Chapter 8: The Holy Council Reigns Supreme!
1253 AC
Elder Lagarius, the 802th Elder of the Holy Council thought the Northern Kingdom was getting too powerful and feared that they will one day crush the Holy Council. Elder Lagarius noticed the tribes in the west had no government or lord. The lands in the west are full of peaceful people with no military and the villages and towns were huge and prosperous but they were not defended by anyone nor did they had any walls. They were very vulnerable to be attacked. Lagarius takes a small band of Crusaders to the west and threatened to burn down western villages if they did not pay the Holy Council tribute each week. To avoid war, the people of the west paid them huge amounts of tributes and even gave the Holy Council.
1255 AC
The neutral village of Arkfield was burned to the ground by an unknown force believed to have came from the east.
After recieving huge amounts of money from the west, Elder Lagarius saw that the western people were fearsome hunters and he wanted to build an army of them and use them against the Northern Kingdom. Elder Lagarius demanded the western people to join the Holy army on a military campaign against the Northern Kingdom. Thousands were recruited into the Holy army and they were given the weapons they used for hunting. The western army wasn't very satisfied with the Holy Council and Lagarius promoted a man in the western army to be the western general so that he may keep order. This man was Sanidas. Sanidas was well trained with the spear and like the rest of the western people, he was a very skilled archer.
General Sanidas requested equipment that the western people were familiar with such as the bow and the spear and shield. The western people did not like wearing heavy armor so they were given light armor. Lagarius brought his army along with Sanidas' army to the gates of Ping Jing. Lagarius wanted to see how strong the western army really is. Sanidas was ordered to lead his army to lure out the Northern army. After days of besiege, Northern reinforcements from Chang Shang arrived to lift the siege of Ping Jing. Lagarius' army intercepted them and engaged in brutal melee. Ping Jing gates open and the defenders charged out to attack Sanidas' army. Sanidas decided to retreat but the northern army chases them. Sanidas finds a very narrow path between two mountains and thought of an excellent idea. Sanidas gave the order to form a tight formation within the narrow path and as the Northern army charged in, they charged into a thick block of spears. The Northern army fled to Ping Jing and shut their walls tightly after losing heavy casulties to such a small army lead by Sanidas.
Lagarius and Sanidas retreated to Uxkhal. Lagarius was impressed at Sanidas' leadership and the skill of the western troops. Lagarius needs a larger army and he believed that conquering the west was the only way to beat the north. Lagarius leads a huge army to attack the west.
1256 AC
Lagarius began seizing western villages by force and enslaving the populace. Sanidas had power in the Holy Council so he was able to call upon a large group of western people and decided to turn them into a powerful army to fight the Holy Council for freedom. However, Sanidas' revolt did not go smoothly, he was captured by the Holy Council and executed in public. Many appeared to see the execution including slaves from the west. Sanidas last words to the people of the west were:
"We are not slaves! We are people! People of the West! These bastards of the Holy Council cannot enslave us! They are nothing! We have to fight for freedom!! We are Fenin!!!"
The slaves were angry at Sanidas' death and the revolution grew. Lagarius responded to this by passing down the order to kill anyone who goes against the authority of the Holy Council. The revolt eventually was stopped and thousands died that year. The Holy Council seized all of the west and became the dominate force. Elder Lagarius prepared another military campaign to attack the north.
1258 AC
The Holy Council is now superior to the Northern Kingdom and is now the most powerful faction. The Holy Council begins its expansion by attacking Ping Jing. King Shi De, the current ruler of the Northern Kingdom orders Grand Commander Zhao Pang to lead the defence.
The Holy Army was lead by High Counciler Rafu. Rafu bribed bandits near Ping Jing to raid the villages nearby to anger Zhao Pang. Zhao Pang is known for having a bad temper and has a strong love for the people. Zhao Pang sallied forth to attack Rafu's army but then Zhao Pang fled like a coward. Rafu chased him but then an army of Chu Ko Nu came out of the forest and rain bolts upon the Holy Army. After that, a batallion of Northern Light Calvary led by General Yin Zhu charged into the Holy Army. The Holy Army retreated. Rafu was very angry.
Lagarius was annoyed at the defeat so he lead a massive Holy Army personally to attack Ping Jing.
1259 AC
Ping Jing was captured by the Holy Council. Lagarius captured Grand Commander Zhao Pang and asked him to join the Holy Council. Zhao Pang refused stating that his ancestors have served the past rulers and even King Huang Fu Di himself. Lagarius was angered at Zhao Pang for mentioning Huang Fu Di and executed him. Lagarius was a descendent of Marcus. The Holy Council reign supreme!
THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS EPIC TALE IS COMING SOON