The Great Civil War of Neptaris - Revision history

WikiSysop at 14:08, 4 April 2012

2012-04-04T14:08:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:08, 4 April 2012
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	<noinclude>{{Duria_Guide		<noinclude>{{Duria_Guide
	\|chapter= History		\|chapter= History
	}}</noinclude>		}}
			[[Category:Neptaris]]
			[[Category:Neptaran History]]
			</noinclude>

WikiSysop at 16:22, 31 January 2012

2012-01-31T16:22:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:22, 31 January 2012
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	When Mandrake returned to Neptaris after more than a century of exile in Kamaria, he expected a hero's welcome. Instead, the nobles of the city immediately began bickering amongst themselves over the now empty throne. Mandrake, finally disgusted with the whole affair, left the city to live out his years in the Arisan forest, now known as [[Darkwood]]. Without an Archbishop to call an Ecumenical Council, even the priests of the city began arguing over what should be done. The few who were not killed in the Battle of Stones either did not desire the position of Archbishop or refused to vote for anyone but themselves. By the spring of {{NCYear\|646}}, neither an Archbishop nor a Neptarch had been chosen. Each of the noble houses gathered their troops and prepared for war. [[Deimos of House Rimman\|Deimos]] of [[House Rimman]] was the first to take [[Castle Zepharos]], so he had a clear advantage early on, but the other noble houses cut him off from the rest of the city, critically hampering his attempts at re-establishing the regency of House Rimman. Fighting raged through the streets as each House attempted to put its head on the throne. Soon, the fighting spilled into the countryside as mercenaries began flocking to the city to fill the ranks of the various noble Houses. In {{NCYear\|652}}, the fighting was briefly interrupted when a new Archbishop was finally chosen, but even he was ineffectual at calming the nerves of the embattled Houses and too afraid of repercussions to name a Neptarch himself until there was a clear victor.		When Mandrake returned to Neptaris after more than a century of exile in Kamaria, he expected a hero's welcome. Instead, the nobles of the city immediately began bickering amongst themselves over the now empty throne. Mandrake, finally disgusted with the whole affair, left the city to live out his years in the Arisan forest, now known as [[Darkwood]]. Without an Archbishop to call an Ecumenical Council, even the priests of the city began arguing over what should be done. The few who were not killed in the Battle of Stones either did not desire the position of Archbishop or refused to vote for anyone but themselves. By the spring of {{NCYear\|646}}, neither an Archbishop nor a Neptarch had been chosen. Each of the noble houses gathered their troops and prepared for war. [[Deimos of House Rimman\|Deimos]] of [[House Rimman]] was the first to take [[Castle Zepharos]], so he had a clear advantage early on, but the other noble houses cut him off from the rest of the city, critically hampering his attempts at re-establishing the regency of House Rimman. Fighting raged through the streets as each House attempted to put its head on the throne. Soon, the fighting spilled into the countryside as mercenaries began flocking to the city to fill the ranks of the various noble Houses. In {{NCYear\|652}}, the fighting was briefly interrupted when a new Archbishop was finally chosen, but even he was ineffectual at calming the nerves of the embattled Houses and too afraid of repercussions to name a Neptarch himself until there was a clear victor.

	In {{NCYear\|664}}, after almost twenty years of nearly endless warfare, [[House Arisan]] finally declared that it was tired of the fighting and was going into voluntary exile in the Arisan forest. [[Caridius]] of [[House Rimman]], believing the House to be fleeing only so it could prepare its forces, departed the city in pursuit of the migrating House Arisan. He eventually found them and his men attacked, killing each member of the House in what would become known as [[~~the~~ Massacre of the Wintering Hill]]. The Wintering Hill, located some ten miles northeast of the city, became muddy with the blood of the innocents who died that day; even still the hill is devoid of life and many suggest that it is haunted by those who were slaughtered. Caridius returned to Neptaris, expecting the others to bow before his obvious might, but he was killed by an arrow shot before he even reached the city gates.		In {{NCYear\|664}}, after almost twenty years of nearly endless warfare, [[House Arisan]] finally declared that it was tired of the fighting and was going into voluntary exile in the Arisan forest. [[Caridius of House Rimman\|Caridius]] of [[House Rimman]], believing the House to be fleeing only so it could prepare its forces, departed the city in pursuit of the migrating House Arisan. He eventually found them and his men attacked, killing each member of the House in what would become known as the [[Massacre of the Wintering Hill]]. The Wintering Hill, located some ten miles northeast of the city, became muddy with the blood of the innocents who died that day; even still the hill is devoid of life and many suggest that it is haunted by those who were slaughtered. Caridius returned to Neptaris, expecting the others to bow before his obvious might, but he was killed by an arrow shot before he even reached the city gates.

	The fighting continued after the Massacre of the Wintering Hill and [[House Delane]] made a simple decision that would shape the future of the city. House Delane was suffering great losses, as many of the Houses were, and hiring mercenary companies to fight their battles had become standard procedure. So none thought anything when they hired the Great Gryphon Mercenary Company, led by the son of a merchant, [[Valerius Marcosi]].		The fighting continued after the Massacre of the Wintering Hill and [[House Delane]] made a simple decision that would shape the future of the city. House Delane was suffering great losses, as many of the Houses were, and hiring mercenary companies to fight their battles had become standard procedure. So none thought anything when they hired the Great Gryphon Mercenary Company, led by the son of a merchant, [[Valerius Marcosi]].

WikiSysop at 14:50, 31 January 2012

2012-01-31T14:50:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:50, 31 January 2012
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	As had become the custom under [[Xaphar of House Rimman\|Regent Xaphar]], he invited his daughter, grandson and a number of clergymen from [[Neptaris]], including the Archbishop of [[Betshaba]], to observe a battle against the [[Kamaria\|Kamarians]] in what would come to be known as [[the Battle of Stones]] in the fall of {{NCYear\|645}}. As Xaphar and his company watched the battle (which the Neptarans were winning), huge boulders suddenly began falling from the sky. The boulders killed every member of the party except the young [[Xaphargus]]. When he crawled from beneath the bloody rubble he rose to face [[Mandrake of Cthos\|Mandrake]], the former Archbishop of Neptaris. Mandrake pulled his sword and ran the boy through. Though Mandrake didn't realize it at the time, the last true Neptarch died by his hand.		As had become the custom under [[Xaphar of House Rimman\|Regent Xaphar]], he invited his daughter, grandson and a number of clergymen from [[Neptaris]], including the Archbishop of [[Betshaba]], to observe a battle against the [[Kamaria\|Kamarians]] in what would come to be known as [[the Battle of Stones]] in the fall of {{NCYear\|645}}. As Xaphar and his company watched the battle (which the Neptarans were winning), huge boulders suddenly began falling from the sky. The boulders killed every member of the party except the young [[Xaphargus]]. When he crawled from beneath the bloody rubble he rose to face [[Mandrake of Cthos\|Mandrake]], the former Archbishop of Neptaris. Mandrake pulled his sword and ran the boy through. Though Mandrake didn't realize it at the time, the last true Neptarch died by his hand.

	When Mandrake returned to Neptaris after more than a century of exile in Kamaria, he expected a hero's welcome. Instead, the nobles of the city immediately began bickering amongst themselves over the now empty throne. Mandrake, finally disgusted with the whole affair, left the city to live out his years in the ~~Arisian~~ forest, now known as [[Darkwood]]. Without an Archbishop to call an Ecumenical Council, even the priests of the city began arguing over what should be done. The few who were not killed in the Battle of Stones either did not desire the position of Archbishop or refused to vote for anyone but themselves. By the spring of {{NCYear\|646}}, neither an Archbishop nor a Neptarch had been chosen. Each of the noble houses gathered their troops and prepared for war. [[Deimos of House Rimman\|Deimos]] of [[House Rimman]] was the first to take [[Castle Zepharos]], so he had a clear advantage early on, but the other noble houses cut him off from the rest of the city, critically hampering his attempts at re-establishing the regency of House Rimman. Fighting raged through the streets as each House attempted to put its head on the throne. Soon, the fighting spilled into the countryside as mercenaries began flocking to the city to fill the ranks of the various noble Houses. In {{NCYear\|652}}, the fighting was briefly interrupted when a new Archbishop was finally chosen, but even he was ineffectual at calming the nerves of the embattled Houses and too afraid of repercussions to name a Neptarch himself until there was a clear victor.		When Mandrake returned to Neptaris after more than a century of exile in Kamaria, he expected a hero's welcome. Instead, the nobles of the city immediately began bickering amongst themselves over the now empty throne. Mandrake, finally disgusted with the whole affair, left the city to live out his years in the Arisan forest, now known as [[Darkwood]]. Without an Archbishop to call an Ecumenical Council, even the priests of the city began arguing over what should be done. The few who were not killed in the Battle of Stones either did not desire the position of Archbishop or refused to vote for anyone but themselves. By the spring of {{NCYear\|646}}, neither an Archbishop nor a Neptarch had been chosen. Each of the noble houses gathered their troops and prepared for war. [[Deimos of House Rimman\|Deimos]] of [[House Rimman]] was the first to take [[Castle Zepharos]], so he had a clear advantage early on, but the other noble houses cut him off from the rest of the city, critically hampering his attempts at re-establishing the regency of House Rimman. Fighting raged through the streets as each House attempted to put its head on the throne. Soon, the fighting spilled into the countryside as mercenaries began flocking to the city to fill the ranks of the various noble Houses. In {{NCYear\|652}}, the fighting was briefly interrupted when a new Archbishop was finally chosen, but even he was ineffectual at calming the nerves of the embattled Houses and too afraid of repercussions to name a Neptarch himself until there was a clear victor.

	In {{NCYear\|664}}, after almost twenty years of nearly endless warfare, [[House Arisan]] finally declared that it was tired of the fighting and was going into voluntary exile in the ~~Arisian~~ forest. [[Caridius]] of [[House Rimman]], believing the House to be fleeing only so it could prepare its forces, departed the city in pursuit of the migrating House Arisan. He eventually found them and his men attacked, killing each member of the House in what would become known as [[the Massacre of the Wintering Hill]]. The Wintering Hill, located some ten miles northeast of the city, became muddy with the blood of the innocents who died that day; even still the hill is devoid of life and many suggest that it is haunted by those who were slaughtered. Caridius returned to Neptaris, expecting the others to bow before his obvious might, but he was killed by an arrow shot before he even reached the city gates.		In {{NCYear\|664}}, after almost twenty years of nearly endless warfare, [[House Arisan]] finally declared that it was tired of the fighting and was going into voluntary exile in the Arisan forest. [[Caridius]] of [[House Rimman]], believing the House to be fleeing only so it could prepare its forces, departed the city in pursuit of the migrating House Arisan. He eventually found them and his men attacked, killing each member of the House in what would become known as [[the Massacre of the Wintering Hill]]. The Wintering Hill, located some ten miles northeast of the city, became muddy with the blood of the innocents who died that day; even still the hill is devoid of life and many suggest that it is haunted by those who were slaughtered. Caridius returned to Neptaris, expecting the others to bow before his obvious might, but he was killed by an arrow shot before he even reached the city gates.

	The fighting continued after the Massacre of the Wintering Hill and [[House Delane]] made a simple decision that would shape the future of the city. House Delane was suffering great losses, as many of the Houses were, and hiring mercenary companies to fight their battles had become standard procedure. So none thought anything when they hired the Great Gryphon Mercenary Company, led by the son of a merchant, [[Valerius Marcosi]].		The fighting continued after the Massacre of the Wintering Hill and [[House Delane]] made a simple decision that would shape the future of the city. House Delane was suffering great losses, as many of the Houses were, and hiring mercenary companies to fight their battles had become standard procedure. So none thought anything when they hired the Great Gryphon Mercenary Company, led by the son of a merchant, [[Valerius Marcosi]].

WikiSysop at 08:41, 22 January 2011

2011-01-22T08:41:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:41, 22 January 2011
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	\|article= The Great Civil War of Neptaris		\|article= The Great Civil War of Neptaris
	}}</includeonly>		}}</includeonly>
	As had become the custom under [[Xaphar of House Rimman\|Regent Xaphar]], he invited his daughter, grandson and a number of clergymen from [[Neptaris]], including the Archbishop of [[Betshaba]], to observe a battle against the [[Kamaria\|Kamarians]] in what would come to be known as [[the Battle of Stones]] in the fall of 645 NC. As Xaphar and his company watched the battle (which the Neptarans were winning), huge boulders suddenly began falling from the sky. The boulders killed every member of the party except the young [[Xaphargus]]. When he crawled from beneath the bloody rubble he rose to face [[Mandrake of Cthos\|Mandrake]], the former Archbishop of Neptaris. Mandrake pulled his sword and ran the boy through. Though Mandrake didn't realize it at the time, the last true Neptarch died by his hand.		As had become the custom under [[Xaphar of House Rimman\|Regent Xaphar]], he invited his daughter, grandson and a number of clergymen from [[Neptaris]], including the Archbishop of [[Betshaba]], to observe a battle against the [[Kamaria\|Kamarians]] in what would come to be known as [[the Battle of Stones]] in the fall of {{NCYear\|645}}. As Xaphar and his company watched the battle (which the Neptarans were winning), huge boulders suddenly began falling from the sky. The boulders killed every member of the party except the young [[Xaphargus]]. When he crawled from beneath the bloody rubble he rose to face [[Mandrake of Cthos\|Mandrake]], the former Archbishop of Neptaris. Mandrake pulled his sword and ran the boy through. Though Mandrake didn't realize it at the time, the last true Neptarch died by his hand.

	When Mandrake returned to Neptaris after more than a century of exile in Kamaria, he expected a hero's welcome. Instead, the nobles of the city immediately began bickering amongst themselves over the now empty throne. Mandrake, finally disgusted with the whole affair, left the city to live out his years in the Arisian forest, now known as [[Darkwood]]. Without an Archbishop to call an Ecumenical Council, even the priests of the city began arguing over what should be done. The few who were not killed in the Battle of Stones either did not desire the position of Archbishop or refused to vote for anyone but themselves. By the spring of 646 NC, neither an Archbishop nor a Neptarch had been chosen. Each of the noble houses gathered their troops and prepared for war. [[Deimos of House Rimman\|Deimos]] of [[House Rimman]] was the first to take [[Castle Zepharos]], so he had a clear advantage early on, but the other noble houses cut him off from the rest of the city, critically hampering his attempts at re-establishing the regency of House Rimman. Fighting raged through the streets as each House attempted to put its head on the throne. Soon, the fighting spilled into the countryside as mercenaries began flocking to the city to fill the ranks of the various noble Houses. In 652, the fighting was briefly interrupted when a new Archbishop was finally chosen, but even he was ineffectual at calming the nerves of the embattled Houses and too afraid of repercussions to name a Neptarch himself until there was a clear victor.		When Mandrake returned to Neptaris after more than a century of exile in Kamaria, he expected a hero's welcome. Instead, the nobles of the city immediately began bickering amongst themselves over the now empty throne. Mandrake, finally disgusted with the whole affair, left the city to live out his years in the Arisian forest, now known as [[Darkwood]]. Without an Archbishop to call an Ecumenical Council, even the priests of the city began arguing over what should be done. The few who were not killed in the Battle of Stones either did not desire the position of Archbishop or refused to vote for anyone but themselves. By the spring of {{NCYear\|646}}, neither an Archbishop nor a Neptarch had been chosen. Each of the noble houses gathered their troops and prepared for war. [[Deimos of House Rimman\|Deimos]] of [[House Rimman]] was the first to take [[Castle Zepharos]], so he had a clear advantage early on, but the other noble houses cut him off from the rest of the city, critically hampering his attempts at re-establishing the regency of House Rimman. Fighting raged through the streets as each House attempted to put its head on the throne. Soon, the fighting spilled into the countryside as mercenaries began flocking to the city to fill the ranks of the various noble Houses. In {{NCYear\|652}}, the fighting was briefly interrupted when a new Archbishop was finally chosen, but even he was ineffectual at calming the nerves of the embattled Houses and too afraid of repercussions to name a Neptarch himself until there was a clear victor.

	In 664 NC, after almost twenty years of nearly endless warfare, [[House Arisan]] finally declared that it was tired of the fighting and was going into voluntary exile in the Arisian forest. [[Caridius]] of [[House Rimman]], believing the House to be fleeing only so it could prepare its forces, departed the city in pursuit of the migrating House Arisan. He eventually found them and his men attacked, killing each member of the House in what would become known as [[the Massacre of the Wintering Hill]]. The Wintering Hill, located some ten miles ~~east~~ of the city, became muddy with the blood of the innocents who died that day; even still the hill is devoid of life and many suggest that it is haunted by those who were slaughtered. Caridius returned to Neptaris, expecting the others to bow before his obvious might, but he was killed by an arrow shot before he even reached the city gates.		In {{NCYear\|664}}, after almost twenty years of nearly endless warfare, [[House Arisan]] finally declared that it was tired of the fighting and was going into voluntary exile in the Arisian forest. [[Caridius]] of [[House Rimman]], believing the House to be fleeing only so it could prepare its forces, departed the city in pursuit of the migrating House Arisan. He eventually found them and his men attacked, killing each member of the House in what would become known as [[the Massacre of the Wintering Hill]]. The Wintering Hill, located some ten miles northeast of the city, became muddy with the blood of the innocents who died that day; even still the hill is devoid of life and many suggest that it is haunted by those who were slaughtered. Caridius returned to Neptaris, expecting the others to bow before his obvious might, but he was killed by an arrow shot before he even reached the city gates.

	The fighting continued after the Massacre of the Wintering Hill and [[House Delane]] made a simple decision that would shape the future of the city. House Delane was suffering great losses, as many of the Houses were, and hiring mercenary companies to fight their battles had become standard procedure. So none thought anything when they hired the Great Gryphon Mercenary Company, led by the son of a merchant, [[Valerius Marcosi]].		The fighting continued after the Massacre of the Wintering Hill and [[House Delane]] made a simple decision that would shape the future of the city. House Delane was suffering great losses, as many of the Houses were, and hiring mercenary companies to fight their battles had become standard procedure. So none thought anything when they hired the Great Gryphon Mercenary Company, led by the son of a merchant, [[Valerius Marcosi]].

	Valerius Marcosi proved to be a brilliant military commander who won victory after victory for House Delane. In [[the Battle of Krios Forge]], he overcame the combined forces of [[House Perrenos]] and [[House Rimman]] even though he was outnumbered five to one. He also used fishing ships as transport vessels to get his men to and from the city as quickly as possible. By the time his contract with House Delane was up in 668 NC, he had effectively destroyed the ability of most of the major Houses to wage war. When House Delane offered him double his previous salary, Valerius unexpectedly refused the offer. A week later, the army of Kamaria arrived at Neptaris, with Valerius Marcosi's Great Gryphons leading the charge. The Noble Houses fought a losing battle for the next two years as Valerius and his Kamarian allies scored victory after victory against the Neptarans. Most believed that Valerius had been hired by the Kamarians to assist in again annexing Neptaris in its time of weakness. When the last noble House surrendered to him in 670, they discovered that they were very wrong.		Valerius Marcosi proved to be a brilliant military commander who won victory after victory for House Delane. In [[the Battle of Krios Forge]], he overcame the combined forces of [[House Perrenos]] and [[House Rimman]] even though he was outnumbered five to one. He also used fishing ships as transport vessels to get his men to and from the city as quickly as possible. By the time his contract with House Delane was up in {{NCYear\|668}}, he had effectively destroyed the ability of most of the major Houses to wage war. When House Delane offered him double his previous salary, Valerius unexpectedly refused the offer. A week later, the army of Kamaria arrived at Neptaris, with Valerius Marcosi's Great Gryphons leading the charge. The Noble Houses fought a losing battle for the next two years as Valerius and his Kamarian allies scored victory after victory against the Neptarans. Most believed that Valerius had been hired by the Kamarians to assist in again annexing Neptaris in its time of weakness. When the last noble House surrendered to him in {{NCYear\|670}}, they discovered that they were very wrong.
	<noinclude>{{Duria_Guide		<noinclude>{{Duria_Guide
	\|chapter= History		\|chapter= History
	}}</noinclude>		}}</noinclude>

WikiSysop at 08:17, 22 January 2011

2011-01-22T08:17:48Z

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WikiSysop at 16:38, 29 December 2009

2009-12-29T16:38:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 29 December 2009
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	Valerius Marcosi proved to be a brilliant military commander who won victory after victory for House Delane. In [[the Battle of Krios Forge]], he overcame the combined forces of [[House Perrenos]] and [[House Rimman]] even though he was outnumbered five to one. He also used fishing ships as transport vessels to get his men to and from the city as quickly as possible. By the time his contract with House Delane was up in 668 NC, he had effectively destroyed the ability of most of the major Houses to wage war. When House Delane offered him double his previous salary, Valerius unexpectedly refused the offer. A week later, the army of Kamaria arrived at Neptaris, with Valerius Marcosi's Great Gryphons leading the charge. The Noble Houses fought a losing battle for the next two years as Valerius and his Kamarian allies scored victory after victory against the Neptarans. Most believed that Valerius had been hired by the Kamarians to assist in again annexing Neptaris in its time of weakness. When the last noble House surrendered to him in 670, they discovered that they were very wrong.		Valerius Marcosi proved to be a brilliant military commander who won victory after victory for House Delane. In [[the Battle of Krios Forge]], he overcame the combined forces of [[House Perrenos]] and [[House Rimman]] even though he was outnumbered five to one. He also used fishing ships as transport vessels to get his men to and from the city as quickly as possible. By the time his contract with House Delane was up in 668 NC, he had effectively destroyed the ability of most of the major Houses to wage war. When House Delane offered him double his previous salary, Valerius unexpectedly refused the offer. A week later, the army of Kamaria arrived at Neptaris, with Valerius Marcosi's Great Gryphons leading the charge. The Noble Houses fought a losing battle for the next two years as Valerius and his Kamarian allies scored victory after victory against the Neptarans. Most believed that Valerius had been hired by the Kamarians to assist in again annexing Neptaris in its time of weakness. When the last noble House surrendered to him in 670, they discovered that they were very wrong.
	{{Duria_Guide		<noinclude>{{Duria_Guide
	\|chapter= History		\|chapter= History
	}}		}}</noinclude>

WikiSysop: Created page with '{{Article_Reference |article= The Great Civil War of Neptaris }} As had become the custom under Regent Xaphar, he invited hi…'

2009-12-29T16:25:34Z

Created page with '<includeonly>{{Article_Reference |article= The Great Civil War of Neptaris }}</includeonly> As had become the custom under Regent Xaphar, he invited hi…'

New page

<includeonly>{{Article_Reference
|article= The Great Civil War of Neptaris
}}</includeonly>
As had become the custom under [[Xaphar of House Rimman|Regent Xaphar]], he invited his daughter, grandson and a number of clergymen from [[Neptaris]], including the Archbishop of [[Betshaba]], to observe a battle against the [[Kamaria|Kamarians]] in what would come to be known as [[the Battle of Stones]] in the fall of 645 NC. As Xaphar and his company watched the battle (which the Neptarans were winning), huge boulders suddenly began falling from the sky. The boulders killed every member of the party except the young [[Xaphargus]]. When he crawled from beneath the bloody rubble he rose to face [[Mandrake of Cthos|Mandrake]], the former Archbishop of Neptaris. Mandrake pulled his sword and ran the boy through. Though Mandrake didn't realize it at the time, the last true Neptarch died by his hand.

When Mandrake returned to Neptaris after more than a century of exile in Kamaria, he expected a hero's welcome. Instead, the nobles of the city immediately began bickering amongst themselves over the now empty throne. Mandrake, finally disgusted with the whole affair, left the city to live out his years in the Arisian forest, now known as [[Darkwood]]. Without an Archbishop to call an Ecumenical Council, even the priests of the city began arguing over what should be done. The few who were not killed in the Battle of Stones either did not desire the position of Archbishop or refused to vote for anyone but themselves. By the spring of 646 NC, neither an Archbishop nor a Neptarch had been chosen. Each of the noble houses gathered their troops and prepared for war. [[Deimos of House Rimman|Deimos]] of [[House Rimman]] was the first to take [[Castle Zepharos]], so he had a clear advantage early on, but the other noble houses cut him off from the rest of the city, critically hampering his attempts at re-establishing the regency of House Rimman. Fighting raged through the streets as each House attempted to put its head on the throne. Soon, the fighting spilled into the countryside as mercenaries began flocking to the city to fill the ranks of the various noble Houses. In 652, the fighting was briefly interrupted when a new Archbishop was finally chosen, but even he was ineffectual at calming the nerves of the embattled Houses and too afraid of repercussions to name a Neptarch himself until there was a clear victor.

In 664 NC, after almost twenty years of nearly endless warfare, [[House Arisan]] finally declared that it was tired of the fighting and was going into voluntary exile in the Arisian forest. [[Caridius]] of [[House Rimman]], believing the House to be fleeing only so it could prepare its forces, departed the city in pursuit of the migrating House Arisan. He eventually found them and his men attacked, killing each member of the House in what would become known as [[the Massacre of the Wintering Hill]]. The Wintering Hill, located some ten miles east of the city, became muddy with the blood of the innocents who died that day; even still the hill is devoid of life and many suggest that it is haunted by those who were slaughtered. Caridius returned to Neptaris, expecting the others to bow before his obvious might, but he was killed by an arrow shot before he even reached the city gates.

The fighting continued after the Massacre of the Wintering Hill and [[House Delane]] made a simple decision that would shape the future of the city. House Delane was suffering great losses, as many of the Houses were, and hiring mercenary companies to fight their battles had become standard procedure. So none thought anything when they hired the Great Gryphon Mercenary Company, led by the son of a merchant, [[Valerius Marcosi]].

Valerius Marcosi proved to be a brilliant military commander who won victory after victory for House Delane. In [[the Battle of Krios Forge]], he overcame the combined forces of [[House Perrenos]] and [[House Rimman]] even though he was outnumbered five to one. He also used fishing ships as transport vessels to get his men to and from the city as quickly as possible. By the time his contract with House Delane was up in 668 NC, he had effectively destroyed the ability of most of the major Houses to wage war. When House Delane offered him double his previous salary, Valerius unexpectedly refused the offer. A week later, the army of Kamaria arrived at Neptaris, with Valerius Marcosi's Great Gryphons leading the charge. The Noble Houses fought a losing battle for the next two years as Valerius and his Kamarian allies scored victory after victory against the Neptarans. Most believed that Valerius had been hired by the Kamarians to assist in again annexing Neptaris in its time of weakness. When the last noble House surrendered to him in 670, they discovered that they were very wrong.
{{Duria_Guide
|chapter= History
}}