Everything was quiet for the next few months. All through the harvesting season the Orcs were dormant. There were no raids, no attacks, just peace and quiet across the Eastern shores of the Easulan River. Orc squadrons and companies could be seen moving at night by torchlight. Hundreds of camps leapt up from the ground like pit fires along the Vieth Plains between Tharkas and the desert lands that was Unluthio. Very few people from that land escaped, many now eked out a living under the sand, in catacombs built after the First Demon War.
Asura and his 3rd Knighthood watched from the towers of the Checkpoint's East Gate: The Doors of Shadow. Always they were looking for the banners of their lost allies, the 1st Knighthood, lead by Asura's friend Wren. As the winter lingered on and passed into Spring, and Spring began to warm into Summer, no sign of the Knights was seen.
One day in May, Asura's scouts reported some somber news: A company of Orcs, who were clad in armor that differed from the rest of the army's, said to be from the far Eastern borders of Avalon, were seen wearing colors and symbols that vaguely resembled the 1st Knighthood's coat of arms. No one could be sure if Wren and his Knights were truly dead, or if this was something that had just been abandoned by the human warriors in their attempt to escape slaughter. But hope seemed in short supply. Back at the capital city, Tharkas Castle, their people were in mourning. But soon the war would commence, and throw all into chaos.
It was a day in early June, when the grass started to fade from its vibrant green into a more dull, coarse gold color, several Regiments of Orcs were seen headed North towards Easül Lake, near the Iron Crag.
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During the interim between Asura's retreat from Unluthio and the Orc movements towards the Crag, Tharkas had been preparing for war. It had been over 1000 years since their last major conflict, so this was the ultimate test for their new generation of Knights. The Tower Guard was prepped and ready for combat, stalking the high towers and walls of Tharkas Castle with their dark, black regalea and tower shields.
At the same time many of the small towns' populations had abandoned their houses. Especially those small towns nearest the gateways to the East. Many of them evacuated and fled to the Iron Crag or to Tharkas Castle. Some of the people in the towns of the far North West fled to Helineth Port City, too. The Keepers of the North, guardsmen for Helineth, are as well trained and equipped as the Tharkas Tower Guards thanks to the monies and influence of the many rich merchants in the vast port city.
As towns were evacuated into the major cities of Tharkas, the White Cloud Army, Honor Guard of all Tharkas Kingdom, were sent out to defend the coutry's borders. The Iron Crag has been filled to its maximum capacity with Knights and civilians, and the Easulan Checkpoint is well defended against enemy invasion. Along the borders between the Crag and the Checkpoint are warcamps that form a chain along the shores, each within eyeshot of those adjacent to it, in hopes of maintaining contact and providing support to one another. The same holds true along the Southern shores, near the delta, where the Forbidden Port lies. A large base has been set up in the south, amind the ruins of a once-industrious rural town. They were the first village with a smithee and an armored militia, but fell in the Bandit Wars that took place over two decades ago. Makeshift fences and lookout towers have been built from wood, and the camp, though comprised of tents and wood huts, stands menacing in the South, stronghold to the Southern forces, whom aren't to be reinforced for two seasons.
The stage is set, and war is at hand.
