Dont skip the authors notes at the bottom its important for this chapter.
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800 Years.
For 800 years war that was fought primarily from man to man, changed into what it is today. A world were man is in a constant battle with damnation.
People believe all wars are fought because of politics from nation to nation disagreing about something, to one nation laying claim to another nations land. But here is the thing, this was was never political. No, this war is spiritual in the literal scence. For Hell has opened its gates.
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The First Crusade, 1099
Jerusalem was under seige. Templar knights bringing what is known as the first crusade into light. 5 weeks of war, which later turned into a moment of time were the worst decisions in human history took place.
After Jerusalem fell and got taken over by the templar knights. A group of templars descover an artifact locked away in the holy city. Something that changes the worlds history forever.
The Templars preformed experiments to try to study what this artifact was to begin with. Leading to a huge discovery that allowed them to talk to forces they had no right to mess with.
Greed was a big factor. A greed for power, one so large that after a few weeks of experiments and conversations with these unknown beings. Something changes.
The city of Jerusalem is no more. Gone off the face of the earth. Instead in its place, a massive stone structure with scripture etched into every part, is the only thing left.
A massive gate opens, with fire and brimstone spewing eveywhere allowing Hells forces to emerge from within on mass.
This act is known as the Act of Ultimate Heresy. (The lore is kinda vague here, its more for what your imagination can produce being what happens).
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1101, The Year of Three Battles.
By 1101, all forces have came up with the same conclusion.
That this issue with Hell is not something that can be easily fixed.
Heritic forces pore out of what remains of Jerusalem. The issue being, even if they were to kill all the Heritics. Reinforcements from the Third Circle of Hell pore out the Gate of Hell on mass.
Within two years most of the Levant has been conquered, with Egypt being one of the first to fall leading to a heap of new problems.
A major cause for Egypts fall is rumors of the Iron Wall of God appearing to help stop Heritic forces from advancing.
This caused millions of Egyptian Muslims to migrate towards the wall causing an already broken Egypt to not gain any new reinforcements and fall shortly after. Which later is restructured by the Mamluks known for their slavery traditions.
By 1914 most of Egypt is taken over by Heretical forces. Lead by the Prince of Greed, Mammon.
After the fall of major forces in Egypt the Aicent City of Antioch becomes the last heavily fortified city holding the forces of evil back. If this city were to fall containing the Heretical forces would be nye Impossible.
In 1106, a figure named Cobar becomes the first Tyrant of the Sixty-Six, which is a political governing counsel of the Heritic nations.
In 1109, The Great Sultanate of the Invincible Iron Wall of the Two Horns That Pierce the Sky is formed. Iron Sultanate for short...
The Iron Wall of Dhul-Qarnayn, the legendary wall from Islamic tradition, built by the concourer to hold back Gog and Magog is manifested in the lands of Sultan of Rum.
With Gods intervention the wall is formed with supernatural strength, stretching tens of thousands of kilometers. Making millions of Muslim and other believers to migrate.
A wall so strong that even after 800 years of constant Heretical bombardment, the wall has not gained even a scratch.
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In 1165, the old man of the mountain establishes his Hashashin order. This in time becomes the Iron Sultanates biggest asset to fight this long war. This in turn allows what we call the Assassins to be formed.
1215 to 1306, The Wars of Triclavianism.
The Church tears themselfs apart because of an internal theological dispute. Leading warring factions to emerge and infighting to become the norm. The biggest issue being the Heretical forces continue to advance with almost no resistance because there are no troops manning the borders from all the infighting.
This led millions to die and major regions to be lost over time.
People believe one of the main reasons the was continues by 1914 was this dispute about doctrine.
In 1346, Beelzebub decides to enter the war. This was so effective that tens of millions dies due to what is known as the Black Grail.
The Black Grail is one of or is the worst plague to ever be created. Formed in the bowels of the seventh layer of hell, it desent just kill you, but turns your corpse into a walking vessel for Beelzebub's Corruption. Which in turn allows Beelzebub to spread the plague further and further to this day.
This is the start of the corpse wars. Decades of disease leads to the near extinction of whatever remains of Christian and Muslim civilization in Europe and Middle East.
The Black Grail infects all. Humans, animals and insects alike. The plague is recorded to destroy the body, yet leave the mind intact to experience the process.
1429 and The World Saved by Jon of Arc
Jon of Arc a literal living saint with divine power. She saves the world from what is known as a hegeimon of the black grail. A 100 foot armored titan with the strategic intelligence of a fallen angel born from the ritual sacrifice of millions of innocents. She defeats it at the battle of the Black Grail leading the corpse wars to end.
Driving the Black Grail into a corner allowing the Faithful to contain it for the years to come.
In 1477, the City of Argos is taken by God and simply ceases to exist. No one knows why and or how this has happened.
In 1503, a war prophet names Angelos, guided by Saint Eligius, discovers the formula for orichalcum steel. Allowing the Faithfuls forces to have a military marvel for themselves against the Heretics.
In 1545, old Antioch, the city fortified in 1102 is destroyed completely by a mysterious infernal weapon. (Hells version of Nuke maybe?)
Despite the fall of the city, the garrison remains holding forces back in the ruins of what use to be.
By 1559, The Word Congress of Vienna officialy starts the reconstruction of the lost city. Leading to the completion of the walls by 1595 creating what is now known as New Antioch.
With 77 Mighty towers and hundreds of anchorite shrines embedded directly into the walls.
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1666, Year of Six Woes.
The Heretic fleet, newly created captures Gibraltar in a suprise raid, and immediately turns the sea fortress into their base of operations against Europe.
This leads to England starting construction on the Fortress of the White Cliffs in 1670.
In 1721, the third seige of new Antioch is lifted with the help of Sultan Ibrahim, Tuglak warriors and the Papal States.
In 1805, The heretic fleet under High Captain Ranga defeats the Fleet of England in the Battle of the Blooded Cliffs, and Admiral Nelson's killed in combat. As to the constuction of the moving Fortress of Britannia, Nelson's dying wish.
In 1866, the Heritic forces with the help of the demon Marbos complete the first modern submarines in complete secrecy.
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1894, the year of the Broken Trinity.
The death commandos, the heretic eliteassassination unit simultaneously kill the supreme pontiff, the high prophetus Alia, and the Holy Roman Emperor in a perfectly coordinated triple assassination.
in 1894, the heretic lord Akish, the current leader of the Sixty-six, launches the eighth seige of New Antioch while simultaniously striking at the Iron Sultanate. Aiming to divide and destroy the faithful.
In 1899, the church starts a space program...
Then 1910 and the Battle of Cordoba's a bloody stalemate where heretic artillery devastates one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in Spain. But the advance into the heartlands of Hispania stopped.
After a constant ambush and destroyed supply fleets of the new Antioch, wreckages wash ashore along the Lavant creating what is known as the Carcass Front. A graveyard of ships, supplies, relics, and lost soldiers. A stretch of No Mans Land.
And lastly in 1914, war is at an all time high. The faithful and Heretical forces rush to find new relics, information, and or important strategical positions.
All this starting with some knights finding something in Jerusalem that they should have left alone.
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And thats it for today. Ill say this now this chapter is inspired by this video and uses alot of lore obtained from it. Look up, Trench Crusade Timeline EXPLAINED! Everything You Need To Know | Trench Crusade Lore by Grimdark Fantasy. He explains alot more in detail that i skipped because i started getting a headache trying to say this lore in my own words and failing...
Anyway. Next chapter is the start of Guss story. Had to get the lore out the way, There is more but this is a big part.
if you enjoy leave a powerstone or two.
Oh and i havent edited it yet so may have spelling mistakes.