[Detective100]

Following the fall of Blood Rose to Skarnfel's forces, the military force of Audhild had taken the long way back home to recuperate. In the months that followed, the armed forces had preoccupied themselves with preperations for war:

Extensive exercises.

daily target practices.

bolster their might by building cannons for siege warfare.

Training of warhorses, carriage horses, and warhounds.

As of today,  in the year 2078, the military is finishing up with their logistical preparations and get ready to march onward.

However, perhaps to Meranthe's surprise...

The military sets its sight not to the east, but west.

The target of the armed forces, who was neither Skarnfel or Sheol, had recieved a letter sent by an envoy to explain the situation:

---

Greetings, the Sainted Church.

Did you know that over eight years have passed since your attack on Final Frontier?

You might have forgotten about it already, hoping others will as well... But I haven't, nor has the people you have wronged.

I still remember it all clearly.

When you first declared war on Final Frontier threatening to destroy all animunculi, while trying to feign it as care to the tree of Hope, Solais, despite its caretakers' own disagreement.

When chaos reigned in the Sainted Church's hierarchy you were given both the offer of peace, only for it to be abused to gather reorganize and gather reinforcements to go back to war.

When you accused Final Frontier of containing dark secrets that never were, that during those eight years you have never bothered to prove even after you pilfered their vault for riches.

When you then failed to follow through with your casus belli to destroy the animunculi, to sate yourself with the treasures you stole in silence, your true casus belli.

I, and others among Audhild, find your actions as dodgy, gormless, manky, and intolerable.

Thus, we hereby declare war upon Sainted Church, with the following goal:

Capture the three main culprits, Palade Avincus, Adan/Kure Avincus, and Edward Aubreen, to be brought in for trials over their deeds.

I'll suggest to come peacefully if you want to have better chances at a fair trial. However, since I suspect your minds may have already gone to the dogs?

 Let it be known, no talks or attempts at diplomacy shall sway Audhild against following through with our declaration.
You, of the Sainted Church, have already tainted our trust when you tossed the chance for a peaceful resolution when it no longer suited you.
As such, you shall not be granted the luxury of peace, until either the three culprits are brought to justice.

Or, perhaps... Until the Sainted Church is no more.


-Benjamin Thomson. Councilman of Audhild.

---

Envoys were sent to other nations in Meranthe with the same letter, to brief the higher ups in each nation on the reason behind the march.
It is now up to them to decide... How shall their nation respond?


Main Objective:
Capture Palade Avincus, Adan/Kure Avincus, and Edward Aubreen to have them be sent for trial.
Secondary Objective:
Lay siege upon the Sainted Church until the main objective is done.

[RainIsABirb]

(disregard)

[RainIsABirb]

"Oh, where the time has gone...

Brother dearest, has it truly been eight years since you and yours stormed my home, trashed our Vault, and made off with what few scraps of our tech you could comprehend?"

An address is made from the resting place of Solais, its golden canopy stretching wide and high. Yet it is not the young Director or the aged, reclusive Founder but the Scion of those gnarled roots who speaks, the flame of passion in her authoritatively booming voice.

With one fist clenched and animunculi at her flanks, a small transponder records her words as a deep rumble can be heard in the distance-- absurdly sized hatches in the desolate sands opening, swallowing dunes hole, paving the way for something terrible to emerge.

"And what of 3-A Tempus?

So long ago did you decree yourselves arbiters of what is, and is not life. Who is and who is not to die. I used to abhor that notion of death, of violence, but now I see the truth! WE, the children of the Frontier, used to cower in the the shadows of the stage- but now, we will step into the spotlights as Tempus once did, and take arms with those who would seek revenge on our behalf!

We will play that beautiful game of defiance with you, now.

Let's see who deserves to live, and who deserves to die!"

Her words to be heard screaming from the small messenger drones for the weeks to come.

Suggested* Reassessment of Secondary Goal:
Raze The Sainted Church

*can safely be ignored if unwished for.

[Didos]

 

Ignition Protocols Nominal.

The Volcanic Core is Stable. 

Batteries Fully Charged.

Weapons Ready for War.

Activating: AT-1-CM.

 
For eight long years Final Frontier recovered from the last cowardly attack against them. Their efforts to avoid a foolish war were in vain, leading to their lands being invaded, the vault looted and their creations destroyed. For now, after recovering, after everything is in order.. And much preparation taken.
 
Finally be ready to fix a problem that the world seems to have forgotten about.
 
Animunculis were activated, marching in unity in order to mount the siege along with those who joined them. While many drones moved in order to create escape routes for refugees, normal citizens who had nothing to do with it.. And should leave while they could.
  

 
While.. Standing in front of everything, is a colossal construct, an automaton, a golem, a landmark of science and the intellect of a man, AT-1-CM, a metallic titan! That would ensure that that beacon of false hope, of zealots who committed crimes in the name of their goddess, would no longer remain. That their efforts to only hinder Meranthe from reaching a conclusion to a true problem, is over.
 

For the Enclave must fall, if Meranthe is to be united against the current threat.

 

"For years, I walked among these lands. For years, I worked alongside those who fought against the threats to Meranthe. Be they the super-developed, man-eating insects. Be it undead that stretched out in endless legions. Be the threat of the fel and its many variants.
  
I was here. I fought against it for many years of my long life. My animunculi fought and defended the people of Meranthe, even sacrificing themselves in more recent moments for them. Just to be treated like trash, to be treated as a threat..
  
And something to be destroyed.
  
A foolish justification for engaging in a blind war while there are greater problems to be solved. A justification for stealing what did not belong to them. And that's why now.. Action is necessary, we need to march and end this once and for all, so that we can focus on what matters to have a better future.

 

Palade. Edward.. Kure.
AND JOKUL.
You will pay for what you did, do you think I forgot, do you think I'm a fool to ignore the clear messages here? To not notice everything you did? No! And it will no longer be ignored. So be prepared. For..

 

I never forget. And I never forgive.

  
And now, you shall regret your actions. For now you will endure the fury.. of a mere mortal and his creations." - Acantho

 

Hear the rumbling. Hear the horns of war.

Hear the temperatures arise.

For AT-1-CM is activated.

And it marchs towards the Enclave.

 

   
Nothing will remain in its way.

[sweetchilisauce]

The camp buzzs with activity as soldiers and warriors, dressed in gleaming armor adorned with the emblem of Dawnstone move with purpose and determination to the desert.

Amidst the assembly of Dawnstone's troops, Commander Mithae steps forward, his ebony blade, Noxdante gleaming in the sunlight. His voice, clear and resolute, carrying through the air, reaching the ears of every soldier and warrior present.

"Warriors of Dawnstone, today we stand united, not as individuals, but as a force bound by the unbreakable bonds of our kingdom's honor and the indomitable spirit of our dragons. We rally beneath the resplendent banner of our noble and steadfast king, Ludmaz Dawnseeker, to confront an imminent and dire threat.

The Enclave, blinded by their insatiable ambition and consumed by the voracious hunger for power, dare to profane our sacred dragon, a living embodiment of our cherished heritage and unwavering strength. They seek to extinguish its sacred flame for their twisted beliefs, but we, brave sons and daughters of Dawnstone, will not yield.

I solemnly declare before every soul gathered here, on this momentous day, that we shall march to war against the treacherous Sainted Enclave, marching hand in hand with the valiant hearts of Audhild and Final Frontier. We pledge to shield our honor, safeguard our cherished heritage, and protect our kith and kin. We stand unwavering, resolute, ready to descend upon the Enclave with righteous fury before they even dare to set foot upon our sacred soil.

For the horrors they contemplate upon inflicting upon us... 
We shall not falter.
We shall not relent.
 We shall take no prisoners.

Victory shall be our anthem, and our valor shall resound through the ages."

With this declaration, Dawnstone officially joins the war effort against the Sainted Esclave.

---

The Sainted Enclave - Neutral  Shall Burn

[GSM]

All eyes were upon the Sainted Enclave, now.
The fel forces of the once-Deep Hold have become more active, but their eyes were not further than the immediate target at their doorstep.
Skarnfel would be worryingly silent after the Fel Garden was claimed in their name.
Even though there was but a promise that the Enclave would burn by their whims, and the wings of the Avincus stripped by the Demon King itself...

There was no response. Not a single fel creature, be it man or otherwise, would march upon the dunes.
Not even a whisper, not even a word from the Lord of Knowledge.

The Era of Change did not extend to just the demons, witches, and fel-aligned wreaking havoc across the stained countryside of the Shadowlands, and all around it.
This was to be expected. Welcomed, in fact.
Man against man, even in these dire times, when demons were at the door, and the power of the Marquis, even the sealed, were reaching a pinnacle unseen before.
The Demon King would not have it any other way.

There was, of course, the ever-present feeling of the gaze of thousands upon thousands of eyes.
After all, all eyes were upon the Sainted Enclave, now.

Perhaps it was an air of admiration or respect for the movements of one it has been idly tracking throughout the years.
Maybe it was the simple wonder of watching the massive animunculi ravage the dunes, marching to the trumpets of mechanized war thrums.
Or even the idea that the Enclave would resist such a monumental war effort, and possibly behold the death of some of its enemies.
Whatever the case, the silence was cold.



And the stare was colder.

[Daeut]

Deep into the Silent Expanse, an Oracle escorts a bespoke Palade Avincus and Edward Aubreen through the sands, accompanied by a Starseer that charts their path forward. Their destination: the Sacred State of Aphros.

In a queer twist of Fate, the Oracle that once submitted herself willingly to those of the Enclave finds herself returning the favor. Two unresisting culprits, alleged of crimes and atrocities unanswered, tread to an uncertain future in dangling chains that jingle in the desert echo. Into the marshes and custody of the Twilight City.

Word soon spreads through letter that a War Tribunal is to be held for the accused. Luminaries and representatives of every nation levying destruction upon the Enclave--now defanged of any protectors, and left to the devices of its innocent inhabitants--are urged to suspend hostilities. Constituents of every pertinent nation are promised an invitation to form the tribunal they so desired.

Told, as they say, to stay tuned.




The Sainted Enclave - ON TRIAL (???)

[Didos]

There is nothing but a terrible silence that ran across the dunes. The machinery that had previously advanced, now finally stopped.. And slowly made its way back to Final Frontier, in order to return to its positions. And prepare, in case once more they were needed.

 
Upon the horizon however, the last thing seen would be the colossal titan, before it entered the depths of the Vault. The war could have been avoided, but certainly.. The matter was not yet over.

 

---

 

The Animunculi: On Hold

[Detective100]

The military force from Audhild withdraws back to the city, as an unexpected turn of events has lead two of their targets into custody while the third is still left unseen.

After visiting each nation to figure out how to proceed, the one who originally called for war now calls for a political meeting via letters to each nation's leader:

"To conclude how the trial will be, and clear out on what grounds Palade Avincus and Edward Aubreen will be judged by, a meeting will be held at Aphros with representives from Dawnstone, Final Frontier, Audhild, and the host city to discuss and iron out the details."

The letter also came in with a date written for when the meeting will take place:

Friday, 6PM EST.