jowanverse

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔙ℑℑℑ - 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔦𝔰 𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔡

Erik made his move against Rowan. He swung his sword against him with brutal force. Many would have lost their stand from a blow like this, but Rowan blocked it and used the opening to strike back. He laid his whole weight in his strike. His sword swished through the air making a buzzing noise. The force of his blow turned his whole body around leaving his back turned to his opponent. He wasn't sure if he did hit his mark or not until Erik's head dropped on the floor right before him.

Right at the moment when the head hit floor, he left his focus and heard the noises of the battlefield around him again. To his surprise though, the sound of the clashing blades wasn't as intense as before the duel. The vikings had gained the upper hand and all who weren't occupied in a one to one combat, now made their way to him, to get the head of the one who killed their king...

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔙ℑℑ - 𝔍𝔞𝔯𝔩 𝔳𝔰. 𝔐𝔬𝔫𝔞𝔯𝔠𝔥

Rowan had put up a good fight with his battalions against the invading vikings, but the numbers of his men were decimating.

Suddenly he found himself facing the infamous jarl himself: Erik the Lionhearted stood there, right in front of him.

He screamed while running at him, throwing his whole weight against his shield, pushing the opponent's sword away.

Then he swung his own sword to cut his enemy down, but missed... He had failed to use the element of surprise to his advantage.

Now both of them were standing there, waiting for the other to make his move. All the sound and noise of the battle around them turned silent as they were fully concentrated on their duel.

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔙ℑ - 𝔄 𝔏𝔦𝔬𝔫'𝔰 ℜ𝔬𝔞𝔯

When Rowan spotted the enemy ships, the first thing he saw, was the sail of the huge main ship wich was emblazoned with a lion and two hearts.

The sight of it stroke fear into his heart and with a trembling voice he said: "I have heard stories about the lion banner. It belongs to Erik the Lionhearted, a jarl who – in the last decade – had been raiding the northern shores of the western island with a small crew of vikings, over and over again. Even the Silver Arrows' knights acknowledge their skills and fear their attacks!"

"But look at the size of those knarrs and how many there are in the fleet. That's not going to be a raid, this is a conquest." replied Henry.

"I know, we have to inform the King. Rush to the castle Henry, you have always been the better rider. I will lead our battalions down to the beach to fend the vikings off as long as I can." shouted Rowan already riding down to the shores.

Henry just shook his head in disbelief and mumbled to himself: "Always headfirst into danger to save the others... Just don't forget to take care of yourself you beautiful idiot."

Before Rowan reached the sea, Erik was already setting foot on the continent.

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔙 - 𝔇𝔞𝔴𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔞 𝔑𝔢𝔴 𝔄𝔤𝔢

Rowan and Henry rode ahead to check out the situation on the shore, with their battalions following behind them as fast as they could.

When they had reached the closest cliff, to get an overview on the threat that was approaching, they stopped their horses and searched the sea for hostile ships. While Rowan was concentrated on looking for the enemy, Henry took a look at Rowan's dark armour and his green cape. With a mocking undertone he said to him: "You have grown soft."

"What do you mean?"

"Your look. You dress exactly like a member of the Knight's Order of the Black Wings is supposed to. Where did you leave your own style? Why are you afraid to wear your wyvern insignia?"

Rowan looked angrily at Henry again. After a brief moment he said: "Did I not ask you not to mention this part of my past again? I buried the leathery wings, we are riding for feathered ones now."

Henry grinned at him provokingly and said: "So the black wings belong to a bird then? What kind of bird do you have in mind?"

Rowan had already commenced scanning the horizon when he answered: "A falcon."

Henry's grinning turned to laughter and he said with a shake of his head: "They don't even have black wings at all. You could just as well make those wings silver coloured then. No, the black wings must belong to a Raven."

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 ℑ𝔙 - 𝔏𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔒𝔩𝔡 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰

The happy reunion didn't last long though. As the two wanted to ask each other what they have been doing all this time, they suddenly were interrupted by the sound of a bell. After that, from the watchtower a guard was shouting, that the beacons at the western shores have been lit.

"We are under attack!" said Henry and ran to his quarters to get into armour. Rowan followed him shortly afterwards to do the same.

When they were ready to ride into battle, they went to the main gate, to meet with their troops. Before they left to command their battalions to the shore, Henry said to Rowan: "Riding into an adventure together? Just like the old times."

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 ℑℑℑ - ℭ𝔞𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔲𝔭 𝔟𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔱

As the other guy also noticed the Captain, he smiled even more smugly and said: "Look who it is, the King of Thieves himself. What did you call yourself again? Ah, yes: The Black Monarch!"

Immediately after he had said that, the captain grabbed him on his collar, pushing him against a wall and said threateningly: "Don't you ever call me by this name again Henry!"

Henry, now with a benevolent smile, replied to the captain, who was biting his lower lip in his anger: "You have always been so hot-headed. It's a miracle you haven't died of a heart attack yet Rowan."

The tension was lifted immediately. Rowan loosened his grip and they both began to break out into roaring laughter.

After they had calmed down again, it was on Rowan's face where a cocky grin broadened when he said: "You haven't changed either. How long has it been? 80 years? I expected you to have died of old age a long time ago..."

"Well, still here we are, looking as dashing as ever. It seems we both have been cursed by the same spell."

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 ℑℑ - 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔶

After he returned from leading his troop to yet another success, there was word from the king, inviting the Captain to a banquet at the royal court.

When he later arrived at the capital to attend the festivities, he was impressed by the city walls and its many towers. The banquet itself though was rather boring. There have been a lot of aspiring military leaders trying to curry the king's favour or impressing the ladies by telling them all their great achievements on the battlefield.

He was sick of all those bootlickers and scaramouches. He had to get some fresh air and a little peace and tranquillity.

His little rest was quickly over though when he caught sight of a cocky grin he knew much too well.

[jowanverse]

𝕬𝖑𝖔𝖋𝖙 𝖔𝖓 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖂𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

𝔓𝔞𝔯𝔱 ℑ - 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔤 ℭ𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔞𝔦𝔫

Word spread across the lands that there was a new captain in the northern regions leading his troop to victory after victory.

Little was known about this ambitious young man but some people said there was rumours that he originally came from the Black Mountains region and had to leave there.

Of course nobody knew what the reasons would have been for him to be forced to leave his home, and so the stories contained countless possibilities like an affair with the king's wife, that he was a wanted murderer or even such silly things like a witch was seeking his life.

[jowanverse]

[jowanverse]

𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕰𝖗𝖆

𝔐𝔞𝔭 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔢𝔫𝔱

[jowanverse]

𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕰𝖗𝖆

𝔗𝔯𝔦𝔟𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔢𝔡

Although the five big factions, ruling over the continent, were in a centuries old balance, there were some signs that the old structures were about to change.

In the Dominion of the Golden Keys, people were about to start a revolution, led by two outlaws known as the Wolf Brothers.

In the Royal Realm of the Gold Mountain international tensions were leading up to war between the three houses of the Realm.

Right in these uncertain times, Erik the Lionhearted and his vikings landed on the northern island of the continent.

The lion on the shield of Erik the Lionhearted stands for his bravery and sense of justice, the two hearts in the background emphasise this even more.

Some people assumed the two hearts symbolised his two beloved sons.

His enemies feared the lion for his strength and it was told that he fights like a savage beast.

Throughout the Classic Era, the tribe of the Lionhearted was located on a remote island northwest of the continent, far away from its shores. From time to time they raided a ship or a village near the coast, but not enough to draw attention from the other kingdoms.

When Erik and his vikings landed with a huge armada of longships and knarrs to conquer the mainland, it coincided with the Red Thunder's Royal Conquest, and the Keys to the People Revolution. Heralding the dawn of the second age, when his sons – Leonhart and Richard – would become kings of two territories of the continent.

[jowanverse]

𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕰𝖗𝖆

ℭ𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔞𝔩 𝔏𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔖𝔦𝔩𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔄𝔯𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔰

The Celestial Lands of the Silver Arrows were situated on an island to the west of the continent's mainland.

The knights of the realm showed their purity by wearing white armour and were known for their superior weaponry.

Some of the most famed weapons of the world, like the Burning Hammer of Pont d'Iac were said to be created in these lands.

The cross shaped arrowheads on the shield of these lands demonstrated their army's advanced weapons and skills. It was told that the god of war is with these knights. Also the cross was seen as a sign of proof for their excellent marksmanship.

In the first age no one would have dared to attack the western island due to their superior army.

However, when in the Golden Era the Royal House from the Gold Mountain region arrived on the island's shores, the Celestial Lands fractured and reformed as three different factions by the dawn of the third age.

[jowanverse]

𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕰𝖗𝖆

𝔇𝔬𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 𝔎𝔢𝔶𝔰

The Dominion of the Golden Keys marked the centre of the continent. Ruling the western outskirts of the mainland and a small island, situated just before the northern shores.

Even though the armours of the dominion's knights are very splendid and colourful, one should not underestimate them as their skill in battle is nearly unmatched.

The keys on the shield symbolised commitment, integrity and righteousness. At the same time, the people from the Dominion of the Golden Keys were an open minded folk. They saw the keys as a symbol to always standing up against oppression and freeing themselves from injustice.

In the history of the dominion, there had always been some tension between the traditionalist royal family and the liberal people of this land.

This constant discord was probably the main reason why in the Golden Era, the descendants of a certain wolf cult were able to gain a considerable entourage in the south of the dominion. Where the royal family had less influence and control.

[jowanverse]

𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕰𝖗𝖆

ℜ𝔬𝔶𝔞𝔩 ℜ𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔪 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔐𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔦𝔫

The biggest kingdom of the Classic Era marked the eastern border of the continent, spanning from the top north all the way to the southern end of the mainland. The red armours of the realm's knights were a sign of their aggressive behaviour against opposing kingdoms.

The most notable landmark in the territory was a huge yellowish mountain, towering in the northern half of the kingdom. Looking like an enormous pile of gold, it gave the realm its name. The shield, that is divided into three parts, is for one thing displaying the famous mountain and on the other hand representing the three main houses of the kingdom.

Regardless of their hostility against the neighboring countries, they did trade with them. Especially the yellowish rock, found in the area around the Gold Mountain, was very sought after. Their wealthiest neighbor even built a whole castle out of this material.

With the huge size of the expanding kingdom, there was also festering internal tensions between the three main houses. This conflict was evident as early as the Classic Era.

Therefore it was no surprise when in the Golden Era the Realm split into three kingdoms. The royal family was pushed to the south-western end of the territory but could expand its reign from there a little further into the continent and to parts of the island in the far west.

[jowanverse]

𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕰𝖗𝖆

𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔡𝔬𝔪

The Golden Crown Kingdom was situated on the northern shores of the continent's mainland. As the kingdom was remarkably prosperous, most of its knights featured gold-plated decorations on their armours. Some of them even wielded gilded weapons.

The crown on the shield of the Golden Crown's coat of arms is a sign of the wealth of its territory, wich is also known as Legoland. Also it displays the royal heritage of the knights order's core members. The shield is supported by two hobby horses as the land is widely known for its excellent toy makers.

The Golden Crown Kingdom was not the biggest of the five ruling factions during the Classic Era but it was by far the most stable.

The first event that really had an impact on the kingdom's territory happened as late as the third age. With more and more parts of the continent joining the Lions Alliance, one of the king's children decided to part ways with his family and formed the faction of the Crowned Lion Knights.

[jowanverse]

𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕰𝖗𝖆

𝔒𝔯𝔡𝔢𝔯 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔨 𝔚𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰

The Kingdom, the Knights' Order of the Black Wings had sworn its allegiance to, spannend from the large island in the far north to parts of the continent's northern mainland.

The ruthlessness and agility of those Knights were infamous and their dark armours stroke fear in their foes hearts.

The two green chevrons on golden ground symbolize the wings and the tail feathers of a bird.

The knights of this faction were mostly recognized on their black armours that sported either green or gold highlights.

‪The Black Wings were one of the five big factions of the Classic Era.‬

‪With the events that triggered the second age though, they lost some territory and split into two factions: The Black Falcons and the Black Ravens.‬

[jowanverse]

The Story of young Johannes von Schwarzengeist and his journey to become a knight of the Falcon Knights order.