The Light's Crusade
"Light's in the sky, as uncountable as grains of sand on the beach. Do they bring hope or death. Soon we will see. If we are worthy of the Light and their crusade" - Emperor Xal'ikan, ruler of the Lox
Formed before The Shattering, The Light's Crusade embodies all the beliefs and strength of 'The Radiant'. Their purpose is to eradicate the stain of the Nightmare and its injustices from reality. A quest that has been ongoing for the last 9 millennia, with no end in sight.
The Radiant created ships that could travel the space between planets, as well as trained hundreds of thousands in the use of magic-infused weapons, bestowing armour upon all that wished it. They created magical constructs and beings, as well as imbued much with items of healing and power. Those that served the first invasion wielded technology that is now rare, or unheard of. And when all was made ready, The Radiant conjured Titan's from concepts and feelings, ones that would lead its chosen onward in this war.
The 'Light's Crusade' barreled on from Landros, taking their binary planet in the Nightmare Landreth and moving on. Their expedition blossomed outwards from the broken barrier and worlds fell in droves. The unprepared races of Nightmare could do little to fight against the technology and power of these invaders and those that couldn't be converted were annihilated. However, the Nightmare did not do nothing. It twisted and warped the minds of those who fought for the Light, attacking them in places they had never before needed to defend. And with each world, more pain, death and destruction were brought to bear. Some of the Light doubted themselves, were captured, or manipulated. Eventually, the technology and power of their initial battles was countered and the crusade became a grind.
Technology and strengths equalised and every foot of land, every centimetre of soil was bled over. Some titans defected, and many battalions split through rebellions as many mused if this was truly the right way. And the beings of the Radiant felt things they had never before, pain, grief and death.
The lines between Radiant and Nightmare became blurred and those that held themselves to a higher standard no longer existed. Victory was to be achieved through any means.
The remaining Titans of Light, few though they were, sought to lock the Nightmare away again, holding what they had gained, until one day when the Radiant and Light's Crusade could end it once and for all. Something, that has yet to come to pass. Though the Nightmare has grown since and seeks to break the bonds that hold it, reclaiming what it once owned.
It now exists as hundreds of smaller fleets, without much coordinating beyond the High Rulers of each fleet, though together, concentrated on a common goal and enemy it could be enough to break the legions of the Nightmare. Though scattered as they are, they hold little chance of winning.
Formation
Created within 'The Radiant', with the magic and technology they had, the 'Light's Crusade' believed the Nightmare would fall in a matter of centuries. Their use of magic and magic-imbued technology surpassed all they had witnessed in their investigation of Nightmare Space and the beings there were divided and spent as much time battling amongst themselves. Though they had devised ways to use their magic to travel between worlds, making inter-planetary conquest and wars a common occurrence.The Radiant created ships that could travel the space between planets, as well as trained hundreds of thousands in the use of magic-infused weapons, bestowing armour upon all that wished it. They created magical constructs and beings, as well as imbued much with items of healing and power. Those that served the first invasion wielded technology that is now rare, or unheard of. And when all was made ready, The Radiant conjured Titan's from concepts and feelings, ones that would lead its chosen onward in this war.
Invasion
The Shattering broke the cosmos, and with it planets tumbled from orbits, barreling into previously unpopulated space. Some of those of Radiant rushed into Nightmare space and vice versa as if the breaking of the barrier changed the pressure of the cosmos.The 'Light's Crusade' barreled on from Landros, taking their binary planet in the Nightmare Landreth and moving on. Their expedition blossomed outwards from the broken barrier and worlds fell in droves. The unprepared races of Nightmare could do little to fight against the technology and power of these invaders and those that couldn't be converted were annihilated. However, the Nightmare did not do nothing. It twisted and warped the minds of those who fought for the Light, attacking them in places they had never before needed to defend. And with each world, more pain, death and destruction were brought to bear. Some of the Light doubted themselves, were captured, or manipulated. Eventually, the technology and power of their initial battles was countered and the crusade became a grind.
Technology and strengths equalised and every foot of land, every centimetre of soil was bled over. Some titans defected, and many battalions split through rebellions as many mused if this was truly the right way. And the beings of the Radiant felt things they had never before, pain, grief and death.
Changing Beliefs
Many became numb to what was now reality, the constant warring through Grey-Space, and their initial goals of saving those who suffered crumbled. The 'Light's Crusade' became zealous, intent on achieving its new goal of complete eradication of the Nightmare, whether that be a person, a city or planets.The lines between Radiant and Nightmare became blurred and those that held themselves to a higher standard no longer existed. Victory was to be achieved through any means.
Victory At All Cost
World after world fell to the Crusade, the races joining its ranks or wiped out. But slowly the area now known as Grey-Space was conquered. And soon victory drew close, as the Heart of the Nightmare was located in the HeiRi system, deep within the 10% of space that still belonged to the entirety of The Nightmare. The Light's Crusade left Grey-Space and plummeted towards this last confrontation, one that almost saw The Nightmare extinguished forever. Though the destruction of the system and 99% of those who fought left the Light's Crusade too weak to destroy the Nightmare forever and they were forced to retreat.The remaining Titans of Light, few though they were, sought to lock the Nightmare away again, holding what they had gained, until one day when the Radiant and Light's Crusade could end it once and for all. Something, that has yet to come to pass. Though the Nightmare has grown since and seeks to break the bonds that hold it, reclaiming what it once owned.
Current Status
The Light's Crusade still exists, though more in a protective capacity. It travels the uncountable planets of Grey-Space, rooting out pockets of Nightmare, boosting its numbers, converting and protecting Lightsworn races and desolating its enemies. Amongst the Lightsworn warriors, battalions of elite warriors, devoted to their founding Titans still exist, even if they themselves perished long ago. These serve their own purpose but will commandeer fleets of the Light's Crusade as needed to fulfil their goals (an example of these elite soldiers is Bladesingers who are the champions of Yieyan, The Light Titan of Magic).It now exists as hundreds of smaller fleets, without much coordinating beyond the High Rulers of each fleet, though together, concentrated on a common goal and enemy it could be enough to break the legions of the Nightmare. Though scattered as they are, they hold little chance of winning.
Founding:
47 P.S (Pre-Shattering)Goal
The eradication of The Nightmare from reality, so all beings can live in the paradise of The Radiant's glow.The Radiant
A force of nature fundamental in the creation of the cosmos, existing with neither thought or consciousness. It embodied the very space of its cosmos, suffusing all in an Everlight that flowed into stars, worlds and beings within it. The beings borne and raised in the Radiant's Light felt not the chill of wind, the hunger of starvation nor the pain of wounds. For all was taken care of in this cosmos of plenty and the goodness of its inhabitants forever watched out for each other. A place where death was celebrated, for all knew the souls would once more return, maybe not to them, but somewhere in the Radiant.As the beings of this realm grew and developed, civilisations expanded and bonded, till a single faction spanned the cosmos, all holding The Radiant at the core of their belief. A paradise.
As the minds of the cosmos' inhabitants changed and developed, their thoughts gave 'The Radiant' a conscience, of sorts. With it came the will to fulfil all of its subject's desires, as it had ever done. As the races began to explore further afield, their fusion of technology and magic beyond modern comprehension, they came across a barrier, one that led to a darkness they had never before felt. A thing they didn't understand and few had only glimpsed in fragments of dreams. The Nightmare .
Their observations through the barrier showed a space of unimaginable horrors to beings that had never felt the sting of absence, pain or loss. And beings that suffered within, ones like them. The radiant felt this alien sorrow, like a knife in its consciousness, a feeling it had never experienced. And so the beings of Radiant founded their first ever army, 'The Light's Crusade' outfitting it with technology and magic to stave off the Nightmare and free the despaired and destitute. Wishing to please its subjects The Radiant created beings of pure concept, created for hope, justice, life and many more, sending them to guide the way and keep safe those it loved. With a final almighty effort it unleashed untold power breaking the barrier, now known as The Shattering. And on charged the beings of Light, unknowing of the pains they'd unleashed on all. For they knew nothing of battle and its ways, and were ill prepared for the sting of this reality.
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