A History of Morae.

A Story by SaintOMan

An aged monk tells of the aftermath of the Clovis War, through his own and other's experience.

It is the year three hundred and eighty-seven, exactly eighteen years since the end of the Clovis War. It is in this chapter of my Landmark, that I describe in this text the aftermath of the Clovis War. For the very war, itself, would demand such detail and writing that one could never place both the war and it's aftermath in the same chapter or book.

The Clovis War began in the year three hundred and thirty-six, ending in the year three hundred and sixty-two. The war lasted for twenty-six years and was the cause for the deaths of over nineteen million people. But such details are for the said different chapter, however, reverences to the Clovis War will still be made. Though, as a monk I never had the pleasure of fighting under the many generals and commanders of the war, I do know many of the soon to be said details, from the many witnesses who wrote of them.

The Clovis War ended in the year 362, but ended early for the Imperium, in the year 360 when the Imperial emperor Draco won the battle at the River's Edge. After which the emperor Draco and his remaining force of veterans returned home to the Imperium. For those who do not know the geography of the continent, the land of Moraessia is like that of an island, mapped int he form of a large box with wilderness regions outside of which is uncharted.

The capital of the Imperium rests within a valley of a circular mountain range, called the Astrecian mountains. From there the Erae river flows down in a south eastern, diagonal direction to the coast. From the Astrecian mountains, there is also another mountain range which cuts down the continent, south, but west of the river. With this mountain range, there are two large, fertile regions on either side of the river. The first region is that of Mora which is on the Western side, and that of Gedon on the Eastern side. With such details out of the way, I will continue discerning the aftermath of the war.

        With the war over, the emperor Draco and the Imperium experienced a short period of peace, with various events occurring. Of which was the birth of Draco's daughter, Lamia, and the surprisingly celebrated promotion of Abaddon. Lamia was born late in the year of 360, eleven months after the end of the Clovis War. Lamia's birth was short of miraculous, as many members of the council wanted to end the Draco's line. Three members of the council made an attempt on Lamia's life. Their plan was to take Lamia when she was born and to kill her whilst framing one of the servants of the murder. Their plan, however, was thwarted when a supposed fourth conspirator admitted to Abaddon that such an attempt was being made. So Abaddon confronted the three and killed them before they could even make it to Lamia's crib.

       The fourth conspirator was, however, given only a five years to live by Abaddon. As Abaddon knew that the fourth man had still worked with the conspirators and that he could not be permitted to live. But the emperor Draco never knew of the attempt at all, even when the fourth was killed, for he died of sickness six years after the end of the war.

Not much is truly known of Abaddon, who although is still living has never divulged his past. But many stories are and have been told of his past and his life during the war. I have contemplated many of these accounts of his life, however, and have found that without doubt Abaddon was born and raised in the East Veritan city. Growing up in the squalor of the city Abaddon was forced to raise himself in the most brutal way to survive harassment from gangs and other ruffians. It was only when he was six or seven, the accounts are unclear, that he joined the Imperial army to escape such a life.

He was accepted quite easily into the army for at this time the Imperium was just joining the Clovis War and the Imperium needed as many soldiers as possible. For the next twenty years, Abaddon would fight in numerous battles achieving numerous and unbelievable triumphs. One such triumph was at the Battle of Nedreth Keep, were he was said to have scaled the walls of the castle and managed to cut down 17 enemies while opening the gates of the castle for his brothers in arms. I doubt such miraculous achievements but there are by far more fantastical things which have happened in history.

But such was the life of Abaddon, who after the emperor's death, pledged the retainer's oath to Lamia. And it was because of him and the vizier Ab'zan that the Imperial Court stayed intact. However, intact is a loose word used in this context. For shortly after Draco's death, another attempt on Lamia's life was made, who was now six years old. This time a larger contingent of the Imperial Court rebelled and conspired against the Empress. There were exactly 13 in this attempt but each man had with him over five retainers when they made their actual attack on Lamia. However, just like before these conspirators were thwarted.

Not by a traitor but by simple prediction by Abaddon who believed that the Court members would try again to kill Lamia. To combat this he, himself, and a force of twenty soldiers stood guard over the palace chambers. So that when the conspirators attacked, Abaddon was ready for them. And though outnumbered he and his men managed to push back the conspirators and their force with sheer determination. It is said that the child Lamia came out of her chambers during the fight and asked Abaddon whilst his men captured many of the conspirators 'what was happening.' He supposedly answered, 'My lady they are here to do you harm and for such we are to kill them.' But it is said that in her naivety she demanded that they be allowed to live regardless.

It was because of such mercy that the child Lamia earned the loyalty of many of the Court members including those that first tried to kill her. But the attacks did not end there, for two more would proceed and be stopped until she reached the age of nine. At this age the one act which many still, even during my own time, contemplate is the ordered execution of Sir Badrin. Badrin was supposedly executed for speaking out against not just the Court but the Empress herself. It is said by witnesses that he voiced his opinion to greatly and insulted the empress and her vizier for the preference towards tyranny.

I myself believe that it was only the vizier Ab'zan who ordered the execution. Though this in ways does not matter regarding vengeance for Ab'zan was executed for treason by Lamia five years later on. With the exception of these assassination attempts and executions there has not been any new events to account of except of course the war between the Imperial Guards and the Rangers who inhabit the Morae forest.