Why do we Fight? - Volume III - For Honor

Chapter 20: Tales of Rebellion

- Months later... -

Some time after the disaster that Order of Horkos has brought and caused the death of Holden Cross, Astrea and her Warmongers reigned supreme in Heathmoor. Ashfeld fell into darkness as the taint of tyranny swept across the continent. It did not discriminate; Knight, Viking, Samurai, and the Wu Lin are all equally treated, with brutality.

Those who were defeated from resisting the Order of Horkos were subjugated into the ranks of the cultists, imprisoned, or executed. The spirits of the defenders of their people hit rock bottom and many surrendered to escape a terrible fate. However, at the current time, it would seem that death would be the better way than to live under a world in darkness.

Those who did not surrender went into hiding, regrouping and biding their time. But any attempts at resisting the authority of their new rulers were met with force and many perished as a result.

For months, Apollyon's successors and the Order of Horkos ruled with little resistance, doing as they please as well as make the people of Heathmoor wage war against each other, just like what Apollyon had envisioned. It was utter anarchy with no hope visible. However, no rule can continue without opposition.

Continuing his role as the Lord Warden, (Argen) Lorderius had been drafting plans with his commanders to retake the most important regions of Ashfeld as well as cut the Order of Horkos in half and preventing them from communicating with their forces in Valkenheim and in the Myre. Out from the shadows like how Astrea and her cultists did, allied Knights who had joined forces struck with such speed and violence that even the Horkos cultists were caught off-guard.

Together, they retook Eitrivatnen, Fireshelf, and Brute's Bend and successfully cut down the cultists' capabilities of efficient movement across Heathmoor and hopefully the Vikings and the Samurai would be able to better resist. However, they failed to retake the Labyrinth of Sand in the south and were forced to retreat back to their lines in Brute's Bend, losing their momentum in the process and with it, their chance at liberating Ashfeld in one fell swoop.

Their allies to the west led by (Argen's) father, Kalec Lorderius were less fortunate. Striking from Crow's Path in the northwest, they sought to cut off Horkos forces in Valkenheim by taking the border regions of Ice Coast, Sow Mesa, and if possible, Ilkaya's Barrier to connect their lines with their forces eastward. Unfortunately, despite reinforcements from Vikings of the Crows Clan, they were defeated in the battle for Crow's Path and were pushed back to the far corner of Ashfeld and leaving them with little progress.

But there is progress. Their southward push spearheaded by the remnants of Fourteenth Legion has seen their lines expand towards the region of Hard Hills. However, that is as far as they have gone to, and the allied Knights are stuck in a stalemate with no further real progress for both sides.

For the occupied regions, the people suffered under the harsh rule of the Warmongers. Hope that was from the Truce of Wyverndale is long gone and the idea of living in harmony with each other became distant as days pass. Turmoil raged as former allies turned against each other and were pitted together by the Order of Horkos like sheep being toyed with by wolves.

It was so close. (Argen's) dream of uniting all of Ashfeld and securing peace with their neighbors was broken. Years of painstaking work, both by himself and through manipulation of others were thrown away. However, (Argen) is far too tenacious for Astrea and her Warmongers.

His dream may be broken, but it is not shattered. It can still be restored and (Argen) will make sure that it will be restored. After all, he made an oath...

And a Warden's oath is not so easily broken.

Their progress may have halted, but their uprising is successful in more ways than one. News of them retaking the major regions of Ashfeld spread throughout Ashfeld like wildfire and inspired more to rise up in defiance of their occupiers. Armed rebellions sprouted all over Ashfeld and caused disarray amongst the Horkos fanatics. Astrea isn't a fool for she knew that taking Ashfeld in the name of Apollyon wouldn't be easy, and ruling it would be far too difficult for her alone. Uprisings across the lands was something she expected, but not in this scale. A fatal mistake that she had overlooked is (Argen) and the House of Lorderius themselves. Their influence is so great that it is nigh impossible to dislodge them from their goals.