Aesonian Civil War

Birth of the Two Nations
In the far Northeast, there existed a country called Aeson, which bordered upon the nation of Arcadia. When The Lord Of Darkness was defeated, these two nations came to be, and lived in peace for quiet some time. However, peace was not had for long.

A great wizard by the name of Thanatos came to power within the Arcadian Royal Guard, and rose up to become the Arcadian Emperor's chief bodyguard. With his rise to power, the Arcadian government went through radical, seemingly unexplained changes. Almost without warning, Thanatos lead Arcadia's armies into Aeson's southern region, Alba.

The Invasion of Aeson
Aeson responded by rallying their army, the Nanten, and moved to defend the great fortress of Dardenolls. It was a fortress that was created during the Grand Age, and had never fallen to an outside enemy. Everyone expected the Nanten to be able to easily hold off the assualt, however no one expected Thanatos to hold the power that he did. Using his great magic, he smashed the outer walls of the fortress, and then overran the Nanten. Two of the Four Nanten Devas were killed in battle, and one went missing. The remaining Nanten forces retreated, but were cutoff from the rest of the Central Region by the invading Arcadian army.

The Nanten were forced to withdraw to the harsh northern plains, and lick their wounds. With the Nanten effectively defeated, Aeson fell almost completely into Arcadian hands. All of the Aesonian Royal Family was executed, other than the young Crown Princess Tasena, who would be crowned as queen to serve as a puppet ruler. Thanatos appointed one of his subordinates, Geshtar, to oversee as Governor General of Aeson. Aeson would exist in name only, as a puppet state of Arcadia. Only the Northern Region of Capilarn would remain free from the Arcadians, but were essentially ignored by the new rulers.

Zegen's Raid
8 years after the fall, Queen Tasena had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. It was at this time that the Nanten Deva who gone missing following the battle of Dardenolls, Zegen the Phantom, raided the capitol city of Aeson, in an attempt to free the Royal Family from the Arcadians. However, Geshtar met him in battle, and Zegen was only able to rescue the infant Princess Tessla, and at the cost of nearly all of his followers. Zegen went into hiding with the Princess in the eastern region of Capurius, where the Arcadian presence was its smallest. He would raise Tessla as his own daughter and student, teaching her the ways of war, and to someday help retake their country.

The Aesonian Revolutionary Army, and the Eastern Conflict
13 years had passed, and Zegen had built up a modest sized army in secret, waiting until Tessla was ready to lead the rebellion herself. However, they didn't have time to wait. Geshtar ordered the invasion of the last free area of Aeson, to attack the northern Nanten remenants. Those forces would be crucial to ever defeating the Arcadians, so the Aesonian Revolutionary Army made itself known, and began their war in Capurius.

Capurius had the least amount of Arcadian presense, but there was still a powerful member of the Arcadian Royal Guard stationed as the leader of the Aesonian Eastern Division. However, the Revolutionary Army quickly gathered popular support, and several notable figures rallied behind Tessla as the Army's figurehead. Sophara was the first city to become liberated, and it was used as their base of operations for the remainer of the Eastern Conflict. Zegen and Tessla lead their main forces to the city of Mylesia, to cut off any reinforcements from Alba. At the same time, a small detachment of forces led by the Crimson Axe Kang went to the liberate the coastal city of Gallea. Zegen's main forces liberated Volmus, and then they united with Kang's detachment at the Tenne Plains.

With their forces bolstered by citizens rising to the cause, the Revolutionary Army beseiged Fortress Capurius. It was in this battle that Tessla showed a startling amount of skill for someone so young, and defeated the Arcadian General in single combat. The news of Capurius' fall sent a shock through the entire country, and the threat from the Eastern Region sucessfully delayed Geshtar's plans to invade the North. With the Eastern Division's defeat, the Revolutionary Army gained a sense of legitimacy, and was to be taken serious by both the Aesonian government, and Arcadia. The nation was split between the rebels, and the Loyalist forces who serve Queen Tasena and the Arcadians.

The Death of Zegen, and the Second Battle of Mylesia
With Capurius' fall, Geshtar ordered the Aesonian Southern Division stationed in Talpea, Alba to invade the East, and crush the rebellion. Alba was the Southern Region of Aeson, and was a fertile plain that was also the main crossroads between Aeson and Arcadia. Because of this, it held much strategic importance, and the army stationed there was much larger, and better equipped than the forces policing the frontier Eastern Region. With the Revolutionary Army still licking its wounds from the battle, they were in no shape for an all out battle with the Southern Division.

Zegen realised this, and took a band of his most trusted and skilled subordinates to engage and sabotage the Loyalist advance in secret. Zegen was the Deva of the Nanten Assassination Division, adn was an expert in stealth and shadow warfare. He and his band rained down death upon the Southern Division from the shadows, and in their sleep, while at the same timing burning and poisoning their supplies. Their advance was thrown into chaos, as they attempted to find and deal with Zegen. However, at long last, Zegen and his men were cornered by the main guard of the Southern Division. Although vastly outnumbered, Zegen and his men put up a brave and valiant fight, slaying many men. But in the end, they were overwhelmed, and Zegen was killed in combat.

When Tessla heard of Zegen's plan, and later of his death, she fell into a depression. However, perhaps encouraged by the Lieutenants left behind by Zegen to aid her, she emerged as a fierce and charismatic leader of the Revolutionary Army, dispite being the young age of 14. She lead her forces to Mylesia to engage the Southern Division before they recovered from the turmoil caused by Zegen's raid, and decisively defeated them in the Second Battle of Mylesia. Tessla's grace and prowless during the battle earned her the name "White Rose of the Revolution".

The Invasion of Alba
With the Southern Division defeated, the Invasion of Alba went smoothly. The main source of opposition in the region would be the garrison stationed at Dardenolls. Although the Fortress itself was never properly repaired or rebuilt after the Arcadian Invasion, it still held a very large force, controlling the only passage between the Southern and Central Regions. South of Alba was the Arcadian border, which was protected by the Arcadian Royal Army. While the Arcadians were their primary enemy in their revolution, Tessla and her subbordinates decided that they were in no position just yet to directly engage Arcadia, and would instead look for a way to break Dardenolls. With the Southern Division from Talpea defeated, there was very little organized resistence in Alba, save for the Dardenolls Garrison. The Revolutionary Army swept through most of northern and central Alba. Rumors of the "True Princess of Aeson" captured the hopes and dreams of those looking for freedom from Arcadia, and the Revolutionary Army's numbers swelled. There were few battles of note, however one fateful event prior to the seige of Dardenolls stood out.

Tessla had lead a small detachment of troops to a small coastal town of Timmins. In this town however, Loyalist forces set an ambush. Tessla's troops were caught in a cross fire and attacked from several directions, and were forced into a hasty retreat, before finally being cornered. They were saved however, by the intervention of a young mage named Feito Karn. Feito was the daughter of the apprentice of the fallen Nanten Deva of the Mage Division. After the fall of Dardenolls, her father had went into hiding in Alba. Upon the start of the Aesonian Revoluton, Loyalist forces began a purge of those they felt to be dangerous, and Feito's father was murdered. Feito intended to meet up with the Rebels, to fight the Loyalist and Arcadians for revenge. This encounter would gain the Revolution a powerful ally, and Tessla a best friend.

Feito was significant in that her magical potiental was extremely rare in this age. It was rumored that with proper training, her power could outclass even Thanatos'. However, since she lacked proper training, her powers were volatile and chaotic, and above all, dangerous. Tessla however came up with a strategy to make use of this fact. The Fortress would be on the lookout for an army, and a single lone girl approaching the Fortress wouldn't be much cause for alarm. Feito approached Dardenolls alone on foot, and unleached a massive wave of chaotic energy in the area, demolishing the make-shift defenses on the fortress, and sending the defenders into disarray. Tessla quickly ordered her troops to charge into battle, sucessfully rescuing Feito before she received any significant counter attack. The assualt was very sucessful, and established both Tessla and Feito as two young prodigies to be feared within the Revolutionary Army.

Race to the North
With Dardenolls captured, the Revolutionary Army was at a crossroads between going North to Capilarn, or West to the Central Region of Latium. Geshtar himself was leading his joint Arcadian-Aesonian Army against the Nanten remenants in Capilarn. However, Latium was still heavily defended by Aeson's Central Division, their strongest and best equipped army. The cities in Latium themselves had high walls, and could hold out from a siege for long periods of time. With the additional threat of Geshtar turning around to flank their army, Tessla ordered her forces to move North into Capilarn. Their object was to link up with the Nanten forces still in the North, and to defeat Geshtar's army.

The Revolutionary Army first encountered elements of the Central Division at Guntherhall, the main city on the route to Capilarn. Kang the Crimson Axe and Fezenie Arlam took charge of the battle, leading their battlions to hit the city from both flanks, while Tessla distracted them with her main force in the center. The end result had the defending Central Division troops crushed from all sides, and Guntherhall falling into the Revolutionary Army's hands. With this, Geshtar's supply lines were effectively cut off, and with Winter about to set in, Tessla hoped that this would delay their advance long enough for them to move North as well.

Geshtar knew that without any supplies, it would be almost impossible to last out the Winter, and fight both the Nanten and Revolutionary Army on two fronts. He came up with a plan to capture Denus, capitol city of Capilarn, before Winter fully kicked in. Geshtar approached the city, as if preparing to lay siege to it. However, he then broke the siege off, and had his army begin a seemingly disorderly retreat. Kennen, the last Nanten Deva, leader of the Nanten Dragon Slayer Division, ordered his men stand down, but the quality of soldiers who made up the Nanten had been reduced greatly. A large portion of the Nanten troops saw an opportunity to hit the Loyalist in the rear, and deal a decisive blow. However, it was part of a trap layed by Geshtar. Geshtar had hired a detachment from the Mercenary Kingdom of Thracia to assist in the assault. The price was high, but they were lead by Prince Reach of Thracia. With over half of the troops sallied out of Denus, the Wyvern Riders of Thracia flew in, and drove the remaining Nanten out. Dispite the disadvantage gained from the assault he did not order, Kennen was able to marshal the remaining troops out, and escaped with minimal casualities.

Kennen was finally able to regain command of his remaining troops, but not before many of them were lost in a sudden counter attack from the Geshtar's Army, cuttting through their ranks to occupy the city. Geshtar had gained a secure base of operation to last out the winter, and the Nanten were forced out into the cold, in addition to suffering sever casualities. The Thracians collected their fee, and then left almost as quickly as they came. Historians in later ages would speculate about how the war would have turned out, if Geshtar had paid them to stay to fight the Revolutionary Army, but that would always be left a mystery.

The Red Winter
The Joint Arcadian-Aesonian Army had gained a stronghold to stand out the winter, and also successfully dealt a very damaging blow to the Nanten. The Revolutionary Army marched in Capilarn after winter had set in, and finally linked up with the remnants of the Nanten. The Nanten were only had a fraction of their former strength, and was absorbed into the Revolutionary Army as its own battlion. Kennen was good friends with Zegen, and gave his best to fight under Tessla to restore the country. However, the Nanten's defeat, and Celesis' capture posed a grave problem for the Revolutionary Army. Under normal conditions, they would just lay siege to Denus. However, it was winter, and their supply lines were long and thin. Even with Revolutionary Arm'y strength bolstered by the Nanten, their numbers were close to that of Geshtar's forces. And it was assumed that it was only a matter of time before another army, either the Central Division or the Arcadian Royal Army, to enter the fray come spring, and catch them in a pincer attack.

Geshtar was well aware of the tactics used in the past by the Revolutionary Army, and took no chances for any repeats. A strict curfew was placed on Denus, and no one was allowed to leave or enter the city under any circumstances. Anyone approaching the city, not matter who it seemed to be, would be attacked and executed on the spot. And Geshtar himself would oversee the watch and defense of the city, to ensure there was no mistakes made.

With time against them, the Revolutionary Army could only withdrawl, or commit to an all out assault. Tessla decided to commit to an attack. Denus was a large city, and virtually had no natural defenses around it. Tessla's plan was to hit the city extremely hard at one point, and break open a hole for the invasion of the city. She hoped that this would incite the people of Denus to rise up against the Arcadians themselves, and would result in the city's liberation.

Tessla started the operation, and ordered it to spearheaded by the most powerful warriors in their army. These included Tessla herself, Feito, Kang the Crimson Axe, Fezenie Arlam, Aberaquez the Blue Iris, and Kennen of the Nanten. They made the charge, and left it to Feito and Fezenie to break the gate. As mages, they were drastically different, one with incredible raw power, and the other with extremely trained and tuned wizardry. However, this worked out better than anyone had hoped, as Fezenie was able to harness the magical energy produced by Feito, and direct it in an attack directly upon the gate. Tessla and the rest charged through the breached gate, and began to make short work of the defenders within. The gate was claimed quickly in this blitz operation, and allowed the rest of the army to invade the city. However, the battle was still far from over, and the streets ran red with the blood from both sides.

The Civilians of Denus rose up against the Arcadians like Tessla had hoped, but she did not count on Geshtar's ruthlessness, who immediately ordered the city set ablaze, and to execute any citizen who even seemed like they may be dangerous. Geshtar himself entered combat against Tessla, and showed why he was one of Arcadia's best warriors, and beat Tessla back with little effort. Kang and Aberaquez were nearly killed by him, only saved by the intervention of Kennen, who could barely fight Geshtar on par.

Although Geshtar himself fought like an undefeatable demon, his troops were not fairing as well, and overall the battle was going in the Revolution's favor. Geshtar reasoned that with so many of their commanding officers either dead, or injuried, they would be in no position to pursue his army back South. Geshtar ordered the retreat, and left the battlefield.

The Northern Campaign turned out to be one of the bloodiest parts of the war. The Nanten overall suffered 60% casualities, and the Revolutionary Army suffered nearly 25%, which was nearly 2000 dead. The Arcadian-Aesonian Army suffered even worse, with losses from the battle coming out to be 40%, with 3500 death, but that number rose to 60% dead from natural causes, fleeing back to Latium in the winter. The Revolutionary Army would wait out the winter, licking their wounds.

The Invasion of Latium
Spring was coming, but things were looking bleak for the Revolutionary Army. Their main force had suffered grave casualities in the Battle of Denus. Geshtar, although having much more serious losses inflicted upon his forces, returned to Latium, and merged the Central Division Army with his own. Additionally, he peitioned Thanatos to seen a Division of the Arcadian Royal Army to help quell the rebellion. The Revolutionary Army would be severly outnumbered against both the Central Division and the Arcadian Army.

Things took a turn for the better, however. The different nations bordering Arcadia and Aeson had been taking a neutral stance to the conflict offically, but had secretly favored the rebellion ever since it started. And with the atrocities commited by Geshtar at Denus, they began to take action to assist the Revolutionary Army. Both the countries of Sohora and the Arcadian Guild Combine began sending supplies and equipment. Sohora, which shared a border with Aeson, was able to allow foreign fighters into the country to strengthen their numbers, along with much needed weapons and medical supplies. The Arcadian Guild Combine supplied the Revolutionary Army with new state fo the art weaponry, that made use of Gunpowder. The final stroke of luck the Rebellion got was when the Arcadian Royal Army was postponed in marching into Aeson, due to an unexpected border dispute in Southern Arcadia.

Tessla marched her army down south, to Guntherhall. The city was ravaged by the war. Guntherhall fell to the Revolutionary Army without much damage to its infastructure, but then the assaults by the Central Division and Geshtar's army passing through left the city a ruin. Events like this would only strengthen the Revolutionary Army, and bolstered their ranks with new recruits. The Revolutionary Army was posed to face the Central Division at Argent. The Central Division would be lead by Nenan Sento, Tessla's twin brother. It was hoped that with Tessla facing her twin brother, that it would soften the Revolution's resolve in battle. However, the battle opened with the thundering of the Revolutionary Army's new cannons, marking the first time gunpowder was used in the civil war. A combination between cannon fire, and magical bombardment routed the Central Division, who retreated to regroup with Geshtar's forces. The Revolution's victory at Argent was one of the most one-sided victories of the war, and would seal the Loyalist and Arcadians in Latium, cutting off any hope of reinforcements.

Thanatos' Plot
Thanatos had spent much time in the ruins of ancient temples and fortress from the Grand Age and beyond, in Aeson. However, he kept out of political and military affairs, and left it all to his subordinates such as Geshtar. Thanatos was looking for an ancient and powerful spell book, the Everto Voco Pestis. Although he would never publically reveal it, it was for this reason he ordered the invasion of Aeson. Thanatos felt he was closing in on finally find the spell book, which would help him attain his goal of domination. Thanatos would actually find the tome itself before the Revolutionary Army would enter Latium, however, he would require much time to both decifer the tome, and to undo the protective seals placed on it.

Fate however, would be working against him. The Revolutionary Army had finally entered into Latium, and were set for a decisive battle with Geshtar, and the remaining Loyalist forces. It became a race against time, to find the spell book and put down the Rebellion, or be driven out of Aeson. Additionally, the ancient and myserious Red Dragon, Feanox, who was said to be a protector of Mankind, also learned of his plans. Thanatos' actions would cause Feanox to take sides with the Revolution.

Feanox would take on the appearance of a small Dragonoid, and appear before Tessla. After challenging her to a duel, he looked to test her resolve and character. After being satisfied, Feanox left her with an ancient blade, the Hurricane Sword, Sanshiki. He told her that the sword posessed great power, and would help her defeat her powerful foes of Geshtar and Thanatos, before disappearing into history once again.

The Campaign of Latium
Thanatos ordered Geshtar to stall the Revolutionary Army as much as possible, using any means necessiary. Geshtar had raised Nenan to be a loyal vassal, ordered him to try and lure Tessla into peace talks, where they could then either capture her, or assassinate her. Nenan himself was torn between loyality to the one who raised him, and the fate of what would happen to his twin sister, but agreed in the end. As the Revolutionary Army closed towards the city of Winnea, the remaining Loyalist Forces mustered their army, but petitioned for a peace conference.

Tessla immediately wanted to agree to it, as it seemed they had finally attained their goal. However, she was cautioned by Sophia, Zegen's sister and head spy for the Rebellion, that it was possibly a trap. In the end, it was decided that they would send Kennen of the Nanten, Kang the Crimons Axe, and Feito Karn to the peace summit. And their fears would prove to be true, as when it was revealed the Tessla was not coming herself, the Loyalist attempted to assassinate the 3 generals, and their escorts. Kennen and Kang would cut their way out of the trap, but Feito would be captured by the Loyalist.

Upon hearing this, Tessla went into a rage, ordered the army to assault the Central Division. Her closest friend was abducted in her place, by her own family no less. She was determined to make it right. The Revolutionary Army fought a massive battle with the Central Division at Winnea. Tessla herself lead a charge through the middle of the Loyalist Forces, dividing their army into two. Cannon bombardment and Magical bombardment sent the divided army into disarray, and forced a heavy retreat. Tessla ordered her forces to pursue them, to capture Nenan, and rescue Feito. However, Geshtar's main army arrived on the battlefield, and forced the Revolutionary Army to stop their pursuit and reorganize their formation. Nenan regrouped with Geshtar, turned over his hostage to him, and new battlelines were drawn.

Geshtar would use Feito as a hostage, to get Tessla to come alone for a prisonner exchange. His goal was obvious to all, but Tessla could not simply abandon Feito. So she devised a plan, where she would go alone, but carry with her a special teleportation rune forged by Fezeni, which would allow her to summon a group of fighters to her, to aid her fight. And after this, the Revolutionary Army would charge into battle, with Aberaquez and Soren Eastwind hitting both flanks hard, to cut off any escape. As expected, Geshtar ambushed Tessla when she went to meet with him, but she quickly used the teleportation rune to summon a group formidible warriors from the Revolutionary Army to her aid. Tessla herself fought a hard duel with Geshtar, however due to powerful Sanshiki blade, was able to destroy Geshtar's Halberd, and inflict a mortal wound upon him.

Geshtar would die before the battle's end, and the Loyalist's army was decisively defeated. Nenan was taken prisonner, and Feito was freed. The only hostile forces left in Latium would be the Royal Garrison in Aeson City, and Thanatos' personal forces in southern Latium. It was decided that the Aesonian Garrison would surrender on its own with Geshtar defeated, and the crown prince captured, so long as Thanatos himself was driven out.

The Final Battle
The Revolutionary Army closed in on Barpheth, the ruin Thanatos had set camp at. Thanatos needed as much time as possible, and so he imbued his forces with ancient arcane magic, that would give them strength and endurance beyond human capabilities. The spell for this came from an incompletel incanation from the Everto Voco Pestis, and would in the end cost him the lives of his soldiers. However, he didn't care, and only needed to buy time before he could fully use the power of the spellbook.

The Revolutionary Army was greatly surprised by the inhuman strength and endurance of Thanatos' men. There were reports of the soldiers taking a lance to the gut, and fighting on as if it were nothing, and ignored any wound that was not immediately fatal. There were even those who would continue to fight, even after being cut in half in the gut. Due to this, the Revolutionary Army temporarily withdrew, to rethink their strategy.

Reports that Thanatos was getting close to attaining a new incredible power meant that they could not simply try and starve them out. In addition, Thanatos' power was already feared, and it growing any more was something no one wanted to think about it. It was decided to go with their bombardment strategy again, and then to charge deep into the enemy camp to take Thanatos' head.

The battle resumed, however the bombardment plan did not work as well as they hoped. Thanatos' men continued to fight with inhame vigor, even while on fire, or with fatal wounds. However, they continued to drive forward, and finally confronted Thanatos. Thanatos summoned up his most powerful magics to crush Tessla and her comrades. Feito, however, unleashed her chaotic magical powers against him, and held back the worst of Thanatos' spell. She was aidded by an outside force, which combined with her own power, shattered Thanatos' spell, and left him momentarily defensless. The source of the outside spell that aidded Feito never showed himself, but Feito would later comment that the source felt evil in nature, and speculated that perhaps a rival warlock from Thanatos' powers had lent a hand, in order to ensure Thanatos' defeat. Tessla, Kennen, and Kang would take advantage of the opening created, and each struck a would-be-fatal blow on Thanatos. Before they were able to finish him, Phanna and Sheex, another two of Thanatos' chief subordinates arrvied on the scene, and quickly extracted Thanatos before he fell. However, in their haste, the Everto Voco Pestis would be left behind, and taken in by the Revolutionary Army.

The Aftermath
Thanatos would be taken back to Arcadia, where he would remain out of the public eye for quiet some time. His body was ruined by his fight with Tessla, and he was only keeping himself alive thanks to his own magic, in addition to the magic of Phanna.

The Revolutionary Army entered Aeson City to the cheers of the crowd, and accepted the formal surrender of the Royal Garrison. Tessla's mother, Tasena, was taken into protective custody, and would live out the rest of her life in a sheltered part of the castle. The mental damage she suffered under Geshtar and the Arcadian would never heal. Her brother, Nenan, would also be kept under protective custody, but would work to redeem himself, and be a positive asset to the country. Tessla was crowned as Queen of Aeson, and reestablished the Revolutionary Army as the New Nanten. Tessla was an extremely popular ruler, and "The White Rose of the Revolution" would now be called "The White Rose of Aeson".

Tessla would work to forge strong bonds with the nations who helped her during the Revolution, such as Sohara and the Arcadian Guild Combine. Tensions would be high with Arcadia, but neither side had the resources to wage another full scale war against each other.

Kang, Kennen, Fezenie, and Sophia would be named the new Devas of the Nanten. Hanzo would be appointed as Tessla' foreign minister, and would work to strengthen the bonds between Aeson and its Allies. Feito would serve as the Executor of the Nanten, a new position Tessla created specifically for her, who would serve as the Queen's voice in the military.