In the year four
thousand two hundred and twenty-one of the second period on the part of the
world of Bensa known as Ashvan, the goblins and orcs migrated form their island
home. (At least most of them did, a few stayed behind and founded the kingdoms
of Kelch and Gefer). They attacked the south parts of the continent of
Qawsdex. Many peaceful kingdoms,
most of which had not experienced warfare in centuries, fell prey to the hordes
of orc and goblins.
In
response to this threat the kingdoms of Misxet (dwarves), Polent (elves),
Werstn, Morla, Ankorla, Viklingia, the Wizard’s Realm, and Quazela formed
a permanent alliance known as the League of Eight Kingdoms. This little League
would one day change the history of Bensa.
The
outside world learned of this through the ambassadors the king of Gega Insal
appointed to Hawsen, one of the southern kingdoms. They docked their boats, and were almost immediately
attacked by parties of ors and goblins. The ambassadors escaped unharmed, but
six of their bodyguards were killed. Fortunately for the people of Gega Insal
this menace did not come to their shores, but it did follow the boats to the
nation of Malastre, where they pillaged and burned until they got to the
king’s castle, where they stopped, as the walls were too many and too
thick.
They
did, however, proceed to the bordering nation of Ballak. The king of Ballak
attempted to put together a defense at the easternmost castle he had, which was
right by the mountains that separated Ballak from Malastre. The king viewed his
defense as a last stand.
He
was not alone in his fight however. The League of Eight Kingdoms, Amersa, Gera,
and Beltran all sent reinforcements. Gega Insal also sent troops, as it felt
that it was responsible for this threat.
East
Castle, province of Hessae, Ballak…
Willsan
was a pikeman in the Ballakian army. He was thus spit on and looked down by the
knights, but only because they hated pikes. Right now he was doing lookout
duty, which he hated, as he thought it should be the task of archers.
Suddenly
he saw something. It looked like a giant black wave. When he finally figured it
out he shouted…
“Orcs!
Do you hear me? Orcs!”
They
did hear him. They opened the gates and let out the combined fight of thirteen
nations, a splendid sight. They charge right at the orcs.
That’s
when the casualties started. The defenders’ arrows pierced many orcs, but
the front line of orcs lowered their spears and leveled the charging knights.
For a while it was even, but then the goblins came and forced
the defenders back to the castle. The attackers then set up siege equipment and
started pounding the castle. The defenders retaliated with arrows, but where no
match for the orcs and goblins.
Two
days later…
Willsan
was once again on lookout duty. He grumbled, but went to his post. On the way
there he dodged a boulder that hit a tower behind him and destroyed it.
“Tough
luck,” he murmured.
At
his post he saw good news: shining armor to the back of the orcs.
Reinforcements were here!
And
indeed they were. They were from Malastre, which had recovered from the orcs.
They slammed into the orcs, and slaughtered them. The defenders then opened the
gates and charged out. The orcs were surrounded and promptly slaughtered.
This
battle was counted as a victory for the nations of Ashvan (as opposed to the
orcs and goblins, who were considered barbarians). It allowed the orcs to take
some territory out of the league though. Ashvan’s most renowned seer made
a prophecy about that territory:
That
little piece of orc land
In
the midst of the league
Shall
one day bring dark fruit
And
oust a ruling family from its seat.
How
right he was.
(Note that I do not say good guys
or bad guys in this piece, as I believe that good and bad are all a certain
view, and no killer can ever be wholly, or even mostly, good.)
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