The tension between the Eastern and Western Protectorates simmered for months before boiling over into full-scale war. It began as border skirmishes, isolated and chaotic, but it soon spiraled into an inferno of violence that engulfed both protectorates. The conflict was as brutal as it was relentless, marking the beginning of a dark chapter in the histories of both lands.
The Initial Clash
The Eastern Protectorate, led by its ruthless General Commander Karidan, was confident in its military superiority. The East's army boasted advanced weaponry, larger numbers, and seasoned soldiers who had fought in smaller campaigns across the region. In contrast, the West relied on grit, guerilla tactics, and an unyielding determination to defend their homeland under General Tharos, a stoic and brilliant strategist who believed that the West's strength lay in its unity.
The first major battle took place at the border town of Yarlon, a key strategic point that the East wanted to capture to use as a staging ground. Eastern troops moved in under the cover of darkness, their formation disciplined and silent. The moonlight gleamed off their polished armor, and their footsteps were muffled by the soft soil of the fields.
The Western defenders, though outnumbered, had anticipated the attack. Hidden in the dense forest surrounding the town, they lay in wait. As the Eastern soldiers approached, the forest exploded with the sounds of battle. Arrows whistled through the air, finding their marks in the chinks of Eastern armor. Traps rigged with explosives detonated, sending soldiers flying and breaking their ranks.
Despite the chaos, the Eastern forces regrouped quickly. Their superior discipline showed as they pressed forward, cutting down the Western defenders with brutal efficiency. Yarlon fell within hours, its defenders either killed or retreating into the wilderness. It was a devastating loss for the West, but it was only the beginning.
The Siege of Cindral Fort
In retaliation, General Tharos launched a counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming Yarlon. His strategy hinged on taking Cindral Fort, an Eastern stronghold guarding the main supply route to Yarlon. The siege lasted for weeks, a grueling campaign that tested the endurance of both sides.
The Western forces used trebuchets and catapults to bombard the fort's walls, their flaming projectiles lighting up the night skies. The Eastern defenders retaliated with boiling oil and volleys of arrows, turning the area around the fort into a deadly no-man's-land.
One night, under the cover of a violent storm, Tharos sent a team of elite soldiers to infiltrate the fort. Led by Captain Harven, a fearless and cunning officer, the team scaled the walls using grappling hooks and moved silently through the fort, eliminating guards with ruthless precision. They managed to open the main gate, allowing the Western army to pour in.
What followed was a chaotic and bloody melee in the narrow corridors and courtyards of the fort. Soldiers fought hand-to-hand, their weapons clashing and echoing off the stone walls. The air was thick with the smell of blood and sweat, and the screams of the dying filled the night. By dawn, the Western forces had taken Cindral Fort, but at a heavy cost. The fort's courtyards were littered with bodies, and the survivors were left haunted by the carnage.
The Turning Point
Despite the victory at Cindral Fort, the West was struggling. Their resources were stretched thin, and their soldiers were exhausted. The East, on the other hand, had a seemingly endless supply of troops and weapons. General Karidan used his advantage to launch a massive offensive, pushing deep into Western territory.
The turning point came during the Battle of Red Ravine, a narrow valley where General Tharos made his stand. Knowing that his forces couldn't match the Eastern army in open combat, he devised a trap. The Western soldiers fortified the ravine with barricades and hidden trenches, creating a killing ground for the advancing Eastern forces.
When the Eastern army marched into the ravine, they were met with a barrage of arrows, spears, and rolling boulders. The narrow terrain made it impossible for them to maneuver or retreat, and the Western forces cut them down mercilessly. The ravine ran red with blood, earning the battle its grim name.
The victory at Red Ravine boosted Western morale and stalled the Eastern advance, but it also enraged General Karidan. He vowed to crush the West at any cost, setting the stage for the most devastating phase of the war.
The Final Assault
Determined to end the war, Karidan gathered his forces for a decisive assault on the Western capital, Tranor. The Eastern army marched in with a fearsome array of siege engines, cannons, and battalions of heavily armored soldiers.
The Western defenders, knowing this was their last stand, fortified the city with everything they had. Traps were set throughout the streets, walls were reinforced, and every able-bodied man and woman was armed.
The siege of Tranor was a nightmare. The Eastern cannons pounded the city walls day and night, reducing sections to rubble and creating breaches for their soldiers to pour through. Inside the city, the Western defenders fought desperately, using the narrow streets to their advantage. They ambushed Eastern troops, setting fires to block their advance and collapsing buildings to crush their ranks.
The fighting lasted for weeks, and the city became a hellscape of destruction and death. Food and water ran out, and disease began to spread among the civilians and soldiers alike. Despite this, the Western defenders refused to surrender.
The East's Ruthless Tactics
Frustrated by the stalemate, Karidan resorted to a horrifying tactic. He ordered his alchemists to unleash the bio-chemical weapon that would later become infamous as "the rain." The weapon was delivered through an artificial cloud that hovered over the city, releasing its deadly payload.
The rain fell on Tranor, killing indiscriminately. Soldiers, civilians, animals, and plants—all succumbed to its effects. The once-vibrant city became a silent graveyard, its streets littered with the dead.
The Aftermath
With Tranor destroyed, the West was forced to surrender. The remaining population was enslaved, and the East claimed total victory. But the cost of the war was immense. The East's reputation was forever tarnished by their use of the bio-chemical weapon, and seeds of rebellion were sown in the hearts of the surviving Westerners.
For Beshaar, the war was a personal tragedy. He lost his family, his home, and his way of life. But even amidst the ashes of defeat, a spark of defiance remained in him—a spark that would one day ignite into a full-blown rebellion.