Faeblights Guardian invasion

(Welcome Hammerfist clan!)

Faeblight has been getting some media attenion lately (Read Here) because our server's Guardians have organized into an eight month campaign to eventually topple Meridian itself! This is exciting for everyone involved - but, as usual, I want to talk about the lore!

An organized and militarized Guardian force relayed against a disorganized, tenacious Defiant presence actually makes a lot of sense. The Guardians are united by religion, united in purpose. They have a strong, inspiring leader - The living legend Cyril.

Cyril commands the Guardians from Sanctum, refusing a crown because this is a time for champions and not kings. A towering figure, he moves in inch-thick ornate plate as easily as a peasant in his tunic. His eyes flash like thunderclouds and his forces strike like lightning, yet Cyril only wishes to end Telara’s enemies with great swings of his ancient blade, as he did in a time when living legends were rare.

They see the Defiant as heretic usurpers who have stolen land in carving out their territory. The Defiants are not an organized militarized force, many Defiant settlements are scientific expeditions - quests send you out with all manner of scanners and experimental devices. The Defiants are a more peaceful people, exemplified by their true leader Orphiel Farwind.

“So you say the ancient Eth built war machines?” asked Aedraxis, sipping his velvet-purple wine.

“At first, yes. Sourcestone-fueled wonders that were especially effective against the dragons. This pales in comparison to the engines of prosperity they developed based on these early inventions.”

“War so often is the father of progress,” said the king.

“A shame for progress, then, that Mathosia has known such a long peace,” Orphiel said with an ironic smile.

Aedraxis sighed, his broad shoulders sloping. “It will not last, my teacher. I fear certain citizens who’ve grown too rich in ambition. Like the noble Eth of old, I would have machines to bring a merciful end to my enemies.”

Orphiel leaned forward intently. “I could build you such devices, Highness, given the promise that once war is over, we explore the technology’s peacetime applications.”

Aedraxis nodded sagely, and said, “Only under those conditions would I agree.”

Raj Tahleed, Dean of Planar Studies in Meridian, giving a lecture on the renaissance of Eth technology

Of course one cannot blame Orphiel for Aedraxis’s crimes. Yes, he used Orphiel’s machines to break the Ward, but there is no way Orphiel could have known. Yes, perhaps Aedraxis did turn progressively more obviously sinister as the war ground on, but Farwind had been his teacher when the king was just a lad. It is hard to see wickedness in those you love. Besides, the great mind was never present for Aedraxis’s deadlier tantrums, isolating himself with his work. And it was Orphiel, after all, who rallied the Eth and the Bahmi to march to Port Scion and support Prince Zareph against the rifts. He was the first Defiant, and let no man forget!

There is a lot of historical context here. There were numerous Scholar-Emperors of the Roman Empire who lost large amounts of the northern and western empire to determined enemies by not bothering to focus on defense. World War 2 Western Europe and China are alternate examples - without highly regimented military defense the militarized German and Japanese countries quickly overwhelmed them.

"Orphiel is a scientist first, leaving military matters to Asha Catari. Asha cannot defend Meridian alone. The Defiants are looking for a long term solution to the Rifts and Regulos - we know what will happen if we fail. The Guardian's come for the Defiants land, and lives. Will we let them do it? Organize, Hammerfist Clan, and push them back from the very first day, give them no ground!" - Hasan, Hammerfist Clan new recruit.