Greenstem (book)

Greenstem is a book written by Creighton Greenstir and Pierre D'or that catalogs their relative's perspectives on the Greenstem Independence War (also known as The Leythe-Akratian War, Akratian Civil War, and Leythe-Akratian War), primarily focusing on events leading up to the Greenstem Massacre.

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Akratia is a historic country that had claims extending north into Sparwood around a small fort they named Isherylon. The fort is situated on the western part of Sparwood, in the center of the Eok Plains, the Isarä and the Sirdaes river. After a plague the population of Akratia dwindled, while their Northern neighbour, Serafini’s, population bloomed. Serafinian settlers led by Wilhelm Greenstir (Bossmancfp)  built a small farming village surrounding the unoccupied fort, dubbing the land Greenstem.

The village would grow in population and area, into the most populous town of a dwindling Serafini. After an event known as the Revelation of Lasagna, the religion of Garfism would become a key part of the identity of the Greenstem people. The Revelation was the freak appearance of a striped obelisk, later dubbed Garf’s Tail in Greenstem. In the core Garfist text, ‘Sacrifice’, an elder of the town, Jacques I (jacw), is told by the god Garf to go on a pilgrimage to retrieve his lasagna to save his town from a drought leaving the town’s fields barren. After his journey, Garf cuts off his tail and plants it on a hill in the town of Greenstem bringing fertility and a good harvest to the region. Jacques I (jacw) would be given the title Arbiter of Garf’s Will, and be a religious and cultural leader up until his death. Jacques’ (jacw) family, the House of Goldencoat, would dictate the line of succession for future Arbiters. The Arch-Seraph of Serafini, Tylius Avalon (H8_Creeper) would proclaim Wilhelm Throne of Greenstem after a recommendation from the Arbiter.

The Garfists were unaware however, that the old occupants would reestablish their claims and invade the village. The Arbiter and Throne of Greenstem, had a quarrel over how to react to this threat leaving the Garfist people divided. It was then that a mass exodus of Garfists from Serafini would occur. Those who stayed in Greenstem were sold into slavery in the new Akratian Empire. In a last ditch attempt to hold the town both the Throne and The Arbiter were slain. The Arbiter’s son Jacques II (jacw) fled with Garf’s Tail to the Empire of Bardonia with Garfist generals Zacrex and KayleeML. The Akratians would go on to claim all of southern Serafini, including Leythe.

After several years of Akratian occupation the bastard son of the late Wilhelm Greenstir, Creighton Greenstir (Bossmancfp) established The Free Greenstem Army, a group of former Garfist slaves who would wander Akratian committing acts of terror against their Akratian slavers. Meanwhile, Jacques II (jacw) would grow his business and political interests by colonizing the continent of Plagos. His faith in Garfism had been shaken after witnessing the death of his father and the enslavement of his people. His exploits in Plagos put Jacques II (jacw) on the Grand Council of Bardonia, a prominent position in the government.

When he returned from Plagos to New Dorasterrock, the capital of Bardonia, Creighton Greenstir (Bossmancfp) was waiting for him. They would have a conversation that would change the course history (and no one else was in the room where it happened). In this conversation Creighton and Jacques II would put their father’s disagreement behind them. Creighton convinced Jacques II to renew his faith and take his position as the Second Arbiter of Garf’s Will and to help the Free Greenstem Army take back their ancestral homeland.

The Garfists were vastly outnumbered by the Akratians at a 3:1 ratio. The Garfists would look outwards for support. Jacques II would lobby The Chancellor of Bardonia (you know him >;) ), who had previously made a NAP with the Akratians, to send military aid to the crusade. Wanting to avoid public outcry after the negative press brought on from the colonization of Plagos, Uni was unwilling to make a formal declaration of war. Jacques convinced Uni to send the hands to support the Leytheans independence but Uni was unwilling to help Jacques take any land. While Jacques II lobbied the Bardonians, Creighton turned his attention to other powers in Sparwood.

It was around this time that the Emperor of Akratia (Mw_Neoz) would declare war on the Free State of Leythe. This was following a loss in a skirmish to the Leytheans, who had acquired Bardonian support. There was also a very unpopular grain tax that had been initiated recently. These series of blunders led to major instability within Akratia, with most of their citizens seeing this war as an unnecessary, unwinnable, land grab and were unwilling to send support. Many different cities, towns and regions rebelled. The Free Greenstem Army used this movement of instability throughout the Empire to finally attempt a last push for Greenstem.

Creighton met with these rebel leaders hoping to rally forces to take Greenstem, however the rebel leaders were not in agreement as to what they wanted to achieve. Some such as Emerald Isle, Synutoshi, and Tortuga were strongly in favor of seceding from the empire. However there were some rebels who hoped to rejoin the empire after the rebellion, if concessions were made. The rebel leaders were unable to come to a consensus, most regions made peace deals with the empire without a single battle, rejoining the empire. Creighton approached the chief of Leythe, Stubborn Ducky (Stubbornducky) hoping to secure their collective independence before the rebellion was quelled. Stubborn Ducky and Creighton agreed to a formal alliance and to take the Garfist capital, securing both of their people's freedom.

Back in Bardonia, Jacques II had worked out a compromise with the Chancellor. Volunteers from the elite military group, The Chancellor’s Hands, would be allowed to support the cause, however no members would be conscripted. The Grand General DHVO (DHVO), Grand Architect Crezyman (Crezyman), and the bloodhound yaykei (yaykei) all pledged their support. The FGA had more than sufficient support to retake their homeland.

After a final attempt at peace talks, the Emperor of Akratia (Mw_Neoz) was unwilling to surrender. It would come to war. The Pro Greenstem forces assembled at a nearby fort. In total they would number ten Garfists, three Hands, and one Leythean. The opposing Akratian force led by Mw_Phoenix, was thirteen strong, the emperor wasn’t there. Cries of, “where is the emperor?” and “What are we fighting for?” were seen in local chat. The defender’s morale was compromised. After posing for a screenie and a speech from Creighton, the attackers fell upon the town.

Using ladders to climb over the newly erected cobblestone walls the FGA fought its way into the town. What followed would be known as the Greenstem Massacre. All but one defender was slain, with zero casualties for the attackers. The Garfists took their homeland once more. After the dust had settled, Creighton Greenstir stood atop the original Akratian fort, still ablaze from the battle and said but one sentence “We did it, we killed those slaver fucks.”

Epilogue

After the battle the Akratian Emperor died of sadness throwing Akratian back into a state of turmoil. The country was eventually swallowed by Tortugan rebels. Greenstem and Leythe secured a peace deal from the remaining Akratian generals. The two states would go on to form the United Kingdom of Greenstem and Leythe, which later incorporated both Avaria and Eok, becoming a major power in the continent of Sparwood. And to this day, Garf’s tail stands above the town of Greenstem, a monument to their resilience.