Post by HC Sayuri on Sept 29, 2009 2:54:03 GMT -5
((As promised to Badwater, I figured it would be good to post it for everyone))
“PEACE & PROSPERITY”
After generations of the great battles and the grand sieges against Castle Light Guard of The Holy Crusaders came a time of peace, a time of prosperity, a time of learning beyond that of the martial. Holy Crusader influence and its blanket of protection had grown in bounds with the victory of each battle. Its enemies depleted and demoralized, they drew back to their lairs, their caves, their dark forests. They each took their vows to renew their attack against the forces of the Crusade some day, but not this day. For a few generations at least, something more than war could be had for the young nation.
This day, with an unprecedented age of peace and stability upon their world and the security of the kingdom now in the good hands of its new paladin King, new alliances were forged, new trade pacts were signed, and a new order called “The Royal Scholars” came to be under the direction and guidance of the kingdom's 'Queen Mother' Kisaki, herself a favored of Mystra. In just over one year a grand university was constructed, a new training ground for men and woman of all the nations races and “arts” of magic. Great walls and buildings in who's halls the forces of the arcane and the divine could be studied side by side, welcoming all those who showed the aptitude and shared the spirit of the Crusade.
“DIVINATION & DISCOVERY”
Years passed, and new spells were created, new uses for magic found and existing magic enhanced, and then, six years from its beginning, its first senior class while working in the advanced subject of 'spell-jamming' stumbled upon an amazing new discovery, inter-sphere teleportation.
Limited in its reach, and at first, only one way, it was studied further for four more years before the 'HC Council' was called to determine how to proceed in exploring and using this new magic. In the end, it was decided that one volunteer, one beyond reproach Knight, one outstanding “Royal Scout” would be sent through each portal that could be safely established to make contact with whatever inhabitants of that world they might find.
The first two-way capable portals able to be established to any world occurred just a year later, but could only be established once every six months due to the raw magic power required, and would collapse mere minutes after creation, thus leaving the agent that was sent through to their own devices for an extended period. Each attempt was painstaking in its establishment, and communication with those sent would be impossible between each portal. Only the best could be sent.
“FAILURE & FAITH”
Of the first ten worlds contacted, 8 agents reported either desolate or primitively hostile worlds where settlement and or diplomacy with its native races would be near to impossible. Two other agents to worlds four and six were never heard from again, and repeated attempts to recover them were met in failure. The council met to begin re-assessment of the project beyond the first ten attempts that had originally been authorized by the 'Royal Family'. Many council members wanted to stop the project immediately, but Kisaki using her well earned influence with her former followers, and citing divine guidance on the matter, convinced the council to allow the project to continue.
Then came Talus, world eleven. Sayuri Zhang Ziyi, a hand picked 'Knight Paramount', the youngest ever in HC history, was sent by Kisaki to the world which would be known as “The Lands of Talus” from that point forward. This was the first world to show a level of technology, civilization, dogma and magic almost identical to their own. The possibilities seemed endless with this first success.
Efforts to enhance and stabilize the portal magic were doubled and eventually resulted in a much shorter 1 lunar month cycle for each casting, with a much longer duration of nearly an hour. The portal was now stable enough to allow for true two-way use, allowing one person each way before becoming too weak and unstable. Now elite troops with supplies could be sent through and regular reports made on the status of relations with the various powers of this new land. The new age had begun to pay its dividends to the kingdom.
“TRIBULATION & TESTEMENT”
Sayuri was still alone in Talus for the first year however and took tentative residence near the small coastal town of Peridotia while the 'HC Council' and Kisaki decided how to proceed. Peridotia appearing to Sayuri to be one of the major hubs of the worlds own Hero's and Villains, she quickly made her presence known by taking on a burden of protecting the small port town as her own. Realizing that her deeds and name would set the tone for how Crusaders to come would be received, she threw herself into her vow with all the vigor that a Monk of the Sun Soul and Paladin of Lathander could muster.
Her efforts were first met with some skepticism from the towns leaders and the area's other heroes alike, but soon enough her (epic) reputation as an able protector and un-corruptible diplomat was earned and an invitation by the towns leaders to move within its walls quickly followed. Sayuri was gifted a house near the town's port where she might better respond to the constant threats that appeared to plague the settlement. A year later, this house would serve as the first embassy of the Holy Crusaders to Talus when, as the second person to be sent, would be none other than the 'Queen Mother' Kisaki herself. This time, as the Ambassador and official voice of the Holy Crusaders in the Lands of Talus. Sayuri was awarded the position of 'Commanding Officer' of all HC military assets yet to come.
“MARTIALING & MOVEMENT”
Another year passed and more volunteers arrived through the ever quickening pace of the portal and a small but solid military presence was established. At first, only 'Royal Guards' and a few 'Royal Scouts' were sent to protect their new Ambassador and begin wide spread exploration of Talus. Near the end of that second year, a few of the crack troops of the 'Royal Cavaliers' were sent at Sayuri's request to begin a small but effective offensive arm within their ranks. The HC's military presence was nothing for a stable city-state to sit up and take note of, but the fact that they were already powerful enough to be considered full members in the UFTN did get the attention of the worlds powers that the HC were there, and in Talus to stay.
Facing mounting pressures from the northern orc hoards and recognizing the ever increasing size of the Crusader's as becoming problematic for the small settlement of Peridotia to support within its borders, the city of Lomatian made an offer of semi-sovereignty and land in exchange for the Crusader's “presence” in their own. Seeing few alternate choices, Kisaki accepted and a formal Embassy and garrison was established in the center of Lomatain city.
While this pulled its influence and immediate protection away from the island of Peridotia, this short move across the ocean served to put the Holy Crusader's presence on the main continent of their new world, and give a greater economic base from which to operate. Now in their third year of presence and with a current garrison of nearly 40 regulars (levels 1-20) and 20 Knights (levels 21+) of both domestic recruits and transplant volunteers, the Holy Crusaders keep an eye forward and an ear to the ever changing political winds of their new home.
Lest Perdoita think it had been abandoned by its once protectors, Sayuri maintains her home in the port settlement to this day and maintains her vow to come to its aid whenever the need should arise.
“PEACE & PROSPERITY”
After generations of the great battles and the grand sieges against Castle Light Guard of The Holy Crusaders came a time of peace, a time of prosperity, a time of learning beyond that of the martial. Holy Crusader influence and its blanket of protection had grown in bounds with the victory of each battle. Its enemies depleted and demoralized, they drew back to their lairs, their caves, their dark forests. They each took their vows to renew their attack against the forces of the Crusade some day, but not this day. For a few generations at least, something more than war could be had for the young nation.
This day, with an unprecedented age of peace and stability upon their world and the security of the kingdom now in the good hands of its new paladin King, new alliances were forged, new trade pacts were signed, and a new order called “The Royal Scholars” came to be under the direction and guidance of the kingdom's 'Queen Mother' Kisaki, herself a favored of Mystra. In just over one year a grand university was constructed, a new training ground for men and woman of all the nations races and “arts” of magic. Great walls and buildings in who's halls the forces of the arcane and the divine could be studied side by side, welcoming all those who showed the aptitude and shared the spirit of the Crusade.
“DIVINATION & DISCOVERY”
Years passed, and new spells were created, new uses for magic found and existing magic enhanced, and then, six years from its beginning, its first senior class while working in the advanced subject of 'spell-jamming' stumbled upon an amazing new discovery, inter-sphere teleportation.
Limited in its reach, and at first, only one way, it was studied further for four more years before the 'HC Council' was called to determine how to proceed in exploring and using this new magic. In the end, it was decided that one volunteer, one beyond reproach Knight, one outstanding “Royal Scout” would be sent through each portal that could be safely established to make contact with whatever inhabitants of that world they might find.
The first two-way capable portals able to be established to any world occurred just a year later, but could only be established once every six months due to the raw magic power required, and would collapse mere minutes after creation, thus leaving the agent that was sent through to their own devices for an extended period. Each attempt was painstaking in its establishment, and communication with those sent would be impossible between each portal. Only the best could be sent.
“FAILURE & FAITH”
Of the first ten worlds contacted, 8 agents reported either desolate or primitively hostile worlds where settlement and or diplomacy with its native races would be near to impossible. Two other agents to worlds four and six were never heard from again, and repeated attempts to recover them were met in failure. The council met to begin re-assessment of the project beyond the first ten attempts that had originally been authorized by the 'Royal Family'. Many council members wanted to stop the project immediately, but Kisaki using her well earned influence with her former followers, and citing divine guidance on the matter, convinced the council to allow the project to continue.
Then came Talus, world eleven. Sayuri Zhang Ziyi, a hand picked 'Knight Paramount', the youngest ever in HC history, was sent by Kisaki to the world which would be known as “The Lands of Talus” from that point forward. This was the first world to show a level of technology, civilization, dogma and magic almost identical to their own. The possibilities seemed endless with this first success.
Efforts to enhance and stabilize the portal magic were doubled and eventually resulted in a much shorter 1 lunar month cycle for each casting, with a much longer duration of nearly an hour. The portal was now stable enough to allow for true two-way use, allowing one person each way before becoming too weak and unstable. Now elite troops with supplies could be sent through and regular reports made on the status of relations with the various powers of this new land. The new age had begun to pay its dividends to the kingdom.
“TRIBULATION & TESTEMENT”
Sayuri was still alone in Talus for the first year however and took tentative residence near the small coastal town of Peridotia while the 'HC Council' and Kisaki decided how to proceed. Peridotia appearing to Sayuri to be one of the major hubs of the worlds own Hero's and Villains, she quickly made her presence known by taking on a burden of protecting the small port town as her own. Realizing that her deeds and name would set the tone for how Crusaders to come would be received, she threw herself into her vow with all the vigor that a Monk of the Sun Soul and Paladin of Lathander could muster.
Her efforts were first met with some skepticism from the towns leaders and the area's other heroes alike, but soon enough her (epic) reputation as an able protector and un-corruptible diplomat was earned and an invitation by the towns leaders to move within its walls quickly followed. Sayuri was gifted a house near the town's port where she might better respond to the constant threats that appeared to plague the settlement. A year later, this house would serve as the first embassy of the Holy Crusaders to Talus when, as the second person to be sent, would be none other than the 'Queen Mother' Kisaki herself. This time, as the Ambassador and official voice of the Holy Crusaders in the Lands of Talus. Sayuri was awarded the position of 'Commanding Officer' of all HC military assets yet to come.
“MARTIALING & MOVEMENT”
Another year passed and more volunteers arrived through the ever quickening pace of the portal and a small but solid military presence was established. At first, only 'Royal Guards' and a few 'Royal Scouts' were sent to protect their new Ambassador and begin wide spread exploration of Talus. Near the end of that second year, a few of the crack troops of the 'Royal Cavaliers' were sent at Sayuri's request to begin a small but effective offensive arm within their ranks. The HC's military presence was nothing for a stable city-state to sit up and take note of, but the fact that they were already powerful enough to be considered full members in the UFTN did get the attention of the worlds powers that the HC were there, and in Talus to stay.
Facing mounting pressures from the northern orc hoards and recognizing the ever increasing size of the Crusader's as becoming problematic for the small settlement of Peridotia to support within its borders, the city of Lomatian made an offer of semi-sovereignty and land in exchange for the Crusader's “presence” in their own. Seeing few alternate choices, Kisaki accepted and a formal Embassy and garrison was established in the center of Lomatain city.
While this pulled its influence and immediate protection away from the island of Peridotia, this short move across the ocean served to put the Holy Crusader's presence on the main continent of their new world, and give a greater economic base from which to operate. Now in their third year of presence and with a current garrison of nearly 40 regulars (levels 1-20) and 20 Knights (levels 21+) of both domestic recruits and transplant volunteers, the Holy Crusaders keep an eye forward and an ear to the ever changing political winds of their new home.
Lest Perdoita think it had been abandoned by its once protectors, Sayuri maintains her home in the port settlement to this day and maintains her vow to come to its aid whenever the need should arise.
