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The Journals of Ancient Havensky; Ancient History of the Demon War
Topic Started: Feb 15 2009, 07:18 PM (315 Views)
Havensky
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Commander of the Airship Armada
Texan
Havensky University
HIS 340 Ancient Havensky History
(9:00am w/ Dr. Vetus)



Havensky University's history department was very lucky in the fact that they had access to some of the oldest documents in Havensky. These documents were easily a thousand years old and kept in the Library of Havensky. All history majors were expected to take at least one class of ancient history. In Dr. Vetus' class, student study ancient journals and diaries to gain insight into ancient Havensky. This is one of those classes.

Dr. Vetus is an older gentlemen with a deep low voice, graying hair and bright blue eyes. His skill as a storyteller is unmatched, and he stresses the need for historians to be able to not just understand the past, but to be able to portray the past as well.

"Welcome class to Ancient Havensky History. In this class, we're going to study the forming of our nation and gain insight into the Demon War.

You will not need a textbook for this class. I have posted copies of dairies and journals kept by ancient Havensky citizens written during the Demon War. Each class period we will study and entry and discuss the ramifications that these events had on the Demon War.

First, I suppose you'll need some background.


Dr. Vetus looks around the room and frowns a little.

Why arn't you taking notes!? I thought this was an upper level class!?

Dr. Vetus sighs and then continues..

"The Demon War occurred twelve years before the formal establishment of Havensky. Previously, the geographic area of Havensky had been occupied by four different Kingdoms. During the opening battles of the Demon Wars, dark forces had assassinated every noble in the four kingdoms. This brought chaos to the land. With no heir to the throne and the absence of any legitimate government leader, there was no government in the region.

Using the anarchy as cover, the Dark Forces began raiding villages and towns with impunity. Using dark magic and necromancy, the Demons razed the capitols and cities of the four kingdoms.

It wasn't until a legion of knights under the banner of the Drake of Caelum organized themselves and began a spirited defense of the region. By using the Demon's weapons against them they were able to win a few victories and help turn the tide.

The diary entry we will read today is from a young boy named Donner.


Quote:
 
(Author's note: I'm wanting to re-invent Havensky again. But instead of telling it from the modern era where the nation's powerful airships command the skies I wanted to tell it from a point in time where the very existence of the nation was in doubt.

I also didn't want to tell this from Drake's point per se... Everyone on this board knows Drake and there's not really much more I can do with his character. And I wanted to explore other characters. So, I'll be telling this story through a series of diaries and journals.

Because this is a classroom setting, feel free to ask Dr. Vetus questions or comment on the story as much as you want. :old:  ) 
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Havensky
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Commander of the Airship Armada
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Donner's Journal
February 15, 1008
(The Village of Dirge, Donner's Home Village)


My name is Donner and I am nine years old.

I am from the Village of Dirge. You can not go there anymore though.

Lady Nila is teaching me to read and write. So I have to write in this journal every night.

I will start from the beginning - the night my mom died.

We had just finished eating supper. My mom had made chicken and rice. My baby sister had just fallen asleep.

As the sunset, a terrible noise happened. There was an earthquake and a big black stone shot from the ground. The stone spit out a dark cloud into the sky and the world turned black.

Men started shouting outside. They grabbed swords and pitchforks and whatever sharp thing they could find. They ran out to to the stone. They were going to try and fight the demons.

At first, just one demon appeared. A dark tall hooded man. He raised his arms out and spoke some weird words. Then, the ground shook again and dead men crawled out of the ground.

The men tired fighting them, but they wouldn't fall down.

The tall dark guy was laughing now. He raised his hand and said more weird words - and rocks started flying towards some house and smashed them. A rock hits our house and the roof falls in.

My baby sister is crying now. We're all scared.

And then, he came.

From out of the sky, the Airship broke through the clouds and fired a broadside right into the demon army.

The dark man wasn't laughing anymore. He howled and pointed at the airship. Rocks began flying towards the ship. Some bounced off the ship while others just sorta got stuck in the wood.

The ship sent fireballs at the man who flew out of it's way. The ship then launched grappling hooks into the earth. Knights, clad in white armor, flew down the cable and begin to fight the walking dead guys.

One of the knights has an orange cape and a sword that's constantly on fire. The dark man flies towards him howling.

He is Sir Leo - the Fire Knight

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Havensky
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Commander of the Airship Armada
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Sir Leo begins to battle with the dark man and his minions. As the demons try to attack Sir Leo, he slices them in two with his sword while the dark man laughs at him.

"Do you know why I didn't kill you like I did your brothers Leo?", taunts the dark man.

Sir Leo gets angry and he hair gets redder as he yells back, "It doesn't matter you murderer!"

The dark man laughs and raises his hand, throwing more rocks in Sir Leo's direction. Sir Leo raises his hand and shoots fire from his gauntlet knocking them away.

"I spared your life because you lost your title of nobility. What was the reason again??"

Sir Leo slashes at the dark man, but he slides away before the sword strikes him.

"Oh yes, it was that unfortunate...accident wasn't it?"

Sir Leo shouts, "Your mind games won't work on me Arrick!"

The dark man laughs again, "I like you. So I'll make you a deal... Join me and I will spare this village"

"Never!"

The dark man smiles... As you wish.... and fades away.

The ground shakes... and bones shoot out from out of the ground and begin to form a monster twenty feet high.

The airship begins to fire fireballs at the monster, while Leo orders and evacuation of the village.

He barges into what's left of the house.

"Can you walk boy?!"

"Yes...sir..."
I respond meekly...

"The come on then!"

"But my sister!"

"Carry her!"


We go from house to house and Sir Leo collects the survivors while his knights fight the monster. We board small rafts and get hoisted into the airship. My sister is crying so loud.

I don't really remember much after that...
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Havensky
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Commander of the Airship Armada
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Dr. Vetus turns to the board and draws a map of early Havensky.

"Now, records show that after the skirmish at Dirge, the Duelist rendezvoused with the airship Chiron and Lady Nila.

Lady Nila was a master healer and her airship would often follow Sir Leo's airship to care for the wounded in battle.



Diary of Lady Nila
February 16th, 1008
(Skies above the former Village of Dirge)


Last night, Leo and his men battled the Necromancer Arrick in the Village of Dirge. Leo suspects that Arrick had underestimated the firepower of the upgraded Duelist. The new demonstones were quite effective in defeating large groups of skeletons and helping Leo's men fight back against their superior number.

Unfortunately, Arrick summoned a Bone Dragon to cover his retreat. The monster wrecked most of the village and defeating it depleted the Duelist of it's energy reserves.

The Duelist transferred several wounded to our vessel for treatment. Our new passengers include a young baby girl and a severely wounded mother. We do not expect her to be in this world for much longer. Her son Donner is okay, but refuses to leave the baby's side. Both him and the baby will be orphans soon. My hope is that Leo will take him on as a page..
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Havensky
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Commander of the Airship Armada
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(If you want to comment out of character, you're free to do that as well)
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Havensky
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Commander of the Airship Armada
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Diary of Lady Nila
February 17th, 1008
The Dueler


Leo was hurt worse than I first realized in his battle with the Bone Dragon. He tried to hide his injuries so I would treat the others first. I gave him a good scolding for his lack of common sense. Admirable as his actions may have been his men need him at full health.

We talked about Donner as I was treating him.

Lady Nila uses a crystal to move water across Leo's injured arm and side..

"Leo, I think you should considering taking that young boy as your page"

"Why?"
, asks Leo tilting his head slightly.

"Because I think it would work out well for you to have some help.

Leo raises an eyebrow.

"Do you want me to take him as a page because you'd think he'd make a good knight - or is it that you feel sorry for him because he's an orphan now?

"I... I... I just think it's a horrid-"

"Stop Nila... You are asking me to train him as a knight because you feel bad for the boy. That's not how it works. Becoming a knight takes hard work, years of training, discipline, bravery, and lots of blood, sweat, and tears. You don't recruit somebody like that just because he lost his parents."


Nila gives the fire knight a dark look. Several uncomfortable moments pass until Leo concedes.

I'll go talk to the boy. If I think he'll work hard I'll make him a page. But no promises!

Nila smiles
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Havensky
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Commander of the Airship Armada
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Journal of Sir Leo
February 16th, 1008
The Dueler


Today I have a new page named Donner of Dirge. I was hesitant to take on a student, but ultimately it seem Lady Nila is right about him. He does seem eager to learn and is not afraid of hard work.

The recruiting conversation went simple enough.

I walked up to the boy as he was sitting in the forecastle.

Are you Donner of Dirge?

The boy looked up, and I could see he was staring at my armor and my sword.

I raised my voice and asked again.

Are YOU Donner of Dirge?!

The boy answered a bit taken back.

Yes..Yes Sir!

Are you brave boy?

...Yes. I'm brave.

Can you work hard?

Yes, I did all kinds of chores on my farm like feed the animals, bale ha-

Yes or no?!

Yes Sir!


I wished the boy wasn't as nervous as he was. But he did look like a good sturdy lads.

I asked him the crucial question.

Donner... I can train you to be a knight. I will train you how to fight - how to defend others - how to lead men, but you must earn it. If you promise to work hard, always tell to truth, and be willing to learn I will take you on as my page. Can you do this?

Yes sir

Then come boy, I'll show you the airship.
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Havensky
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"Come on then, follow me... keep up boy!", said Leo as he stepped out on the deck with Donner in tow.

The deck of the Duelist was a buzz of activity with the crew adjusting the sails and making repairs on the ship.

Donner's first thought was that the crew looked more like pirates. They didn't wear any uniforms, and they all seemed rather gruff.

Leo pointed to the sails, "Our ship has a fore-and-aft rig. The Chiron is a squared-rigged ship. The difference is that while the Chiron is faster - we're far more maneuverable. Do you know why that is?"

"No sir"
. replied Donner.

"The reason is that we're a fighting ship. It's more important for us to be agile in a fight. We can turn this ship on a coin if we need to.

Now pay attention! If you're going to be a member of this crew you better know how this ship works. Starting from the front - there's the flying jib, job and the fore staysail - those are tied down to the bowsprit. Next is the foresail, and above that is the fore topsail - that's attached to the foremast. The same with the main mast and sails."


Leo walked over and grasped the foreboom. "This is the foreboom - this is what we use to turn the foresail. It's what makes us so maneuverable . The mainsail has a boom just like it.

My sails are red with black stripes - just like my shield. Our marking helps us identify ships. The Chrion is a blue sail with a solid white bar in the middle. The Promise Keeper's sail is dark green with two gold chevrons. And the Haven has a sail in which the top half is white with an eagle and the bottom is dark red.


Leo walked past the deck and stepped up onto the quarter deck. This is the quarter deck... the ships wheels are located here and here. The first wheel helps steer the ship right and left. The second wheel controls the side sails which help the airship fly up and down. Leo pointed to the ship's side sails which looked more like wings than sails.

Come boy!, shouted Leo as he led Donner into the Captain's Quarters.

"This is the Captain's Quarters... it's also where our maps and charts are. We use this room to plan our operations as well."

Next was the Sail Deck - which was just under the main deck and housed the crew quarters and the galley. Under that was the gun deck which housed the Duelist's compliment of two dozens cannons. And then, was the heart of the airship - the Crystal Deck.

The Duelist would be just another pirate ship if not for the demonstones. When the demons attack they enter through the void. The void is a terrible place Donner. However, in the void we've found crystals that float in mid-air. We've stolen them and that's how we make our ships fly.

My sword is made of demonstone - purified by fire. When I pray to it, it produces fire. That's how we've been fighting them. By stealing their crystals and using them against them. That's how we'll win.
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