Alter Aeon The Great Library

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Note - as with any topic, researchers should question the reliability
and veracity of these texts.  The library's aim is to preserve
documents, not verify accuracy.

AABN:  16044
Title: a book titled "Fukaimori Province"

Compiled by Haruto Saito the Imperial Scribe.

In the Dragon Empire, when Thas'Tau the Silver Dragon King sat on the Jade
Throne, an expedition of Men was sent at His Majesty's command to settle
the wilds beyond Ishi Province, extending the Benevolence and Mercy of the
Empire into the Untamed West.

The brave colonists found an unspoiled forest of oaks, where spotted deer
ran free and predators were scarce. Trees were felled and a stockade was
built upon earthen ramparts. Thus this Fort became the capital of newly
founded Fukaimori Province.

For two years, the Colony prospered. The Men planted crops, built homes and
established Industry. Ore was found in the hills southward, and a Foundary
began to make fine steel. Soon, brides would be secured for the Men, and
the Fort would become a City proper.

Alas, it was not to be! On a hot summer night, the ground shook. Great
groanings and rumblings could be heard all about. In the morning, the crops
were trampled and the out-buildings destroyed. Footprints like those of men
but many times larger marred the ground.

The Daimyo of the Fukaimori Fort was taken with great fear. He rallied his
men and bade them carry whatever food and goods were needed for a journey.
They forsook armor, and carried only the lightest of arms, save the Daimyo
himself, who was arrayed in splendor.

Before the Noon sun had risen to its height, the Fort was empty. Men and
what few Beasts of burden they had were laden heavily and made haste
eastward. All of a sudden, they were beset by Giants! Great ones, giants of
the hills, came striding forward, with Ogres toddling behind them. They
snatched up men and carried them off, and all of their mules and horses
besides.

The Daimyo did not stand and fight, armored and armed as he was. He fled
before the Giants. Both day and night he fled, and at last came to the
borders of Ishi Province, where he threw himself at the mercy of the Xidan.
His armor proved his undoing - several of the colonists had arrived before
him, unburdened as they were, and had told their tale. The Xidan chieftain
had the Daimyo bound, and thus he was brought with dishonor before the Jade
Throne.

Thas'Tau was sore displeased with his Daimyo's conduct: firstly, for
exposing his men to danger outside of the walls of the Fort hastily and
ill-prepared, and then for abandoning them in the wild to save his own
life. The Emperor pronounced His judgement: the Daimyo's name would be
stricken from the record and never be spoken again. He would be exiled to
the oak forest, where the colony lay ruined, to meet his fate. His arms and
armor he would take with him, as they seemingly meant more to him than his
own men. Lastly, a curse was laid upon him, so that he could not even speak
his own name.

And thus was the end of Fukaimori Province.