, and they would be raised happily, living a comfortable life neither of their mothers had.

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Zhuo Yu - Hopelight Vanguard
Great Knight, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Zhuo diligently served Valora through the war, and would continue doing so through his whole life. Zhuo’s dedicated service would continue even into the 370s, by which point he would become the General of Hopelight’s military. After the Hopelight territory joined the Süderen Confederation, Zhuo found himself under the motivated and compassionate rule of King Sigurd, a man whom Zhuo found to be... an acceptable sovereign after the model of King Ring.

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Ledus Hiacko - Grand Geokinetic
Elementalist, Chapter 9, 3 Battles

Ledus would help in Freege’s reconstruction, using her mastery of the earth to good use. Once Freege was rebuilt, Ledus would disappear to wander across Annhelm as a field historian and archeologist. Eventually, she would return to the ultimate enigma, Vydar’s Keep, and try many ways to delve into the deeper layers - along the way, becoming a professor at Antheos Academy. Though she never succeeded, she would eventually succeed Gotoh Ironwork as the History Professor.

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Kiyo Duzu - Runaway of Duzu
Great Knight, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

Kiyo would stay with Kiya for a few years after the war, helping her to establish and reconstruct the manor and its services. He would then be invited to join the Süderen Confederation’s Crown Delegation Corps, and attend many meetings for many purposes across the Süderen Confederation as a representative of King Sigurd. He would eventually marry a soldier and settle in Chalphy City, where he could visit Kiya at any time... at least, when he wasn’t doing his job.

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Kiya Duzu - Viscountess of Duzu
Sentinel, Chapter 9, 0 Battles

With the Süderen Confederation ascendent, Kiya’s position would improve immensely. Restored to her rightful manor, Kiya would rule benevolently and justly, and be an active part of all of King Sigurd’s political and martial programs. She would, eventually, marry the second son of another Süderen viscount. Relations between House Chalphy and House Duzu would continue to be positive.

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Catherine Ishizu - Major of Tea
Sharpshooter, Chapter 9, 2 Battles

Catherine would continue serving in the Knights of Blagi for a few more years, shouldering some of the Church’s administrative burden. After she retired from the Knights of Blagi, Catherine would travel across Annhelm, picking up trinkets and accessories and selling them whenever she happened upon one of her Jasmine Dragon tea shops. All along the way, Catherine befriended many people. Eventually, Catherine would become a professor at Antheos Academy.

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Sylvana Valtoris - Free Cataphract
Heavy Knight, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Sylvana fought loyally with the Falar Empire all through the Cerenia and Agustria campaigns. When the opportunity presented itself after the failed Treaty of Agusty, Sylvana rejoined the Free Knights and continued her loyal fighting. When peace was officially restored, Sylvana would rejoin the Knights of Blagi and actively contribute toward the keeping of peace across all of Annhelm. She achieved a level of fame that enabled her to continue sending money back home.

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Yesod - The Maker’s Hand
Grandmaster, Chapter 10, 1 Battle

Yesod and his RABBITs served with Stromhelm’s army through all the fighting of the war, keeping all of Stromhelm’s inventors safe through whatever carnage the war brought. When the war ended, Yesod would return to his manor with his RABBITs; Yesod would return to his cycle of invention and hibernation. He would be a valuable part of Grace’s inventor’s guild, and his RABBITs would continue watching over and guiding the security and prosperity of Stromhelm’s economy.

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Richter Mundus - Mountainous Zeal
Monk Fighter, Chapter 10, 3 Battles

Richter would devote his time to helping the Faithful of Loptyr integrate into society. Though this would cause the Faithful to splinter into a number of denominations, the largest denomination would heed Richter’s advice and refuse the election of a new Archbishop. Richter would do his best to remain as ‘just a member’ of the Faithful, though eventually he would distance himself for the Faithful’s sake. The largest Faithful denomination would successfully integrate into Stromhelm.

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Vysceri - Haunted Hunter
Flame Mage, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Vysceri would be among those who settled once more in the restored Kitsune Valley, and he would be among the Kitsune who would be trusted in a leadership position (though very much against Vysceri’s will). Vysceri would help reconstruct the Valley’s villages and settlements. Due to Vysceri’s efforts, along with the efforts of many others, the Kitsune Valley would be a site of pilgrimage for kitsune all across Annhelm.

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Silque - Arachnid Anxiety
Shaman, Chapter 10, 2 Battles

Silque would continue his apothecarial advances, joining Grace’s inventor guild and finding it to be accepting and intellectually stimulating. Silque would continue to be one of the forefront advocates for monster rights and destigmatization. After ten years of this, Silque was given an honourary doctorate in mystiology and invited to begin teaching at Antheos Academy. Despite his anxiety, Silque accepted, seeking to teach the restorative arts to the next generation.

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Nuul Valkrill - Brawler of Countries
Dread Fighter, Chapter 10, 3 Battles
Palt Ebbtal - Ambil's Pride
Trickster, Chapter 11, 3 Battles

Following the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, Palt and Nuul would part ways for a while, with Palt adventuring with the Radiant Order and Nuul plundering under Brigid’s flag. In 356 AHW, Nuul would leave the pirates and join the Radiant Order with Palt’s recommendation. After starting their family, both Nuul and Palt decided to retire from the Order. The Ebbtal-Vakrill family traveled frequently, and could be frequently found in Ylisse, Agusty, Jungby, or Romul.

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Ann-Marie Armstrong - Ferocious Feline
Monk Fighter, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Ann-Marie would stuck by her sister’s side, protecting her through all the tumult of the 350s. She would help Senna in promoting the democratic system, and would even donate to and help fundraise for the education system. Ann-Marie would also provide instruction and advice for the Democratic Federation’s armed forces. During the Yggdrasili Civil War, she would be tasked with leading a group of soldiers to stabilize and protect the Edda region.

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Senna Armstrong - Merciful Feline
Shaman, Chapter 10, 2 Battles

Senna did not, ultimately, rule for long as the Baroness of Moncada, due to Ethos being ceded to the newly-sovereign Pathos during the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares. However, she found herself agreeing with the Democratic Federation’s system of governance, and so she stayed where she was, working to promote the system to those around her and ease the transition from feudal autocracy to accountable democracy. She would also open Moncada Manor into a welcoming place for everyone. 

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Emerie Wilhelm - Chivalric Treason
Griffin Knight, Chapter 10, 3 Battles

Emerie would return to her village and be hailed a hero by everyone. She would then spend the next few years helping to guide and build up Isaach’s proper military force, particularly regarding the administration and logistics of sky knights. During this time, Emerie would connect with one Hinoka Hoshido, the younger sister of Ryoma. Their shared affection for the sky would lead them to becoming life partners. Emerie’s code of honour would also influence the new bushido code.

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Ronan Kvasir - Stellar Child
Light Sage, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Ronan would settle in Stromhelm, staying close to Richter. With Richter’s guidance, Ronan would become a powerful mage, with both light tomes and with his unusual deep magic. Richter would become an excellent father figure for Ronan, helping the “young” boy find stability and certainty and comfort and, ultimately, friendship with others. Ronan would live a long, happy life.

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Chase Narromore - Soldier Smith
Machinist, Chapter 10, 2 Battles

Chase would settle back in Stromhelm after the war, and his reputation as both a blacksmith and machinist would grow significantly. He would meet with a wonderful woman named Claudia, whom he would eventually marry and have a few children with. As well, Chase would be appointed as the Guild Master of Grace’s inventor guild, which meant he would, despite his immense embarrassment and modesty, find himself interacting with many big Stromhelmian names.

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Charles Haistulf - Penitent Patriarch
Great Knight, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Count Charles would return to Manster without much affair. With the death of King Hector the Second in the early months of 354 AHW, young Roland Haistulf would return to Charles’ care, and Charles would dedicate his life to the care for and upright raising of Roland. Through this, Charles would learn to start forgiving himself - though this was a skill not often used. Charles would die in 363 AHW. Count Roland would be one of King Gregory’s greatest advisors.

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Hundur Myala - Damien of Annhelm
Sorcerer, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Hundur would die soon after the ratification of the 353 AHW Treaty of Mares, knowing peace and surrounded by family. His final act would be to use up all of his magic to bless his family with greater strength, resistance, and energy - an ultimate and conclusive act of sorcerous biomancy that he had learned through his many years of study. Through this, he would, in some small way, live on through his siblings and child. With no magic to sustain him, he peacefully passed away.

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Hallbin Trevin - Guardian Griffin
Nomad Knight, Chapter 10, 3 Battles

Hallbin would continue guarding Senna, as per his imperial favour, and help establish the Knight of Blagi presence within the United Democratic Federation of Pathos and the other provinces. Though Hallbin would always struggle with feelings of hostility toward Beorc, he would improve over time due to the efforts of his friends and fellow knights.

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Angeline Cygnia - Sky Dreamer
Angel Knight, Chapter 10, 3 Battles
Taurn Lyndwerth - Solar Flare
Great Lord, Chapter 11, 1 Battle

Angeline and Taurn would marry a few months following the end of the war. They would help Taurn’s sister, Margravine Scarlett, build up House Lyndwerth’s reputation. Eventually, Emperor Arvis would order the construction of Duscur Castle and a surrounding town. Angeline would engage herself primarily with altruistic causes, while Taurn would focus on protecting the Falar Empire and its people. Angeline and Taurn would both work to uplift the next generation.

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Opal Flannery - Novice Cleric
Priestess, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Opal would find purpose in altruistic causes after the war. Her training as a Priestess would enable her to be a powerful force for restoration and construction. Eventually, she would be hired by a company of wandering light mages, to help care for them as they wandered across Annhelm and battled monsters. Opal would never settle, and would explore almost every aspect of Annhelm.

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Iman el-Amin - Malfeasant Mystic
Trickster, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Iman would once more settle in Velthomer, where she would find herself in the centre of Annhelm’s new hegemon and thus receive a great many customers from all stretches of life. Iman would, eventually, find room in her heart to love again, though it would take a long time and a rather patient and considerate woman. Iman would live happily and comfortably - and finally, ultimately, move on from that rat bastard Adin. Her shop would be subject to many attacks, to the joy of no one.

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Aranya Habronattus-Bagheera - Arachnid Erudite
Hero, Chapter 10, 0 Battles

Aranya’s academic acumen would inspire the appreciation of Emperor Arvis, who would put Aranya to work as one of his philosophers and academic advisors. Aranya’s experiences and knowledge would shape the Falar Empire in a more progressive and intellectual direction, as was Emperor Arvis’ preference, which would allow Aranya to enjoy a life of comfort. Thanks to his influence and intelligence, monsters (and specifically spider monsters) would become less stigmatized in Falia.

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Rufus Allie - Accomplished Animation
Sniper, Chapter 11, 1 Battle
Molly Allie - Adept Animation
Sniper, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Thanks to the intercession of the gods and the suppliance of metacoordinates by an odd Outrealmer artificer named Tiffany, Rufus and Molly would return to their home realm and live a happy life. They would eventually stop their clandestine work and become meta- dimensional scientists, working to create their own machine that could move people or images between realms. Even if Sleazy wouldn’t come home, they wanted to see their son live and find purpose and success.

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Thundermane - Centurion Centaur
Ballista Knight, Chapter 11, 1 Battle

Thanks to Olivier’s cure, Thundermane’s sickness would stop wearing down on Thundermane’s vitality. Thundermane and the House of Jungby would work together to integrate centaurs better into Annhelm’s society, allowing for centaurs to join Jungby’s urban life and, although few, some non-centaurs to join the centaur herds. Eventually, Thundermane would step down as chief, and change career to become a professor at Antheos Academy.

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Leoris Fendral - Luminous Lance
Sentinel, Chapter 11, 1 Battle

Leoris quickly realized the danger presented by Dark Mages. As such, after the Knights of Blagi 7th Expeditionary Force left for Treehaven, Leoris instead went north and journeyed to join up with Sir Eldigan, the Lion Knight of Agustria. After overhearing of Jin Matoi’s death by the hands of Dark Mages, Leoris’ zeal for the group’s purpose would only increase. Leoris would continue to be a part of the group, and eventually found his place as one of the Dawn Brigade’s commanders.

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Erdric Vinter - Honest Criminal
Barbarian, Chapter 11, 0 Battles

With the end of the war, Erdric would be deemed to have served his sentence. With plenty of gold, Erdric would find a place in Yeid and settled there. He would life comfortably for the rest of his life, and occasionally he would offer his services as a mercenary for additional gold. He would live a happy, albeit quiet, life.

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Jin Matoi - Shining Mentor
Samurai, Chapter 11, 0 Battles

Jin Matoi was among the swordsmen who were defending Janus Castle, both during the Dusk Brigade’s attack and the dark mages’ attack. He would be slain by the spells of a dark mage (Chapter 14), leaving behind broken hearts and a legacy of honour, valour, compassion, and education. His lifestyle would go on to influence even Isaach’s famed swordspeople, helping them to resolve what it meant to be a samurai.

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Arseid Lhars - Brilliance’s Brother
Hero, Chapter 11, 0 Battles

Arseid’s place in Jungby’s military and his excellent performance and his valour despite his handicap helped to provide the Lhars name a good reputation in the eyes of Jungby’s elite. Arseid would not join the Radiant Order, as he wanted to explore Annhelm in his own right, but if he happened across the Radiant Order, he would accompany them for a time and help them as he could. Arseid would eventually settle in Isaach, where he would find himself as an idol among aspiring samurai.

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Elena Lhars - Brilliance’s Sister
Myrmidon, Chapter 11, 0 Battles

Elena would, once she was of age, help her mother pack everything up and move from the humble village of Yuand and into the big city of Ichiavel, where Tear had set up the headquarters of the Radiant Order. Elena would join the Radiant Order and eagerly fight with it. Elena would eventually marry one of the weaponsmiths in Ichiavel; she would continue to be a part of the Radiant Order, and her marriage would help keep the Order supplied with the weapons they needed.

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Isadora Barzilai - Heirophant Hunter
Mage Knight, Chapter 11, 1 Battle

Isadora’s hunt to end armageddon by ending the Grimleal Heirophant would not succeed. Journeying all across Annhelm, she would find only dead ends, red herrings, and charlatans. Eventually, Isadora would join the Dawn Brigade, using her experience to aid in the battle against Dark Mages and in the recovery from Dark Magic. Her life wouldn’t ever be easy, but it would be worthwhile and purposeful.

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Linnea Brynhildr - Draconic Dragoon
Wyvern Master, Chapter 11, 1 Battle

Linnea and Nidholl had no way to return home. As such, she would wander and battle brigands for almost a decade. In 362 AHW, she would be hired by the Kingdom of Dalmatia to fight against Danhelm’s invasion. She would serve valiantly, and find great camaraderie among the fellow wyvern knights. Deeming Dalmatia suitable, she and Nidholl would settle in Eirenos Town and continue to defend Dalmatia - not as mercenaries, but as soldiers.

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Maximillian von Dreadnaught - Maximum Dreadfire
Mage Knight, Chapter 11, 1 Battle

The partition of Agustria would see Maximillian’s territory fall under Falar dominion. Maximillian would reject this fate, his pride too large, and abandon his estate to wander around. When the Plutoni revolted against Falia, Maximilian would join the fight against the Falar there, eager to get his revenge. Maximilian would not contribute much, and the Pluton Republic would become a sovereign entity. He would settle in the Pluton Republic and eventually became a fringe politician.

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Micaiah Ahkos - The Black Knight
Fortress Knight, Chapter 11, 2 Battles
Zelgius Aritai - Bachelor of Dawn
Light Sage, Chapter 11, 2 Battles

The day after Emperor Apollo was defeated, Micaiah packed up her weapons and armour and kept them sealed under lock and key. Micaiah and Zelgius would marry soon after they returned to Manster. Once a year, the pair would rededicate Alondite, Micaiah’s gifted greatsword, to Sifa, ensuring the blessing would not die down. Many would try to wield the Black Knight’s famous weapon, but none would pass the test imposed by Micaiah and Zelgius and by the blade itself.

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Kit Winters - Pyromantic Professor
Flame Mage, Chapter 11, 4 Battles

Kit would remain a part of the Dusk Brigade, wandering across Annhelm performing good deeds and growing in mind and magic. Kit’s Hisuian Typlosion, Agni, would remain by Kit’s side loyally. With Agni’s help, Kit would eventually develop special ‘shadow flames’, proving himself to be the Dusk Brigade’s ever-reliable fire expert.

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Theodore Mindel - Ambil’s Hero
Monk Fighter, Chapter 11, 2 Battles

Theodore died during the Battle of Ylisstol (Chapter 13), and left behind broken hearts and a legacy of kindness, compassion, strength, and standing up for the little guy. He was buried in Ylisstol Castle’s private cemetery, and given special honours. House Ylisse would give Palt and her husband and children a personal right to visit the private cemetery whenever they wished.

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Michael Albimbert - Scorching Scout
Mage Knight, Chapter 11, 3 Battles

Michael would spend the first semester following the end of the war studying light magic at the Süderen School of Wizardry. After this, he returned to Falia and became Emperor Arvis’ personal apprentice. Arvis and Michael together would create constricting-style phyta tomes in 356 AHW, which aided Arvis in securing his reign. Michael would also create the Prisma Tome while under Arvis’ tutelage. After, Michael would then become a professor of mystiology at Antheos Academy.

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Rio Hanachirusato - Whimsical Thief
Gymnast, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Rio would disappear after the war, with sightings far and few between. Whenever she was sighted, it would be far, far away from where she was last sighted, without a sign of aging on her body. Rio would spend much of her time searching for a cure to mortality, and whatever time wasn’t spent there would be spent on determining who the next Devil-King was so that she could become the next Devil-King.

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Mirella - Tender Hydrodrake
Priestess, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Mirella would settle in the Süderen Confederation on the suggestion of one Seth Gaias, and find herself involved in a community of many wyrmlings. She would become an older sister for these young manaketes, helping them grow up (albeit slowly, as manaketes tended to) to be good people. She would also open an infirmary, with royal funding, and provide medical care for many people. Mirella’s many acts of public service would cause people to revere her as the Saint of Water.

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Nebuchadnezzar Goldoa - King of Goldoa
Hero, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Nebuchadnezzar would not stay in Annhelm for long, once peace was restored and the Medallion was gone. Nebuchadnezzar would rule Goldoa well, up until and through an offshoot prince of some northern Beorc kingdom would seize his kingdom and engage in a variety of destabilizing, disorderly actions. Though Nebuchadnezzar would do nothing, this would lead to a sequence of events that would change Tellius, and Nebuchadnezzar’s life, forever.

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Myssandei Minatozaki - Black Widow
Ninja, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Myssandei would prove herself as a capable leader for the Spider Lily and the White Camelia. Prince Khalid would hire the Spider Lily’s operatives for some of his medium-risk clandestine missions, paying the Spider Lily well and cementing Myssandei as a competent leader for the covert operatives. Myssandei’s bloodlust would never quite abate, but she would be able to contain it to when it was beneficial, most of the time.

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Harrison Hearthome - Hesitant Hearth
Plasma Mage, Chapter 12, 2 Battles
Scarlett Lyndwerth - Blazing Knight
Paladin, Chapter 14, 0 Battles

Harrison would leave the Knights of Blagi after the war and return to his family in Yggdrasil. During the Yggdrasili Civil War, he would side with Empress Arlene and serve as an officer. As Barhara recovered from the war, Margravine Scarlett would be sent there on a diplomatic mission, and the two would meet and agree to marry. Scarlett and Harrison would together rule the Margraviate of Duscur well. Their efforts to keep Falia and Barhara allied would be incredibly successful.

---

Marissa Coldrey - Staffsong Sergeant
Orchestrator, Chapter 12, 2 Battles

Marissa would be a part of the Falar military for a few more years, and would retire in 358 AHW. She sold the small manor she was given as a reward for her faithful service and moved out of the Falar Empire. She would resettle in Cerenia, where she would teach aspiring sky knights how to fly. During her breaks, she would courier messages across Cerenia. Despite all the troubles life threw her way (including a Danheimian invasion!), Marrisa would live a happy life.

---

Sueko Lockheart - Outspoken Opportunist
Sniper, Chapter 12, 1 Battle

Sueko would adventure across Annhelm for a time, to help settle unrest and quell any banditry with minimal bloodshed. She would, ultimately, return home to Isaach, where she would be knighted as a part of the Order of Yamane. While the safety of her brother Haruyuki would never be certain, at least with her status she could mitigate rebellion and promote popular accountability in the government.

---

Thelema Beledros - Spurious Spy
War Dancer, Chapter 12, 2 Battles

Thelema would disappear from the public eye once the war came to a close, wallet loaded and plenty able of defending herself. She would continue to involve herself in all sorts of crime and chaos, mostly as a free agent. On the occasion that someone was capable of paying her, regardless of whether they were good or nefarious, she would aid them for as long as was paid, and then disappear without a trace once more. Thelema would be quite successful, revered and feared in equal parts.

---

Tenco Liana - Cartoon Criminal
Outlaw, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

After the war, Tenco would wander aimlessly for a time, engaging in mercenary work to stay alive. After by happenstance working with a member of the Radiant Order, Tenco would be inspired by their chivalry and eagerly join the Radiant Order, beating all odds. She would adventure under their banner, working her hardest to make Annhelm a better place than before. Legends would say that, aside from Tear and Fir, Tenco was the most active member of the Order.

---

Jørn Lomen - Lightfooted Laguz
Hero, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Jørn would retire from the Stromhelmian army and decline the severance package, and with his friend he would hit the road and begin wandering around Annhelm as an adventurer. Jørn would battle many brigands, bandits, dark mages, and general ne’er-do-wells, earning himself a spot in many bards’ tales of valour and heroism. Jørn would eventually, temporarily, join the adventuring party that battled against and defeated the Mad Black Dragon, Tyrrama the Acrid.

---

Yvette Tethys - Bayside Bitch
Ocean Sage, Chapter 12, 2 Battles

Yvette would become a mystiologist for the Bragil Church for a few years, aiding the Bragil Church in studying, verifying, and publishing mystiological documents from all across Annhelm. Eventually, she would be expelled from the Bragil Church due to her controversial invention of the Wrathtide Tome. She would live the rest of her life as a pariah of mystiological circles, even after she invented the Geyser Tome in collaboration with Michael Albimbert.

---

Sionnach Fios - Spirit Scion
Minstrel, Chapter 12, 3 Battles

Sionnach would not stay in Annhelm for long following the end of the war. She would return to Erinn, her home realm, and prepare much for the battle for her future, taking to heart the lessons she learned in Annhelm. After that fateful battle, the victor of which few knew, life would progress as it always would have on Erinn. Rumours, however, would suggest that a humble high priest would occasionally host their child who had become so much more, each visit a new avatar.

---

Allan Potroit - Tempest Fox
Storm Mage, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Allan served honourably in Stromhelm’s military. After the war, Allan would return to Halin Village and resume his post as its protector. With Stromhelm’s newfound sovereignty over Bragilon Island, Allan found himself meeting old comrades more often than he expected - but he found that it wasn’t so bad.

---

Amethyst - Down-Bad Freelancer
Adventurer, Chapter 12, 1 Battle
Rosalyn - Down-on-Luck Damsel
Cleric, Chapter 14, 0 Battles

Amethyst would continue to engage in various schemes to accumulate wealth, including weapon resale. In time, Amethyst would open a proper business, employing retired sky knights to deliver products to shops all across Annhelm. When he accumulated an immense wealth, Amethyst would invest into other promising businesses and, to Rosalyn’s pleasure, donate to much to charity. Amethyst and Rosalyn would become known across Annhelm as noble and saintly figures.

---

Yves Rachmaninoff - Manic Musician
Mage Knight, Chapter 12, 2 Battles

Yves would join Duke Triton’s estate as a guard and friend for his daughter Triteia. When she went to Antheos, Yves would follow. Once her time as Triteia’s retainer was over, Yves would help Cerenia fend off Thracia and meet her eventual wife, Laegjarn. After the war, she would enrol at the University of Freege, and became one of Annhelm’s foremost experts on dynamancy. After marrying Laegjarn, Yves would eventually join Antheos Academy’s faculty as a professor.

---

Verena Schafer - Green Eminence
Sorcerer, Chapter 12, 0 Battles

Verena would serve her time in the Falar military and be allowed to return to the courts - but she would find that Emperor Arvis was a much different man from Emperor Victor, one who took a far more active approach in his ruling and thus made it far more difficult for Verena to continue her antics of cutting funding and appropriating it for personal purposes. Verena would still live a comfortable life, but she would be one of Emperor Arvis’ harshest critics.

Chapter 44: The End of Kratos Freehandson

Summary:

The death and passing of Kratos Freehandson, former Holy Yggdrasili Emperor and Archbishop of the Bragil Church.

Fortress Bragilon
Bragilon Island
30 Month of Glory, 353 AHW

It was a sombre gathering in the Archiepiscopal chambers of Fortress Bragilon. For the past two weeks, an illness has been rendering Kratos bedridden. Gathered in the room with Archbishop Kratos were six other people.

Knoll Midas, a master spectremancer.

Damien Lucianus Farlance.

Jasonos Constance Farlance.

Artemis.

Asgore Dreemurr, one of Kratos’ most trusted confidants.

And Astraea, another of Kratos’ most trusted confidants.

Kratos coughed into the crook of his elbow. He was... so, so sore. He had known it would be terrible, and he did not regret the pain all throughout his form, but it was all so miserable. At least he knew that, soon, it would be over. "Damien..." Kratos rasped out.

"Father..." Damien approached Kratos' bed slowly.

"... My son." Kratos coughed again. "I am proud of the man that you have become... and will continue to become."

Damien withdrew a handkerchief and used it to absorb the tears in his eyes. "... Thank you."

"... You have done well to overcome all the pain I inflicted on you. If ever I was half the man you are... my old pride in myself would be well-deserved." Kratos' tone was conclusive. He had nothing more for Damien.

Damien stepped backwards, and wrapped an arm around Jasonos.

"Jasonos..." Kratos beckoned.

Jasonos left her father's embrace and stepped to Kratos' bedside. "... Yeah, Gramps?" She asked, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

"... Do not echo my mistakes, granddaughter mine. Do not allow your pride to eclipse your rationale." Kratos let out a wheezing cough. "Live happily and live as yourself."

"Y-yeah." Jasonos hiccuped. "I'll try." Jasonos retreated to her father, and tightly wrapped her arms around him.

"Asgore..." Kratos called.

Asgore stepped forward, and knelt beside his liege lord.

"... When you go back, be there for my son. Help him grow." Kratos coughed. "Help him become the Damien we share this room with."

"Yes, milord.” Asgore confirmed.

Damien himself hiccuped. He knew Asgore's fate... and how he would succeed and fail.

"Astraea..." Kratos spoke weakly.

As Asgore stepped away from Kratos’ bedside, Astraea took his place. She spoke before he could continue. “Eugene, you know that I will do whatever you command me to do. Don’t mince your words.”

Kratos looked at Astraea... and sighed. "... That is true." Eugene spoke. "... You are hereby honourably discharged--" Eugene was interrupted by a coughing fit. "... discharged from your duties as Captain of the Sailanian Honour Guard, Dame Astraea... My final command to you: Protect Empress Arlene."

Astraea saluted. “Sir, yes sir.” She stepped away from the bedside.

Eugene sighed one last time. "... Knoll. You have been so good, and so patient. It is time."

Knoll nodded in understanding. He began casting his spell...

"... I love you, Damien." Eugene concluded.

... and then Knoll cleanly removed Kratos’ soul from his body.

There was a heavy silence as a titan of two worlds finally, truly, died.

"I'll take it from here. Thank you for your work, Knoll." Artemis stated quietly.

Knoll handed Kratos’ soul to Artemis.

"... This is adieu. Live well." Artemis waved, then took Eugene's soul, opened a portal, and walked through it, bring Eugene with her.

---

Sailane Castle
Sailane, Kingdom of Silesse
19 September, Gran 432

"Father... you would do this to your only Heir?" A young Damien Farlance, having only just celebrated his twenty-sixth birthday, asked pleadingly.

The titanic form of Lord Eugene Desrain Farlance, the Baron of Sailane, loomed over the Weiss Ritter with a tome in each of his hands. He was clad in thick heavy armour. The first tome Baron Farlance held was a Tornado Tome, the most powerful wind tome on Jugdral. The second tome was a dark tome of some kind, a gift from Anri and his Schwarze Rosen. Behind the Weiss Ritter, blocking their escape out of Sailane Castle’s throne room, was Lord Eric Dack, the Baron of Silesse. He was equipped similarly to Baron Farlance; heavy armour and tomes of Tornado and darkness. Swirling around both Barons was dark, malefic energy, the result of whatever terrible multi-tome spell they were casting.

"... Damien..." Baron Farlance intoned slowly, a mere puppet for the Dark God Loptyr.

Alina Isadi ran over to Damien’s side.

Daltrey Cooper prayed to the gods silently. “Gods... send your blessing to the Ritter...”

Niko Min further drew her arrow, pointed at Eugene Farlance.

Weiss Glorifur likewise sent her own prayer to the gods, hoping for help.

For a long, painfully still moment, the air was filled with tension and time seemed to crawl.

In a seemingly impossible motion, unexpected to all, Baron Farlance lowered his hand. “GHHHKKK-!!!” The action and vocalization both were painful to watch, to say nothing of how they must have felt to Baron Farlance. His body seemed to be at war with itself, as though two different people were fighting for control over one body.

Natalia, a “sellsword”, gripped her sword.

Xander Lockheart snarled.

“This is fairly stupid, you both. I will NOT allow this.” Jude Monroe demanded, angrily. The fire in his eyes crackled uncontrollably.

"DAMIEN-!!" Eugene called out, fighting against his own body to speak his words.

"FATHER!!" Damien shouted in reply, alarmed. His right hand began to emit many small sparks of magical lightning.

"Kill me! NOW!"

Damien's breath caught in his throat as the young Farlance grappled with all the information buzzing around him.

... Whatever force was causing Baron Farlance to hesitate was dispelled, and he resumed his spellcasting; mind, body, and soul were all in harmony once more, intent on slaying the Weiss Ritter.

Niko further drew her arrow back even further.

Jaelyn Holiman froze as Baron Farlance issued his sudden odd command. 'No... no no no... this can't be... did Galle do this???' She thought to herself. "No... no! There has to be another way!" She called out, trying to stop the situation from spilling into bloodshed one last time.

Daryl Perry and Daltrey Cooper spoke at once, sharing a singular thought. “What?”

... And then, after a long silence, Damien reached his resolution. "V-very well..."

“WE DON’T HAVE TIME. DO IT, DAMIEN!” Diamond Janus called out from behind a mage.

Then Baron Dack unleashed his spell into the Weiss Ritter.

"BEHOLD THE MIGHT OF THUNDER!" Damien cast his Thunder Tome's spell at Baron Farlance.

Magical lightning descended from the sky and smote the black tome in Baron Farlance’s hand, causing a great explosion to engulf Baron Farlance.

... Eugene's spirit watched as the smoke cleared to reveal ashes where his body once stood. He watched as the Weiss Ritter reacted to his body's death and tried to console Damien despite the chaos of Eric Dack's spellfire. He watched as Eric Dack was slain by some Grannvalean Bow Knight. He watched as the Weiss Ritter evacuated his throne room in pursuit of that Bow Knight.

... Eugene's spirit followed Damien, hoping to give him protection from the pirates, the dark mages, the terrible snow.

... Eugene's spirit followed Damien as he threw himself into the wilderness.

... Eugene's spirit watched Damien destroy a grove in Thove and grieve, and Eugene grieved with his sorrowing son, and tried to reassure the man that his father did love him, that his father wanted Damien to be happy and successful.

... And Eugene's spirit watched as one of the women who were in the throne room with Damien, Damien's future wife Alina, an older man, and Welyn Dack of all persons all approached. He watched as Damien exhausted himself of his magical energy... and watched as Damien was taken care of.

... And Eugene knew that, despite all the pains ahead of Damien... Damien would heal. Damien would be alright.

'I love you, Damien.'

... And Eugene's spirit passed on, with nothing more to tie him to the mortal realm, entering the afterlife to face whatever destiny the gods had in store.

Chapter 45: Excerpt 24 (Notable Figures) - General Reshea the Cavalry Master

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Hark, hark! Listen now the story of yon Cavalry Master, Dame Geneva Reshea of Leonster! Glory, justice, chivalry, and victory await the attentive ear.

Geneva Reshea was one of the Kingdom of Leonster's greatest cavaliers, having valiantly defended Leonster in many ways ever since she was knighted in 322 AHW. By 346 AHW, twenty-four years had passed and Reshea had been the established General of Leonster's army. Many say that General Reshea was even a superior cavalier to then-Prince Quan, who was himself an exceptional cavalier as befitting of a scion of the Hero Knight, Noba. General Reshea did not find solace in the slow and steady course; she knew personally the advantages of grasping one's desired destiny firmly and taking initiative in doing so.

Unlike many renowned heroes of the 350s and 360s, General Reshea's ascendant event was not in the Third Great War that encompassed the whole continent; Leonster was mostly spared, allowing Reshea to exert her influence in non-martial ways. Instead, it was the Thracian War of Expansion, which spanned from 362 AHW to 364 AHW. The Kingdom of Danheim was more unified than it ever had been, and its callous king, Travant von Thrace, was of an expansionist mind. He launched an invasion of the Duchy of Cerenia, the Pluton Republic, and the Kingdom of Dalmatia.

During this war, General Reshea took to the battlefield and showcased all her prowess and power. Her archery was excellent, her strength, dexterity, and durability superb, her swordsmanship, lancework, and axework all supreme. Then, so rumours say, she called upon the power of a Master Seal and ascended to become a Cavalry Master, a knight of knights, a commander in all the ways that mattered, and an optimal cavalier. General Reshea and her forces would beat back Danheim's forces from Dalmatia and secure the Kingdom of Dalmatia's inevitable joining of the Manster Alliance.

Chapter 46: Excerpt 25 (Notable Figures) - Captain Cicero the Pirate Lord(?)

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Few pirates could compare to the Pirate Lord, Admiral Basalt, leader of the Brethren Court. Basalt was, even while alive, the subject of buccaneer legends - and, really, why wouldn't he? No other pirate was known to be able to summon giant sea serpents the way Basalt could.

No pirate, except perhaps the Goldmane, Bonfire Brigid, could equate themselves to Admiral Basalt... but two did get close. The first was Captain Legolas, the inheritor of Basalt's Mast Feller, who's life was cut short by the Battle of Mackily. The second was Captain Cicero, the bastard son of a prominent Maretian. Captain Cicero was a soldier of the Third Great War who served in the Maretian navy to gain his father's approval. When the war ended and his efforts were for naught, Cicero turned to piracy to sustain his way of life - and Bonfire Brigid, the Lord of the Brethren Court, accepted him into her crew and taught him the ways of being a captain, quartermaster, and pirate proper.

In the 360s AHW, the resurgent Brethren Court would renew broadscale piracy on the whole of Annhelm, and one of their Captains would be Cicero with his stolen ship of 'the Aeneas'. His prowess with the axe was utmost and exceptional, and the swagger and confidence with which Captain Cicero fought, talked, and generally existed made him a favourite among his crew.

It is not known if Captain Cicero has used a Master Seal or not; the rumours of sketchy taverns in port towns all across the southwestern shores of Annhelm suggest he did, but not once has Cicero laid claim to the title of Pirate Lord - not with the Goldmane, Bonfire Brigid, proudly calling herself such and employing sea serpents the same way Admiral Basalt did before his death. But among the crew of the Aeneas, there is little doubt that swashbuckling Cicero could, in fact, be Pirate Lord if he so wanted to be.

Chapter 47: Excerpt 26 (History and Politics) - The Kings of Cerenia in the 200s AHW

Summary:

An excerpt on Annhelm's history and politics.

The 200s AHW was an interesting century for the Kingdom of Cerenia. While it only had three kings in that time, a very normal amount for an elven kingdom, it also had two long-reigning Queen-Regents.

King Fabian was coronated in 188 AHW and reigned for twenty four years. In 205 AHW, he sired his first son, Ezekiel. In 209 AHW, he sired his second son, Gilliam. However, he would not see either of his children grow up; he would be slain defending his kingdom against Danheimien maurauders. Thus, his wife, Queen-Regent Eleonora, would reign twenty-seven years for their son Ezekiel, teaching Ezekiel the ways of politics, battle, and all sorts of things along the way.

Upon reaching the age of majority in 236 AHW, Ezekiel would be crowned the King of Cerenia, and he would reign justly and fairly. His wife, Gertrude, was a cunning woman whom he married to secure the loyalty of a rambunctious noble house. He would only bear one son, Elouan, in 258 AHW, before he died under still-mysterious circumstances the next year. Queen-Regent Gertrude began her twenty-nine year reign. Notably, the elites of the realm profitted greatly, and the commoners suffered. When Crown Prince Elouan reached the age of majority in 288, he requested a coronation. Queen-Regent Gertrude refused.

Thus, Elouan and his uncle Gilliam took up arms and declared war against Gertrude and her family, starting the short Cerenian Civil War. Faced by the might of vindicated bearers of Holy Blood who had the loyalty of the people, Gertrude stood no chance. Elouan took the throne in 289 AHW and reigned for seventeen years. Elouan never married, so he died without an heir, and the crown passed on to his trustworthy cousin Elijah in 306 AHW. Elijah's reign was short-lived - a brief seven years. Thus, Elijah's younger brother, Lambert, took the throne in 313 AHW. Lambert's twenty-seven year reign is commonly regarded as the last years of Cerenia's peak.

This King Lambert is, of course, the same man who would father the notorious Child of Tragedy, Dimitri, the Tempest King and Lion Wraith. Considering King Fabian's untimely death, King Ezekiel's unfortunate marriage, and the myriad tragedies of King Ezekiel's son and nephews... it seems even the most esteemed families can suffer from generational bad luck.

Chapter 48: Excerpt 27 (Notable Figures) - Haru Asteros the Could-Be Bowmaster

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Potential need not be met to be recognized. It can be found anywhere, from the lowest of urchins to the greatest of emperors. The Bowmaster is a legendary archer, quick and precise, a mortal whom has reached the greatest heights of archery without the aid of Skadi. They are not just the mortal pinnacle of Archers, the same way a Dread Archer is; they are the mortal pinnacle of all of archery.

Haru Asteros was born in the Jovon Empire in 328 AHW to the Duke of Phoebus, Boreas Asteros, just before the worst of the winter had set in. She was an aristocrat her entire life, from the moment of her birth to the moment of her death many decades in the future. A few years after Haru was born, Jovia's imperial twins entered graced the world; the Prince of Panalenos, Apollo Jove, fifth of his name, and Princess Elyssa Jove. Duke Boreas made sure to comment to his young daughter that that young boy would, one day, be her ruler, and that she should help him whenever she could. This lit a fire of ambition in Haru, and throughout all the rest of her childhood, she took to all her lessons with great vigour. Haru picked up the bow and arrow at this young age, and never would neglect them for more than a month.

When Prince Apollo enrolled at Antheos Academy, Haru followed. When Prince Apollo struggled with leadership and self-esteem, Haru was there to help him reconstruct himself. When Prince Apollo returned to Panalenos Palace to begin the slow work of undermining his tyrant sire, Haru assisted wherever she could. When Prince Apollo needed his mother covertly rescued from Panalenos Palace after the Jovon Emperor and his retinue left for Dack, Haru was the one to arrange her safe transfer. And in all this, Haru was diligent with the bow and arrow, her arms against danger, her means of fighting corruption and evil.

During the Third Great War and its following decades, a Bowmaster never emerged. It would have been natural for one to do so; with all the fighting, any exceptional archer could have become the Bowmaster. Many hypothesize that Haru Asteros, Director of Diplomacy for the Dominion of Phoebus, was the one who could have been the Bowmaster of the 350s and 360s AHW. There is no way to prove this, of course, but still many have pondered what Annhelm would look like had Haru honed her archery over politics and intrigue. Yet, we do have an idea already of this dire fantasy; it was Haru Asteros who helped craft the Aristaean Trade Pact, which tied the economies of the Dominion of Phoebus, Kingdom of Silesia, and Dacian Republic closer together and thus empowered them to work together against a spiteful and irredentist Jovon Empire. A Haru that claims the title of the Bowmaster sees a resurgent Jovon Empire, and that is only rarely a good thing.

Potential need not be met to be recognized. Likewise, what one does with their potential is often far more important than the potential itself. Just because you can does not mean you should - but that also does not mean you should not. Haru Asteros illustrates that one should consider carefully what they can do and the effects of each of those actions. And, in a way, that is a rather fitting lesson for a could-be Bowmaster, simultaneously slow and precise yet quick and agile, to bestow, no?

Chapter 49: Excerpt 28 (Notable Figures) - Arcanox, the Corrupt, the Crime Lord

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Arcanox the Corrupt. Arcanox the Devil-King. Arcanox the Crime Lord. Arcanox the Damned. Arcanox of Many Deeds and Titles. Anyone who has studied the history of Cryonac Island in the mid-fourth century has read about this man of ill-repute. Though short-lived, Arcanox the Corrupt dug his way into the circles of many influential figures and had an out-sized impact for his lifespan - two of the most notable figures Arcanox was connected to were Archbishop Peter von Rhea of the Bragil Church and Emperor Apollo Jove IV of the Jovon Empire. Given Arcanox's shapeshifting abilities, there may be many many more whom interacted with, aided, or were aided by this vile figure.

Arcanox was born in an underground slum, surrounded by dusty architecture that was centuries older than the oldest resident of that slum. The religion of the slum was a cult to Lucifer, the Evening Star and Spurned Justiciar, who saw the light of justice when even the gods of good chose to be blind. Arcanox grew up quickly, as all demons do, and by the time he was three he had mastered his shapeshifting abilities and left his home to explore Annhelm. His explorations of Annhelm were a mixture of whimsy, murder, and education - when he returned home at the age of four, he had slain the Devil-King and taken his title, and become a part of Emperor Apollo's personal circle. Some accounts suggest that Emperor Apollo was in the know about Arcanox's demon heritage. Upon his return, Arcanox got to work; he took over as the chief priest of the cult, and he began exerting his influence over many other undesirables who had been banished to the underground. Then, he made contact with Archbishop Peter, and the two made an arrangement - the details are still unknown, as the terms died with the two men.

Arcanox's participation in the Third Great War and its preceding events is largely scarce. He was sighted in the section of Vydar's Keep beneath Antheos Academy and was defeated there - though by some trickery he survived both a collapse and two Holy Relics. He is suspected to be involved in assassinations throughout Annhelm and particularly in Silesia. He is believed to have slain an angel to gather materials for Emperor Apollo IV's blasphemous Divine Seal. In the 352 AHW Battle of Dack, he was slain by Nyssa Alaric, one of Silesia's Celestial Falcons who had sided with Margravine Karina in the Silesian Civil War. By the time of the Battle of Dack, he had used a Master Seal to become the Crime Lord, certifying himself as one of Annhelm's most cutthroat, deplorable, and ambitious persons.

To say anything of Arcanox's legacy is to dabble in speculation, given that the sheer extent of his effects are unknown. He made many choices that many people wouldn't - but he also lived a life that many people couldn't. He was, for all his criminal behaviour, a hero to the people of his cult and genuinely worked hard to provide for those he was King of; his dying wish was for Nyssa to take the title of Devil-King and to lead the demons well.

Chapter 50: Excerpt 29 (Notable Figures) - Caspar Bergurs the Grappler

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Caspar Bergurs is a name that everyone in the adventuring world has heard of. The combination of his raw audacity, sheer power, integrity, and can-do attitude have done well to make waves across Annhelm. Considering the tales that Caspar tells of himself and others tell of him - feats of brawling almost impossible, strength, speed, and stamina beyond mortal capability, and a supreme talent for grappling - it should be of no surprise to hear that Caspar is the Grappler.

Caspar was born in a simple Agustrian village in the heartland of Agusty. His parents were killed shortly after in the Bandit Uprising of 320 AHW, and so Caspar was raised by his grandparents. All his life, he heard tales of glory and triumph regarding the Agustrian army, but he never had much time to develop martial skills - he was too busy essentially running the farm for his grandpa. Then, the Great War began, and Caspar ran off to enlist. His brawn and his skills in manhandling caught the attention of one Viscount Balthus Goneril of Holondite, who personally took Caspar as his apprentice. For the next four years, Balthus taught Caspar everything he knew about the art of brawling and grappling. During the Battle of Agusty, during which Balthus (to his regret and relief) was away managing his estate, Caspar was injured and captured by the Maretian army. Caspar was cared for, healed back to snuff, and spent some time learning more under Balthus. Then, when Margrave Johan declared war against Jungby and Isaach, Balthus gave Caspar one last lesson... never look back. That would be the last time Caspar ever saw Balthus.

Caspar would continue his training on his own, taking what Balthus taught him and going further beyond. He would join an adventuring party in the 360s AHW, and with them he would improve himself further and eventually use a Master Seal to become the Grappler. In this higher state, Caspar be one of the many heroes to do battle against the Mad Black Dragon, Tyrrama the Acrid. According to Caspar's version of the tale, Caspar stunned Tyrrama by grabbing his tail and swinging Tyrrama overhead like a Greathammer of Caldsteg. While this telling is, of course, dubious, Caspar's participation in the defeat of Tyrrama is no less influential. Since defeating Tyrrama, Caspar has settled down and taken to a ranching life in the Principality of Agusty, where he uses his brawling prowess and grappling skill to manhandle cows and bulls with ease. Whenever he is asked if he wants to fight again, his response is unerringly consistent: 'Wherever the need is greatest, there I shall follow. And right now, people need food.'

Caspar is one of the very few examples in Annhelmian history of a Master Seal user being the protégé of the prior Master Class user of the same kind. Almost never in history has a Master Class been "passed down" like it was from Balthus to Caspar. Many Master Class holders have attempted to do so and failed, making Balthus' selection of Caspar a very fortunate and circumstantial happening. Any given brawler seeking lessons from Caspar will be unlikely to be the next Grappler - which makes Caspar one of the most refined Grapplers to ever exist.

Chapter 51: Excerpt 30 (Notable Figures) - Ekato Myala the Wizard

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

There are a few notable figures regarding mid-300s AHW mystiology. Damien Farlance, Reino Engel, Sophia Baumgarten, Lefallovrn Meinas, Selena Baker, Ivaldi Lumens, Grace Keplin, Yvette Tethys, Michael Albimbert, William Azai - brilliant men and women who were geniuses in their fields and capable of redefining what magic was to themselves and thus the world. Any of these persons could have been the Wizard... but of all the mystiologists, only one could be. And that one was Ekato Myala.

Ekato Myala was born in a village in Marpha of the Holy Yggdrasili Empire, though he was not known by that name. He never knew his birth parents, and was raised communally. In an incident during his youth, he accidentally cast a sourcerous umbramancy spell, which inspired the rage of the village's dogmatic elders. He was cast out of the village, only to be saved by one Hundur Myala. Hundur would accept Ekato as his son, and bring Ekato back home to the traditional Myala abode. Ekato would reside there for some years, learning about magic and harbouring his hatred for the Holy Yggdrasili Empire.

In 348 AHW, the Kingdom of Stromhelm was invaded, and Ekato Myala would take a stand for the country. With Thunder Tomes and Shadow Deep Magics, he would obliterate any Agustrian soldier that approached Melgen, and all throughout the Third Great War Ekato was a constant Stromhelmian researcher and soldier. In 352 AHW, Ekato would unveil the Frost Tome and Dusk Tome to all of Annhelm, officially announcing the revival of two arcane traditions. He would go on to master Ocean Tomes and call upon physic-breaking magics throughout the rest of the Third Great War. After the Third Great War, Ekato would explore Annhelm, and then settle in the Pluton Republic where he became the Republic's university's first Dean.

There are many arguments to be had over whether Ekato has used a Master Seal or not. Ekato is a private individual, so it is ultimately uncertain. Some have speculated that his attitude toward the gods suggest he has not, while others suggest that that same attitude is affirmative evidence for seeking out a Master Seal. Many gossip that his dabbling into umbramancy should disqualify him, while others state that he has become the ultimate dusk tome user, whatever that looks like. Those that know Ekato, however, know with certainty he is Annhelm's Wizard, a sage of awesome and unrivaled prowess. Even if Ekato will never terrorize the battlefield again, his reputation precedes him.

Chapter 52: Excerpt 31 (Notable Figures) - General Amadeu Cortez the Templar Knight

Summary:

An excerpt on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

General Amadeu Cortez - one of the Third Great War's most unspoken great figures. What did he do? At first glance, it seemed he only really did what the Emperor commanded, and this is generally quite peculiar; how does a general become a general if they don't have the will to command? And why is General Cortez the Templar Knight anyhow?

Amadeu Cortez was born 322 AHW to a simple, faithful family in the Principality of Barhara. He enlisted as a soldier early on and dedicated much of his life to acquiring sponsorships and the like. When he became a Monk Knight in 344, something incredibly unusual even for Yggdrasil, he was given something of a spotlight. Then, in 347, following the aftermath of the Holy Yggdrasili Emperor's assassination, he showcased his prowess for authority by effectively assuming command of the Imperial Guard and deploying them throughout the Empire for various peacekeeping operations. In 349 AHW, he was promoted to the rank of General. In 350 AHW, he publicly used a Master Seal and became the Templar Knight - presumably, because he could.

General Amadeu Cortez would assume command of the Grannvalean and Jungbian occupations a few months before the defeat of Agusty. Under his leadership, Yggdrasil would lose Ichiavel, Hopelight, Treehaven, Chalphy, and Pathos and be officially invaded. This casts his ability for larger scale command operations into doubt, and in the few interviews he has given General Cortez rather agrees - he never wanted to be General. He was told to be one and did his best and failed. Nonetheless, Cortez was a part of the Battle of Valhalla, leading Yggdrasili troops against many monsters that were coming from the south. His holy light smote heretics and abominations alike.

General Cortez retired after the Third Great War. When the Yggdrasili Civil War broke out, he left retirement to join the Holy Yggdrasili Empire once more. Legends even say he engaged Marco Larcei himself in brawling during the Battle of Andorra and won with a noble backhand. After the Yggdrasili Civil War, he would retire again. He is remarkably shy of attention nowadays, so his whereabouts and current life is unknown. Everyone hopes he has taken up abomination hunting.

Chapter 53: Excerpt 32 (Notable Figures) - Noah Troth the Cardinal

Summary:

An except on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

The Bragil Church is a unifying force in Annhelm, and one of the many ways it has done so is semi-standardizing a wide variety of training+combat ideologies into what are called "classes". The Bragil Church's inherent bias in this class system is the most evident in thier name for the once-in-a-generation light tome user that has pushed mortal boundaries and gone above and beyond... the Cardinal. In the Bragil Church, the cardinals are a counsel for the Archbishop, who mostly rule their own bishoprics and elect each new Archbishop when the former passes on. When the Bragil Church was thus selecting names for overall ideologies of equipment, training, and fighting, they chose Cardinal to be the name of the highest mortal light tome user. Cardinals are a strange manner of combatant - they are not fighters, but scholars, deep in the study of theology and politics. They are not leaders, but advisors, providing aid and sage wisdom to their charge. They are driven by faith and knowledge, and empower those around them and themself to be the luminous beings that hide within the crude fleshy material of physical bodies.

Due to the prevalance of Light Tomes, there have been many Cardinals (as opposed to lower-case cardinals) in Annhelm's history. His Eminence, Regulus the Bishop of Pluton was both a cardinal and Cardinal, as was his Eminence, Frederick the Bishop of Ylisstol. (Frederick, Bishop of Ylisstol is not to be confused with the legendary man he was named after, Frederick the Guardian Knight, one of Annhelm's greatest men and perhaps one who managed spawned his own great lineage of protectors without any divine influence.) Indeed, even Baron Lefallovrn Meinas, a man who is unattached to the Bragil Church, is rumoured to be a Cardinal. But it is not these men whom we focus on.

Noah Troth was born to a family pious to the Bragil Church, raised on Antheos Island. As a young lad, he entered seminary and devoted his whole life to the Bragil Church - and in the Bragil Church, he found purpose, fulfillment, and ambition. He became a Bard, so as to proudly sing all his praises to the gods, and then became a Tuneweaver. During the Third Great War, he served in Mares, Epirus, and Cerenia - though he never worked under Major Catherine, something that he has commented is a constant regret of his.

Noah would focus his attention towards peacekeeping after the 350 AHW Treaty of Fhirdiad, and spend many of his days adventuring across Annhelm, whether with companions or on his own. In all his travels, Noah learned the songs of the people around him and developed an even deeper faith in the gods. It is said that in 361 AHW, while Noah was defending a random caravan from bandits, the gods themselves delivered a Master Seal to him - and all his study of the world around him, all his desire to help his fellow man, all his hymns of praise and songs of succor, all his capability in light tomes, turned him into a Cardinal. The bandits were routed and the caravan was saved, and Noah continued on his merry way, always singing, always learning, always trying to make Annhelm a better place than before.

Chapter 54: Excerpt 33 (Notable Figures) - Devereux Daviau the Thaumaturge

Summary:

An except on one of Annhelm's notable figures.

Legends tell of a sorcerer so adept with magic, they are synonymous with the idea of magic in and of itself. Rumours persist about a figure who was so attuned with the world around them that they were almost indistinguishable from a god. Hear ye now the story of the Thaumaturge, Devereux Daviau.

Devereux was born in a Grannvalean hamlet to a startling and wonderful display. On the moment of his birth, he conjured a glimmer of light that blinded his mother for the rest of her days. When he was dirty, he would summon water to clean himself. When he was cold, he would summon a fire to warm himself. When he was hot, he would summon snow to cool himself off. Even from his youngest days, he was so naturally attuned to magic that people wondered whether he wasn't some angel from Naga.

Traumatized by the death of his parents and taken in by his aunt and uncle, Devereux began his training to be a proper Deep Mage when he was ten years old, in 354 AHW. He was found to be so remarkably proficient that all of his tutors commented an utter incapability to keep up. By all reckon, Devereux wasn't just a once-in-a-generation master - he was a once-in-a-millennium savant. At the age of twenty, he used a Master Seal to become the Thaumaturge. And then he disappeared.

No-one knows where Devereux is. Those prone to heresy speculate that he ascended to become a God of Magic. Those prone to conspiracy speculate he was assassinated by Dark Mages. Those prone to dry wit speculate he fucked off because of these prior groups. Rumours persist that he is currently meditating in one of the temples of the Templeborne, or that he is working to terraform some location on behalf of a wealthy benefactor. Really, the only reason Devereux is known to exist is that Sophia, a supposed candidate, isn't a Thaumaturge, and Devereux's childhood was so well documented and eventful.

Notes:

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