Headed by Lilith, the geopolitical region of Lilaria within Nocterra was situated on the eastern border of the Grovelands. This nation's military consisted of the three primary races that made up the majority of the region’s population: Succubi (Incubi, if male), Vampires, and the hybrid children that were born as a result of reproduction between the former two - the Lilim.

Lilaria’s forces had been named after the numerous “evils” in the eyes of Sol; one in particular, struck fear in the hearts of all who heard its name - The Legion of Wrath, which Lilith personally commanded in battle.

Their armor was grotesque in nature; the plate mail would have normally been reminiscent of a gothic style, but it seemed to be enveloped by a skeletal structure. This bone armor was colored in a scheme of black, gray, and had a particular emphasis on a deep crimson, like that of wet blood. Each suit of bone armor also had cloth segments to complement it, embroidered with Lilaria’s coat of arms -- an ornate heart that seemed to disconnect before curving inward at the top, branching out to give shape to two fangs.

The Legion of Wrath had been standing in wait outside of the city under the guise of camouflaging magic. Upon receiving the command from Lilith, they had easily dispelled a portion of its protective barrier. In a display of superiority to the Shadow Wardens, a single soldier walked up to the gate of the city and, without hesitation, gouged out his own heart. He then used this still-beating heart to paint an elaborate circle onto the massive gateway, before taking one step backward.

“For the glory of Lilaria,” he proudly announced, then proceeded to crush his own heart.

The blood that was smeared on the gate began to shimmer and glow, accompanied by a sound that built up to a high pitch. Only a moment later, the lone soldier and the entire entrance to the city was engulfed in a colossal fireball.

Paying no mind to the rubble of the collapsing city wall, the Legion of Wrath simply waltzed inside the Grove. Heeding well to Lilith’s directives, the soldiers did no harm to any civilians and only brought a swift death to the Shadow Wardens who had decided to attack them.

Lilith’s Vice-Commander, Belzar, marched the legion through the city streets in such an ostentatious manner that one could have mistook it for a victory parade. The rattling of the bone armor did not cease until...

“Legion!” Belzar raised his dark sword in coordination with the preparatory command. Slicing his sword downward, he finished the command, “Halt!”

The entire mass of troops stopped in perfect coordination and their alignment was impeccable from the first rank to the last. Belzar broke ranks and headed off to the side of the formation, where Erelia’s estate was.

Lilith walked out the front door with Ymir right beside her. At the sight of his commander, Belzar dropped to one knee with his sword tip ever-so-slightly penetrating into the ground.

“Mistress Lilith, the troops are formed. What is your next order?”

Waving her hand upward, she motioned him to rise to his feet. “Dispatch a few squads to find Ira and bring her back to us. Once she is here we will be departing.”

“Thy will be done.” Belzar then proceeded to carry out her commands, breaking the formation into several teams and sending them off in separate directions; despite that, there was still a formidable military presence in the area that remained as defensive measure for Ymir and Lilith.

Ymir was once more laying his eyes upon a sight he had never before experienced. Prior to this moment, he had only seen at most the twenty or so knights that had appeared in Umbrium. Now, here he was, observing a legion of about 1,000 or more occupy the space directly before him. He was astounded by the fact that with every passing day since then, he had come to familiarize himself with things he previously could have never imagined.

Just how little do I know about the grand scale of this world?

Lilith ogled Ymir as he stood there dumbfounded by her profound military might. Puffing out her meager chest, she proudly spoke to him, “Heh-heh! Impressive isn’t it? Kinda makes you want to praise me, doesn’t it? Doesn’t it!?”

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With the tears now dried on her face, Ira took a step back and entered a defensive position. Her back was pressed up against her father’s sarcophagus as the Shadow Wardens advanced toward her.

A voice called out from behind them, “That’s enough.” Walking into the crypt with a slight limp, the statement came from Mora. Having not yet recovered from her defeat, she dispatched the Shadow Wardens to rally at the Town Hall due to the sounding of the invasion bell.

Bewildered at why her younger sister had saved her, Ira looked Mora in the eyes and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Considering my previous words of dissent did nothing to dissuade you and my attempts at physical violence were refuted all the same,” she stepped closer toward Ira, “I decided that it couldn’t hurt to at least hear you out this once.”

The tension in Ira’s expression began to ease at her sister’s words.

“I had never expected that you would go to such lengths for what I had once labeled a hopeless ideal.” Pausing to find the right words, “Maybe it was I -- No... Maybe it was all of us here who were wrong from the beginning.”

Ira reached out a hand and placed it on her sister’s shoulder. “I know you still blame me for what happened, Mora, but you and I both know that father would have never wanted things to turn out the way that they have.”

The air was stagnant inside the mausoleum and the fact that their father’s remains lay behind them only added to the weight of the conversation.

“It was never about power or supremacy, Mora. Our father only wished for unity among the people of Nocterra.”

Though she willingly participated in this conversation, Mora couldn’t help but to become frustrated when Ira mentioned their father.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Mora dutifully addressed her sister, “Ira, I want you to explain everything from the beginning. I cannot guarantee my forgiving you, but I feel that it is at least necessary to be able to understand the situation.”

From a small satchel she donned, Ira pulled out a tattered letter. “As you wish, sister.”

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My dearest wife and children,

If you are reading this, then I am sorry to have left you behind.

I never wanted it to end this way. My heart is full of regret, for I have failed to bring about a world that you could live happily in. I have left those I love most to suffer from my own incompetence. I have no right to ask for your forgiveness; however, it is my duty to explain everything to you.

I do not say this lightly, but the world as we know it is in grave danger. We, the people of Nocterra, have failed as a whole to push aside our differences and unite. This dissent and strife has placed us in a dire situation; we are vulnerable from both within and without. Having our homeland crumble by our own hands while the Empire of Solatellus plots against us would be a failure of unparalleled proportions.

Be that as it may, some of us across the lands have forged a pact -- an alliance for the greater good. This alliance, though formed inside the borders of the Shadow Realm, has partisans in the Empire and further still into the Beast Kingdom and beyond.

Lilith of Lilaria, the Triumvirate of Augursblod, Durakor of Dun Ba’al, and myself, Tallinn of the Shadow Wardens’ Grove are the alliance heads within Nocterra’s borders. Within the Beast Kingdom of Animanta, we have been met with great acceptance. The Alpha of this diverse nation, Ferox, has banded together with us in this cause.

The final warning, brought to our attention by the Triumvirate -- Karam, Hakir, and Rikkara -- is the return of the “Great Darkness.” We are still researching and scrying on the matter; however, it seems this “Great Darkness” becomes incarnate through the manifestation of black markings on its host’s body. There is much to learn before we can combat this threat, but be wary.

Erelia, Ira, and Mora, I love you more than I could ever express.

I can never forgive myself that I have failed you as a husband, father, and as leader of our nation.

Tallinn.