The Ildiri have always been present wherever water was. They are irrevocably tied with the air and sky, but there used to be a distinction, before the time when the Aethiri left the sides of their brothers - named Aethiri after they made this disttinction between water and air. The Aethiri were said to have a city that floated above the clouds.
However, with the advent of man, and the colonisation they began, the Ildiri and other elves gave ground, many of the smaller communities fading back into the deeper regions, where they remained guardians of life. However, the King Iythair, the first Heron King, founded a kingdom called the Kingdom of Herons in the west. Here dwelled many of the Ildiri - tens of thousands, and they made their peace with humanity, offering only that they would stay within these bounds for the price of allies and supporters of the most benevolent humans - the Empire. Under Valerian, a pact was agreed, as was a place in the east in the lakes of Mirytine...the Lake Kingdom.
The Kingdom of Herons was draped in a mist, a fog, that obscured all entrances to their lands, and would confuse enemies, turning them always back to the edge of the Kingdom, no matter how many times they tried to penetrate, foiling any attempt to map the routes in. This was powerful magic, coiling mists that drained the energy from those that attempted it's passage.
The Ghaurchlai were the only ones to broach this mist, and they did so in two places...one was the entryway to the Heron Kingdom, one was more secret, but broached all the same, made as a way of passage from the Ildiri Kingdom into the secluded port city of Ereneth.
The battle between the Ghaur in the south was fierce, and the Heron King's son, the Swan Prince, laid his life and that of his entire host down to summon the Water Phoenix, an ancient Avatar that they had been friends with for thousands of years. The Phoenix exploded in a torrent of water, drowning all in it's path, or crushing in a welt of water; even burning them with the bite of ice. Upon the death of the Prince, the Ghaurchlai's second army broke through, with none to oppose them. As the populace fled, the White Fortress gathered those it could across it's magnificent bridges, but many thousands seemed unsaveable.
The Princess, the Frail Feather, Ithil, set forth from her court, aided by her few hundred Maidens, warrior healers, and a thousand of the Fort's garrison. They crossed the bridges in solemn grace, to meet the army of the Ghaurchlai, who numbered at least 50 times their own. As the people streamed past her and her host, she advanced, solemnly singing a pean until they met the Ghaur that had come forth in a frenzy. These they cut down, as they were the weakest and less controllable of their kind. As she claimed a hill for her forces, the main Ghaur force advanced to meet her.
On this hill, the snow drops grew in abandon, and would become mired, drowned in blood that day - ever after they grew red.
The Ghaur crashed into Ithil's lines, and met defiance and steel, with Ithil in the centre, flanked by her Moon Maidens. Spearmen thronged each side, and the small number of bowmen lined the hill's crest. For two hours the bitter battle was fought, assault after assault beaten by by her host's conviction and their love for the Princess. Something about Ithil made the Ghaurchlai frenzy in desperate assaults, and all the while, her people fled to safety. After the Demon Spawn fell back in dismay, the lines held, but many of the greater brethren of Ghaurchlai walked forth from their throng. Slaughterstars, Baelogres, Vore Angels, the Revenants; all kinds of the worst beasts of nightmare slowly moved to the inevitable slaughter.
The Ghaur hit the front lines of Ildiri, and their ranks crumpled, bent, then resurged to hold the position they would soon die in. As the Moon Maidens fell in droves, the Spearmen became isolated from Ithil, whilst she sang what was said to be the most beautiful song ever sung. All eyes turned to her in lust, and she moved amongst her Maidens, as the Spearmen fell silent. As her words changed, the survivors melted away, ordered to save their own lives, and the Ghaur did not oppose them in this.
Revenants fell upon her maidens, but they fought them to a standstill, for only the best of her warriors remained. One after another, the Ghaur assaulted her lines, even as she sang and cut down all of the beasts sent against her. True light shone from her very soul and her voice was joyous. Then a shadow fell upon her, as her lines buckled and were forced from her side. A Slaughterstar bent over her, hunched and deformed, the light of stars in it hungry maw. Ithil met it blow for blow, and her clothing became slick with blood, until her blade shattered and she sank to her knees. She remained defiant, and as the Slaughterstar pulled her up to devour her, she drove her brokan blade in it's face again and again, even as he tore her apart. Upon the moment of her death, the Slaughterstar fell, lifelss, savagely burnt by her purity, and a thousand Swallows streamed from the sky to gather her body, to take this last indignity from the expectant Ghaurchlai.
Even the stars did not shine that night, and the Kingdom of Herons lay silent, save for the weeping of all that was good.
|
Re: DRAGONBORN Total War - Initial Preview
Reply With Quote
Those guys are amazing. If you don't mind me asking, will every faction have a heroe unit? If so then that is awesome! Go Dragonborn!
Originally Posted by nhytgbvfeco2
)
