The reign of the Animarchy continued for several more years.
3086
(766 P. R.)
On the continent to the far west of the Citadel, the Vaehe and humans had interbred to form the species they called the Vunae. To the North, their enemies were forced back due to this new unity, and humans were released from their bondage. As humans, Vaehe, and Vunae came together, so, too, did a new government.
THE XAMILLION REPUBLIC
The Awakened members of each race formed the Xamillion Republic, which was a group of parties represented by those perceived with the most power, eldest age, and demonstrated wisdom. During the war with the North, the Xamillion Republic did not experience division, as their goal was primarily aimed toward survival. Realizing that they’d require more help to fend off the demon kind and other allied species, they sent emissaries to separate parts of the world. While this was considered a risky move by most of the populace, Awakened members of the Xamillion Republic were given the predecessors of modern cruisers to venture across the ocean to the shores of the Eastern Continent.
The plain on which they made their stead was mostly hilled and rolling plateaus. To the east, there was desert sprawling before the beginnings of the Citadel itself. The Awakened members had arrived on land once belonging to the Algoans. Following The Great Disorder, the region was split between those affected and those still in possession of their mental faculties. Because of this division, developing nations quickly collapsed into the same chaos that had engulfed the middle part of the world. Those still somewhat sane greeted those of the Xamillion Republic with relief, and together they built a temporary government on the coastal shores of the wide land mass. Their combined efforts began the creation of the Xumon Fortress, a group of loose battlements intended to create a watch radius around the colonized area while providing adequate defenses against small groups of savages. In return, the refugees the Fortress acquired were divided in number, and several were sent back to the homeland of the Republic to aid in the ongoing conflict with the North. From their new vantage point, the Republic could further establish routes for their armada to strike the enemy at arbitrary intervals. Because of this, the Xamillion Republic lasted in a war of attrition against a near relentless enemy. Only time could shake the ambitions of the demons and otherkin from the northern part of the continent.
3087
(767 P. R.)
In the land under control of the God Sho, his imprisoned deities struggled to awaken. Additionally, those under the rule of the animarchy began experiencing great distress and faced depression that eventually led to mass suicide attempts among the population. West of them, the Mulungu and the Reik Khanate became fascinated by those who’d underwent significant mental strain. As the Mulungu grew closer to their borders, the deity Guanzai called out to the Dusk and cried for release despite its terrible darkness.
THE WU-GUAN ALLIANCE
Some of the Morarch Republic had found themselves slowly breaking free of the control of the animarchy. Those who had lost wives and children to their capricious biddings evolved past their control and turned, once again, to the original gods of their forefathers. Thus, there were citizens who worshipped Wushuni and Guanzai in secret. They convened amongst each other in the unofficial Wu-Guan Alliance, and they threw away their pride so that members of each would take turns in worshipping the opposite god. As Sho had given himself over to sloth and no longer cared to the extent he once had upon believing peace had truly come to his people, his own power began to weaken slightly.
The animarchy strove to please him, and they often concealed the true nature of what was happening in the city. They concealed the suicidal actions of his citizens, they concealed doubts expressed with more certainty, and they concealed those who had awakened beyond their control. In order to keep their positions of luxury and power, most of the animarchy decided to continuously lie to their god. They lied to themselves as well, for they came to believe that Sho’s power and blessings were absolute. They came to believe that their selection as rulers was just, and that any who defied them were tainted by the Dusk itself.
Geono, a member of the animarchy, was a wise man with no interest in the subjugation of his subjects. On the morning of another wave of suicides having been committed as the distraught impaled themselves, Geono went alone to confront Sho in the palace of Khan Rai.
GEONO AND THE GOD
Geono pleaded with Sho:
“Great and venerable Sho, thou art the mightiest God—the God in the high with no parallel, but, as you are the highest God, may I seek an audience with thee?”
Sho was taken aback and had been in the middle of playing a popular strategic game with only himself. He was quite perturbed upon being disturbed, but he spake unto his servant:
“The animarchy is the expression of my will. It acts justly without my guidance, and so thou should seek counsel with thine own brothers, for I am a God and above the concerns possessed by that of a King.”
In response, Geono, old and erudite, took a cleverer approach. He spake unto his God:
“Verily, I fear for the future of the Republic as it is, for my brothers have turned inside themselves rather than favoring your holy face. I believe that a corruption is inside these lands, for the people have forgotten what it means to be instructed by thee.”
“Get to the point of it.”
“My Lord, I only reason that our people have lost thy way and require only One to guide them—and that ‘One’ is Thou, in your Grace and Power.”
Sho was swayed by what his subordinate said and thus spake unto him:
“Verily, I am impressed with your concern. No other member has ever chosen to discuss with me the future, and so it brings to my attention their want of passion. Therefore, Geono, my servant, shalt go unto them and cast down every remaining member. Once this has been done, thou shalt sacrifice thyself so that thou mayst be reborn, for I sense the darkness encroaching upon my rule as well, and the animarchy has not prepared themselves accordingly.”
Geono did as he was bid. Verily, he used the power granted to him by Sho to exterminate all who labeled themselves as rulers in the animarchy. After he’d completed his task, Geono felt despair at ending his own life. He did not make haste, and so the consequences met with those of the Morarch Republic much sooner than they’d desired.
The Mulungu to the West brought forth others of its kind as its territory grew. As greater demons flocked to that region, those of the former Reik Khanate were either consumed or turned to be as the demonkin. With their sacrifice, the Dusk evolved and grew into the once lavish lands of the Lio Khanate. The Shern Khanate, to the North, arrived in the Dusk to swear temporary fealty to the demonkin so that they might possess a chance to strike back at their longtime enemies.
They, too, were sacrificed.
3088
(768 P. R.)
In the year 3088, the deities Guanzai and Wushuni partially awakened. Understanding that death was quickly coming upon their people and observing the arrival of a great number of the Solace, who often preceded death, they spake unto their servants:
“Carry us away. Carry us far and south, to the islands below, for when the Dusk cometh to consume all men, there will be no escape.”
Their followers pleaded with them:
“Great gods, but how can we leave when the animarchy will pursue us? When the God Sho will demonstrate his wrath.”
Wushuni, the more knowledgeable of the two, spake:
“The animarchy shall not pursue thee. Not under the sun and not under cover of darkness. With the spirits of the Mulungus and even greater Others on approach, the time has grown late for the legacy of Sho, who has become arrogant and thus foolish in his ways. We must do as we can to preserve our servants, for the Dusk wishes only to sustain itself without interference. By fleeing toward the Southeast, may we find reprieve from a more horrible fate at the hands of wicked demons. So say we in our temporary unity.”
And thus, the se
rvants of Wushuni and Guanzai escaped into the lands below the Morarch Empire and before it was consumed by the coming ruin. The God Sho attempted to stand against the growing powers of the many Mulungus, but he was befell with a sickness before the demons marched upon his palace. As his illness grew too heavy for him to bear, Sho was no longer able to fend for himself nor escape to the heavens from which he’d arrived. He called upon his guards to protect him, but they were soon overwhelmed as the Dusk spread its influence at a rapid rate. Thus, was Sho assaulted by demons lesser than the Mulungus and turned to be one of their own rather than consumed. He was made a feral beast, angry and resentful of his fate, but with his fall came the fall of the Morarch Empire.
3089
(769 P. R.)
During this year, the Builders of the Citadel started on the first foundation, a foundation that would come to be a part of what is now known as the Lower-City.
The adolescent King was pleased with them and spake unto his Builders:
“Thou hast followed the Way and are above all men who have made themselves ignorant. With my guidance, may thou continue to build as the rest of the Four Kings rise from below…”
3090
(770 P. R)
In the year 3090, the world took on yet another profound change.
THE EIGHT TRIBES
As the Xamillion Republic carved a path to them from the West, the ancestors of the Ogba as well as other tribes assaulted them from the South, the brutish demonkin invaded from the North, and a great opening of the Dusk was laid to the East, those in the center of the world were forced to pursue some manner of unity. Though millions had remained savages since The Great Disorder, the time came for the formation of the Eight Tribes.
They were, respectively, The Tribe of Jus, The Tribe of Enwei, The Tribe of Vicar, The Tribe of Lesuna, The Tribe of Hadren, The Tribe of Isolakandi, The Tribe of Vati, and The Tribe of Naizo.
And soon… the Four Kings would come to rule them and lead mankind into the next age.
CONCLUSION
Ah, but history stretches indefinitely and in both direction forevermore.
I am the only Sage, and the one cursed to make a record of every event that occurs. Alas, the story of the Citadel has just begun, but I must allow myself some form of rest. The Gods and demons of this world may beckon me; they may even beckon for the day I can once more create music—create joy to remedy my past mistakes.
I know not to whom I must apologize, and I shall end as I began:
I am the Old Man,
The One Who Comes In The Hereafter;
I am the Old Man,
The One Whose Tears Have No End.
I am the Wisest,
To the mad I speak;
I am the lowest,
Before all listeners am I made meek.
I was once a god-man, an ascended man;
But with time came corrosion and desire,
I was once the First Musician,
Once, indeed, until I drew Her Ire.
And now I wander alone, trying to play again for the void of eternity. I look toward the future, and it looks back. It’s gaze is forever, and mine…?
It lingers in its abyssal grasp.
I’m absent of fear,
Absent of rage.
I am the Old Man,
Cursed with limitless age.
Angelos Odyssey Archives: The History of the Citadel: I Page 8