Lucas and Isabella

Summary

Five hundred years ago, the gate to the Chon Delta was once again in danger. As countless times before, a group of mercenaries was hired to invade the Delta, plundering and pillaging for one of the countless Richardian successor states. But unlike the last times, this attack was far more dangerous. More than six thousand men had made their way towards the Delta, lead by the mighty Drakonid Demrok, a mighty warrior measuring four meters in height.
However, this time the garrisons of the gate were not able to unite against a foreign enemy. Although split by the great river Chon, the hate on both sides was vivid. To recent was the fourth Delta War and the accompanying atrocities.
Despite this, there was one exception to this hatred. Two soldiers, one Richardian (Lucas) and one Uphratian (Isabella), had fallen in love, while they were posted together on one of the patrol boats which was used to monitor naval traffic. They had seen, that not everybody on the other side was a criminal or a blight. As such, when they received word that the commanders were unwilling, they decided to unveil their relationship and convince their fellow soldiers to take up arms against the enemy together.
On the morning before the mercenaries were supposed to arrive, they lead a peaceful mutiny on their patrol craft, disarming the captain and winning the support of the crew. After this, they made way to first the Richardian, then the Uphratian garrison, telling of their love and hope to fight against the invaders together. In both garrisons, many a soldier pledged their support and joined them against the orders of their commanders, taking several ships with them.
Together, they made way upstream and met the invading army on a small island. There, a thousand soldiers stood against the invaders, fighting bravely a force six-time their size. Despite this lack in numbers, their sheer ferocity and element of surprise allowed them to push back the invaders at first. However, under the guidance of the monstrous Demrok, the mercenaries were able to reorganize and push the defenders back to their ships. In the heat of battle, the duo of Lucas and Isabella charged forward to meet the Drakonid in battle. There, they engaged in an epic battle, fighting in perfect unison to defend their common home. In the end, they were able to best the Drakonid, but only after it mortally wounded both of them in a single strike. The death of their leader scattered the mercenaries, saving the Delta from potentially monstrous destruction and plight. While their fellow soldiers attempted to save them, any help came too late and they died holding each other, knowing they saved their home.

Core to the mythical tale is the idea of star-crossed lovers overcoming centuries of hatred to stand united against foreign enemies. More so, they fought and died together, ensuring the continued safety of all inhabitants of the Delta. As such, it is as often used as a rallying cry for unity among the two warring nations of the Delta, as it is told as a tragic love story.

Historical Basis

While an attack on the gate did take place around the date the story is supposed to take place, it has relatively little in common with the myth. While there were two lovers from opposite sides who orchestrated a mutiny to meet the mercenaries early, the circumstances were quite different.
For one, the commanders were intent on cooperating but were also afraid of a mole, thus letting as little as possible of their plan slip and acting as if they planned to betray each other.
Secondly, the lovers only managed to garner a small force of around two hundred soldiers, who all drove off in one boat.
Thirdly, they only fought against a small scouting party of the invaders. However, the scouting party managed to destroy the boat, forcing the mutineers into a desperate last stand. There, the lovers, who were called Lucas and Isabella, fought against the Drakonid leading the army, who had joined the battle in the meantime. However, they were only able to wound it and the Drakonid was able to kill Lucas and heavily injuring Isabella.
At his point, the commanders of both garrisons had sent a relief force, landing behind the mercenaries and pressuring them towards the mutineers. At the same time, reinforcements landed at the position of the mutineers to support them. This encirclement proved highly effective, as all mercenaries caught were killed or taken captive, eliminating a third of the invaders. The rest retreated afterward, demoralized, as they just lost their leader and second in command.
Isabella was brought back to the Uphratian garrison, where she died, after having one last conversation with the commander. Apparently, she used that opportunity to convince him to romanticize the circumstances, as to overshadow the somewhat disastrous beginning of the whole affair.

Spread

The myth is core to both the Uphratian and Richardian cultural heritage. It is among the best-covered topics in literature, theater, and music. Due to the position of both Richardia and Uphratus as world-spanning empires, it is probably one of the best-known pieces of culture throughout the known world.

Variations & Mutation

The only important variation of the myth, excluding minor differences in dialogue or description, is whether the accomplishment of the Richardians or Uphratians is more important. Richardians and Uphratians alike are more than able to claim that their side was far more important.

Date of First Recording

872

Date of Setting

866

Related Locations

• The Chon Delta

Related Organizations

• Richardian Republic
• Uphratus