Archive:Imphiel: Difference between revisions

====The Fall====

====The Rise====

===Nightmare of the Apostles===

====The resurfacing of an old Enemy====

After the resurgence in Luna, several deities remained, reforming in this plane of existence with the revitalisation of the Gate. The main conflict after the settling of the Gods back on their throne was the return of the ''Apostles of Amphus''. After their forming and gaining considerable strenghth, they moved south from Luna and forests, only being spotted near jungles near the centre of the continent. Whilst isolated from the rest of the world and it's infernal age, the group of followers became a close minded cult. Several grotesque murders and missing persons were reported from local towns, which whilst not directly linked, have been linked in to the group in texts located from the time.

As the group, more commonly known as the ''“Cultus Chaus”'' (Cult of Chaos) during this period of time, found out about the re-birth of the Gate. Sightings of cloaked individuals became more and more common further and further north of their, as far as the ruins of Esteura. These increased sightings were made heard of within the walls of Luna, and a combined group of combatants from several orders (notably the ''Order of Humility'' and partially the ''Order of the Moon''), spearheaded by [[Ursus]] was assembled to protect the city at all costs.

Small skirmishes broke out on the outskirts of the area controlled by the city, however no major battles occurred for several weeks, and citizens went about their duties with minimal issues, other than not being able to go too far south without proper escort.

====The Battle at Amnis Creek====

The first major conflict occured at an unexpected location. A group of apostles were spotted moving up the eastern road, a direction which had not been expected to be attacked from due the presence of other towns and an outpost at the crossing of the creek. However, the figures covered by cloaks marched forward nonetheless. Guards at the outpost closed the gate, and warned them to halt, but were immediately attacked with crossbows and were forced to hold back on the defensive.

Fortunately, the city had an infantry unit stationed nearby. These forces marched immediately, crossing the creek at another point, and came around the rear of the apostles to encircle them. The cultists were caught in-between the outpost and the bridge, and the Lunarian forces slowly circles them, attempting to pick off stragglers as to minimize causalities with direct confrontation. The cultists, aware of their imminent demise, immediately charged the bridge, and took control of it easily as the reinforcements were completely caught off-guard. They proceeded to set fire to the bridge and moved to it's east side, waiting for it to crumble and fall apart. As it fell apart, chanting could be heard from the apostles, in a dialect not able to be understood. They then charged the infantry forces, but to little avail, as the well organised infantry severely outmatched the tenacious, but ultimately untrained “monks”. They were slaughtered left and right, and accounts of the gruesome massacre are still locatable to this day.

The cultists, despite the extremely unlikely chance of victory, did not surrender. They continued to fight viciously, to the last man, and refused to give themselves up. Those unable to fight reportedly either killing themselves or having one of their brothers-in-arms mercy kill them, refusing to have themselves captured or tortured. The aftermath of the battlefield was a sea of blood, the grass stained for days after. The field around where the battle took place became littered with roses and tulips, and it is believed they were planted by locals in remembrance of the lives lost defending the creek.

However, in accordance with [[#Teachings|Imphiel's Teachings]], the victory was not gloated other than a single small banquet, and the order instead returned to the focus of keeping it's people safe.

====The Slaughter of the Lumberyard====

{{Image frame|content=[[File:GraveOfTheLumberyard.png|350px]]|caption=Grave of the Lumberyard, in memory of those whom were lost.|thumb}}

Days after the failed attack at the creek, a second attack occurred at the lumberyard, south of the creek. This attack was clearly more organised and was executed by experienced individuals. Due to the necessity of lumber for the city, the lumber yard continued to function with a small stationed force to defend. However, it was not heavily guarded, as the location was of no strategical value, and was only expected to experience light attacks along with the standard bandits attempting to steal produced lumber. However, this protection detail based on the cult being sane was a decision that caused a butchering.

This ambush was one of several times the force as the one on the creek. Cavalry appeared from the southern forests, and swooped through, quickly disposing of the guards and circling the workers. Monks in cloaks then appeared from the trees, and gathered the survivors in the centre of the yard. The only witness able to recall was a single surviving worker, who had gone on a quick break to sit by the Luna river, returning just to see the horrific sight. The remaining people had been systematically removed of their heads, and the bodies were placed in a neat circle surrounding the centre pond, beheaded necks facing inward.

The lone survivor rushed back to report the tragedy, and an immediate cavalry reaction force moved to the lumberyard. The bodies were indeed all in a circle, but the heads were not in the water. The rest of the remains were never located, but it is ''surmised'' that they were taken by the cultists for ritualistic sacrifice to Amphus. All guards had any undamaged armour ripped off them, many left completely naked and beheaded. The only remaining person is then believed to have killed herself days after witnessing the atrocity, due to an assumed case of extreme survivor's guilt.

A honorary grave was erected in the memory of the innocent lives lost that day, and can be found at the lumber yard, often with flowers blooming around it.

====The Great Hunt of the Apostles====

After the Slaughter of the Lumberyard, the people of Luna became outraged and demanded that action be taken to swiftly end the conflict, with any means necessary. After seeking guidance from his father, a plan was devised by [[Ursus]] to eliminate the ''Cultus Chaus'' once and for all. The cultist camp, in the southern woods east of Lake Praeta, was swiftly located by scouting parties, and was attacked upon nightfall. Several cavalry charges and infantry attacks were launched, and there were near to no survivors. Unlike the battle of the creek, the Lunarian forces had the element of surprise, and purposefully took prisoners such that they could learn more of the working of the cult, and how it had fell from an order of apostles into a sacrificial clique.

Other than the few kept as prisoners, none were spared. All the cultists were indiscriminately killed as swiftly as possible as to refuse any organised counter-attack. Although very effective, all of the survivors formed a group, protecting the believed leader. Whilst their attempts to defend themselves were overall ineffective, they still were able to delay and remove the element of surprise. The remaining cultists, circled around a cloaked individual, began chanting loudly whilst drawing their weapons and violently swinging at any who dared to step into their range. This display of courage was short lived, as archers ripped them apart with a volley of arrows, leaving none but the cloaked individual alive. Dressed in a black robe, with a gold trim and a purple dagger in hand, he cursed them, the rough translation saying <blockquote>May the non-believers be struck down by the might of his holy divinity, the ever consuming chaos swarming their minds and filling them with nothing. The never-living come for them, the clock strikes one. </blockquote>

before stabbing himself in the chest several times, and falling to the floor, their garments soaking in their own blood.

This battle, later named '''The Great Hunt''', was then declared the finality of the Apostles of Amphus, and Luna celebrated the victory over the cult. As a congratulations for his work in defeating the group, Ursus, Son of Imphiel, was declared the ''Holy Consul'' for the Order of Humility, and was granted power over the majority of Luna, alongside the Holy Consul for the Order of the Moon. Citizens often use these events as a reminder of what can happen if teachings and beliefs are turned sour, and used to promote immoral and ethically wrong actions, and to always be wary and self-judging, linking to the teachings of [[Imphiel#Humilians Sua|Humilians Sua]].

====Recent Relevant Events====

Whilst not directly linked to Imphiel, the following events are relevant to the Praetaran culture and recent events in it's dominion.

*[[City_of_the_Moon,_Luna#Infernal_attack_at_the_Outpost|Infernal Attack on Luna]]

====Current Day====

*Humiliate Victoria (Humility in Victory) - Reminding oneself of the virtue of remaining humble in victory, not gloating in the domination over others.

*Humiliate Irascibilis (Humility in Aggression) - Remembering the virtue of keeping yourself modest in aggression, keeping yourself controlled in your actions and not letting hatred get to control you.

*Humiliate Fora (Humility in Good Fortune) - Not boasting of one's good fortune, remembering your circumstances and empathising and helping with those around you instead of acting only in self-interest.

===Humilians Sua===