hi. a “prologue” to something larger. moreso set dressing. this is my own version of the war seas, since its easier to just start from scratch than have to work around future seas and such when i get there.
The Snuffing of Lumen
The kingdom of Lumen was once prosperous and radiant, shining over the Gilded Sea as a beacon of hope for all residents. Be it a vagrant, a pirate, or a castaway, all were welcome within the golden arches of the capital.
After the Golden War, and the crowning of King Jacob Sola Lochester, the empire thrived, freed from the tyrannical reign of Jacob’s father. While the war was harsh, and many lives were lost, the cities paraded in the streets for months, celebrating their liberation from the feared emperor. The Gilded Sea knew peace for a time. Jacob Lochester had made a partnership and agreement with King Admiral Anatole, creating an even safer place for those who wished to give up their arms and live among the citizens, or perhaps even protect them.
However, the kingdom was not fated to last. Despite being a virtuous and kind man, the endless pride stemming from the newly obtained curse would eat at him. They’re curses for a reason, after all. Some say King Lochester was never truly himself, since the Golden War.
February 14th, 1854
The Radiant Monarch looked out to the treacherous sky and waves below the Golden Capital. The weather was normally bad, sure, but this… This was different. Something was off. Could it truly be what his citizens suggest? Could this truly be the anger of the gods…? Jacob shakes his head. It can’t be. The gods are dead. They hold no control over the land… And yet, the storm rages on. The winds howl, as he spends weeks at a time saving those from the waves, rescuing ships, obliterating waves with luminous flames.
He would continue this activity for as long as he could. All the while, a coalition watched on from the shadows. They waited for a chance to strike, before finding the perfect opportunity. As Jacob rested for the night, a loud explosion was heard, echoing throughout the capital. Three figures stood, obscured by the dark.
Jacob awoke, and immediately recognized them. Before he could raise his arm, he was shoved out of the building by an intense blast of pressure.
“Your reign ends, Lochester. The Nexus will annihilate your kingdom.”, a gruff voice speaks plainly to the king.
Jacob coughs, getting up on the cliffside he was forced into. He shifts his arms into blinding fire. “I will… Not let you fools take this kingdom! Citizens are in grave danger because of the weather! What of your people?!”
“Our generals will keep the peace.”, a plainer voice speaks.
The three figures step out of the shadows, floating with their prowess. The Nexus Triumvirate. A rough looking bearded man, a clean shaven man with silver armor and a red cloak, and a woman dressed in robes, wearing a mask. Jacob scoffs, and begins to launch waves of Aethereal Flame at the assailants.
“I will not negotiate with you fools! If you’re here to oppose me… I’ll SMITE you with the flames of the gods!!!”
“So be it.”
The gruff man begins to launch blasts of pressure, dissipating the flames and beginning his assault. They clash blades, the gruff man’s personal arcanium blade versus a blade of radiant flames. As they clash, a quick strike from a fanged dagger stabs Jacob, sapping away his energy. While he’s off guard, an intense blast of pressure blows the radiant monarch to the ground. Jacob attempts to get up, but is hit with a barrage of red spirit energy. He explodes into brilliant flames, blinding the trio.
“Gah..! You damn… FOOLS..!! You’ll all die here!!” Jacob yells, his body turning entirely into the golden flames. His eyes shine brilliantly among the flames, as his blazing pride begins taking hold.
The blinding flames force the crew to avert their gazes, but that isn’t an issue for them. Flying with his magic, using his powerful sensing abilities, the red-cloaked man begins to clash with the king. After a struggle between greatswords, the cloaked man kicks Jacob to the ground, and hits him with a shockwave of pure willpower, and raises his arm to his crown, feeling a large surge of energy enter his body. He imbues his fists with his spirit and magic, and begins a barrage of powerful attacks, capable of shattering mountains. Jacob explodes once more, beams of Aethereal flame piercing the man. He flies toward him, charging his fist with Aethereal flames, but is cut off by a beam of red spirit energy, before a large meteor of pure Pressure Magic falls upon the radiant monarch
The woman jumps to the sky toward the king. She lands a bone-shattering blow on the monarch with her gauntlet, then kicks him to the side of the mountain. A massive surge of energy is felt through the Gilded Sea as she unleashes the true will of the gauntlet. The earth itself begins to crush the monarch, as meteors of stone are torn from the earth and are launched toward him. The gruff man uses his curse to add intense pressure, an ever-growing crater in the mountainside starting to become apparent.
The red cloaked man nods to the others, and seizes his chance. He imbues an immense amount of spirit, and magic energy into his fist, and launches himself toward the cliff face. He shatters the earth with a single punch, dissipating the pressure, and imbeds a certain fanged greatblade into the monarch while he’s stunned. The monarch coughs, attempting to use his curse, his magic, anything… But the two devourers in him prove too much for him to handle. The Triumvirate all come to him, floating along the cliff.
“P-please… Take my curse, but.. Spare the kingdom… One of you can… Ha… ve it…” Jacob hacks up blood, his strength swiftly waning from his body.
“I told you both it would work. Perhaps a bit sloppier than I envisioned, but it worked.” The woman brags, a prompt groan coming from the gruff man.
“The gods will decide what becomes of your kingdom, Jacob. We will not allow a rebellion to brew on our doorstep.”, the gruff man responds.
“No… They’ll die… My generals aren’t equipped to handle this kind of disaster… P-please..! Just…!” Jacob coughs up more blood, the magic energy almost fully draining from him.
“Sorry, man. You should have joined us when you had the chance. These seas will know peace, through war. So it has been, and so it shall be.” The red-cloaked man replies, with a matter-of-fact tone.
Jacob does not respond further, his blonde hair falling over his eyes. Once a monarch that was foretold to bring peace, one whose brilliance could never be outshone… Reduced to a coughing mess before the three monarchs. After some discussion, they removed the prior dagger, and finally, the greatsword from the monarch, and moved as Jacob gave his last breath. The blinding cube of Aethereal Flame manifested before their eyes, and without hesitation, the red cloaked man absorbed it. Golden fire emanated from his palms as he looked toward the kingless kingdom. A sadistic smile forms on his face.
“…Let’s test this thing out.”
With a flick of his wrist, a blast of blinding flame ravaged the castle, causing its collapse. He shifts his arm to Aethereal Flame, and launches a massive beam toward the capitol city, engulfing it in fire.
“The gods shall decide the rest. Let’s move, yeah?”
The triumvirate fly off, with the red cloaked man speeding ahead due to his newfound power. The Wrath of the Gods continues to rage on, and eventually consumes the Kingdom of Lumen, leaving almost no survivors. Many citizens, and even the nobles, are washed out to sea, as the island itself becomes lost to the rising tide. Over the coming months, the kingdom falls completely, the capitol island and fortresses destroyed, and the islands under its protection becoming ruined, or captured by new kingdoms. Today, nothing but ruins remain…
bye. feedback is appreciated. hope you enjoyed. more to come.