“Fire!”, screamed the countrymen while running towards the bailey. The smell of fire was faint and distant. The Virtori church had led their mercenaries to round up the apostates of the Virtori. Their goal is one: to exterminate the non-believers. They sought a Lord that would protect them and Count Grim had given them that promise. This means war, he thought. People rightly should be able to keep their religion or cast it away. “This is a place where they can feel safe, I’ll make sure of it,” he thought.

The church had been causing problems for the county. They think they can pull their weight over the count. “What to do, what to do,” he said to himself with baited breath. Then he realized there is only one course of action. One which will be one that defined the deep history of the county. “Ring the bell!” he shouted. People hurried to ring the bells that warned people danger is coming.

Some time had passed as he surveyed the land, seeing smoke billowing in the distance. People are in danger. “This is an outrage,” he muttered. “Fire spreads quickly in the shrub-lands. Especially in the high heat of summer.” As the bells tolled, he looked around seeing his men getting ready, armor taught, swords being tied on. He gave a subtle nod only he was aware of.

Men, women, and children all ran toward the gate, trying to gain safety within the walls while the church’s mercenaries continued to organize after making their first statement with the fire. Grim had taken notice and kept the gates open as long as possible, until the time came where the mercenaries where just a kilometer out. The gates were drawn shut as the people seeking safety entered.

Along the battlements were rows of bowmen, waiting for the orders of their commander. “Ready!” The formation of bowmen nocked their arrows, awaiting the approach of the mercenaries. When they reach a hundred meters, the commander shouted. “Draw!” Fifty meters, “Loose!”

Multitudes of the mercenaries fell. Looking over things, he noted this was good his people were safe and becoming safer. The commander looked toward his men. “Shoot at will,” he stated add serious adjective? As time passed, the morale of the mercenaries dwindled as their numbers fell. Eventually they began to retreat. Today's battle had been won.

Day after day, then month after month, the attacks tapered off, while more and more apostate refugees came to his county, discovered their new life, and began anew. Likewise, with more people, the stronger his hold on the land became. The apostates of the Virtori now had a home to call their own, and the ability to effectively repel any who should question their right of religion.

Soon came the era of trade for his people, a freedom they had long sought. The Waerd of Eldask, had welcomed the refugees and taught them some of their ways of fighting. They also accepted the apostates to their religion if they so wanted to be part of it. Grim wondered, “Did the church stop? Will they stop their pursuit of the apostates?” Then he thought, “It matters not! We are making enough progress with trade and other sellable goods. We have also found new people having our city added to their maps!”

On the north end of the township two academies were built. One of which trains in the skillset of the Bard and the other for militant action. Bardic skills include: Medicine, Music, and History or Writing. On the other hand, the Umbral Knight Academy is self explanatory. Centered on the island between two rivers, open to all and providing a key part of their trade: information. As education is an important factor for society it was proclaimed that basic classes were to be given to all landowners of the county so that they can more easily experiment and prepare for what would be the rest of their life. “A step in the right direction,” Grim muttered.

Toward the market square in the center of the capital, a monument was constructed of the Two-fold Queen slaughtering a seven headed hydra. The Two-fold Queen gripped a great sword that represented the Neran Virtori, readied to sever the heads of the hydra. The seven headed hydra, the corrupted virtues that plagued the apostates who renounced their religion. Grim truly felt this was an excellent representation of the Neran that would come to believe in the Al’Tifali religion.

lore entry

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