Stories of the Ten-Year War, Part 1:
https://mmh7.ubi.com/ru/blog/post/view/tales-of-the-ten-years-war-part-1

Approximate translation:

Many of you have asked me to tell the story of the events of the last ten years. I am beginning to realize that many outside the Holy Empire did not fully understand what was happening within our borders. As painful as it is for me to recall the tragic events of the last decade, it is necessary if we are to put an end to the bloodshed. However, this may take some time. A lot happens in ten years, especially ten years of war.

But is the story I am about to tell you true? It would be presumptuous to say so. I can only tell things as I saw them – my truth. Ask one of Sheamus Deer’s advisors, and he might tell a completely different story.

Stories of the Ten-Year War

843 – The Last Flight of the Falcon.

If Empress Mive the Falcon committed a sin, it was certainly the sin of pride. Often, when you think you have everything under control, it all falls apart. The dangers of unwarranted pride will be a recurring theme in this story. So much so that in the centuries that followed, historians might well call this war the "War of Pride."

Where to begin? Perhaps with a prophecy.

In the dawn of our age, which scholars call the "Historical Era," Ronan the Great, High King of the Falcon Clan, defeated his rivals and forced them to bow before him. There were no more human clans. An Empire was born.

It is said that on the day of Ronan’s coronation, the Seventh Dragon himself, Sar-Elam, appeared to the new Emperor and spoke in a voice that was both ancient and timeless.

"Emperor Falcon!" he said. "Your blood is the blood of men. As long as your blood lives, the children of Ialat will prosper."

Well, he probably didn't say exactly those words, but everyone at least agreed on their meaning: as long as the Falcon dynasty exists, the children of Ialat – the human race – will prosper.

But, of course, Sar-Elam’s words also made the Falcon line a target. The demons of Sheogh, in particular, made several attempts against the Falcon Emperors throughout history.

Evil Plans

In 564, the second Eclipse turned the skies of Ashan red, two years later than the Blind Brothers had predicted. Prince of Hate, Ariban, who had been plotting to spread dissent and hatred within the Empire for many years, personally led the siege of the capital of the Empire, Falcon Nest. Emperor Liam Falcon died in battle, while demon cultists, led by the traitor Jezebeth, hunted down his heirs.

Fortunately, Duke Gryphon, Anton, managed to kill Jezebeth and save the only surviving member of Liam’s family – his niece, Gwendolyn. The Princess was safe, and the Imperial forces united to liberate Falcon Nest and destroy Ariban.

So, the hellish plans were thwarted, and the blood of Ronan continued to flow.

When the time came for the fourth Eclipse, Empress Mive was ready. The Blind Brothers had perfected their art, and this time their predictions were absolutely accurate. The Eclipse occurred exactly when it was expected, and as the demons descended upon the lands of the Holy Empire, the Knights of Light were there to greet them with blessed steel in hand.

Everything was under control.

But Empress Mive underestimated the current ruler of Sheogh, the one known as the Lord of Demons. While the demons were heading for the battlefields, a group of assassins infiltrated the walls of Falcon Nest. Leading them was none other than Jezebeth, who was offered – or cursed, depending on how you look at it – a second life in Sheogh as a succubus.

Jezebeth was obsessed with finishing what she had been unable to do four centuries earlier. Jezebeth and her demons stormed Mive’s throne room, killing the Empress and slaughtering her entire family. They then burned Falcon Nest to the ground to ensure that no Falcon heir survived.

The fourth Eclipse ended in defeat for the demons... and their greatest victory.

Blood for Blood

However, the human world did not seem to be rushing to its end. And for scholars, this could only mean two things.

Skeptics believed that Sar-Elam’s prophecy may have been wrong all along, or at least misinterpreted. This happens all the time, really – just as you should never trust someone who claims to have the one and only truth, you should never believe someone who claims that their interpretation of a prophecy is correct.

The faithful, on the other hand, argued that Mive’s son, Brendan, had somehow survived the massacre of Falcon Nest. As strange as it sounds, many in the Empire wanted to believe this. The Church of Light declared a year of mourning. If Brendan’s child were found alive within that period, he would inherit the throne. If he were not found, he would be declared dead, and a new Emperor would be elected from among the Dukes of the Empire.

This time was spent hunting down the last remnants of demon marauders. Among them was Jezebeth herself. Ivan Gryphon, leading a company of gryphon riders, was the one who found and cornered her. The succubus tried to hide in the most conspicuous place, in the ruins of Castelrose, an old citadel of the Holy Inquisition.

It was no secret that Ivan and Empress Mive were good friends, and he showed no mercy to her killer. You may know the folk song inspired by their encounter? I think it goes something like this:

"She tried to cast her nasty spells,
So he cut off her hand.
She tried to fly back to hell,
So he cut off her wings.
She begged for her life,
So he drew his sword.
She promised to become his wife,
And he made his blade sing.
He cut off her head,
Until he realized she was dead..."

The lyrical qualities of this piece are, of course, debatable, but that is not the point. What is important is what the song does not mention – the fact that Jezebeth had one last trump card to offer in the hope of saving her miserable skin. In a last, desperate gamble, she offered information about the boy, Brendan. But Ivan replied that he would never believe a word spoken by a murderer, especially a succubus. That’s when he severed her head with a mighty swing of his sword.

With Jezebeth’s death, the fourth Eclipse finally ended. But in the Empire, the problems were just beginning...