The Prophet's War

For as many recognized historians as there are in the world, there are perhaps double that with written records trying to pin meaning to the events leading up to the Prophet's War. Most are little more than conjecture or conspiracy - but the story as told by those closest to its origin remains the most outlandish of them all.

As the court historians tell it - in the year 1154, only five years into his reign, and on the 50th year anniversary of a peace treaty signed between his grandfather and the Sollendale Empire; King Matheus Klein of Caeryn suffered a devastating vision of ruin.

In his own hand:

I awoke this morning to the dreadful peal of Caeryn's war bells, and imagined though they may be; I cannot rinse the taste of ash from my tongue. All through the night I lay restlessly plagued by the sight of this city bathed in fire and blood - lit by a chorus of screaming from people I could not see to aid. From my vantage point at the balcony here at the August Palace, I could see the argent shrike of Sollendale lift above what I could then identify as piles of stinking dead.

I will consult my council as well as the Melcaraxi for guidance, but I cannot afford to ignore a harrowing portent such as this, and I will not suffer treachery.

Whether or not they held any real prophecy, those that have heard this version of the story believe the visions to have been an insidious shove by a bored Merrush Val - the bloody brother of Melcarax and god of vengeance and despair.

Despite declaring his intent to seek counsel, King Matheus reacted to these visions without warning and hastily mobilized his troops against his imagined rivals to the south.

His first victory came in the capital of Eskermorn, a vicious surprise attack that sent its remaining military (those that survived to escape) scrambling for safety and reinforcements further south. With the city now under Caerynian control, King Matheus pushed forward to take the city of Ourense.

In the meantime, Solt mustered. The Empress Yosca Sol sent word to her allies across Valtus to take action. Together they would choke Caeryn, and its errant military of resources.

Thus started the Prophet's War.