The Battle of Saxe-Gotha

A tale of woe and of strife, the legend of Saxe-Gotha serves as a bitter lesson of pyrrhic victory and honor. Two warring kingdoms, both at odds, competing for the scarce resources that the other had. This story is told to children to teach them of conviction and that strategy will always overcome raw strength.

Coming to Blows
In the untamed lands of Tarador, two cities fought to live off of the land in where they settled. From the time of their settlements, both were prosporous and grew in population quickly. The land was bountiful and the people of Forite and Saxe-Gotha were happy.

It all changed when one of the cities began practicing deviant acts, and Bastra, cursing them, cleansed the fields and forests of all life, flora and fauna alike. Desperate for survival, the cities were at each other's neck for valuable resources such as food and lumber.

However, Forite was much stronger than small, secluded Saxe-Gotha. Confident in their strength, Forite marched onto war.

The Death Dealing Martyr
The army of the city of Forite, over ten thousand strong, marched across the hills of Saxe-Gotha to lay waste to its city. Burning and salting the farm land they came across along the way, the men of Forite cut off the supply line to Saxe-Gotha. With Forite securing every possible advantage in preparation for the siege, it would take a miracle to be victorious against them.

Desperate to keep the people of his city from perishing in burning walls, he king commanded his army to march out to meet them while they evacuated. Crestfallen, the soldiers marched out to the battlefield, but their commander, Xirgolis, had a better idea. These were their hills and they knew them far better than any invading army. To anyone foreign to the lands, the only way to get to Saxe-Gotha would be to travel the length of a deep crag. The natives of those deep hills knew otherwise.

There was a secret pass known only to the commander that would lead to the top of the ravine. There, the army would set off explosives that would bring the rocks down upon the invading city of Forite. However, the plan would require that a squadron distract the army in the narrow pass. Such was certain suicide: if they weren't slaughtered by the invading army ten thousand strong, they would be crushed by the boulders.

Xirgolis wasn't willing to propose any risk he himself would not undertake. He would stall the army for as long as he could while his men would prepare the charges.

Xirgolis met the men of Forite head on with the lance that slew the Blackest Dragon, Larzurous, stealing its strength and powers. With it, his strikes flooded the battle field with hazardous water and badly poisoning all that he. He fought for hours while his men got ready, single-handed slaying four thousand men. However, he sustained many lethal wounds, but he refused to back down before the deafening din of detonations was heard.

The brave commander of Saxe-Gotha defended his home to his last breathe as the walls crumbled down around him and the army of Forite. The Martyr of Saxe-Gotha gave his last stand in a blaze of glory and honor.