The people of Lemuria had never experienced an energy pattern
quite like the one given off by Kotan the Terrible. It was a powerful, swirling sort of
energy that either attracted or repulsed you, with no room in between. Because of his
charisma, Kotan was able to attract and build a large army of followers, and when he
rolled into the different lands of Lemuria, the population typically folded under his
might.
As time passed, Kotan began building a fleet of warships and
transport ships. These ships were decorated with multicolored sails and lanterns hanging
from the masts. When the ships sailed into a port at night (Kotan’s favorite time to
attack a port city) the lanterns behind the sails gave the ships an unearthly glow that
could be seen for miles across the open sea. Of all the ships that were built by Kotan,
his flagship, The Fingall, was his most prized possession. It was twice the size of any
other warship afloat and was double hulled with ironwood planks. Besides the great number
of deck cannon, there were two rows of cannon on each side. It was the most frightening
thing ever seen in Lemuria.
As each land fell to his power, Kotan began to feel as if he
might actually succeed in ruling all of Lemuria. He became overly confident, as these
types always do, and he began sending warships out to conquer lands without his direct
supervision. And so it came to pass that he sent The Fingall to the Floral Sea to
investigate and lay claim to a large nameless archipelago that was reported to be a
tropical paradise. Kotan never set eyes on The Fingall again, but that is a story recorded
in the Spice Islands Historium.
Kotan’s self confidence quickly eroded when he reached
the shores of Kelle. To begin with, his fleet was met at sea by the small and highly
maneuverable skiffs of the Kelles. These boats were so small they were nearly impossible
to hit with cannon shot, and each skiff was equipped with a load of firebombs: glass
containers filled with sap and resins and a wick of cotton. The Kelle Skiffs would
approach the cumbersome warships and the brave Kelles would light their firebombs and
throw them on board. Kotan and his fleet were quickly forced to retreat to open sea and
make repairs.
Next, Kotan sent a portion of his fleet around the other side
of Kelle to the small island called The Fey Lands. There was only one survivor of that
fatal expedition and his story is one of fantastic beings, both large and small, that
enchanted the warriors and led them away to their slaughter.
Finally, Kotan ordered the fleet to move at full sail to
Kelle, in effect flying past the Kelle’s skiffs and landing at Flynburry on the west
coast. Fierce resistance met Kotan and his troops but the invaders were able to fight
their way through the village and up the River Dunne where they set up temporary camp.
Here they were besieged by constant attacks of the Kelle warriors. Small groups would
attack from one side and retreat, drawing Kotan’s warriors out into the woods, then a
larger force of Kelles would attack from another direction. Day and night this continued
until finally Kotan and what was left of his army were exhausted. It was at this point
that Kotan ordered his army to move further upstream into the Spinster Mountains. He
thought he could find refuge in the canyons and passes of the mountains, or at least a
spot more easily defended. He wasn’t counting on the magick of the Spinsters.
Reports from that encampment are wild and nearly unbelievable.
They are certainly something to be told at another sitting. Let it be known, however, that
it was from this encampment in The Spinsters that Kotan’s army arrested Kotan himself
and eventually banished him to The
Shadowlands.
