The Legarthan Saga

Chapter 1

Prologue:

Thousands of years ago, in the world of Legarth, the Empire of Acray ruled supreme. Having been the first nation that formed when scattered tribes banded together, Acray quickly started to flourish, colonizing new territory, subduing other tribes into submission, and expanding their influence. However, as the years passed, the emperors became more and more ruthless in trying to maintain absolute power over the empire. As more draconian laws were established, the frontier of the empire became more and more discontent, with murmurs of rebellion slowly being spread. However, after the emperor personally ordered the massacre of protestors against one of these laws, the largest frontier town, Pinestall, declared their independence from Acray.

Like dominos, towns large and small followed suit, quickly banding together and forming a new nation named Ugria. Acray immediately declared war, sending the bulk of their military to crush the upstart nation. To their surprise, Ugria provided stiff resistance. After a year of fighting, and tens of thousands of deaths to their military, Acray's citizens began to riot, demanding an end to the war. The emperor was forced to agree to a peace treaty, accepting Ugria's independence.

In the years that followed, several smaller nations declared their independence from Acray, chipping away at their territory. However, Acray was forced to allow this, lest they were to go to war against Ugria again, who immediately guaranteed the independence of any nation breaking away from Acray.

Centuries later, these two superpowers continued their long cold war until the ruler of Ugria was assassinated in a diplomatic visit to Acray. War was immediately declared, with Ugria vowing to completely destroy Acray. The war was long and bloody, with millions of casualties for both nations. As the economies of both nations began to crack under the relentless burden of funding a war and dwindling civilian workers, history repeated itself in the southern reaches of both nations. Mythmire, a small town who had been squeezed of every possible resource to fund the war, declared their independence and urged neighboring cities to follow suit. Within days, the nation of Eshal was founded.

Unable to fight a war on two fronts, Acray and Ugria agreed to a ceasefire and formed a united front against Eshal, desperate to keep their respective territories. However, as they invaded Eshal, a young man, who had graduated from Ugria's top military academy, took command of the small army of men they were able to scrape together. Through masterful tactics, the armies of Acray and Eshal were repelled during every invasion attempt. Finally on the brink of collapse, the two nations finally agreed to a lasting peace and acknowledged Eshal's independence.

Three hundred years later, the situation has remained the same. Acray and its emperor are frustrated, believing they're the rightful ruler of the world and that both nations should be destroyed should the situation present itself. Ugria and Eshal, despite the initial hostility to each other, have smoothed over relations and have signed multiple trade agreements with each other. While not exactly allies, they realize that should Acray attack, they're stronger together. It's during this period of relative peace that gears of war slowly begin to turn again.

Chapter 1:

A young man was taking a stroll through a large garden, a daily ritual for the man as he prepared for the stress the day would inevitably throw at him. The smell of the flowers, the warm glow of the sun as it slowly rose over the horizon, and the sound of a small creek that meandered through the garden had a very calming effect. As he looked at the flowers, he heard some footsteps behind him. Looking back, he noticed another man walking up to him: his top advisor.

"Pardon the interruption, your Excellency."

The man smiled and shook his head. "No need to apologize. Though considering you're here this early in the morning must mean it isn't anything good."