Have you ever promised something and not followed through? Well what if you had.....what if every spoken promise or commitment was a reality to you? You wouldn't try, you would do; you would achieve. Rae-Gan the Absolute is such a man.
Rae-Gan the Absolute, this name was earned. Rae-Gan had achieved this name through not one feat, but many. When Rae-Gan made a commitment: mountains would move, citys would crumble, people would die, or people would be saved. Whatever the matter if Rae-Gan said it would be done, no matter how long it may take, it would be done. Though most didnt refer to Rae-Gan as "Emperor"; they prefered "The Absolute". "The Absolute" was more to them, he was hope. He was hundreds of years of false hope and promises, finally on the shoulders of a man who followed through.
Oranea was located dead center of the Wanoa continent. They had one massive lake and quite a few rivers and streams; thus water was easily accessible and non-saltwater fish were a major export. They always had the most land of all the kingdoms, some upwards of 260,000 spans. Most other kingdoms were less than 150,000 spans, yet rarely did Oranea see any conflict. The reason they have never been attacked for this is due to most of the land being uninhabitable mountains. This also explained why the weakest military power hadn't been invaded in over 1000 years: the natural defenses were too strong, and the spoils were not worth the effort.
Rae-Gan was born the third son of a Lesser Baron. This wasn't horrible, but in the end Rae-Gan didn't believe he deserved the world, Rae-Gan KNEW that he deserved the world. Rae-Gans' arrogance only grew with the doting of his parents. His other siblings were ultimately thrown asside as soon as Rae-Gans' talents began to show themselves.
When Rae-Gan was four, he had already begged to begin martial training so many times, that even against their worry they gave in to his insessant begging.
At the age of seven, Rae-Gan defeated his eleven year old elder brother Marlus easily. The maids and servents of the house would not forget this; nor let the young lord who was humbled forget it for many years.
By ten, Rae-Gan was already taller than most boys at twelve. This is when he began associating with the Kings Court. His favor, accomplishments, and legend grew steadily over the next three years. This led him to break off from his noble house and start his own Dukedom granted by the Kingdom. Never could the King have expected that his decision to raise Rae-Gans' status would be the catalyst for the entire continent to change.
Rae-Gan was twenty two years old when he became emperor. When he was fifteen, he convinced the King to allow him command one third of the entire countrys military force. In Wanoa, war was faught with bow and sword, ship and war balloon, catapault and trebuchet. Magic existed on Wanoa, but it wasn't even something that could make a fireball. Most was based in spiritualism and mentalism. Strength of spirit and strength of mind. There were even some who could levitate objects. Rae-Gans legend is centered around his very first nickname: Rae-Gan Whirlwind. It is said Rae-Gan carries 4 swords, and noone has ever seen him use the third. This was of course because anyone who has seen it, is dead now...as most legendary tales go. It is said during the Decade of Unification that Rae-Gan used two swords in hand, and impossibly, two swords flying about the air faster than the eye can track creating a whirlwind of death. This is of course just a legend no matter how many soldiers swear they saw it.
Rae-Gan took this one third of the Oranea millitary and unilaterally and systematically either wiped out or absorbed every land his feet ever touched. The first reason for his success is simple, Rae-Gan was a strategic genius. Not just in the book smart sense, he was cunning and ingenuitive. He created new means of warfare and changed Rules of Engagement forever. Now the second reason is actually the most impressive, no matter how mighty ones strategic mind is he doesnt have infinite soldiers...or does he?
Every land Rae-Gan stepped foot on he recruited and did what some might call preach, and some would call a "Kings Speech". He promised things for serfs and peasants no king would promise and no peasant would believe. At first none joined and he kept his word that they were free to leave. Three cities conquered later and his resources were dwindling and so was his soldiers moral. Yet Rae-Gan kept speaking, kept fighting, kept moving forward. In each passing city he left competant and loyal men. That is all Rae-Gan would associate with, if he doubted your loyalty to him for a moment you were nothing. Now the third city. Many people started streaming behind Rae-Gans army like a line of ants by the time they were leaving.
Each of the two previous cities had already had enormous changes. Rae-Gan brought concepts that put the will of the people behind him, mainly? Opportunity. Everyone knew if you had talent go to Rae-Gan. If you don't work for him directly he will set you up for life somewhere the kingdom needs you. Thus his army ceased to falter and ceased to dwindle. In fact his army had doubled by the sixth city he had conquered. Less that 2 years from the start Delefa, Kingdom of Storms, fell completly and the Oranea Empire was formed under the current king.
Just over a year later, the much stronger, Fasaad Oligarchy crumbled. The people of Fasaad were so oppressed and misused by the Oligarchy that Rae-Gan didn't even have to assault some cities. The moment they heard Rae-Gan was making his whirlwind through Delefa, and heading Fasaads way; a country wide uprising and civil war began. Rae-Gan barely even wet his blade in all of Fasaad, he just wasn't needed. His men could more than handle it.
Long story short, Rae-Gan continued this crusade until all the land beneath his feet and all the land his eyes have touched were his. On his return to the capital of Oranea a moment happened that further solidified Rae-Gans Legend as "the Absolute".
Upon his arrival the city was in uproar. Every street and roof was filled. Flowers filled the street and proposals from hopeful suitors filled the air. When Rae-Gan entered the throne room the "Emperor" sat on his throne with an anxious smile. He was a squat man used to an easy and carefree life. Even during the war he did nothing except allow his retainer to move forth with an "idea". He couldn't believe he didn't see this young boy, no, this man, for the cunning and caniving master manipulator that he is. The "Emperor" almost shivered seeing the power and confidence that exuded with every step Rae-Gan took. He couldn't even talk when Rae-Gan stopped less that four hands in front of him.
Rae-Gan said only one sentence to this emperor, "Why are you on my throne?".
Everyone who heard this knew it wasn't a question to be answered. Not one single royal guard or nobleman stepped up in the "Emperors" defense. There was only the "Emperor" and Rae-Gan. Thirty seconds of the deadest silence the palace had ever not heard. The "Emperor", in quick decision, vacated his throne and kneeled to the right side of the giant centerpiece of the guilded throneroom. He hoped his intentions were clear, they were, and Rae-Gan didn't care. Rae-Gan wouldn't let this man keep managing this Kingdom, he would put one of his vasals in his place. He had been grooming "Kings" that he could trust to follow his vision since he made this goal in childhood. Those who followed Rae-Gan saw him with almost religious eyes.
Oranea grew steadily all around over the next few years, and would continue to due so for millenia to come. Unbeknownst to all, Rae-Gan included, Rae-Gan would see almost none of this growth after his legend was solidified on that fateful day in the throneroom...
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"The pact remains, and thus we are bound.", an enormous bear like man, almost sixteen hands tall, said from his seat around a massive pentagonal table. This man was one of five great beings at this pentagon. This table was so black it wasnt actually visible on the dark swirling marble floors of this structure. If not for the numerous beautiful golden runes scripted over it, one would mistake it for a hole in reality. Beings of smaller mind would not even retain their sanity looking at these runes, despite their beauty.
Understand that the structure around this table was not so plain. This was a swirling spiral that seemed to go infinitely into space. If one was outside this structure, likely you would be dead, but you would notice immediately that this was suspended in space and traveling at unimaginable speeds. The spiral seemed to be an unending telling of the coming and goings of various gods and points in history. "We must have a solution without our intervention. I am the god of fucking war, I fear no battle. The problem lies in the fact that the rift is likely to appear not near a planet, but on or in a planet! MY FUCKING PLANET"!
The god of wars fury was boundless and infinite! This was his home world, his armory was near the center of this world, and he couldn't do shit about it! After this outburst, three stars unfortunate to be close enough to this spiral, instantly reached supernova and solar systems were destroyed. It's okay though, it wasn't any of the those that these five cared for.
"This affects all of us, Rothar.", the woman who spoke had a beauty that would drive any earthbound sentience to madness and suicide. Her god-born ability was that any who saw her would see their specific perfect form of beauty, due to this none have witnessed her true form. She was the goddess of love, yet had never loved any more than a brother. Her tone was purely genuine and it was obvious she shared his pain, though not his anger.
"Through the pact, if they are lucky enough to have a rift open on a planet, we have always ceded that planet. I understand no planet that affected us has ever been the target before", Devitra goddess of love said sadly. Even the sigh she ended on was something to give a man a heart attack.
Rothar began to stand up, but before his knees were halfway exteneded Devitras eyes froze him. Devitra was by far the weakest but yet most powerful. Her title among her own kind was not of love, but of wisdom. "We will NOT intervene...", Devitra hadn't raised her voice in ages.
Before Rothar could object, she continued, "We will meddle heavily and steadily to the absolute edge of this accursed pact.". Devitra had the most mischievous smile on her face, you would have thought she was the goddess of trickery; if not for the fact that even that expression was so damn beautiful.
"I am definately listening", Karske god of death said speaking for the first time in this gathering. His words were dry, so dry just hearing them made you feel as if your body would dry up and blow away. Behind that dryness was a hallowness, a hopelessness, that drew you in and drowned you in its malice.
"I am at your attention, sister", Rothar said attentively. He loved fighting, but if they broke the pact, war would not stop and would be forever expanding. Father wasn't here anymore. How would they force them back now? Maritus Justicar god of heaven and Fel'ah El'veness goddess of nature, both nodded to move forward.
Devitra sat for a moment looking at her brothers and sister, holding each their eyes before speaking. "We have summoned heroes for our own selfish reasons. What, thousands of times? For what though? We have all missused our ability to pull a fateless being from different universes and dimensions. Father didn't make this table for that, he made it so that we may protect this dimension from....them. I am not saying this in rebuke, I am saying this in acceptance that even us gods need to change.", Devitra said this with a solemnity that set her brothers and sister into reminiscence.
"So this time we will summon a hero that all five of us stand behind. Has a being ever existed that had the blessing of more than one deity? What if a being existed that had the blessings of all five of us...?", Devitra had a look in her eyes her siblings knew well. This look told them they were about to lose a game they didn't even know they were playing. Devitra stayed out of conflict for more reason than being the weakest fighting wise. Gladly it wasn't directed at any of them this time.
"BUHAAAAH! HAaHAa!", Rothars booming laugh seemed to echo through the supposedly soundless void of space. " I know the perfect guy. He is the only human I have watched from the moment I incedentally laid eyes on him. The most entertaining human I have ever seen.".
Devitra was instantly worried. Now you have to understand "entertaining" to Rothar god of war could be absolutely anything. "At least Karske didn't offer a suggestion", Devitra thought with a shiver.
"Alright then brother, lets hear about the human the god of war finds 'entertaining'!", Karske said with much more enthusiam one would expect from the god of death. Devitra was suprised, he had genuine interest. Devitras heart sank.
A fluttery voice almost musically flowed through the room, "Oh yes, you must enlighten me, Rothar. I'm always so bored! I want to watch this man too.". Fel'ah El'veness goddess of nature and mother of all elven races was akin to the goddess of lust as Devitra was to wisdom. She also had a severe attention problem. This issue was serious enough to get her to stay in one place and input.
Rothar exerted his will and the man named Rae-Gan, called "the Absolute", had his entire life, from start to finish, play before these gods in an instant. Rothar laughed, smiled, cried(from laughter), and drank endless amounts of god knows what.
Karske shockingly smiled throughout most of the mans life, and even laughed when the man told some fat ant to "get off his throne". Maritus was unreadable, though Devitra saw some things. Fel'ah El'veness got bored halfway through and stopped paying as much attention saying, " He didnt even, like, fuck alot! He just conquered and fought, and manipulated. Not to mention he has caused my nature a stupid amount of damage on YOUR planet, Rothar.", Fel'ah El'veness finished, looking straight at Rothar.
As all these gods were thinking, only Devitra had a look of disgust on her face. This man was pure arrogance. He wasn't necesarily a bad man, but his worldview was skewed horribly. She bet he would expect the gods to bow to him for "helping".
Devitra stood abruptly, she knew all her siblings were already open to this man as the hero. She had to take precautions. " You can all tell I am appalled by this man and his arrogance. So I have conditions if this is to be our hero....."