This time, we shall continue the topic of wars. It will not be a usual war this time, though. We will point our attention to the earliest times of our people in Aedilër, when the Generals had just arrived at her shores. So it begins…
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Eastern Aedilër, year 59 of Era II
The Generals’ arrival to the continent was far from easy. They had merely hundreds of men at their disposal, and near to no resources. Furthermore, the land they had arrived on was still almost a complete mystery – the first explorers had only reached 15 years earlier, and the information they gathered was not available to the exiles in any way. They were uncertain whether anyone inhabited the land, and if so, what to expect from them. The first encounter with the locals did not spark enthusiasm – the Southfolk’s aggressive approach and incomprehensible speech led the soldiers to the conclusion that they are in fact more advanced animals.
The Generals were not hasty in progressing through the lukewarm East. The army marched carefully, and the periodic disagreement between the overcautious old Nyther and the fierce Carthen would only delay their progress. Encounters with the local population were limited, as the leaders wanted to avoid excessive fighting. However, when they happened, the result was always similar – a few deaths on the side of the Generals and slaughter of the locals, fueled by Carthen’s rage and Rayoh’s love of fire.
One night was different from what they had encountered before. The army was camping at the verge of a large forest. In the evening, Nyther saw a black bird of a species he had never encountered before, flying low above the foliage. The sight made him feel inexplicable anxiety. Soon after, he summoned the soldiers and told them, ‘I saw a sign today. Whether it is good or bad, I know not, but certainly we should expect changes. Be prepared for anything that may happen, and always keep your weapon at hand.’ The men thought he was speaking nonsense due to his age. However, they were wrong. In the middle of the night, the whole camp heard the guard shouting, ‘Alarm, enemies are coming! Draw your swords!’ Thanks to Nyther’s warning, more men than usual were ready, and rushed to defend from the ambush. The fight was harder than any they had fought before, as the night would blur their vision of the surroundings and the enemies knew the terrain much better. The soldiers would hit each other in confusion and the Southfolk swiftly maneuvered between them, causing great damage. The ambush had been fully fended off by morning, but over three dozen soldiers had been killed, which was a great loss for an army of less than two thousand.
The night was certainly the most exceptional one in years of their journey. The soldiers never doubted Nyther’s intuition again, and this was to their great benefit, as he was a wise man.
The story of the Generals is broad, so we will continue it later. Thank you, this is all for now.
Aedilër 