PrinceCon XXVI - Barbarians at the Gate

A Brief History of Lentria

Condensed from Lentria Through the Ages, third order of Hione, His Majesty's Year 271.

Lentria, like any other kingdom, was founded on conquest. The first King inherited the title posthumously - he was born a miller and died a general. But his sons carried on his battle, and Lentria grew from a town and a road to an enclave to a protectorate to a Kingdom. At its height, the Lentrian Legion was renown from the Great Eastern Empire to the Waste, and its dominance stood unchallenged. Generations of Lentrian sons could aspire to nothing more than to lead the mighty Legion into battle.

Eventually, of course, the Lentrian border was firmly established: the Empire to the east, the sea and the Elven Forest to the south, the Worlds Edge mountains (and the Waste) to the west, and the Ironfist Free States to the north. The Empire is a slumbering behomoth; though fairly unconcerned with developments outside its own borders, it would be an enemy beyond belief if provoked. The Forest is all but impenetrable to man. The mountains admit no passage to an army. And the Ironfist Free States are layered like barbs on a porcupine - it's not hard to get past any one, but taken together, it's much more profitable to trade than to conquer.

Thus, the second great age of Lentria was borne on the backs of merchants, not soldiers. It's been decades since the last serious threat to the Kingdom. The eastern border is fortified, but more out of habit than of necessity. The northern border is still quite active, but everyone knows it's just for fun; the boys need to keep in practice. Instead, Lentrian trade reaches farther than the Legion ever did, through the Free States, the Empire, the Forest, and even in rare cases across the sea.

With the borders relatively peaceable, it was inevitable that Lentrians would learn of the Waste. Mountain Men, trappers, and rogues were drawn to the Worlds Edge like swords to a Legionnaire, and any number of shady camps and trading posts sprung up. Eventually, word filtered back of a land beyond, but it was hot, barren, and deadly. Compared to the mountains, in any case, where the dangers were well known.

Danger is a little barrier to greed, of course, and shortly merchants were pressing through the Worlds Edge, with trade goods best described as "miscellaneous". They swapped stories of lands of spice, ivory, and silks, but found instead only barbarism. The few natives they located dressed not in silks, but in bones, feathers, and war paint. And their idea of a bargain was to release you with your life and a single bag of water. In time, it became clear that the barbarians were divided into tribes, and a man's life depended on which tribe he found. But few were anything short of hostile, and none offered valuable goods for trade. Instead, it seemed their life was dominated by bloody battles between tribes, futile though they may be. Even within a tribe, no barbarian trusted another, and any long-term leadership was doomed before it began.

Current Events

Dispatch from His Majesty's Outpost Briar Woods North

From: Cpt. Samuel Keeler, commanding officer, Briar Woods North
To: Gen. Nathan Brown, commanding officer, capital garrison

Nathan,

You've known me since I was a child, and you know I wouldn't break the chain of command like this unless it were a subject most dire indeed. Believe me, I have never seen anything so grim. It was of little concern when we lost communication with the outposts to the west. They're mostly frequented by unpleasant sorts anyway, and trade's laughable at best. I mean, you know what it's like here, and they're further out than we are! It's inconceivable that the barbarians could stand together long enough to dine, much less to attack, and there's no way across the mountains anyway.

I know, I know, why belabor the obvious? Well, this is why: because it's all right out the door. They've attacked. I've seen it with my own eyes. A tide of men, covered head to toe in bones, blood, and worse. And they're unstoppable. I don't mean they fight, or they fight well, I mean they're unstoppable. We threw a division again them, and they tossed back the pieces. I can't even begin to describe what happened. It's like our swords were forged from butter. No - worse. We fight, we wound, they ignore. I saw a barbarian dancing with three swords in his chest! He pulled them out and threw them over the three corpses at his feet! They still die, but it's twenty of ours for each of theirs, at the best.

You know Briar Woods; I'm lucky to have a healer, much less a Mage. So I can't begin to guess what's happened here. But I've never heard the like in legend, much less in war. I'm sending the reports, but they'll be ignored, and you know it. Just another crazy western outpost. Well, my best man is going to you, and I beg you, bring him to the king. I don't know how, but find a way. He's seen the tide, at my side, and his story needs to be told. More lives than my own depend on this. I beg you, if you've ever believed me, believe me now! And... tell Marie I love her. They're coming this way.

Signed,
Sam