Tears of Ruin

Despite this letter being thousands of years old, I am still horrified by the contents for it truly haunting that my people committed such things to so many. - Hadrian Marcanus

In some far-off library in some small little town, something strange was found by one of the librarians who were clear out an old room filled with many texts and books of different kinds. In an old book, he found a letter old, torn and worn that had seemed to have been in there for a while. Upon further inspection, it was discovered to have been written in some form of old unknown language that could not be deciphered by any of them. They then sent a letter to a colleague of theirs in the city of Earthmont, a place of knowledge and learning to come to them to decipher the letter. So he agreed and came down and began to decipher it as best he could until he finally managed to translate it in Vasili for all to read. What shocked them was the letter in question was far older than they realized as it dated back to the Scorched Earth campaigns that would bring the rise of the Vatian Empire and what's more was it an account from a survivor from one of the many settlements that were destroyed by the empire. Speaking of the horrors that were committed during it. It was from here the letter was delivered to Vatia as a relic of importance and would be placed into the imperial library on display for all to see. While some would see this as a glorious rise of the empire from all those who would see them wiped out. While others find it quite horrible to think that their ancestors could commit such terrible acts on others to secure their survival. Whatever the case was the letter was left there by someone who wanted it to be kept safe to be found and the story to be told so they would never be forgotten.

Purpose

The message was clear as a statement understand the atrocities that very committed by the Vatians during the Scorched Earth Campaigns.

Historical Details

Background

The document in question is an account of a city falling to the legions of the Kingdom of Vatia during the Scorched Earth Campaigns. With eyewitness detail of the acts committed and the aftermath of it all.

History

The Scorched Earth Campaigns were a series of conflicts done the Kingdom of Vatia after the sacking of Vatia by foreign neighbors. Leading to an all-out war of extermination to rid of these threats and to never let them rise from the ashes again to seek vengeance against them. It is unclear how many were states or settlements were destroyed by the end of the campaigns but the death tolls were said to be in the tens of thousands as they were shown no mercy as they were wiped from history with little to remember them by at all.

Read the Document

Tears of Ruin

Our city had fallen when we were sleeping in our beds as horns were blown and the gates were shattered as the enemy made their way across the city with fire and steel. I and my family quickly fled or home with only the clothes on our back as there was no time to retrieve anything of value. A sea of fire was we could all we could see, and the screams of terror as they were silenced by their blades. Those who ran were cut down before they could get too far. Those who hid in their homes were burned alive in them as the windows and doors were barred shut for none to escape. Those who surrendered before them were cut down where they stood it seemed that death was inevitable for all or so I thought that is. We had instead stayed hidden in the swears hoping no one would find us and stood and I stood to watch through the gutter to watch if anyone tried to come down to search for us.
Only to watch firsthand the atrocities that were being committed before my eyes. They showed no mercy to both warriors and citizenry alike as if they were trying to make a point to us all. That our deaths were necessary rather than just taking the city and forcing us under their rule. They killed any man they got their hands-on either killing them quickly or crucify them to kill them slowly. The women were dragged away with their clothes torn as they screamed and begged not to be raped by them. As for the children, they were spared only to be bound in chains to become slaves by those who had conquered them. This was not some war of conquest anymore, it was a complete and utter genocide as they meant to wipe us out completely! To ensure that we never existed at all and fade into darkness never to rise again. I watch it all for who knows how long as the night went on, not wanting to move for the fear of being discovered. Fire and death were all I could see from where I was even a river of blood began pouring into the sewers from the number of bodies scattered all over the ground. Before I realized it the morning had come and all was silent as were emerged from our hiding place only to find all in ruins.
All was silent as only the dead remained as the invaders had left with the coming of dawn. All the buildings were in ruins and the cross began descending from the clouds of ash that reigned rained down upon us. No light could be found as it seemed it was forbidden to shine as were remained in darkness. Nothing seemed to be spared for the heinous acts that happened in the night, not the temples, not the granaries, nor the libraries as all were looted, and everything else was destroyed so we could not cherish it. All that we knew was gone in a single night as our friends, families, and neighbors were gone forever. With only use remaining as we tried to salvage what little was left so we could make the journey in search of a new home. But it seemed that might not be possible as when we left the broken gates of our former home all we could see was ash as they had burned the fields as far as we could see and as we journeyed farther away we came across a sign erected by the invaders in our own tongue for all to see. "Fade into shadow for the wrath of Vatia will consume all." It is was then I only realized what it really meant, this was far from over.

Close

Type

Text, Letter

Medium

Paper