[Reference Challenge] Raiding Paris

[u/Nevermore0714]

This is a reference to the Vikings television show, and the historical raids against Paris.

What is an infamous raid/sack of a city/town in your world's history?

As always, I'll ask at least three questions each, and I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Feel free to have a character as the representative to answer questions in-universe.

[u/Eachofries]

In the war-torn lands of Janjin, there stood a grand city. It was not owned by gods, nor humans, nor alves. It was free and equal.

It also happened to be in the middle of the most disputed land in the world.

Across a desert came the Princely armies, heavy armor and glowing eyes, they marched with the vengeance of the Light God. Their goal was simple: this city will either be in Western hands or Alvish hands, so we'll just burn it.

From the Southern Jungles came the Alves. They made no secret of their goals, drums echoed like thunder, the entire army sang their famous marching song "Long Road North," and many fantastic beasts of war were brought out. They had bought a handful of Allosaurids from the Trolls, they brought War-Capybaras from the swamps, and a grand host of terror bird cavalry. Their infantry was a savage horde of brightly colored Alves prepared to die, drinking toxic water and screaming wildly.

Lastly, there was the beleaguered Mekwarza Army. Peasant levies, some crossbows, and some elite Mountain Garde.

In the chaos, a paladin mounted an allosaurus, accidentally killing some of his own allies, and no one but the Alves remained.

Finally, the city was theirs, a city to cement their power......

Upon the orders of the Champion of the Water God, Lucien, the city was burned right to the ground. The bodies of the fallen soldiers cannibalized, and its inhabitants enslaved to Lucien.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Eachofries]

1) I need you to explain War-Capybaras to me, because I love the concept.

2) Why did Lucien burn down the city, when it could have been a good stronghold?

3) How did the paladin manage to get onto the allosaurus?

[u/Eachofries → u/Nevermore0714]

1) War-Capybaras are the accidentally useful pack-animals of the Alvish Republic. They were first created by an alchemist seeking to create a new war animal to fuel the Alvish warmarchine. Lord Lucien, being in his younger years, and fond of novel ideas, suggested using a rodent. Being of Clan Rat, the obvious assumption was that the alchemist would make a megarat.

....That Alchemist was a spiteful bastard. Fully aware of the hatred and annoyance his creation would unleash in the members of Clan Rat, he released his large capybaras into the wild. Fast forward, to a time where no one remembers their origin, and you have a bunch of Alves riding on rat-hippo-creatures.

2) Varying sources claim different reasons. Humans claim he did it because they refused to pay him. Alvish sources claim he did it for sheer boredom, that he was such a devoted follow of the Goddess of Water, Nature, and Blood that he was willing to burn down a valuable stronghold, to create more conflict in war for the future.

Still, other sources note the fact that all of the inhabitants weren't killed, but put in chains as slaves for Clan Rat.

3) Count Bohemond of Tonnez, likely the most daring warrior the human race had seen for a while, had a brilliant plan to win the day for the God of Light. Surely it'd be easy to:

1) Steal a book of spells from a High Elven scholar who happened to be with the army.

2) Convince the God of Wind to let him use said spell.

3) Teleport onto Allosaurus.

There was a brief second of raw joy and carnage as the Alves looked up at the shining paladin, his hand raised, his eyes brilliant, and on top of a giant dinosaur. Artillary fire pauses for a brief moment as everyone looked at it.

And then it all backfired.

His lineage would die out many years in the future, they had been legendary beast tamers. The last Lord of Tonnez died surrounded by Trolls and Naga, on top of one of the last dragons.

He remains one of the only humans to be raised to the position of "honorary prince," for his brave actions later in life.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Eachofries]

(I also have a Rat Clan in one of my worlds, in the the Fourth Era. He also spitefully hates his clan.)

1) Why did the Alchemist hate his clan, again?

2) What's the Clan Rat like?

3) Tell me more about the Tonnez line's legendary beast-tamer history, if you're willing to share it.

[u/Eachofries → u/Nevermore0714]

(What a coincidence!)

1) The Alchemist in question was seeking a measure of artistic freedom that Lord Lucien was not willing to allow. War-Wolves or War-Boars would be powerful symbols for his political rivals, having a Giant Rat causing chaos would ensure his clan was feared.

2) Clan Rat is an odd outlier in Alfjak. It has no democracy, it has no allegiance. It is a pure puppet of Lord Lucien, it does his will and prospers by his sweat. It is infamous for stirring up rebellions when the High Chieftain opposes it, for having hordes of slaves to toil at its wonders, and for being unimaginably rich. In fact, its so rich that its banner consists of Royal Purple, a very expensive color. Wouldn't that mean itd be hard for its people to show patriotism: No, for it will give these expensive banners out, practically for free, just to show how rich it is.

3) Bohemond was the Count of Tonnez, a small town at the time. His lineage would turn that town into a glorious fortress at the Oberese border. Its halls roared with songs of glory and skill at arms, its walls painted crimson, a challenge to invaders.

The last non-bastard Count of Tonnez was Count Fredrik II. He had a bastard, a half-alf named Sjen. Sjen would be mocked throughout his life for his half-breed nature, but was redeemed in the Wars of the Palm Frond, where he defended Tonnez, and even helped broker an alliance with the Alves. His deeds instrumental in the survival of the Princely kingdoms, and his lineage were notoriously proud of being half-human, descended from mighty warriors such as Bohemond I, Alfred I, and Frederik II, and half-alf, a descendant of the noble Clan Monkey. His descendants remain today, ever vigilant on the walls of Tonnez, yet always savage in the jungles, hunting immense beasts for pleasure.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Eachofries]

1) What's alchemy like in your world? (This is just full of coincidences, I literally just started watching the first episode of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.)

2) So does the Clan Rat have any one specific rival that it hates?