Battle of the Horseshoe

Military action

Following the Trade Centre Siege's lingering echoes, the Dark War's narrative advanced into the "Rise of a Necromancer" chapter, notably marked by the Battle of the Horseshoe. Motivated by his bitter defeat, King Elliott of Arium sought vengeance and enlisted the enigmatic merchant Elcant to conquer Preton's capital, Valtara. Seizing the opportunity amidst Anfal's absence and Balor's engagement in Smiwell experiments, Elcant orchestrated a swift fall of Valtara, leaving it in Arium's grasp. Anfal's desperate attempt to protect his homeland resulted in his defeat by Elcant, who, unbeknownst to him, became a pawn in Abraxas's dark machinations. Learning of a mysterious sword, the Blackshard of the Dead Knight, hidden in Caena, Elcant embarked on a perilous quest. Unveiling a weakened version of Abraxas as its guardian, the battle for the Blackshard unfolded in the shadowy depths, with Elcant emerging victorious but unwittingly succumbing to the sword's insidious corruption. The Battle of the Horseshoe set the stage for Elcant's dark journey, the Blackshard becoming a malevolent force under Abraxas's patient manipulation, as the harrowing chapter unfolded in the Dark War.

As the echoes of the Trade Centre Siege lingered in the frigid air, a new chapter of the Dark War unfolded, marked by the Battle of the Horseshoe. This clash, the first in the "Rise of a Necromancer" chapter, played out in two distinct phases, each contributing to the rising tide of darkness.   Fueled by the bitter taste of defeat in the Trade Centre, King Elliott of Arium sought retribution. In his pursuit of vengeance, he enlisted the services of Elcant, an enigmatic merchant with a reputation for getting the job done. Elliott's target was the capital of Preton, Valtara, and he tasked Elcant with a mission of conquest.   Elcant, seizing the opportunity, initiated the assault on Valtara. With Anfal absent and Balor occupied in his experiments on Smiwell, the city's defenses were compromised. Valtara fell swiftly under Elcant's calculated strategy, leaving the once-proud capital in the hands of Arium's forces.   Amidst the chaos, Anfal, the Crimson Knight of Preton, confronted Elcant in a desperate bid to protect what remained of his homeland. However, the tides turned against him, and Anfal suffered defeat at the hands of the cunning merchant. Narrowly escaping the turmoil, Anfal retreated, nursing wounds both physical and emotional.   Yet, beyond the mortal machinations of revenge, a darker force was at play. Abraxas, the puppet master of the unfolding tragedy, had set his sights on Elcant as a potential apprentice. Whispers from the native inhabitants of Preton reached the ears of Abraxas, revealing the existence of a mysterious sword hidden in the distant reaches of Caena—the Blackshard of the Dead Knight.   Intrigued by the prospect, Elcant embarked on a perilous quest to retrieve this ominous artifact. Unbeknownst to him, the sword harbored a malevolent force, carefully crafted by Abraxas to gradually corrupt its wielder. To add an element of peril, Abraxas conjured a weakened version of himself, stationed as a guardian to test Elcant's mettle.   In the shadowy depths of Caena, Elcant confronted the spectral semblance of Abraxas, engaging in a fierce battle for the Blackshard. Despite the adversary's strength, Elcant emerged victorious, claiming the cursed sword as his own. Unbeknownst to Elcant, the seeds of corruption had been sown, and Abraxas patiently awaited the gradual transformation of his unwitting apprentice.   The Battle of the Horseshoe, a prologue to Elcant's dark journey, set the stage for the impending chaos, with the Blackshard of the Dead Knight poised to become an instrument of malevolence in the hands of the merchant turned harbinger of doom.