Balderlane

 

Early Life

Balderlane the Bald was a controversial yet legendary conqueror of Blue and Flair history. Historians are not sure of the actual year of his birth, but they are certain he was born sometime around 902-896 BBU(Before Blue Unification, the time when the first United Blue government formed, consisting of all the homeland of Blue). He was born in a poor farmer's family in Crestopolis, with a loving mother and father, and with three brothers, and one sister. He was born with the name “Salir”, a common name during the time. Folktale has it he was born near the summer solstice, a bad omen. However, historians doubt this, as celebrations of grandeur later in the conqueror's life suggest he was actually born in late spring.

As a young child, Salir was a kind yet short-tempered child, with plenty of energy. With his teen years approaching, it became clear he was going to be an athletic, tall, and strong man. Unfortunately, his short temper did not go away, and he often fought with local village children and was not the most amicable to his enemies. However, to the rest of the people, he was charismatic and reliable, with his father and his friends speaking well of him once he became old enough to start doing heavy-duty work on the farms.

''' Skirmishes between neighboring tribes were common and often were brutal. In one of these skirmishes when Salir was 15, his father, one of his brothers, and his only sister were killed. The neighboring tribe and one of their men had stormed into his home and killed them. In self-defense, Salir fought the intruder and subdued him, knocking him unconscious in fear for his remaining family and their safety. '''

The tribes of Crestopolis often had special traditions to them, and this tribe which had killed Salir's father had its culture based on their extravagant hair. In grief, and perhaps vengeance, Salir began his own much more famous tradition which would permeate throughout history and the heart of legend, and shaved his head bald in defiance of this tribe. He would keep his head like this for the rest of his life.

Salir would become a bitter man, losing about half of his family at such a young age, and would bear a grudge against those who are stronger against him for the rest of his life, for making him feel so weak.

Perhaps this, psychologists of today say, could be the reason for the legendary global effects he would later have on the powerful nations of Flair…

Leaving Home

At age 16, about half a year after his father, brother, and sister’s death, Salir left home with about fifteen other young men of his tribe to forge their own destiny on their island part of Crestopolis. After a few months of living like nomads, they were able to start their own primitive mercenary company, serving around the island and sailing to others, fighting tribes, and slowly gaining a following with Salir’s strong sense of charisma and leadership.

Legendary stories of Salir arose during these times too of his swordsmanship, archery, strength, and oddly enough, gruesome stories of his brutality yet strange kindness to people(particularly to orphans as well). Particularly, he took in his mercenary company many young people who also were confused and lost in life who often lost their parents, and gave them a new family, as well as a new life. These members would soon become the finest and oldest members of his veteran army on a global scale.

Salir grew wealthy, but his ambition and desire to protect those whom could not protect themselves, just like his family in his earlier years, and his desire to subjugate those whom he deemed evil and malicious grew even more. Sometime around his 18th birthday, he and his forces stormed a large tribe head-on and with barely a battle, subjugated the tribe. His first true victory, he had conquered a small amount of territory he could truly call his own, free from vassalage or servitude. The people of the tribe whom he had conquered were initially resistant, but Salir did not initially wish for riches or other various material possessions, but merely desired to show strength. His first relevant decree, for all adult-aged males of the town to shave their scalps bald, characteristic of his own form. The tribe, whom was once heavily burdened by taxes by its leaders, was now relieved to find this simple demand from Salir. A characteristic practice of his rule began here, in which he granted great autonomy to those who he had subjugated, so long they recognize his hegemony.

Now an established small-scale ruler, Salir traveled back to his home tribe, wanting to meet his family, or rather what was remained of it. Taking a few days, he and some of his closest men arrived at his original tribe, finally, ready to meet their past…

Tragedy and Birth of the Conqueror

The young man came to his home tribe, with about 200 men. About twice the population of his own village, with a charming speech, spoken in the most enthusiastic and proud tone. With this most convincing speech, Salir managed to gain control of his homeland without an arrow shot, or sword drawn. Feeling most proud of himself, he called for his family, only to be hit with a tragedy right after his bloodless victory.

Salir locked himself in his old family home, learning that his mother died about two months before he had came home. His brothers and contemporaries did their job of defending them from the other tribes sufficiently, but time inevitably ends all. It was around this time, he grew obsessed with delaying death, treating it in no higher regard as he would any other fatal disease. He pondered for ways to expand his, and his subjects lifespans, or potentially halt death all-together and live eternally.

Eventually, after three days, Salir was convinced by his men to step out of his room and return back to the world around him. Hatred boiled through him, and without a moments notice, he raised levies from both his newly conquered tribe, and his own home-tribe to return the favor against the tribe that caused him his first ever true emotional loss.

Carnage is the only word to describe what happened next. 

For an entire day, his men looted, shaved bald, and then killed any man, woman, or child indiscriminately. Riches upon riches filled his coffers back home, and houses burned for days. The sky was filled with ash as the village perished, being razed from the very foundations on which it stood. A man probably in his late-twenties ran, before letting out a cry - “What monster would do this?”, before being promptly captured. Salir was puzzled by this quotation, and after a day from the razing of this village, came out of his abode, with an answer.

Styling himself now as “Baldur”, or with mistranslation to modern-day, “Balderlane”, he now claimed the collective islands of Crestopolis, and was rightful de jure ruler of this territory. It was a good day for his brothers, sisters, and anyone else of his tribe, an even greater day for his Baldness, and the most miserable day of the former tribe which had burned and the few remaining members now in forced servitude.

Consolidation of a Power Base and Internal Development

With the newly found wealth of his subjects, the plunder from his various raids, and his fiscal mercenary practices for the last two years, Balderlane was able to hire a fleet to transport his ships and apply naval pressure to the several tribes around him. For the next four months, Baldur campaigned and essentially took control of all relevant regions, either through diplomacy, war, or in case if they adamantly refused to join his empire, simple razing and seizing of all their wealth.

Balderlane, now a mighty king of an entire region of the Blue islands, spent about eight months developing and transforming his small kingdom. He cultivated trade, and ordered plumbing systems, irrigated the many fields, and worked endlessly to develop a just legal system, and soon issued a uniform currency, the Pari, to make trade smoother, allowing for business to grow and primitive ship building trade. Within the years of his initial subjugation of the many tribes, he completely revitalized the society around him from a tribal and highly decentralized political system to a centralized, organized and efficient state. Those who were in his favor profited greatly from his rule.

His lust for power still grew however, knowing that south, in the Azurial islands, once the only centralized and organized societies in Blue, feared the new Northern juggernaut, that their new reconstructed society could potential rival their own complex civilization both financially and militaristically. Many nations embargoed trade and sanctioned the new Northern power, but Balderlane was not intimidated and soon looked toward a southern campaign.

Many folk were mesmerized by his cult of personality, and thousands of brave men joined Balderlane’s army, and it quickly swelled in numbers, growing stronger with each passing moment.

Balderlane continued to develop his kingdom, building markets and helping developing his home village into a small, yet growing city. Later rulers of Blue history, inspired by the great conqueror, would often provide further development and riches to the city. The result is that hundreds of years past his lifetime, by the time of the Blue Unification in the year zero, Balderlane’s birthplace would be a city of great culture, architecture, and size.

Along with Balderlane's land army, his navy also grew in strength significantly. Looking down south, his anger finally seemed to lash out beyond his home region…

Southern Strike

Sometime around the end of his 20th year, and beginning of his 21st year, in 4 AB, Balderlane launched a surprised invasion of East Azurial, using the earlier nations trade policy, which he deemed a financial attack on his fledgling kingdom.

East Azurial was a much different political atmosphere than Crestopolis, with vaguely-organized and interconnected kingdoms. Hence, it was time for Balderlane’s first tough battle, against a fellow monarch, raised and born into the practice. He would go to war with the kingdom of Pyria.

The Pyrian army were not expecting an attack from the north like this, they had deemed an organized naval invasion from a land so distant nearly impossible. Because of this, they were initially down on morale. In the early summer, the two armies clashed. Balderlane’s smaller numbers put him initially at a disadvantage. The test was here for Balderlane at last - would his disciplined, speedy army win against a competent, well-organized enemy? Would his intelligence and innovative strategy be the counterweight to sheer numbers?

The answer proved clear in the battle, with the Pyrian army routed and fleeing. Superior communications, speed, and a well-placed false retreat into a pincer had completely routed the enemy army, and sent the rest flying.

Marching on the capital a few days after, the king was humiliated and shaved bald. Thousands of men were drafted into the army to be put to drilling or immediate use, however, though the destruction of the army was brutal, Balderlane wisely decided to let the Pyrian people initially exist as a client state, making them loyal through mercy and pragmatism. With their help and the new drafts, Balderlane then pushed west, taking the northern tip of West Azurial. His elite army plus the sheer number of troops from his new client states made any opposing coalition weak. He took the rest of Western Azurial as a collection of direct and client states. He used this to facilitate and standardize trade. He pushed south and took the rest of East Azurial. He was now the absolute dominant power in Blue. He demanded tribute from several neighboring kingdoms. All who agreed were spared; all who resisted were swiftly invaded and annexed.

The Winter's Push

Balderlane's next push would be to take the islands north of Crestopolis. The Northern Islands, as they were called, were cold and frigid with most of the population living within the narrow pockets and corridors of arable land. The population was compact, the complete opposite of the relatively evenly distributed countrysides of Crestopolis and the Azurial islands. As such, urban warfare and control over these cities were key. He pushed north with his growing navy and set good fortifications and reinforcements grew. He eventually broke through the enemy line by flanking with the calvary. He then encircled and destroyed most of the opposing forces and swept through many of the key cities. Many small surrounding kingdoms quickly surrendered and joined him rather than face the sweeping scythe of destruction and carnage he brought.

He continued to hop between various islands with ease due to his numerical and tactical advantage. Eventually conquering all he wanted, the riches he plundered made him even more fabulously rich. He appointed local governors to his provinces. No one at this point could really pose any real threat, only internal instability could strike, and that's precisely where it struck.

Instability

Balderlane, now 23 years old, receives word from an envoy. Pyria is in revolt. The local governor who led the client state was very unpopular and was executed by a mob and overthrown. Balderlane would be the only one to stop it. He sent his army to squash the revolt. He met the mob with his army who formed a formation, ready for battle. They had armed themselves with spears and swords. No archers. Little calvary. Balderlane lured them out to a nearby hill and pushed on them, he sent his cavalry through the back and pushed from both directions. His archers broke the enemy line and sent two regiments from each side to encircle and crush the rebellion.

After this; he implemented new reforms. He'd appoint a new governor and give greater autonomy to all his provinces and client states, they must supply 1000 soldiers every year and pay a tribute in return for protection. All of his new domain would be ruled by governors, except the province of his capital city, which would be ruled by his heir.

He'd allow all religions and cultures to exist cordially as long as they all recognized him as the one true leader of the Blue islands. His hegemony was now undeniable. He implemented a universal tax for all, standardized trade, and built many works in Blue. His capital city, Ravacuse, only grew more and more lavish, covered in marble, ornate decor and rare and beautiful materials.

The Lavender Campaign

Balderlane, after a decade of peace, at the age of 34 went to conquer the kingdoms of Purple. He moved his gigantic horde across the isles and onto the small foothold he already held when he conquered the Duchy of Aquelia, in modern-day Auuvsia. He landed upon the islands of Faydl and Jume (in the native blue dialect) and then pushed east to the peninsula east of Nerdensburg. He pushed from Nerdensburg, taking heavy attrition but after 3 months breaking through, and through the south from the islands and the small foothold on the peninsula. The attack from the south was significantly easier and was able to assist the northern troops once the enemy had been defeated. This area would be hard to maintain control over and would fall after Balderlane's demise. After bringing the loot and treasure back to his capital, Balderlane pushed to the delta of the Lacrmae river, sieging and sacking the cities of Thist and Cidhor, he met the local armies of the area and pursued them into battle.

His army only slightly outnumbered the local armies. His cavalry was located to the flanks and his infantry in the center. He had located reinforcements into the back in case he needed them. He pushed the main enemy forces into battle, with their archers fighting valiantly. Balderlane eventually broke through their centerline and pushed his reinforcements between the left and right flanks of the Purple army. He then pulled his calvary to the sides, encircling the Purple Army. An excerpt has been recovered from a wounded Blue solider:

"These men, of purple origin, fight valiantly, and with more discipline and courage than I have ever seen in an enemy. Even when their hope was lost and encircled, they inflicted many more casualties than expected, and we have truly underestimated the people of Purple."

With the main army defeated, he pushed down the river and eventually made peace with the local nations, a notably devastating loss against Lasaidum, many records of this battle are lost to time, but we can piece together the basic details about the battle. Balderlane's army approached the opposing army, outnumbering the enemy 4:1. Balderlane sent his infantry and cavalry against the Lasaidum army and started to crack through, eventually, the Lasaidum army pulled a feigned retreat, leaving loot and gold among the battleground. Balderlanes force went to go and collect the loot and send it back home, when the Laisidum army emerged from a hill, attacking from all directions. With the Blue army unexpecting this attack, their discipline shredded as the main force fell. Balderlane pulled back and retreated, making peace with Lasaidum, keeping the border status quo but agreeing to pay hefty operations and a long truce. This truce and fear of facing Lasaidum kept Balderland from expanding further, combined with the hostile environment, and local fauna, Balderlane went on to conquer other parts of the Flairworld.