A New Beginning...

Entry 63

Place: Lakewood Castle
Time: Afternoon
Conditions: After the final battle

It is done, the battle has come to an end. I am no longer at war with my brother but I have lost both my blood brother and a man who was close enough to be called that. He had given his life for mine and now I can barely stand to look at his wife as she plods through her life alone. I have taken so many innocent lives that I cannot bear the thought of it. They say that fallen knights return as great horses. I wonder if Caleb has become such a thing. I know he will be a piece of work if he truly is. I pity any who tries to tame him. Things are not going as planned in Larthen. I have a sense of impending doom and I have a feeling it is upon my head and no one elses. I fear that I will dump my responsibility on my son without meaning to.

The battle between Zaroff and Kent had come to an end. Kent had become the victor, proving the crown was rightfully his. Little did he know that things would only become worse. His impending death drew near and there was no way he would ever see it coming. His death would result in mass mayhem and panic, leaving his only son to take the throne. With the plague going around, it wouldn't be an easy task for either party as a loyal follower of Zaroff lurks in the shadows, gathering back the army of Banished and Hounds to overtake the city of Faellith and claim control of the country. Not only was this new leader a threat, he would take claim of an important person of Larthen, taking control of her husband with her, leaving their son to rule a land by himself with no guidance.

The signs of the plague are:

• Constant coughing/trouble breathing
  
• Coughing up blood
  
• Vomitting (possibly up blood)
  
• Black spots on the skin
  
• Paleness
  
• High fever
  
• Itchy skin (not all may experience this)
  

Entry 1

Location: Home
Time: Night
Feelings: Pain, sorrow

Life could not get any harder, I am sure of it. Things pile up but what happens when it all comes crashing down? Chaos, disaster. That is what happens. That is what is going on now in Larthen. My father died yesterday saving his best friend's wife. Why? I must ask myself why. Why did he save her when it was obvious that all of Larthen needed him in this moment of disease and death. I will never know the answer. What I do know is that I am now to take the throne of Larthen. I am not ready yet. Nevertheless, I will try to live up to my father. My mother is gone, my father is gone, and my wife is dying. How much more can I take? Perhaps not much more but I will struggle on for my country and hope that things get better as time goes on. Perhaps they will, perhaps they won't. There is an unseen threat and I am not able to put my finger on it. Whatever it is, I'm going to be ready for it.

Mother nature has turned against us...

Entry 26:

Location: Lakewood Castle
Time: Early morning
Condition: Exhausted and hungry
Writer: Caden Emerson

The sun has just risen into the sky, but it's so stormy it's impossible to see it. It has been snowing for five days now and most of the city is blocked in their homes despite our efforts to to shovel the pathways free of snow. But there is a new threat, something I never thought that would happen. We're under attack by something we cannot see. So far it hasn't gotten past the walls of Faellith, but all of our citizens are too scared to venture out of the walls. I don't know what to do. There is a rumor that there is a portal somewhere in the far reaches of Larthen, and whoever finds that portal will be able to control these monsters that have invaded the land. They're dangerous though, and I can only go on the words of those that have survived the encounters with them. Even the Banished have been seeking an alliance with us to defeat this menace. I fear there will be many dark days to come, and this darkness we won't be able to escape.

Deep in the far reaches of Larthen, by the Barren Wasteland, a portal was accidentally revealed, opened by a young and rather naive wanderer. The monstrosities that ventured from that portal have began to invade Larthen. They have earned themselves the name Lorkathicks. Beastly creatures that walk on two legs like a human, but have the ability to run on four legs like an animal. The portal remains open, allowing these beasts to roam freely to and fro as they please, killing all the races it can get its paws on - save for the dragons. The constant lashes of snow storms and icy weather hinders the attempts to find the portal and close it, for no one knows where it is. It disappears and reappears as it pleases. It's only a matter of time before the land is completely overrun with these creatures. Then there truly will be no escape.

Years later*...

The fall of the Lorkathicks was a widely celebrated event, and things seemed to keep getting better and better as time went on. Towns were open to the public, people traveled far and wide to see what they could see. But the land was still ruined, and it would need to be rebuilt. Things were progressing slowly but surely as time went on, but another fate had yet to settle down upon the land. The changing of rule occured, leaving Easton as the king of Larthen. William, who was considerably younger than his cousin, agreed to stand by in case he was needed, but he would not ascend his father's position on the throne. But that was the least of anybody's worries or thoughts. Deep in the heart of Larthen, a rebellion was stirring against the royal blood line. But this rebellion wasn't lead by the Banished, or any hint of something dark. They kept to themselves, waiting to see how this whole thing would play out, defeat reminding them who had overpowered them for so many years. Instead, it was a rogue, a man who was against the rule of the Emersons. They had been on the throne for too long, and now it was time to remove them. He began to gather up troops, others who thought the Emersons needed to be removed. They began to recruit sections of the Elves in Holloway, the ones who were against the human rulers. Their headquarters was unknown to anyone who wasn't part of their scheme. And so the secret base was hidden from the royal blood line. All they know are the attacks that are gradually brought forward, most of which are untimely. Whose side will you join?


*Please refer to the posted announcement for further details.

A Plagued Hero

The land was held in a grip of terror during the rule of Damian and his offspring. There was no hope amongst the people, and no one seemed to believe that there would be any way to stop this driving force that had just intruded into their lives and destroyed their homes. Until, that is, a savior came forward to break Damian's hold on Larthen. This person, this being really, seemed to have no identity as they fought and lead the rebellion with the Emersons against the opposing rule. Damian and his bloodline fell at the hands of such a rebellion, leaving the royal bloodline to rise back to take the throne that had been claimed so rightfully theirs.

Victory had been seized.

After the charge against Damian, the savior fled to lands unknown away from the publicity of the town. Many shouted freak, wary of this mysterious hero. It was rumored that their savior would eventually be their downfall. Searches have begun for this hero, though it is rumored that he, or she, is housed up in Death Mountain, a place where no one may reach anymore. A large earthquake had shook the earth, splitting it in places and shifting others. New lands were made, and other parts of the map cut off completely.

But it didn't matter, for the cities and lands were renamed, the start of a new beginning for the people of Larthen. Sadly, in the midst of all the chaos, the Centaurs were completely wiped out as a race, leaving their land as nothing but open space. Signs of their existence remained in the form of weapons and shelters. To make matters worse, the Shapeshifters rose against the humans in anger for the persecution they had gone through. Breaking away from the human cities, they moved into their own colony, threatening to kill or harm any human that came within their boundaries.

The search for the plagued hero had begun. Though the world was now at peace, despite the differences that had been created, a new trouble was boiling. Some called this hero a miracle, one who could predict the next ill-turn of events. Others cried foul, and that this "hero" would be the one who brought down the next bought of chaos around their heads.