Book 2: Volume 3

The Rise and Fall§0 §0of the Falaxian Empire§0 §0 §0 Book 2§0 §0 The Tipping Point§0 §0 Volume 3§0 §0 Rebellion §0 §0 §0As the Ylandóan Republic gains a new ally, a

Chapter I §0 §0Four months had passed since the Polisks' defeat at Korovak. In that time, the Ylandóans had gained another ally, and the nations rushed to adopt cannons, and soon almost every military-grade vessel had phased fire arrows out.

The Polisks sent many innocent Tagala people to labor camps, where they would be forced to mine materials and make supplies for the coming war under harsh conditions. The Polisks were intending to use them as long as they were needed, then kill the

outcasts when they ceased to be needed. §0 §0 §0Meanwhile, the rebellious tendencies grew more and more, especially in Kasimov. Although a split from the Empire was wanted amongst the people, the actual plan of rebellion was a well-guarded secret,

as was a secret meeting between mysterious outsiders and Kossav, the head of one of the largest merchant guilds in the Empire. Kossav had a considerable amount of wealth, and was one of the main donors to the rebellion. His friends in the rebellion

told him about these potential allies who could help them, and they met in an isolated island miles away from the shore. The raiders explained their desire for revenge against the Ylandóans, and soon, they reached a deal. The Polisks would help them in

their war if the rebels would help them in theirs once the civil war was over with. The deal was sucessful. §0 §0 §0What Kossav wasn't told was that the rebels already knew these raiders. During the Qandar conflict, a vessel and crew were captured.

One of the sailors was a retired officer who remained friends with Garan after the Ylandóan war, and under pressure, he told them that Garan might be a part of a rebel movement, but he wasn't sure. A secret agent, loyal to the Polisk empire and having

learned the Falaxian's language through spending time with their captives, approached Garan and offered support in their future civil war in exchange for their support once Kasimov and the other cities were independent. It was a long shot, based only on

unconfirmed rumors and gossip, but to their suprise, he agreed. He was a high-ranking general, and famous for his victories during the Ylandóan War, and he served as a valuable double agent. As the Polisks knew that the Falaxian Empire was sure to support

the Ylandóan Republic in a war, they saw them as an equally valuable target, and starting a civil war would distract them and leave them with one less nation to wage war with.§0 §0 §0The Falaxian rebels received guns. They practiced with them in far-off

mountains, and soon secretly forged more of them. These new weapons would give them a major advantage in their rebellion.§0 §0 §0As all of this was happening, the Ylandóans and Falaxian Empires prepared for their war with the Polisks.

More and more cannons were forged until catapults and explosive launchers were completely phased out. Additionally, the Hadathi people, joining out of interest for protection, and being a part of the Ylandóan Empire and having suffered

with their conquerors, knew how savage they were. Their horses rivalled the Polisks' horses in quality, and the Hadathi had many of them, being a primarily nomadic soceity. They rounded up and sold thousands of horses to the Ylandóan Republic,

as well as the Falaxian Empire.§0 §0 §0Meanwhile, a Polisk diplomat secretly met with yet another nation. The Polisks needed all the help they could get, and these rebels were a godsend to them. They hoped for another one if they were to have

a fighting chance in what they saw as the Ylandóans inevitably invading their occupied territory. The Polisks sought out an alliance with the Cordians, a nation conquered two and a half centuries ago by the Ylandóan Empire. The Cordians were always a

warlike people, and small, but fierce. The massive Ylandóan Empire easily conquered the small nation, humiliating the Cordians, even if they were outnumbered six to one. Now, the Cordians were eager for revenge, and received several secret shiploads

of muskets and a few cannons to aid them in their coming war. §0 §0 §0Cordia quickly established itself as hostile to the Ylandóan Republic after becoming independent, but nobody knew it would do such treachary, as it was usually honorable in combat.

However, the Falaxian rebellion, the Polisk raiders, and the Kingdom of Cordia had one goal in mind: Revenge. To go to such great lengths for revenge seems ridiculous, and it was, but these were all very warlike people, who never forgive without blood on

the ground.§0 §0 §0With Cordia and the Rebellion at their side, the Polisks could possibly stand up to the combined forces of the other four nations. Revenge finally seemed within their grasp, and although they were barbaric,

they were also careful enough to not go in all at once. However, the Polisk alliance was ready to execute the first step of their plan: Assassinate the loyalist governor of Kasimov, and frame an innocent political rival.

Chapter II§0 §0Despite being much less advanced than the present, the Falaxians were known to be experts at crime-solving, and learned that all fingerprints were unique, and knew how to coat the oils of the hand with a powder

that revealed the fingerprints, and have suspects dip their fingers in ink and then press them on paper, and see if they matched. They were very advanced for their time in this regard, and the rebels were going to use this against them.

The governor of Kasimov, Nakola, had a long-standing rivalry with another governor named Talash, which was well-known throughout the land. Both sometimes spied on each other, and fought for recognition in the court. While Nakola was captured by the

Ylandóan Empire during the war, Talash was in charge of logistics, and chose how and when to direct supplies. A boring, but very important job. The war shook them up some, and although bitterness remained, they soon saw eye-to-eye on some issues, and

Nakola, after a few years of contemplation, decided to call his rival to a meeting, and make up for years of arguments and insults, and he agreed. Calgara, the second in command of the city and accepted to gain the

governship, had joined the rebellion a few months prior, and he and his friends in the rebellion hatched a plan: §0 §0 §0While Nakola would be sleeping in his bed, a rebel would sneak in his room, through the window, and roll a small vial of poison

in his hands, and get his fingerprints on him. The next day, after the meeting would be over, a guard, loyal to the rebel cause, would take the same vial, hide it in his pocket, and then poison him, and throw the vial somewhere in Talash's room.

He was not going to wear gloves, and he knew he would be caught, but he was willing to die for the heretical and untraditional government to be replaced by the True Falaxian Empire. After Talash would die, his room would be searched, and the vial found.

Soon, the plan was put into action. A rebel came quietly through the window, rolled the vial in his hands, and quickly ran out as fast as he could, while his guards didn't hear a thing.

Soon, the meeting came, and both men entered as enemies and left as friends. There was at first a few small apologies, then both men realized how petty their little rivalry was, and then brought out the wine, and enjoyed themselves that night. Late

afterwards, with both men very drunk, they went back to their bedchambers, where the disloyal guard would poison Talash with one last bottle of wine. Talash died in his sleep that night, and as expected, he was discovered dead, and the vial found after a

search of the room.§0 §0 §0The guard was tested for fingerprint matches, and his prints matched the vial. He was tortued for information, until he finally made the false confession that Nakola hired him, and the vial was tested for Nakola's fingerprints too.

His prints were on the vial as expected, and soon, the trial began. It was very short, as the evidence appeared to be overwhelming. After two short days, the guard, ready to die for his cause, and Nakola, dying for nothing, would be executed.

Everything went perfectly. The new disloyal governor was installed, eagerly awaiting whatever orders his Polisk puppetmasters had in store for him, with dreams of revenge and bringing back the old days in his mind, day and night.

The news shocked the Falaxian Empire, but it largely went on as usual, while the other nations sent their condolences. The Polisks rejoiced at the news, and prepared for the their coming attack. The other nations weren't receptive to their invitations,

but the Polisks were now confident that they could take the Ylandóan Republic and their allies if they locked the Falaxians in a civil war. §0 §0 §0Victory finally seemed possible for them, but they would not act yet, but they would soon...

Chapter III §0 §0As the Polisks plotted, the Hadathi, Klisian, Ylandóan, and Falaxian nations grew close, sharing technologies, ship designs, battle tactics, and traded. The Tagala resistance was also gaining power, severing supply lines,

revealing valuable information, and stealing materials. The Polisks still were crushing them, but they swore not to lose hope.§0 §0 §0Kalisia always led the World in ship design, with the Ylandóans being second, and they soon developed

several new ship types. They learned advanced sail design, and many smaller ships didn't even need rowers anymore. They were also being exclusively fitted with cannons, and they were durable, fast, and powerful. They passed the design to other nations,

and soon these new ships, far outclassing anything made in the past decades, were being constructed. However, only several of them were built yet, and fire arrows and rows still were common among fleets. The four nations met together, and after a few

days of debating, with Ulan taking up most of the time talking, a formal alliance was finally declared. A council of the important leaders met at the island of Kretacea, an island colonized by the Klisians that was next to a volcanic and icy island.

The Council of Kretacea was made, and every nation agreed to send an important diplomat there every two months, to discuss current matters, and promote good trade and defense. Each government tried to emphasize that it was a trade agreement,

but it was more of a mutual defense pact than anything, to protect each other from the Polisk threat. §0 §0This was the last straw. The Falaxian rebels were angry at working together militarily, and now, a supposed trade agreement that contained

a clause saying that each nation must back each other up in case of an attack made them very angry. The new governor of Kasimov stepped up, and soon said the following words.§0 §0 §0"Several years ago, we were invaded by a barbaric foe.

These beasts burned our villages, killed our sons, and stole our property. They brought much suffering and devastation upon us, laying waste to the great city of Melchior and countless other towns across the land. We drove them out, but soon after

our leader died, our leaders lost their way so quickly, and now we find themselves in league with these beasts? This will not happen. Our Empire has lost its way, but we will set it on the right track by any means necessary.§0 §0 §0We have shed our blood for

our Empire several years before. We sall do so again!§0 §0 §0As of today, we leave the corruption that has plauged our past Empire, and form a new one! The True Falaxian Empire shall purge the corruption of the old Empire, and it shall rule forevermore!"

This speech was copied and spread throughout the land, and Calgared was hailed as a hero by many in the Southwest. He knew he had supporters, and they joined his cause. Civil War had begun. The Falaxian Empire would be torn apart once again.