Jackal Among Snakes

Epilogue 1.1: Preface

The events of the previous volume of this work may make the reader question if it should be taken as a historical account or a novel born of my imagination. To that skeptical reader, I assure I exaggerated no feats. The vast majority of it was corroborated by multiple firsthand sources who survived the Last Calamity, including many that have no known relationship to the imperial court of the Blackgard Union. I put my own testimony in that list. I was a soldier in the Kingdom of Vasquer’s army, but I saw the man then called king only a few times, and never spoke to him personally.

Nevertheless, very little evidence actually exists outside of testimony. Some claim Argrave’s exploits too grandiose, likely heavily warped by sycophants seeking praise. I counted myself among such skeptical historians, but thorough investigation has borne fruit in the form of the previous volume which I am confident in calling the most accurate account of Argrave’s journey leading up to the Last Calamity.

My peers in the field of history have already done excellent work documenting the rise of the Blackgard Union. I will provide a brief summary, but little more. Instead, my focus shall lie in the figures which established the grand nation we enjoy today. This volume largely covers the prominent people involved during the three ages.

My colleague and collaborator, Garm of Vasquer, has provided invaluable assistance in allowing me access to both prominent figures and records. Carrying on with this trend of largesse, he will provide a personal account of his experience in the imperial court where necessary. Where we begin, however, he’s yet to be born.

Age of Reclamation, 1-25 AC

To properly contextualize the scale of the restoration, the reader must understand the scale of the destruction.

sentient population perished in the calamity. On the other end of the spectrum, some suggest that as much as ninety percent of the world’s population passed away. Of all these accounts, the most accurate comes from Prime Minister Elenore of Vasquer. She posits

of Blackgard was wiped away, along with countless other grand settlements of the time. Mountains were levelled in some places, and rose up in others. Rivers changed course, chasms opened in once-fertile plains, and plentiful mines were

no exaggeration to say that civilization

the government established by Argrave, Anneliese, and Elenore managed to restore order remarkably quickly. Within six months, the whole of Berendar had been divided into administrative regions, and governors with genuine authority were appointed to each. Each followed a unified law levied by the government, but were given significant autonomy to respond to the unique problems

8 AC. These appointed governors served the emperor alone, serving to replace the abolished nobility as regional leaders. Some have suggested the more severe drop in population enabled this to happen far easier than elsewhere, but I contest

but they were easily outnumbered by other groups. Elves alone comprised nearly half of the total population. There were elves from the Bloodwoods, who formally dissolved their protectorate and merged with the Blackgard Union in 4 AC. There were Veidimen—‘snow elves’—many of whom came to the continent due to

note that it's taken

before being persuaded to stay on the surface within the union by Argrave. Also of note is the lunar dragons. Though most

cultures clashed against one another—the north attempted to secede in 17 AC before the government provided substantial economic aid, and the Burnt Desert nearly rejected governance altogether, narrowly halted by Governor Durran’s intervention. Refugees and opportunists attempted to declare themselves warlords, but such attempts were quickly quelled. The dying embers of nobility tried to cling to existence, and spellcasters attempted to win special privileges in the burgeoning state,

in the whole of the continent, each had a significant impact on their respective regions. Some were given land grants to prevent bloodshed, which might’ve resulted in the annihilation of their people and culture. The centaurs, for instance, were granted the wide-open plains where the Tower of the Gray Owl once stood. All these disparate peoples remained a part

rose from the ashes of dead empires to reign as tyrants. The imperial court was certainly decisive, unwavering, and at times ruthless. Their

see the intelligence and driven purpose of the people of Berendar. I would leave a region with the army to quell a disturbance, or deal with encroachment by some foul beasts. By the time we returned, the area had been built up so much as to be