The Aethelgardians, the Thorenzians, the Oathkeeper's Shadows, and the contested land upon which the Aethelgardians dwelled, a land once claimed by the Thorenzians. To comprehend these connections, we must journey back through the mists of time, to an era four millennia past.
During this age, humanity was sparse, scattered across the face of the earth. In a bid to multiply and fill the vast, empty spaces of the world, men took many wives. Farming, hunting, and the rearing of livestock became the lifeblood of society, the sole occupations that bound people together.
In this primitive era, a man's wealth was measured not in gold or silver, but by the size of his herds, the expanse of his fields, and the bounty stored within his barns. The specter of hunger loomed large, and borrowing was a desperate measure taken by those on the brink of starvation. The price of survival was steep; the debtors would become slaves, toiling in their creditors' fields until their obligations were fulfilled.
Abel, the wealthiest man alive, possessed vast tracts of land spanning a hundred acres or more, and a steady stream of debtors labored in his service. Within this simple, agrarian society, life was uncomplicated, and an uneasy peace reigned.
"Mother, our home is bare, and our stomachs empty," a young boy lamented.
"Worry not, my son," his mother replied, her voice steady despite the hunger that gnawed at her. "Your father has gone to seek the aid of Mr. Abel."
Yet, this tranquil existence was forever shattered when towering figures descended from the heavens, their immense forms dwarfing the humans who scurried below like insects. These beings, possessed of twelve fingers and twelve toes, stood ten times the height of the awestruck people, their feet level with human heads. In an instant, the world was irrevocably changed, the delicate balance of power upended by the arrival of these otherworldly beings.
The serenity of the land was shattered as the otherworldly figures launched a devastating rampage, their colossal forms wreaking havoc upon the farms that had once sustained humanity. Crops were obliterated, the earth left scarred and barren in the wake of their destructive path. Humans, overwhelmed and powerless against these giants, could only flee from the chaos that engulfed their home, their once-thriving fields reduced to a desolate wasteland.
The giants, having obliterated the farms, returned to their own realm, leaving humanity to grapple with the dire consequences of the attack. This relentless assault continued for eighteen long, arduous months, an unyielding barrage that showed no signs of relenting. As the giants extended their wrath to the stores and barns, they decimated every reserve of sustenance, leaving the humans teetering on the brink of starvation.
Fear and uncertainty pervaded the atmosphere as the humans gathered to devise a plan for their survival. Elias, a man of great age and wisdom, addressed the assembly with a heavy heart. "Our people are suffering," he declared, his voice weighted with sorrow. "Our farms and barns lie in ruin, and we stand at the precipice of extinction. We cannot endure this onslaught much longer."
Machias, a young hunter with fire in his eyes, spoke up. "We must fight back!" he exclaimed, his words carrying a sense of urgency. "We cannot continue to run and hide, for death awaits us either way. Our only hope is to stand our ground and face our enemies head-on."
Sony, another young man and close friend of Machias, agreed wholeheartedly. "I stand with Machias," he said, his voice resolute. "We cannot allow ourselves to be cornered and eradicated. We must face our fears and confront these giants, or risk losing everything."
As the elders exchanged hushed words and nodded in agreement, Elias cleared his throat and addressed the crowd once more. "Young men, aged twenty to forty," he commanded, his voice ringing with authority, "ready yourselves for battle!"
A thunderous chorus of affirmation arose from the gathered warriors, their battle cries reverberating through the camp as they prepared to confront their fearsome adversaries and defend their home from the looming shadow of annihilation.
As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow upon the earth, the humans stood at the ready, their preparations for battle against the giants complete. They had armed themselves with weapons of war, their strategy carefully laid out, and now they waited with bated breath for the inevitable arrival of their colossal foes.
As the dim cloak of dusk settled upon the land, the otherworldly figures descended from the skies as they had so many times before. Yet, the humans remained concealed and silent, their hearts pounding in anticipation of the moment they would spring their trap.
The giants, finding the landscape eerily devoid of human presence, began to search the area, their lumbering steps causing the ground to tremble beneath their massive weight. Unbeknownst to them, one of the giants was about to fall victim to the humans' carefully crafted snare.
As the unsuspecting giant stepped into the trap, the rope snapped taut around its leg. The giant, startled by the sudden restraint, bent down to inspect the severed cord, its voice rumbling with slow, deliberate words. "A trap? Do these humans truly believe they can defeat us with such feeble attempts?" The giant's laughter echoed through the night, causing a wave of unease to wash over the hidden humans.
In their concealed positions, the humans exchanged glances of disbelief as they realized that the giants could speak their language. Guly, a young warrior, voiced their collective surprise, only to be swiftly hushed by Machias, who recognized the need for silence to maintain their element of surprise.
Suddenly, a barrage of fireballs erupted from the shadows, each one finding its mark on the colossal bodies of the giants. As the flames licked at their skin, the giants were drawn into the center of the community, precisely where the humans wanted them.
With a silent signal from Machias, the humans unleashed their attack, swarming the giants from all directions. Arrows flew through the air, and warriors brandished their swords and axes with fierce determination.
Yet, as their weapons made contact with the giants, the humans watched in horror as their blades and arrows shattered against the impenetrable skin of their adversaries. The giants' sinister laughter echoed through the chaos, their slow, taunting words sending the humans fleeing for their lives once more.
"Foolish humans," one of the giants mocked, its voice a sluggish, menacing rumble. "Did you truly believe that you could defeat us?"
The humans, overcome by terror, fled for their lives as the giants pursued them relentlessly. Fear coursed through their veins, and in their panic, two of the humans stumbled and fell to the ground. The remaining humans, driven by their own desperation, continued to run, leaving their fallen comrades behind.
A giant, seizing the opportunity, scooped up the two fallen humans, their screams of horror piercing the air as they were lifted towards the gaping maw of their captor. The sight of their companions' grisly fate struck fear into the hearts of the other humans, paralyzing them with dread.
"We were fools to think we could defeat them," Sony lamented, his voice heavy with defeat. "We thought we could stop running and face them, but we were so naïve." Overwhelmed by despair, Sony dropped to his knees, resigned to his fate as the giants closed in.
"Sony, what are you doing?!" Machias shouted from a nearby mountain, his voice tinged with urgency and fear. "You have to run!"
Sony remained unresponsive, seemingly deaf to his friend's pleas. One of the giants loomed over him, plucking him from the ground and lifting him towards its gaping mouth. In that moment, Sony's gaze met Machias's, a faint smile gracing his lips before the giant's jaws snapped shut, consuming him in darkness.
"Nooooooo!" Machias cried, his voice echoing through the air as he bore witness to the horrific scene. The humans' hope was shattered, their wills broken as they ceased their frantic escape. Yet, as all seemed lost, a figure emerged from the shadows, ready to challenge the imposing might of the giants.