FOS: The Fall of Linden
Linden's army is currently a hardened, disciplined outfit that fears nothing. Dented armor, eyes of steel and unwavering spirits make up their ranks.
But it wasn't always that way.
When King Paetar Krinwulf sat upon a silver throne, surrounded by displays of wealth, clinging to the power he'd inherited.
When the Tutar were nothing much than a hushed whisper, a fairytale of giant monsters with horns and eyes of fire told to keep the young ones from misbehaving.
When Barth Krinwulf was a young, untested Prince, quick to laugh, yet always concerned with the welfare of his people and constantly at odds with his father.
When Ausan Benthey was a young warrior, fighting to make a name for herself, trying to prove that she could be every bit the fighter he father wanted her to be - and then some.
When their friendship would form and become stronger than steel, only to be further tempered by the fires of war.
When the Lindenian army was nothing more than a group of armed individuals who fought off the occasional bandit raid and settled trivial property disputes when they arose. When they were lazy and complacent, nothing more than a joke when compared to the legendary Knights of neighboring Lebidan.
When the Tutar finally attacked, and legends turned abruptly into a grim and inescapable reality.
This is the tale of Linden's fall. This is the story that shaped the people Barth Krinwulf and Ausan Benthey would eventually become.
This is FOS: The Fall of Linden.
LINDEN
Castle Krinwulf stands tall and mighty, its central tower flanked by two smaller versions, each topped with a large, flowing banner depicting a sun above a dark cloud through which 5 golden rays break. The castle is wide, with at least fifty rooms not including those within the towers themselves; the central tower houses the King's chambers, and at its base lies the Throne Room. The leftward tower is where the Prince's quarters are, and below that section near the base can be found the armory. The other tower houses the servants and castle guards, and is topped by a watch-post that makes the most of the vantage point allowed by the structure's height.
The stone construct sits at the rear of a sprawling, walled courtyard, which is dotted by two other, considerably smaller structures that are yet of similar make and style. One serves as an outpost, barracks and a watchtower and is occupied exclusively by soldiers; the other is a messenger post, that also functions as a meeting place for when military command and Linden's leadership must congregate. Although such conferences between King Krinwulf and General Daiden'sk are typically rare, the facilities within the building are always well maintained by the castle's servants, likely since such a practice gives an adequate excuse for avoiding the King. The area immediately encircling the outpost serves as a training ground for more seasoned recruits, those who've advanced beyond the initial training offered at the outpost in Grahnfall.
Outside of the courtyard, southward, there are a number of towns of varying sizes that are linked via a network of roads that were once smooth but had recently fallen into disrepair - as one draws closer to the Capital, the roads all merge into one wide artery that leads up to the courtyard's tremendous steel gate. The nearest town to the capital, Grahnfall, is roughly 3 miles down the road and it is also the largest of the communities. It has a bustling populace, and is a popular destination for citizens making their way north to the castle. It contains the second of the three primary Lindenian army outposts; the final example is located far southeast of the capital where the tree-line begins to fade into the cold hard ground of the Frozen Deadlands' eastern quarter.
In addition to traders, blacksmiths and a plethora of other small enterprises, a number of small farms can be found in all of the interconnected towns beneath the Capital, however further southward Linden becomes all farmland and countryside.
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Learning a simple lesson isn't always simple. Sometimes, you have to slowly lose everything great around you to understand the gravity of your shortcomings. Admit that your egos have grown too large, that you've lost your sense of what you realistically are, and maybe you can repair the road that has broken beneath the weight of your failings. Or maybe you'll just keep going as you've gone, and you'll learn nothing, and eventually, everything around you will become dust. To be honest, that's by far the likeliest of all outcomes.
