Tales of Aphal: The Second Candexes War

The Tragic and Bloody conflict known as the Second Candexes War, the War that broke Unitine finally after its 600 year reign, and the Last war of True Men began the day the 5th Emperor in the Arcwind Dynast died, Barun's rule during the last war of wyverns was pitiful at best, and the public held little grief for his passing, as it was them who had won the war, not him. But as he had born no sons as of his death, only a short week after his death the second ever council of all lords was called, the first Candexes since Kain was made Emperor nearly 400 years ago. this time however, it was clear that 3 claimants held the strongest positions, Kunkan Bin, the Lord of Wavehaven's claim rested on that he was the last true lord, the last of the old system set in place by Midlon of the original 7 provinces. Davin Calistar, who had ruled as king of Smana for many years, was recognized as a lord aswell, and both his sons, Relin and Bundi and fought in the Last war of wyverns during the vinal vanguard of Antasia, while the other so called lords held up in there keeps. his eldest Bundi even died on the battlefield defending his empire, Davin argued that his other son should rule off of the way of Kain, rite by honor and bravery rather than law. And lastly there was the Duke of Imro, Acular Savison, close personal friend to the old emperor, Barun, and husband of his only child, his daughter Salia. Acular and Salia were the closest ties to the original Line of Arcwinds and had the most support in the Capitol, but overall these 3 were receiving near equall support from the Legions. It also helped that his marriage was not simply diplomatic, Salia and Acular truly loved one another in only the way ones who have know each other from childhood can. as would have certainly happened if not for Kain during the first Candexes counsel, war began to brew between the 3 as they rallied support and allies, and every meeting became more and more heated. Eventually a formal declaration of Empire-wide Civil war was enacted and all of the Lords claimed parts of the mainland. For a long month there were occasional border skirmishes between bannermen, and no one really expected things to escalate much beyond that. Meanwhile, Lunareach, the independent kingdom ally to the north remained indecisive to support any one of the three claimants, and decided to keep there people as far away from the bloodshed as possible. despite there efforts to remain uninvolved, Acular and Salia lead a personal tour campaign in there southern regions to attempt to gain what support they could, often appearing to give speeches and hold feasts. while this was going on, Davin and Relin Calistar planned there eventual attacks, and for the first time since his brothers death, Relin saw his father truly passionate and happy about something, he wanted to claim the Empire for his son, as if he hoped it would help subsided the sadness of his lost son. Relin decided to aid his father he would contact one of his old friends, an assassin by the name of Melik. Relin and Melik had known each other since they were children, they both shared an affinity for Alchemy and Philosophy, but they had changed paths when Melik had been brought into the White Eye by his father, another gifted Assassin. Relin concocted a special Toxin, and instructed Melik to attempt to end this conflict quick and decisively, kill the other 2 candidates, perhaps then his father would be happy again. Melik went to Lunareach, and waited for days for a opportunity, every time he tried to get a clear vantage on Acular a contingent of guards would always be close behind, guarding his every step. finally one day his patience had worn thin, and as he climbed atop a balcony, bow strung with an arrow laced with the fatal toxin, he changed his target to a more clear shot, Salia. The arrow pierced her, and panic ensued as guards chased Melik down, despite his years of training to escape post-assassinations, he could not escape the sea of Legionnaires that blocked his path, and he was cut down as he tried to flee. Salia grew ill, and Acular watched for 2 weeks as his love slowly grew colder and colder, eventually succumbing to the vile toxin. bitter sadness gripped him, and his armies, lacking proper leadership began to lose. Relin was no better off, he was crushed at the loss of his friend on his account, and every day regretted sending him to his doom, as well as costing the Duke his love. finnaly one day, as if the fire of Allunas himself imbued Acular, his dispute sadness melted away into pure, unfiltered rage and malice and he now blamed both of the other lords for the loss of his love, he gathered all of his forces for a frontal attack on both fronts. while originally the enemy was caught of guard by this, it did not take them long to fortify and beginning a double ended slaughter. Men who served the same Legion butchered there comrades, whole armies of men who had fought together not 30 years prior were now hacking, slashing, and crushing there way through there own brothers in arms. While Kunkan bins forces were holding the Onslaught at bay, Davins men crushed the blatant tactical charge with superior flanking, and eventually pushed into the Dukes Homeland of Imro. As the siege raged on at imro, a meeting took place between Kunkan and Davin, Kunkan said he would surrender his claim to the Empire and aid in the seige if Davin allowed him to keep Wavehaven as an independent kingdom, to which he agreed. Now Davins victory was complete, Imro was laid to ruin and as the men stormed the keep the crushed Acular laid waiting for them, surprisingly the first to come through the barred door to his hall was a lone unarmored man, Relin, he had been torn apart by greif and remorse, and told Acular that he was the cause of his wifes death, and that he knew that Allunas would give him no mercy but begged him for forgiveness. He went so far as to offer to Smuggle the Duke out of the battle, send him away to Exile, alone but alive. the duke, still fully engulfed in his need for revenge did not forgive, and decided instead to finally kill the man responsible for all his anguish, a duel against the terribly outmatched Relin against a rage driven Acular was no contest, and Acular plunged his spear deep into the your princes chest. As he did this, the crossbowmen accompanying Davin callistar burst into the room, riddling Acular with bolts and sending him to the ground. Davin went to his dying son, who apologized for what he had done, and said he could never be as brave as his brother. and with that, he was gone. Davin sat there, sobbing and cradling his dead heir as then as Acular let out his last breath as well. Davin had one the war of Candexes, but with no sons to follow his reign, his death would be immediately followed up with another. People would hereby refer to Davin as "the king of the Night" "for the night has no son."