“Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level lands stretch far away.”

Aldrich:

Aldrich walked down with an urgent pace, his advisors barely able to keep up with him. He mounted his ebony black destrier and rode with great haste, his thoughts moving even faster than his war horse. War. It could happen at any moment he thought. He had built his kingdom from a swamp to the most formidable force. He was never a kind person but never a fool. He slowed the destrier down to a trot, they arrived at their destination, The Ramses.

The Ramses was the only barrier the Ozymandian people have against the barbarians that are coming from the mountains. The people of Ozymandia said that a wall made of dragon-iron could not be built tall enough to protect anything or anyone. Aldrich the Iron-Fist did it in two summers. The wall was impenetrable with traps of fire and water cold as ice and infested with leeches. Any sane man would look at this wall and be frightened, however these were not sane men.

Aldrich walked into the command room at the head of The Ramses, “All stand, Ruler of Ozymandia and King of the Seven Worlds, Aldrich Purus.” Aldrich bowed humbly as he felt no need for these extravagances. “How close is the horde?” Aldrich said in a commanding tone. “A days walk, sir.” The solider replied. “Our campaigns in the Nether-Worlds have brought our armies number down some however we are strong but there is the matter of the people.” Viceroy said. Viceroy was Aldrich’s right hand and his most loyal adviser. His touch with the people as well as his wit and persuasiveness often lead to him getting his way, which lead to Aldrich getting his way. “What is the matter with the people?” Aldrich asked, his tone did not warrant a quip. “They have no love for the way you treat them, m’lord. Viceroy said. Aldrich looked out of the window, “What haven’t I done for them? There is plenty of food, water and mead. There are enough jobs for all the townsfolk and all of the towns have never once been attacked” Aldrich sighed,” There are angry, insane, bloodthirsty barbarians charging for these walls and the people weep about nothing.” Aldrich walked to the command table and started modelling a tactic.

“Heavy lies the head that wears the crown” Viceroy quipped, Aldrich smiled. One of the many things that Viceroy could do well is to ease Aldrich pains even on the dawn of battle.

 

Viceroy was looking at the plan, and smiling, he knew this man like his own kin, “IF we were to do that we would be completely exposed on the right flank, we cannot take this chance” Viceroy said. Aldrich laughed and said “You expect too much from these barbarians. We would only be exposed on the right if they can get over Ramses. And no one who ever tried to cross these walls have succeeded and not for lack of trying.” Aldrich said. He walked across the room then suddenly there was a banging on the door, a rapid knocking that meant nothing but emergency. Aldrich swung his head and drew the hilt of his dragon-iron dagger. The wine servant stepped to the door and opened it with haste. The flagman, bruised and dirtied, announced “Their campaign is at the Ramses and it looks like they’ve got company”. Aldrich looked at Viceroy and had a shiver of fear, he had never seen “Viceroy the Cunning” look worried before. Aldrich declared “Man the spitfire’s and arm all the Zealots. We are going to need the special abilities only they have. Ozymandia will not go out without a fight. Ramses be with you.” Aldrich walked back to the window back to the window and sighed. “This is how it ends, with Aldrich the Iron Fist, ending Ozymandia.” He shed no tears but was saddened.

 

Doctor Victor Aldricher, an excerpt of his speech on the Ozymandian Empire:

The war fought by the Ozymandians was a bloody one, costing approximately 150,000 lives. The great society won the war and had great festivals for years to come. A great statue was erected in the capital in the shape of a fist made purely of obsidian, then referred to as dragon glass. Aldrich the Great, he was called after the battle. You see, the tragic part of it is that nobody truly understood the genius of the things he did and even that was short-lived. His successor, a part of his council is highly remembered in the history community despite being one of the most incompetent rulers ever. Despite all of its strength, it was time that took the Ozymandian Empire. As it is with all things.