Historicus Vylanous

1. The Age of Mother and Treachery:

In the beginning, there was no clan. All that existed in the sphere was a group of bandits loosely organized around their weak leader, whose name was Mother. The days of Mother's leadership were those of chaos. The bandit group had no direction, for they had no true center about which to focus. Their status was only a foreshadowing of the oncoming glory. Soon, the bandits were convinced to begin a war against the evil Metatron, who is no more. Although disorganized, the ferocity of the bandits could not be stopped by the powerful Metatron alone. Only treachery was able to force the bandits back. Treachery from the already untrustworthy clan Guidii. Guidii's betrayal forced the bandits and their allies to retreat to more strategic ground, where the traitor and his allies were loathe to follow. And so it was that in other areas the bandits were able to clear a path through their many enemies to new forests and lands of increasing abilities. So ended the first age.

2. The Age of Annihilation:

The bandits had achieved a mighty status in their area of the sphere, having grown more powerful than many of their neighbors. But it was that early in the first age Mother had been sacrificed for the welfare of the clan. Without her, the newly maturing clan lacked all leadership and direction. Thus, they accepted the advice of the bloodthirsty Dragoon and attacked those clans which claimed to be more powerful than the rising clan. The ensuing battle was a massacre. The bandits were fools to let the Dragoon have his way in all matters, for their many enemies joined forces in an attempt to purge the sphere of the Dragoon and the bandits. The enemies failed, though only a few broken warriors and breeders were able to escape the bloodbath.

It was during this age that the bandits were forced to try their strength against enemies weaker than themselves. The foolish attacks of Drodge and Dawson were easily pushed back by a few technologically superior titans, and the bandits tested their power by destroying the creator of another clan. It was also during this age that the bandits first met the Space Invaders, who have since destroyed the technogap, in the field of battle. Space Invaders was young, but the bandits admired the bravery so reminiscent of their own and so let them live.

So ended the second age, the age of pride and stupidity.

3. The Age of War *(The Age of Vylan):

And so it was that from within the ranks of the broken clan arose a new leader. Vylan, who was the son of Mother, and who had often been the diplomatic envoy for the clan, took control of the clan. As his first order of business, Vylan designed and ordered the creation of the magnificent mobile fortress, the CLAN HALL. Upon its completion, the clan formalized their name as the Vylanous Manglers in honor of their new leader. No more were the days of banditry and small battles. The clan was now made of true warriors who fought in a gigantic war against their enemies, soon to be called the Seven (and later Blood Brotherhood).

During this age, the Vylanous Manglers gained many allies and enemies. Although their enemies met their armies in battle, they were now evenly matched. The battle would outlast the age, and much destruction ensued. The war would show itself to be the originator of both boredom and intrigue, for its battles were mostly fought in static trenches, but the youth and vigour of all involved allowed for much variation.

It was during this time that Vylan met and joined a slightly younger clan (among others), that of Skorpion. This prophet of the gods introduced the alliance to the ancient gods of the Sphere. The first to visit them would be Shiva, and she became their Patron Goddess. She bestowed her power and benevolence upon the alliance, and the alliance honored her gifts by naming themselves the Beloved of Shiva. With the power of their Patron Goddess behind them, along with their own ferocity, the Beloved of Shiva were able to hold the armies of their enemies at bay against the great advantages of superior technologies.

It was during this age that the remnants of the bandits gained their final and greatest honor. After escaping the massacre and being separated from the rest of the clan, these last few bandits could see no purpose for their own continued existence. They had retreated from battle and could only see the horror of their disgrace. But, as the weight of their failure was about to consume them, they saw a light of redemption. Their scouts could see a mighty fortress which had been left relatively undefended. Seeing a chance to redeem themselves and thus be able to die in glorious triumph, the remaining bandits attacked. While their lost comrades were fighting a new battle in the East, these brave bandits attacked the clan hall of Yttrium. In a desperate attempt to save themselves, the wizards of Yttrium hid their titans from view in the hopes that the bandits would lose heart and leave their sacred realm. But the bandits were patient and waited until the magic of Yttrium ended and their forces could be seen again. When it did, the bandit forces, which had gathered into strategic positions just for this event, renewed their attack and were victorious. Feeling merciful, the bandits showed their might but did not destroy the fortress; they peacefully left the lands of Yttrium. Having succeeded in their last honored battle, the bandits rushed the Eastern flanks of Vylan's enemies, ending their days of bravery and disgrace in honorable suicide.

So ended the third age in glorious battle and destruction.

4. The Age of Ascension:

Thus it was that the Beloved of Shiva were embattled in a magnificent war with the mighty alliance of Seven. And it truly was a mighty and violent battle, filled with high losses on both sides. Hence, the mighty battle spanned the length of both the Third and Fourth ages. It was such that this war was called the Great Trench War in the mystical texts of the Vylanous Manglers.

So it was that the Great Trench War continued for a long while, and there was much villainous intrigue and destruction. And thus it was that for a time the combined forces of the Beloved of Shiva were able to push back the armies of the Seven. But, eventually the higher levels of development of their opponents began to wear down the Beloved of Shiva. And at the height of this strategic loss, the Beloved of Shiva discovered a new technology which would require the relocation of their massive fortresses. And thus it was that when their armies needed reinforcements the most, they were busy elsewhere, fortifying a new homeland. Thus, the armies of the Beloved of Shiva were pushed back further, even beyond the great fortress which had once been their own, which some called the Rock.

And it was at this time that Vylan was given the honor of hosting the great patron goddess Shiva among his forces. And as Shiva surveyed the battle, she also studied this great servant that she had chosen. And so it was that a more intimate sort of relationship began to grow between the great goddess Shiva and her loyal attendant, Vylan. But before such a progression was possible, Vylan would be required to prove himself worthy of immortal status by finally halting and forcing back the Seven advance. And so it was that Vylan ordered his obsolete troops in the North to act as decoys and delay the advancing armies of the Seven while building a secret army in the South. And Shiva was pleased to see the determination with which Vylan's troops obeyed his commands. And so it was that as the secret army of the South began its attack the massive army of Gophers crashed and was broken on the fortifications of the Beloved of Shiva. While the troops in the South advanced with unexpected ease, the armies of the North began to push forward again. And so it was that the Great Advance began. The armies of the Beloved of Shiva found themselves advancing through and regaining old fortification points.

At this time it was revealed that another god had been specifically watching the armies of the Vylanous Manglers. The great god Ifrit revealed himself, declaring that he had judged Vylan to be worthy of immortal status, and so it was that Vylan was awarded the status of Ifrit's Champion. But one more test was required before the Ascension would be possible.

And it was learned that more armies had begun attacking the Seven on their opposite borders. And so it seemed that the Seven would fall, being unable to withstand the combined forces against it. But it was at this time that a great tragedy occurred, for the Seven recognized their dire circumstances and were able to escape the incapacitating hall death that had been planned for them. And so it was just as the armies approached to claim victory that the Seven transported themselves to a new homeland, far away from the armies attacking them.

Thus, it was realized that Seven was no longer a glorious enemy, and the Beloved of Shiva began looking for new enemies. And so it was that the Vylanous Manglers witnessed a mighty and glorious war between the advanced armies of AYBABTU and Hydra. This indeed could increase the glory of the Vylanous Manglers. And thinking back, the Vylanous Manglers remembered the hindrance that members of Hydra had caused to their efforts against the armies of the Seven. And thus it was that old grudges which had been left festering resurfaced. And Vylan searched the faces of his troops to determine their abilities, and he saw there the glow of bloodlust, anger, and valor. Vylan recognized that this was his final test; to lead his army into battle with a highly technologically advanced foe. Such battle, he knew, would indeed bring glory to the Vylanous Manglers.

And so it was that the Vylanous Manglers prepared themselves for the ultimate test of their strength. It was at this time that Shiva lent great inspiration to the armies of the Vylanous Manglers. Accompanied by the power of Ifrit, she focused her power on Vylan, giving him the highest honor in her power, the status of Deity Operandus, so that at the moment when the Vylanous Manglers fired their first salvo against the advanced Hydra, Vylan ascended to his own immortality, to be accompanied throughout eternity with his beloved, Shiva, and all of the troops and members of the Shivan alliance joined him in transcending their mortal weaknesses.

So ended the fourth age in the mystery of great things to come.

5. The Age of Sacrifice:

Following the First Ascension, the Vylanous Manglers and their allies seemed to have turned the tide against AYBABTU's enemy, Hydra. Though they were but wasps on this mightily more advanced battlefield, the Shivans had managed to release pressure so that their Elder allies were able to gain advantage. Victory is swift in coming to the brave, but its sweetness is often fleeting.

Though the Shivans had performed a daring feat, they had placed the security of their halls in great jeopardy. Not yet ready to finalize an allegiance with AYBABTU (also referred to as Revelation), they hid themselves in the far corners of the Sphere, hoping to escape detection. But Hydra discovered their location and the Shivans were forced to relocate. For a time, they hid in the lands of the generous Mapmakers, now remembered as the always independent GLO, but again they were discovered and forced to flee. Realizing that the Sphere could not hide them, the Shivans made a narrow escape into the lands of Revelation; only the mighty Time Bandits suffered any hall damage, and that minimal. For a time, they were safe.

Upon attacking Hydra, the Shivans would have surely perished in a few turns of the Sphere had they not their newly gained immortality. There was much destruction of titans, but their warrior spirits persevered. Because their titans were small, the Vylanous Manglers were able to maintain a distractionary force on the field of battle, and for a time the Sphere watched in awe as range upon range was captured by the Revelation forces; but, eventually, the massiveness of Hydra's titans began to wear down upon Shiva's resources. Finally, Hydra reformed its lines and not even the most valiant of warriors could come against them. So it was that the war took a grim turn and as Hydra's forces drew near the hallmount, the Vylanous Manglers begged forgiveness from the great goddess Shiva, and fled along with their allies to their final resting place, the impenetrable Shield Wall.

Thus, for a time Shiva and Revelation were safely hidden in a new land, and a refocusing of the battlefield began in the hopes of pushing Hydra back. And for a time this strategy gave hope, but soon it was realized that the struggle for the Shield Wall was a true struggle for survival; now was a moment requiring victory or death.

As Hydra's forces slowly eroded the defenses of the Shield Wall and the Shivans and Revelation saw their doom approaching, thunder shook the Sphere, and when the quakes subsided the forces arrayed against them had changed, for some of the greatest warriors the Sphere has ever seen had left it in a cloud of smoke. Thus, as surely as their death had approached, now victory was suddenly thrust upon the forces of the Beloved of Shiva and Revelation.

Seeing the opportunity of Final Victory, Revelation quickly made a truce with those of their enemies who had proved themselves worthy on the battlefield, and prepared the sacrifices of those who had not. And so it was that Revelation split into two factions, one to hunt and destroy, the other engaged the newly formed Avalon in friendly competition.

But what of Shiva?

6. The Age of Ends:

So it was that the greatest war ever to mar the surface of the Sphere had come to an end, and the Elders occupied themselves in vendettas and friendly combat. But what was there for the valiant Beloved of Shiva to do? What glorious wars were left them? As the Beloved looked about them from their great fortress within the Shield Wall, they realized in horror that upon the Sphere there no longer existed an enemy for them to fight as a full alliance. The beginning of the disintegration of the Beloved of Shiva had begun. Splitting into private wars and agendas, the Shivans continued to bring violence upon the Sphere, but for the Vylanous Manglers, it was an act, for they knew that they were just a part of the beginning of the end.

And so it came to pass that more and more clans began to leave the Sphere, and the location of enemies became a chore. The Vylanous Manglers fought here and there. After many turns had passed, a message was received detailing the final fortifications of those which Revelation still hunted. Seeing a chance for closure, the Vylanous Manglers joined their allies in the South for one last maneuver. But in the end, this victory was stolen, as well. For the Sphere heard word of the great Asteroid that would come to end them. Many on the Sphere despaired, and left, never to return. So it was that their final enemies disappeared as the Asteroid approached. And the remaining clans wailed and cried for the mercy of the almighty Jonnigod, desiring but to spread a bit more blood. The Asteroid came, but it did not destroy the Sphere, though the spirits of many were broken.

The warriors of the Vylanous Manglers looked about them and despaired, for now there truly were no enemies for them to fight. Many of the Beloved of Shiva had already left the Sphere, and they knew that their time was nigh. At this greatest moment of loss and defeat, Shiva and Vylan descended from the heavens and brought hope to their devoted followers. She told them of the mighty land of Valhalla, where they could travel and finally rest. But to her surprise and glee, Vylan and his warriors scoffed at her offers of rest, and marched from the Sphere to conquer the mythic land, Valhalla.