weekly lore 6 - The North Kings War

Far to the North, lies the snow-covered land of Delrin. The country has a bloody origin, with a long period of peace in between. Across the Frozen Ocean, from the land of Kaevalon, barbarians settled the icy peninsula. After many years of infighting, Sorianeth the Breaker formed the land into a kingdom. Though today, we are not discussing Sorianeth, or the barbarians that swept the land, but the disastrous North Kings War.

Jargos Vulkan is the current King of Delrin and his seat was not merely handed to him. The old King, Therasus Trumonde II, had named his grandson-in-law his heir. Marrying the crown princess, and being in favor of the people, the lowborn heir was loved by all. The “true”, and I use true quite loosely there, heir to the throne had disappeared for many years. Avogadro Trumonde simply appeared to claim the right after his grandfather passed.

It seemed as though Avogadro lacked the courage to face his brother-in-law. He opted to call the banners eternally loyal to the blood heir and challenge Jargos for rule of the country. The territories of Blackhearth, Dunkshire, Hokkal, and Sodrasen all came to the estranged prince’s aid. Meanwhile, Ectrear, Northridge, Nuulgrif, Thalen, and the capital city of Valkraag all came to Jargos’ support. While the larger cities of Hokkal and Dunkshire were pressed against him, Jargos was able to sway Ouramast onto his side.

The war raged for two years. First, a well fortified Sodrasen fell. Jargos saw the valiant fighters loyalists of Delrin and treated them with the respect any warrior deserved. For this, they found it hard to hate such a noble man. Hokkal, the industrial hub of the country, fell to a two pronged attack. The only defeat Jargos faced was at Dunkshire, where his flank had been defeated before they could advance. In their second attempt on the city, it was taken as well.

In a twist of irony, a battle did not decide the North Kings War. A curious event known as the Blackhearth Incident did. There were no survivors. Only hints of what remained suggested the city had been incredibly reinforced. An explosion, heard from a couple hundred miles away, was what gave Jargos his victory and secured his crown. Black, charred land and crumbled ruins were all that remained of the city. There were no bodies.

Even thirty years later, nothing grows in the area known as the Blackwind Hollow. They say even the faintest breeze there smells like death. Not a place I’d care to visit, though the rest of Delrin is quite nice. In the wake of the conflict, the country is unified once again. I can’t help but wonder, what happened at Blackhearth?

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Douglas Stoutforge