Aeron had not been trying to start a war let alone the very first world war ever a thousand years before. Really? the Spartans are so touchy. She could not have predicted the eventful chaos that followed her little joke. The prince of Illium had stolen the king of Sparta’s wife before her chosen people could get in position to kidnap her themselves. That resulted in a decades long war ,the destruction forever of Ilium and the glory of Achilles that would echo through the ages. Aerons plan had been to kidnap Helen and give her the choices she had never had before. The Spartans had vexxed her immensely. She wanted to put them in their place. Reject a Goddess will you?!
Reject her because they could not believe, even after “demonstrations” of her attributes. The only thing that impressed them was her shapeshifting. She waited for her people, until they returned with the news that they could not get into the city, because the Spartans had closed their gates.
Word of a kidnapping began circulating, the Spartans scurried about like ants.
With that information , Aeron transformed into the white raven , then flew out searching far out to sea. Finding no sign anywhere she looked.
She turned back, which gave her another surprise.
The Mycenaens were marching towards Athens, Thebes, and Sparta. Perfect she thought, that was the plan, to get the city
States to join together. That all went sideways very quick.
That is this problem with humans . One truly never knows what they will do. One moment, disciplined, focussed. the next scatter brained and chaotic. Humans could be the most compassionate species on the planet, Humans can also be the greatest terror, murderous destroyers. Humans can show abject cowardice even abandoning family out of fear, Humans can also show courage that astounds the Gods.
The Gods, who watch on, keenly observing these fascinating confusing and heroic creatures. Yes that is the problem with working with humans. They always muck things up, they ignore rules, procedures, One never truly knows what these creatures will choose to do next. No one can predict these odd fascinating creatures, not Even the Gods...
With his Armorican allies and relatives support sailing up the Loire river, Arthur was to lead an expedition deep into Euric’s contested territory.
The promised Legions never came. Being held back only to be destroyed by Euric later that year.
Arthur fought the Visigoths to a draw anyway Breaking off the raids on the Visigoth forces with his army of twelve thousand cavalry and and five thousand heavy infantry.
After hearing of a combined Frankish and Saecsen host marching on Armorica. Arthur broke off his hit and run war with Euric in order to race back to Armorica.
Though the river and ships were convenient it would take too much time to load the horses then set sail, Arthur chose instead to head over land with his cavalry, he would send the five thousand men of the infantry under Gawain’s command, to withdraw into the land of the Burgundians. Nominal allies of Ricimer and Enemies of the Visigoths.
The Armorican wars ended in a Pyrrhic victory by Arthur. The Saecsen had been crushed and subdued. Three years of war had ended in victory along with betrayal.
Arthur then led his army south to meet with Ricimer. The Goths had rampaged into hispania and back to southern Gaul. Spies had informed Arthur that this campaign season, Euric planned to strike Armorica. Apparently Euric had not forgotten how Arthur had struck with impunity two years ago. Eurics pride still smarted. And so, Arthur moved to Avallon to once again meet with Ricimer.
This time, Ricimer was there along with the Franks and Burgunds, Arthur brought his Cavalry and heavy infantry. Aelle had joined him with reinforcements from Jutland.
They met the Goths at Avernum. Euric found himself caught between two Armies, he could go nowhere. Arthur and Ricimer destroyed the Goths capturing Euric. Arthur had been wounded, knocked from his horse by a spear blow. Bedwyr struck the Goth down while Gawain kept guard on Arthur until a new mount could be found. One of Aelles spearmen placed Reins into Arthurs hands. The Angle infantry man had snatched the banner mans mount. Who did not understand his good intentions. The soldier pulled the banner man off the mount hurling him along with the banner to the ground.
Myrddyn watching from afar, saw the spear strike Arthur, saw Bedwyr and Gawain shouting “Arthur” “Ware the king!” Were all Myrddyn understood. Then Arthurs banner, the Red Dragon on a plain white field fell. Chaos reigned on the battle field. Myrddyn’s heart and mind shattered. Believing he had just witnessed Arthur fall to never rise again. As Myrddyn fled in madness, Euric was struck down and victory won. The Goths would never again field such a force. They were broken forever. Arthur’s cavalry returned to Amorica, then home to Briton and the family Arthur had not seen in years. Aelle, with the Franks marched into Frisia along with some Roman cavalry auxiliaries. By yule, Frisia was conquered, the Franks began settling in to their new lands. Aelle Moved into Jutland. There were no battles there. Decades before Aelle had left those shores to fight in Britain. Where he had formed a Kingdom, Anglia. The chiefs and Kings in Jutland greeted Aelle as lost kin. They listened as he told of Arthur, Caladwylch, Myrddyn: called Merlin, the wars. Eagerly they listened as Aelle told them of the new lands, the north coast of Gaul, of Galicia and the west of Hispania. While Aelle was recruiting his eager kin, Gawain and the Armorican heavy infantry joined Ricimer in the land of the Burgunds. They prepared to march on Rome, there to deal with Anthemius. The legions had declared Ricimer as imperator. A move that initially, Ricemer wanted no part of. Being an Arian, he knew the Romans would never accept a someone they viewed as a heretic. A barbarian they could possibly accept but never an Arian barbarian. The legions did not care. Many of the legions still followed the soldiers God. Followers of Mithras cared nothing for Christian disagreement. Ricimer was now the Imperator of the west. Dispatches were sent to the Emperor of the East, Leo in Constantinople. As Ricimer planned and prepared to seize the rest of Romes domain. Gaul and Hispania, along with all of Africa were firmly in favor of the new Imperator. Now to seize Anthemius and subdue Italia and Dacia with Gawain, and the Army he commanded, they marched into the Roman heartland along side Ricimer. Vengeance for the betrayals was at hand.
Arthur had inherited all his cousin, and uncle , Ban of Benowick had held in Armorica. The lesser kings swore fealty, and Arthur had become the Riothamus , High king over the Britons. Both in Britain as well as Armorica. There were new lands to administer. More minor lords to manage, chieftains to feast, petty squabbles to judge. Oh the many subtle joys of being a high king.
Arthur now ruled All of the Island of Britain, Armorica, Frisia, Jutland along with the north of Gaul, westward the coast of Hispania as far as the sea. A kingdom that now rivaled Rome itself in wealth and power.
The saecsen raids had been stopped in Gaul. No more raids by Picts or Irish pirates, Britain was at peace. There were no people outside of Rome itself that were the militaryor economic equal of Arthurs kingdom.
The Romans for their part feared Arthur, having nightmares of him coming like Constantine returned. Arthurs armies had proven to be nearly unbeatable. Should he choose, together with the Burgundians, Arthur could easily sieze Gaul. Rome would quickly follow. However, Arthur never had dreamed of empire. All Arthur had truly wanted to do was be a smith and hunt with his hound. Power held no attraction to Arthur yet Somehow he had become High king.
A high king with three daughters and two sons he had not seen in years. A wife he missed, and a life not his own. Sometimes it’s not so good to be the king.
At Camlan, Myrddyn had broken. Driven mad when Arthur had been wounded by a frankish spear. The Dragon banner had fallen, as Myrddyn watched.
Unbeknownst to Myrddyn, Arthur lived, though wounded.
Myrddyn fled north to the forests of Lothian, mad with grief. Arthur had lost his mentor, and the only father he had ever known. When He needed him most.
The loss of Myrddyn opened doors of treachery unforseen by Arthurs honest and honorable nature.
For the want of a banner, the Wise one went feral.
Armorica.. Avallon, Camel-od.