After the great crusade resulting in the capture of the 22nd's homelands there was a time of peace for the Templars, we faced a few minor skirmishes with the fallen brigade during this time but major confrontation was not to be found. Peace, in calradia, existed to me.
A rumor grew however, the 22nd were regrouping, a few of there men were spotted passing close to our lands, armed but with small numbers, perhaps they were testing our defenses, perhaps scouting. From the village of Chide i reported this to the grandmaster but they had slipped away before we could capture them.
Then came the news. The leaking of the merc/22nd contract to capture the rcc lands and the conquest of the area. In these times many factions saw their chance to seize land and power. The mercs struck with deadly force, take the majority of the area with ease and transferring it to the 22nd. The Templars, allies of the rcc responded with armies that were gathered quickly and marched to the north. It was at this time that Growl departed, and the council was announced.
In the beginning there were 15+ council members, with no clear leader nor any policy or system of management in place.
Our campaigns in the north were ineffective, we faced armies 1/10th the size of ours consisting of great warriors and archers who although they would loose the battle, would inflict great losses. And so it was, with each skirmish our numbers grew less as the 22nds men multiplied. Theories circulated as to who supported them, if it was the fallen, or perhaps the mercs themselves with which Growl had so much confrontation.
Then the assaults on our lands began, a fief we would loose then retake. A day later it would be assaulted by a new army, which would then be reinforced at the final hour, doubling their numbers. We had no supreme command to coordinate our efforts, no matter how hard one of us may try, we could not gather the men.
Calling upon our allies to come to our aid the Dharan legion with Legio amassed an armies of over 10,000 men and marched for the north to liberate the rcc fiefs and the Templar villages. They faced however the same problem that had faltered the Templars, locked down at every possibility, facing an army who controlled the battlefield, utilizing all possible methods, wether they were intended by the almighty or not, to gain the advantage. Superior tactics and team work shone brightly those days.
Looking still to our allies we found that the Kingdom of regalis was deserted, a shadow of what it was. Empty and baron there was no help to be found there. And so it came to pass, the 22nd and their allies continued to push us back. As far as chide we fell and for some time the assault stopped. It was at this point that the sea raiders, den bitre and the grey order began to expand i believe. In the south there was peace still.
Dharan and legio returned to their homelands, disappointed at their lack of success and laying the blame on the Templars for not escorting their armies or covering them from the lock downs that they faced. Then Druzina struck, capturing Dharan lands without a fight and legio quickly surrendered following a brief siege of Yalen.
Under the promise of glory, protection and the return of their lands Legio and Dharan turned to the 22nd and their allies joining what is now known as the UIF. United Independent Factions
Our stratian allies remained true of heart and stood fast against the swelling numbers of enemies at their doorsteps.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation in the north Shogunate and Guards began to respond, Templars receiving reinforcements from the shogunate meant we were able to bolster the defense of Uxhal and Veluca.
During this time My self and Rubicon worked tirelessly to gather members. our roster was in disarray with member activity dropping by the day, the council itself had shrunk to around 4 members. Myself, Rubicon TomMyyY and Tybox were the only ones left.
Around this item also the Fallen seized Grunwalder Castle from the Templar Homelands. The noose was tightening around our necks.
Then the Pubcrawl began, Our allies in the south, Shogunate and the Caravan Guards, with whom we had been ever waiting formed this vast army with the IRC. they claimed they were tired of strategus and were finished, forming this as a way to gather XP and that was all. They went from Town of Town of our enemies destroying all they found until their numbers were gone. A bitter blow to the Templars who had hoped their allies may have come in their final hour.
And so the Final struggle began, through the use of many different factions the UIF were able to slip though our defenses, they used neutral players who they knew we would not attack to enter our lands and reinforce themselves. They attacked repeatedly and although we would recapture a village for a day they would return with greater numbers each time.
Finally the villages fell. We pulled all we could spare into Uxhal and made ready the defenses, Veluca fell following a long struggle but the Siege of Uxhal was a bloody one. The holy cities walls were soaked in blood.
Finally Viyncourd Castle, the chapter house and place of Residence of the Grandmasters fell to the UIF and the Templars went into exile.
From this day on a stopped keeping track of events, we settled with teh guards on the lower Steppes of Calradia, waiting till we had recruited enough to crusade again. A brief expedition against the Bandits ended in disaster when they received the support of our enemies, yet they fell to the Turks the next day without a fight as we had bled them during the night.
Searching for a home, we came across the Band of Brothers who were leaving Calradia and to us they left the village of Sekhtem that we now call home.
We had begun to establish ourselves once again, gathering our scattered members to the village, then the freeze struck.
