Angelos Odyssey Archives: The History of the Citadel: I

by J. B. M. Patrick

  Sidoverse 2-4:

  In keeping with the Way, thou shalt offer up thine youngest in the service of the Shogun. This pleases the memory of Isolakandi, who sacrificed himself so that the Way may continue onward for generations. Hiding future members from service shalt be met with the justice of Death.

  Sidoverse 2-5:

  In keeping with the Way, thou shalt never offer thy neighbor an untruth, for all is spoken in truth under Sidogush. Untruth represents dishonor, and dishonor shalt be met with the justice of Death.

  Sidoverse 2-6:

  In keeping with the Way, thou shalt not take more than four partners. Thou may not marry within thine own family, and thou may not willfully spread an affliction throughout the people of the Citadel. The willful spread or ignorance of these laws shalt be met with the justice of Death.

  Sidoverse 3-1:

  The Way of Sidogush should be honored through assemblies at the Tree of Bronze at least twice a week.

  Sidoverse 3-2:

  Upon gathering, those of the Sidogush should dress humbly and offer unto their Shogun a percentage of their earnings. In this manner, may the Citadel be forever prosperous.

  Sidoverse 3-3:

  All clothing is permitted in daily life, for the Way of Sidogush accepts all cultures in their myriad manifestations.

  Sidoverse 3-4:

  As the Way accepts all cultures, may no one religion be disrespected unless it questions the Way itself, for the Way has formed an alliance with the creatures of the Earth.

  Sidoverse 4-1:

  The Way is the future, and everyone shall build upon the future.

  Sidoverse 4-2:

  Every citizen shall be enlisted as a Builder in our journey toward the sky. May everyone participate.

  3074

  (754 P. R.)

  Seven hundred and fifty-four years after the First Rift, Shogun Vati enlisted the aid of scribe Buroman to draft what the Shaman had ordered in the prior year. Buroman begat Burow, and Burow begat Isaburow. With each generation, a Tome was created and passed down between the three of them. It was Isaburow who completed the final pages of Shogun Vati’s law book and when the Shogun himself had long passed from this world and thus was even further removed from Isolakandi’s divine guidance.

  This Tome became known as the Book of Sidogush and was used by rulers of the Citadel for hundreds of years to establish their ever-changing conduct as time continued to alter customs.

  THE RISE OF SHAMAN CHERANIS

  It was in 3074 that Shogun Vati took a new wife and isolated himself from his own people. As he did as such, Vati allowed Shaman Cheranis to rule them with complete authority. Cheranis thus increased the amount of gatherings needed to appease his own thirst for worship and held more conservative views toward the implementation of the Way. In his understanding of the Xatists, belief begat strength, and so—in the absence of their Shogun—Cheranis demanded belief from the people of the Citadel.

  Construction toward the atmosphere slowed but still continued in its progress. Both Trees were soon to be connected.

  THE DIVINE PANTHEON

  The Divine Pantheon were pushed to the South, and there they accomplished a desperate mission to eliminate all immediate rivals. After they’d established their new homeland, the Divine Pantheon steadily grew in might but turned their attention away from the people of the Citadel in order to focus on other, weaker territories. They clashed with the eighteen tribes of Igun, who only stood together in religious opposition to the divine rule expressed by the Pantheon. This kept both of them at bay for an age.

  In the North, the Unaer’e, much like the Xate before, broke out in civil war in order to decide who their true Ark would be. Rather than dividing into opposing factions, the Unaer’e were overgrown with powerful archdemons who conducted monthly tournaments in order to decide who possessed the might to rule. As no one demon proved to be the greatest, the Un’aer became engaged in a constant cycle of brutality until the time of Ark Sozo arrived much later.

  The Eastern Demons, rather than assault the many fortifications belonging to the Citadel, requested an audience with Shaman Cheranis. Cheranis rejected them and waited out the year until he was given another opportunity to speak with their leaders.

  3075

  (755 P. R.)

  Shaman Cheranis had slowly become despised by his own people. To his chagrin, he came to realize that his power was diminishing rather than growing and wickedly forced the Citadel to offer unto him a harem. He chose from among the youngest and from both sexes, believing that youth would restore his former vitality. He also requested that scribe Buroman implement this new law, and he did as such until it was removed as a statute by scribe Burow.

  THE CORRUPTION OF CHERANIS

  The power of Cheranis continued to diminish until he resorted to torturing to death his own harem. A young girl managed to escape and fled across the border to be captured and possessed by the will of the Eastern Demons. She was sent to return to her homeland and made to corrupt Cheranis, who, in turn, allowed the demons to enter the gates of the Citadel and mingle with the population, if only for a short time. In their subsequent assemblies at the Two Trees, the influence of the Eastern Demons took hold of the Shaman’s mind and brought him to an infantile state. Such became his own incompetence that the Shogun was called upon directly.

  In the time that had passed, Vati had attempted to sire more sons in order to replace the legacy set by Haem and Lak. In his isolation, he begat the son Vaan, who Awakened early and pleaded with the Shogun for a chance to put down Cheranis. Vati refused, believing that Cheranis could not have possibly been corrupted. He ignored any attempts to contact him about the worsening situation, and more demons flooded the inside of the Citadel until the gates were shut by the common sense of the servants.

  3076

  (756 P. R.)

  THE UPRISING

  In the year 3076, the people of the Citadel rebelled against Shaman Cheranis. Without the intervention of Shogun Vati, Citadel citizens—as well as Hayashi slaves—joined together so that they could burn Cheranis at the stake for his crimes.

  Before he was executed, Vati’s child, Vaan, appeared before them and produced a telekinetic calm about them. The demons themselves were impressed at his Awakened power and bowed to worship such a potent entity. Though he was but a child and could not speak, Vaan compelled them to lay down their arms and await his father.

  FURTHERANCE OF THE WAY

  When Shogun Vati arrived, he lamented that the Eastern Demons had been allowed to assimilate with his own people but accepted them into the Way. Afterwards, he commanded the execution of the Shaman and took full control of the Citadel. Vati believed now that no further conflict could arise, as their population was great and united in their contempt of foreign elements. Thus, the Shogun ordered everyone’s efforts be completely devoted to the City in the Sky, for he believed it represented the intent of Sidogush. To him, the people of the Citadel would be known as the “Highest People.”

  Shogun Vati retreated to his chambers to sire three more sons, and Vaan was placed among the heights of their construction efforts to oversee the completion of the bridge between both Trees. At the end of the year, the connection between them was finished.

  3077

  (757 P. R.)

  Deanshe finally awoke and was honored as the highest warrior among the people of the Citadel.

  DEANSHE AND ELIA’AH

  Deanshe assumed his position as a ruler secondary to the Shogun and oversaw the instruction of all troops enlisted in the cause of the Citadel. During his time as the new commander, he fell in love with a particular demon without understanding her true nature. As they grew close, he often exempted himself from his duties and spent the majority of his time learning about his newfound love. The demon’s name was Elia’ah, and she was of the Cux’arth, demons who are the most humanoid in their image.

  The two of them fell deeply in love, but Deanshe was unaware that she had once belonged to o
ne of the Barons in the Eastern lands. Elia’ah had been intended as a princess who would be married to Baron Svu’d, and when she escaped from Svu’d’s clutches, she fell in love with the war captain.

  One morning, Elia’ah was stolen from Deanshe by allies of the Eastern Demons. And thus, Deanshe set out to move a personal contingent into the enemy’s lands. When he’d arrived several thousand miles east of the Citadel, Deanshe’s coming had been anticipated, for the Cux’arth had only desired to bring the Shogun’s people to their knees. The Cux’arth believed demons superior and that one day would come when only their kind ruled the Earth. As the Shogun had made the Hayashi slaves, so, too, did demons wish for humans to belong to them.

  Therefore, Deanshe’s men were surrounded by the enemy and forced to fend for themselves. Having inherited the power of Isolakandi and Kelphuren, Deanshe gave his own troops the ability to fight far beyond their own vulnerabilities. They became as undead in their defense of him, and Deanshe battled for his life until the Shogun was once again notified of a disturbance.

  THE ERRING OF SHOGUN VATI

  The building of the skyward Citadel had seen noteworthy progress, and so the future city now extended much closer to the clouds themselves. Vaan reigned from above while keeping his attention fixed on the ideas of the Higher Man. While he remained suspended above the Citadel, he was unaware of the trap set for Deanshe.

  Instead, Shogun Vati rose to action and sent his army out to confront the Eastern Demons. He marched at the helm and readied himself to do battle with the enemy, as he always had. However, when the Shogun’s army had made it far past the gates of their own city… the Hayashi rebelled.

  THE HAYASHI REBELLION

  In the Hayashi Rebellion, the slaves of the Citadel rose against their masters for the very first time. They sought weakness in the military force of the Shogun and realized that the time to strike would be in their war with the Demons of the East. As Shogun Vati rode with his battalions to meet the demons in full force and recover Deanshe, the Citadel was overtaken by the Hayashi, his sons adopted by their Elders, and Vaan was forced to remain in the sky as he watched the events unfold.

  Humans were made to serve the Hayashi, and the war waged by the Shogun persisted for a brief period. As there were no supply routes to sustain his army, Shogun Vati relied on raiding as much as conceivably possible.

  The leaders of the Eastern Demons, Ark Su’un and Ark Kilga, both decided to retreat while razing their own settlements and leaving behind only human and demon corpses for the consumption of their enemies. Deanshe was rescued, but his people soon became lost in foreign lands without a way of re-entering their old home. Deanshe cared not, for he sought only to pursue Elia’ah as far as Baron Svu’d would take her from him. When Shogun desired to return and attempt to reclaim the Citadel once more, Deanshe challenged him in combat.

  DISMAY

  Puzzled by his subordinate’s resistance, the Shogun questioned him:

  “Oh, warrior Deanshe, why hast thou refused all reason—all will to save the future?”

  Deanshe said unto him while preparing to strike down the Shogun:

  “My Shogun, for my heart has been stolen by an outside force. I wish only to be with the love of my life, although I am considered the ruler of a great nation now lost to the hands of fiends. The Hayashi have betrayed us, for better or for worse. They’ve locked us out of our own city whilst leaving us to fend for our people with little to no resources. The army of the Citadel has become as savages. Cannibals. We eat our own and consume the flesh of demons to quell our ravenous spirits, and this is not abiding in the Way.”

  “Abiding in the Way means the act of reclamation, Deanshe, for we must return our kingdom to Sidogush so that we may further honor the memory of Dharmanic Lord Isolakandi.”

  “Dost thou not see that Isolakandi has abandoned us?” Deanshe spake with a measure of fear. “For we are lost as an army and belong to none. We are warriors destined to die, and so I’d rather die for her whom I love than die by the mysticism of the Hayashi. At their walls, we will be struck down. In the field of battle, and against the Demons of the East, may I find solace in the arms of what I seek.”

  Shogun Vati refused to fight his former subordinate and, rather, held a council to decide further courses of action.

  The Shogun said unto his remaining people:

  “On this day, may we decide our fate in the future. I long to return to our lands, to fight in the Way of Sidogush. In our struggle to reclaim our home, I do believe that the spirit of Isolakandi shall be with us. Let us reflect on our actions.”

  Deanshe requested for the council to halt for a day as the people meditated on recent events. He believed that reason could not be found unless given during a warrior’s meditation, which also was a tenet of the Sidogush.

  Whilst they argued amongst themselves, Vaan rested in the skies and oversaw the continuing construction of what would come to be the Citadel.

  THE ELDERS’ MOCKERY

  The Hayashi Elders arrived to taunt the child Vaan and spake:

  “Son of the Shogun, will thou not swear fealty to us? Now that thy father has lost in a conflict of wit—now that he has pursued an elusive enemy across plains upon plains of empty, lost land, shall thou recognize our station in life after years of oppression?”

  “Alas,” the child spoke to them telekinetically, “I never wished for your oppression, Elders of the Hayashi. My father’s goal was unity, but he became a stranger to the Way and now only wishes to ensure the safety of foolish Deanshe. Deanshe has chased a demon wife, and so his fate is as thus. I wish to see the dream of my ancestors come true, and so I shall swear fealty to none other than those following the Way.”

  The Elders took offense to his unusual manner of speech and questioned of him:

  “Dost thou not realize our power in this city? Forsooth, we could have thee cast down from this place.”

  Vaan spake unto them:

  “I have not fear, for I am the inheritor of Isolakandi’s vision, the fusion of man and God on the earthly plane, and have no desire to view the end of humans nor Hayashi. In Isolakandi’s vision, both coexist in harmony—”

  “But thy ancestors enslaved us. They mistreated the Hayashi and deserve repayment in kind.”

  “So be it,” spake Vaan, “but you cannot harm me in the common way, nor is there any reason to harm one who never sanctioned the mistreatment of the Hayashi, and I agree that you were mistreated.”

  The Elders departed and, days later, arrived with one of the Shogun’s other children. They held the child aloft and spake:

  “If the son of the Shogun is as powerful as he claims, then may he save the child who is cast down toward the Earth once more!”

  The infant was thrown, but Vaan did not react. They questioned of him:

  “Thou must possess no real power to allow us to do such a thing. The Elders will ask for your fealty when we’ve cast down every son.”

  As more time passed, the Elders returned again and again, and when they threw the final son of the Shogun, verily, Vaan laughed at them and incurred their anger.

  The Hayashi Elders spake unto him:

  “Why dost thou laugh at the death of children? Is thee as insane as we always believed?”

  “Verily,” spake Vaan, “that by casting down four sons you have created Four Kings. As each child touched the ground, I blessed them—and with each blessing, there arose a King with as much power as held by the Shogun.

  “For when the time comes, they will rise as Four Kings to aid in uniting the Citadel when it has again fallen into disarray. The end of bondage is near, but the Age of War burns anew in the hearts of many.”

  The Elders did not believe him and replied only:

  “Such nonsense. For when we return again, thou shalt weep from tragic tidings. Forsooth, any news we bring unto you shall melt thy heart and send thee into a fit of anguish. This we say unto thee: that tragedy shall follow the sons of the Shogun, and tragedy will f
ill their hearts with sorrow overwhelming.”

  And so it was said, and the Elders departed.

  THE DECISION

  On the same day of this most recent meeting, Deanshe and the Shogun confronted their people again. The Shogun spake unto them:

  “Verily, who shalt return with me into the lands of our people and fight in the name of Dharmanic Lord Isolakandi?”

  Half of his forces agreed.

  Deanshe spake unto them:

  “And verily, who will go with me to crush our present enemy with finality—to ride the world of the demons who hail from the East?”

  The other half sided with Deanshe.

  Thus, the Shogun’s army was divided in twain, and both went their separate ways.

  3078

  (758 P. R.)