AF 153: After nearly another century of warfare, the governments of Terranis stabilize their positions, and most of Terranis is now claimed by each of the countries. By this point, however, the armies of man have grown to such size that, along with the mercenaries, they can ensure the safety of most of the lands within their borders.

Some semblance of peace finally begins to settle over Terranis. The monsters have been so drastically reduced in numbers, by this time attacks are nearly unheard of. Caution is still used, the roads in between towns are still moderately dangerous, but the danger level is far lower than it was a century ago.

The previous decade also sees the formation of the Mercenaries’ Guild, a single central organization to oversee the activities of mercenaries, as well as a means of providing mutual support. It quickly grows and has guild halls in every major city within a few years.

With the growing peace, countries are finally able to pursue other interests beside war. Saernis attempts to expand its academic pursuits, and the Royal Academy is built. The Weijin Empire enters a new era of artistic pursuits, and Korneth finances a number of expeditions to try and find any remnants of pre-Fall technology.

However, not all the countries focus their energies towards positive pursuits. In AF 147, crown prince Reynald is born to the royal line of Saniel. With peace descending upon Terranis, Reynald is not obligated to learn the art of war like his predecessors, and spends most of his time engaging in various acts of indulgence.

By the time Reynald is twenty-two, he finds himself the king of Saniel, due to his father suffering a heart attack and dying. Reynald, seeing no need to funnel most of his kingdom’s budget into military and industrial matters, redirects many funds towards civil projects. At first, these moves are loved by the people, until much of the budget goes towards esoteric projects like massive statues dedicated to Reynald, or vastly expanding the royal gardens.

While Reynald also marries princess Franchesca of Kaldoris and makes her queen of Saniel, he becomes the first king in the country’s history to possess a harem of concubines. Strangely enough, the new queen seems to have little complaint over this, and, in fact, begins seeking the attention of various other male nobles in the royal court.

After a decade of Reynald’s rule, the liberal attitude towards indulgences enjoyed by the royal court spreads to the common people. Monthly “celebrations” are held, wine and ale are consumed in record quantities, and the number of brothels in most cities increases exponentially. Within another five years, the “celebrations” become little more than unrestrained orgies. Conservative elements in Saniel’s society attempt to decry the social changes sweeping the kingdom, but are largely ignored or silenced.

The debauchery finally reaches a fevered pitch in AF 184, and the revelry is brought to a sudden end when word reaches the capital of a new demon army invading from the mountainous deserts west of the kingdom. The armies of Saniel, grossly reduced from their strength twenty years ago, and also lacking any real experience or discipline, are swiftly crushed by the demon army, which marches for the capital effectively unopposed.

Within two weeks of the first sighting of the demons, the capital is besieged. The outer walls hold against the demons for several days, but the defenders within have no hope of victory. Suddenly, as twilight descends on the city during the third day of the siege, a lone warrior appears at the main gate to the city, demanding to be let out. At first the guards refuse to open the gate, but the strength of his convictions in his speech convinces them otherwise.

Upon being let out from the gate, the warrior approaches the demon army, who at first find the emergence of a single warrior amusing, and great waves of laughter can be heard from their camps. The leader of the demons, a towering creature called Lucifon, approaches the warrior, who identifies himself as Doramor, and demands Lucifon face him in single combat. Roaring with laughter, Lucifon accepts the challenge, beyond confident in his ability to destroy this lone human.

Much to his surprise, however, Doramor becomes the victor, striking down Lucifon. The demon lord explodes in a torrent of dark energy. Stunned by the loss of their leader, the demon army quickly falls into disarray, and scatters once more into the wild. The threat to Saniel is extinguished for the time being.

Returning to the city, Doramor is escorted to the palace, where Reynald and Franchesca personally thank him for saving the kingdom. The king and queen realize the error of their ways, that their decadence would have destroyed Saniel even if the demons hadn’t invaded. Doramor points out that the invasion was surely a punishment from God, and that the king and queen must reform their ways to avoid such a tragedy from happening again.

Reynald and Franchesca both swear to change their ways, and do so. By the following year, most of the “social programs” that had been in place to encourage the decadent behavior are gone, and Saniel’s army once again begins to grow and become professional. Doramor is also given an honorary title of nobility, and invited to stay at the castle, which he accepts.

A year after the climactic battle, Doramor becomes the steward of a small girl named Lucilia, given to his care under mysterious circumstances. The girl is ten years old when he meets her. He raises her as his own daughter, and, upon turning eighteen, she departs from home, in AF 195, and travels east.

The northern reaches of the eastern continent were among the only lands not claimed by any country by AF 195. However, the unclaimed regions grew in AF 188, when the duchy of Versennes was destroyed by a marauding army of both monsters and humans who had allied with them, becoming wild pillagers and bandits. The survivors of the duchy largely either flee to other countries or attempt to fight back and reclaim their lands, but those who stay are brutally slaughtered.

By AF 195, the survivors of the duchy are nearly annihilated, ensuring the northern reaches of the eastern continent remain firmly under the control of the Great Enemy. However, Lucilia Doramor arrives at this time, and discovers the survivors. Rallying them, she leads them to a series of nigh-miraculous victories, before confronting the demon leader of the army, the demon lord Lucifon, who had returned in physical form once again.

Lucilia and Lucifon engage in a mighty struggle while their armies clash around them, and Lucilia emerges victorious over the demon lord, and the monster army is crushed. With the lands saved, Lucilia marries Tinamer, one of the surviving warriors, and they form the kingdom of Doramor, named after Lucilia’s loving adoptive father. Refugees, and people seeking a new beginning, flock to the new kingdom as its queen and king lead their new army into battle and successfully claim the entire northern third of the eastern continent, causing Doramor to become the largest country on Terranis less than twenty years after its formation. It becomes a bastion of civilization and stability to all the world, and a beacon of hope to the beleaguered people.

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