FfH AAR: Bannor

While the war with Lanun was still raging on, the Orcs attacked Kuriotates again. The event went largely unnoticed in the Bannor lands as all eyes were on the Lanun war. But after the Lanun were defeated, Cardith called upon Sabathiel to aid them in their war.


The first step was pushing out Orcs out of Kuriotate lands. Few former Lanun cities such as Bathsheba (pronounced Bat-Cheeba in Bannor language) were gifted to Kuriotates and made into federal settlements. That settlements were in particular danger from Orcish raids. Sphener and our elite army stopped those hordes.


Inquisitors even managed to capture some Orcs and surprisingly they accepted our way of living. Sabathiel ordered that any Orc that desires salvation can get it. That was a huge step forward in tolerance towards the Orcs. Besides, Ogres served in the Bannor army faithfully for decades.


Second step was crossing Calabim territory and going directly towards Orcish territory. However, Orcs did the same and many skirmishes were fought in Calabim territory. Sabathiel was furious at Vampires- how could they allow Orcish armies to enter their lands?


But soon the real incident sparkled. Unsuspecting Inquisitors that were tasked to investigate cults in Itos were suddenly attacked and slain by Orcish armies that were passing through the city at the same time. With no warning, not even from the Calabim side, when Inquisitors entered through city gates Orcs surrounded them and killed them. The Bannor people will remember that after this war is over.


The wise Bannor plan to boost culture in captured Sidar city to make people of Sludgehome, a settlement the Hippus took from Orcish barbarians before, want to become part of Bannor Empire, met with failure, as now the reverse happened – the people of Latito wanted to join Hippus. At that time Hippus citizens actually were most numerous and everyone in town spoke Hippus language. To avoid tensions, Sabathiel actually backed down and gave Hippus the city.


Our Archmages moving to attack the Orcs traveled through the Calabim city of Adonais and noticed something strange. The city was full of raised skeletons. That was the ultimate sign that Vampires never gave up their evil ways.


Orcish cities fell one by one. Even famed Orc hero, another unholy creature, Baron Duin Halfmorn, was slain by Valin. During this fight Duin transformed into vicious werewolf. That didn't save him from death, or perhaps death liberated him from his curse. Valin then gloriously entered the city of Braduk the Burning, a former capital city of the Bannor. Thousands cheered Valin's name back home, and the Bannor flag was raised at the Orcish palace, as Jonas fled further inland. Valin learned that few Orcs knew that the city was once called Braduk- its official name was R'Rgorac.


During this war the Elohim came with strange proposal – they wanted the protection of the Bannor, and would even allow the Bannor to influence, if not control, their domestic and foreign policy in return. Sabathiel accepted this immediately. Elohim did this because they were afraid of the Orcs and Vampires, and Sabathiel gladly protected them from both. Kuriotates and Hippus were not happy by this increase in Bannor authority but Bannor gifts and immense influence kept them silent.


With Orcs crushed, many expected that the Bannor will commit mass genocide and purge the land from Orcs. But that didn't happen. During past few years Sabathiel was advised by his new chancellor, Sandalphon. Sandalphon was both immortal and similar to Sabathiel, and also he knew much about earthly affairs. Sabathiel realized that mercy will bring stability in the long run. Sabathiel goal from the first day was to build an empire that will stand the test of time, and bring peace and stability to the world. But with Sandalphon's assistance he saw that to truly make that happen he has to compromise sometimes, and forgot the long-gone history. The Bannor were no longer the people from Braduk. They now had their own history, and new, glorious future.


Orcs were made into vassal state, Sabathiel liberated them their cities back and forced them to accept The Order Of Junil. Jonas was closely watched by Sabathiel, but Sabathiel realized that Jonas was trying all this time to make Orcs less barbarian and more civilized. And he had pretty good results. Sabathiel forced some reforms in their society to aid this goal, but force was not necessary- Jonas was more than willing to accept them.



Sabathiel used his newly found influence in Elohim politics to make them accept the Order. The Elohim were the only nation left that worshiped the Kilmorph, and in fact the only nation that worshiped anything else than the Order. After this diplomatic action everyone had the Order as a main religion, except the excommunicated Calabim...