The soft hiss of rain as it runs down the mottled glass of my room brings life back into sharp focus, a flicker of lightning cast the room and its contents in harsh cold light before the light of my one lamp resumes its mad dance as it nears the end of its life. I guess I should introduce myself; well I would if I had a name that could be remembered by me or anyone else. Call me slave and leave it at that, it will make things easier on all. I feel I will perish soon here deep within one of the great fortresses ruled by the Bloodless, but before I go I wish to tell you a tale or a history of the Haladin. This will be my last gift to anyone who will find it, by guttering lamp and poor penmanship I will scrawl all I have learned.
They, the Bloodless have always dwelt here within the Earthspine, shadowed vales and twisted valleys a pale faced people with great manes of blood red hair. Some might call them beautiful; I would now call them terrible to behold having witnessed the dark rights performed. Once they were squat of build and broad of shoulder, but could never be misconceived as the Khezdruli, but with the first years of mans existence the Lindiri came upon the Bloodless. The Lindiri sought to better the Bloodless, as they do love to meddle, for they saw the Haladin did suffer from hemophilia. With some success they did help the Haladin, but as always the changes they wrought upon the Bloodless had unexpected results.
A small number of the Bloodless grew in height and if possible they became even paler of skin, weak in the flesh, but strong in the mind they became the nobility of this race. From what I have read and found rotting in the deepest parts of this place as the wind moaned through long forgotten passages the first amongst the Bloodless were given visions in their rest, warned of the weakness of villages they built three monstrous fortresses. Perhaps I should point out to whoever chances upon this written word that chief among the Bloodless rule three clans, the Iudruul with the Sieldruul and Karathuul. With the strongholds built the visions proved to have whispered truth for the Empire began what was to be a prolonged and bloody war. As Spurhawks swarmed into the first valleys they swiftly took control of the shadow ridden vales, but with the speed of their conquests came high casualties.
As the Empire pushed deeper into the lands of the Haladin or as some would call them the Cimrai three clans fought back, the Kanaan, Kharst and Kaden. As the three clans tried to hold the Empire back, many stayed within their great fortresses, the massed garrisons forbidden to leave despite clan affiliations. What followed the initial assault by the Empire was a truly grim and bloody time for my masters. The Kanaan Clan and the Siedruul planned for the coming battles lead by the nobles who had proven to be sharp of mind but weak of flesh and unable to fight, this could have been the end for the Bloodless for many lost faith in their feeble commanders, but in the end the Kanaan managed to rally eight clans to the defense of a crucial vale. As a slow cool wind played with the proud banners of the Empire, twenty five thousand men massed and ready to unleash hell upon the Clans who stood upon the opposite side of the vale. Sixteen thousand Bloodless lead by Valerian for half the forces were Kanaan, stood ready to die for their twisted valleys and mist shrouded mountains.
From musty tome and by wane light of a single poorly made candle I was able to find reports of the following battle.
Four days of death, the cries of the Empire and Bloodless rode the wind a song of pain and anguish as they slew each other. Line after line of fortified positions fell, but the Kanaan held, a bloodied rock among a sea of war. The Empire had tried to defeat them with all their cunning and might and as a blood red sun set the Kanaan had proven they could equal the best the Empire could throw at them for they were the Kanaan, fearless in the extreme.
As the battled raged the Iudruul Clan sought to expand upon their knowledge of their arcane powers. The Kanaan fought with blade and shield, feeding the land with their own blood as the Iudruul stole their own people, each soul given to the use of Blood Magic. From what I can gather what happened next changed the Bloodless, for better or worse I can not judge for I am a simple slave and not very wise. Demonic spirits were touched upon and from this foul caress the Iudruul made them selves preternaturally strong. Armed with blades of power and some now with the means to fly, metal wings that remind me of the bats that plague some parts of this Fortress, they fell upon the Empire. The Spurhawks were rolled back, most returned to their beloved Sea of Grass. Wheeling they then turned upon the Empires flanks. With a surge the Kanaan saw an opportunity and pressed forward. A moment or hours and the Empire were in full retreat. Thousands upon thousands died in the coming rout, the fallen left to rot in the vales and misted mountains. So many dead, the moaning wind echoing with the cries of the dying even to this day.
Now the Clans play games with deadly powers, the Blood magic sings to them, whispers of more power to come, but I can see things my masters cannot. The shadows dance and darkness gathers, they dream of war and conquest, but risk utter dominance from the power they crave. A rift is soon to be opened; a gate way to the Cthonae, soon things will change, soon. The Iudruul play a dangerous game, they have tried to subject all, and failed for the Kanaan have resisted and now defend the Earthspine from any who threaten the Bloodless, but perhaps they should look within their boarders for dark powers gather and the Iudruul welcome it with open arms.
A flash of bright lightning and my poor candle ends its life as the room fades to darkness, not that it matter for Im naught but a lowly slave who likes to tell tales
Re: DRAGONBORN Total War - Initial Preview
Originally Posted by Khales
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