Happy Monday! To help kick off the week right, here's the next entry in the Chronicles of Terranis. This entry chronicles humanity's fight against the Great Enemy on Terranis, and the rise of many of its countries. 

AF 57: A half century of violence passes after Terranis is cut off from even its neighboring planet. Observatories on Terranis note that Belladrix seems to be effectively devoid of civilization, most of its surface now just a blasted wasteland. Hope remains that there may be survivors, but, as there is no means left to contact them, the matter is given little thought. No evidence of a response to the original distress calls sent sixty years ago is found, indicating the Solar Alliance was either unable or unwilling to respond.

While the humans on Terranis have been reduced to a handful of fortified cities, and the remainder of the moon given over to the predations of the Great Enemy, they have been far from idle. From the years AF 38 to AF 57, the eight largest cities remaining engage in extended campaigns to purge Terranis of the monsters infesting it.  At first, their efforts are independent, as they are unaware of what the other cities are up to, but before long contact and trade routes are re-established.

By AF 57, the campaigns, though brutal and bloody, have proven largely successful, and Terranis sees its first provincial governments arise. These new governments are ruled by the families of those generals who led the campaigns, beginning first as para-military states, but eventually transforming into more open monarchies once life obtains some semblance of peace again for the citizens.

Among the first countries to rise are the kingdom of Saniel, the Weijin empire, and the barony of Kaldoris on the western continent. The eastern continent sees the rise of the kingdoms of Korneth and Saernis, as well as the duchy of Versennes and the protectorate of Polikta. Most of the countries only span a handful of cities, but, over the following decades, the size of their territory continues to increase, and trade routes between the countries begin to appear, spreading knowledge and culture across Terranis once again.

In AF 62, a mysterious “Prophet of God” appears in the kingdom of Saniel, spreading teachings of vigilance and strength against the darkness of the universe, and calling those who would fight “for the Light of God” to follow him. He makes his way from Saniel to the port city of Jorandek. By the time he arrives, his followers have grown to several hundred, and they purchase several boats before sailing to the northern island of Korandus. They disappear for nearly a decade.

Eventually, contact is re-established, and it is learned the Prophet oversaw construction of a massive cathedral-fortress on Korandus, and his followers have established an organization called the Order of Light, dedicated to protecting all of Terranis against the Great Enemy, as well as remaining politically neutral. At first, the various countries are reluctant to accept aid, and it takes nearly a century and three more generations before they become widely accepted. The Prophet who sparked the formation of the Order also mysteriously vanishes a few years after its formation, his real name never discovered.

By this time, Terranis also sees the rise of numerous mercenary organizations. While the armies of Terranis do what they can to ensure the safety of its people, they are forced to primarily focus on city defense and offensive actions against the monsters.

As such, the mercenary organizations are easily able to find jobs performing escort services on many trade routes, as well as other jobs involving protection of people and goods. It quickly becomes one of the most lucrative careers available, but also one of the most dangerous. The fatality rate by AF 75 is estimated to be up to 40% per year. However, thanks to these mercenaries and their sacrifices, the trade routes remain safe enough to allow a global civilization to emerge.

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