The tome is written with a certain eloquence- Clearly someone of decent education's hand, albeit rather clinically composed, this black tome is a properly printed work. Formerly a rough draft for the sake of the Erudite, this piece of writing has been remade for distribution as a book for public consumption where accepted.
A RECORDED HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUNDARAK
THE FIRST OPEN WAR OF LIBERATION | DECEMBER 775 - JUNE 776
Written and composed by General Dzenifer Uralkodó, Fifth Company
Author’s note,
Written from both various transcribed reports and personal account of General Uralkodó of the Black Army, Fifth Company, these books act as both a record of history and personal view of the Gundarakite perspective in the First Open War of Liberty. This account also details the conflict as the First Open War of Liberty, acknowledging the brave efforts of Gundarakite rebels throughout history who rose against their oppressor and gave their lives for freedom before the Black Army.
In memory of the Fifth Company, and those who gave their lives - Lord Regent Demetrius Ajkler, Gen. Katheryna Roskovànyi, Lt. Gabor Halàsz, Sgt. Matyas Kovacs, Cpl. Elyzabet Megyeri, Spec. Lazlo Lajtha, Pvt. 1st class Kalipszò Dalanda, Pvt. Milan Viga, Cpl. Anton Durand, all other soldiers who gave their lives for the cause, and the families we lost to the terrible tyrants of the Core. You live forever within our hearts, and… I do not think I could’ve done this without your memories pushing me on. This book is also dedicated to my son, Elias Uralkodó, and my loving wife, Bela Uralkodó. When you grow up, my boy, I hope you read this and know your father fought for something worthwhile. Bela, my most darling gem within my life- Thank you for being strong for me while I had struggled to remember all of the terrible things this war had brought. You are my everything, and every single morning sun reminds me of your smile.
“We live by legends, and not bread alone.”
Formation of the Republic, Independence, and siege of Zeidenberg - DECEMBER, 775
Demetrius Ajkler announces his intent with his company of soldiers, the Black Army of Gundarak (formally The Black Company, newly renamed) having militarily supported the Council of Brilliance both against the Covenant rebellion and the recent Falkovnian invasion, managing to secure financial backing for an invasion of the entire original homeland of Gundarak, including the capital city of Zeidenberg. Due to the cause of liberty and freedom being praised within Dementlieuse society, this leads to many of the gentry and politicians seeing the Black Army’s cause as a noble one.
This eventually leads to the Gundar River having Black Army vessels swarming the river itself within the month to transport the infantry of the Black Army’s various companies and, in tow, the elite Fifth Company, yet unproven, outside of Zeidenberg, the former capital of old Gundarak. Being equipped with the technological prowess of the Dementlieuse’s style of warfare of blackpowder and faster tactical minds, the traditional Barovian militia was unprepared for the invading force to come. Shortly before the invasion itself, Lord Regent Demetrius Ajkler announces the full independence of the newly birthed Republic of Gundarak, declared as right and lawful, alongside its core set of initial laws. These laws declared and invited foreign support and recognition, and its main demand was clear - To take back all of the former land of the nation of Gundarak, remaining in a state of war until all of it is reclaimed. There was no notion of pushing further and destroying the nation of Barovia or Invidia alike. Alongside this proclamation, there were also several other progressive laws (for this part of the Core) put in place. In the meanwhile, after this proclamation, Gundarakite Rebels within the city and beyond prepare for the incoming invasion, while the Barovian militia and their Burgomaster of Zeidenberg, Stelian Moraru, rally what they can of the garrison and announce that they refuse to surrender to the invading Black Army.
The full base laws of Republic of Gundarak at the time of establishment in 775 is as follows;
“The Republic of Gundarak is hereby proclaimed with elections to follow for the rightful, legitimate rule of law by the people of Gundarak.
- Gundarakite citizens in each municipality in liberated areas may vote for their polgarmesters. Polgarmesters shall decide who shall become Lord Regent.
- Luktar is henceforth the language of law in Gundarak. No tongue is unlawful!
- Subjects not of Gundarakite origin may not own property without consent of polgarmesters. Only Gundarakite citizens may vote!
- The Lord Regent shall protect all law-abiding subjects in Gundarak's borders.
- 19th of December is henceforth declared The Day of Liberty!
- Property stolen since the unlawful occupation by Barovia and Invidia shall be returned to its rightful landowners!
- All Statues depicting the von Zarovich family shall be demolished!
- Gundarak shall remain in a state of war with Barovia until all lawful Gundarakite land is reclaimed!
- All respectable mercenary companies across the Core are INVITED to negotiate contracts to DEFEND the Gundarakite state against her enemies!
- Lord Regent Demetrius Ajkler has hereby granted The Church of Ezra the right to build a Cathedral in Zeidenberg christened by the First Revelation! All heresies of the Ezrite faith are hereby declared UNLAWFUL!
- Gundarak hereby declares itself a PROPONENT of Free Trade. Therefore all bans on Trade Companies are removed. All companies are free to conduct business in Gundarak. Gunpowder is hereby LEGAL for sale and transportation so long as customs and duties are paid!
- Gundarak welcomes other states in the Core to RECOGNIZE the borders and government of Gundarak and establish diplomatic relations with the peace-loving people in the Republic of Gundarak!"
(THE DIET OF GUNDARAK, CIRCA 775)
Within the month, the Black Army of Gundarak’s siege of Zeidenberg begins. Seeing their chance, the local rebel movement within the city springs their own attack, forcing the unprepared Barovian garrison to deal with conflict both within the city and outside the walls themselves. Western firearms and cannons play a perfect part in the Black Army’s success- Most Barovians have only heard of gunpowder weaponry at most, leaving their lack of experience and chaotic situation to have the defense offered be weak at best. The inside team of rebels, noticing the various companies of Black Army soldiers reaching the walls of the city, eventually overwhelm the gate guard and open the way to the rest of the city. The fighting goes from district to district, the garrison pushed back from each street corner. Under the leadership of Gabor Halász and Zalan Eotvos, Fifth Company led the charge within the city itself, and with their wit and steel, cut through most of the remaining defending forces until what remained surrendered. With the taking of the city as a whole, Burgomaster Moraru is hung within the city as a display of Gundarakite justice, being fully occupied by rebel and Black Army forces. With their presence established, the Lord Regent himself arrives and meets with several other rebel figureheads, establishing in confidence in one thing- The war has only begun, and that they will be vital to the war effort to come. Fifth Company celebrates in drinks and toasts in honor of those who passed to retake the city; andthe long campaign ahead.
Within the same month, Lord Regent Demetrius Ajkler proudly gives a call to arms to the people of Gundarak from the confines of the newly taken Zeidenberg, welcoming both the common man and Outlander alike to sign up for the cause, establishing that outsiders can properly enlist within the Black Army for the first time in history, and alongside this, champions the religious freedom of the Republic by praising both believers of the Morninglord and Ezra. Alongside this, this is the first written word of the common phrase often used in almost all Gundarakite pride related inscriptions;
“Vas és vér! LIBERTY OR DEATH”! Translated into the common tongue, the phrase translates into “iron and blood”, Gundarakite military members often referring to it as the means necessary for a free Gundarak- Needing nothing more than the iron they carry and the blood they bleed.
Siege of Teufeldorf by Fourth Company, removal of the Old Faith, and battles within Invidia
- JANUARY, 776
In accordance with their doctrine, Teufeldorf is set to be besieged by the Black Army, specifically the Fourth Company, having sent ships and a march of infantry set to assault the city. However, unlike Zeidenberg, there were few direct rebel elements to aid the company of soldiers, and alongside this, they were met with more advanced defending forces of both local village militias and Garda. Despite this, the advanced weaponry allows Fourth Company to cut down many of the defending parties, until a heavy mist is recorded, from reports, to have moved onto the city itself. It is said that combat continues some time within these conditions until the mists rise, giving way to the surviving Fourth Company forces fleeing directly West back to Zeidenberg. Many soldiers of the surviving Fourth recount having directly been engaged by an uncountable amount of moaning undead with little care for allegiance, whom refused to stay dead after countless musket shots. With the Company’s morale broken from the supernatural encounter, they fully retreat back to Zeidenberg, accounting to be the first major loss in the Black Army’s reign in Republic history. While the tales of undead coming to ravage Gundarakite forces were disputed and discounted by some, later in history, this was proven to be the truth- It would not be the last sighting or report of the terrifying onslaught of undead against the Black Army.
Within the month, political and cultural conflict boiled to a major disagreement between Gundarakite elements of the Lord Regent, leading the declaration of worship of the Old Faith (also known as those of the Nerull belief, or simply the old faith) to be completely unlawful. Despite first impressions of it contradicting the religious freedoms of the Republic itself, those of the Old Faith are cemented in dark practices of both ritual sacrifice, worship of darker elements and fiends, and even more heinous acts which I dare not transcribe in full. Gundarakite youth were often corrupted by their teachings as one of the only ways to gain freedom, and were used to further the cult’s agendas, and thus, the Lord Regent and a majority of the army as a whole saw it as an outdated, terrible religion.
“The cult of Nerull is hereby a PROSCRIBED DOGMA for its trespasses against the Gundarakite people throughout its history. Beginning with its inhumane treatment of our citizens during the reign of Duke Gundar they have continued to prove disloyal and revolting. Too long have we tolerated their DEGENERACY. No more. The Cult of the Old God is hereby OUTLAWED. Furthermore, the man known as Emanuel Maryszkas is hereby an OUTLAW of the Republic with a bounty on his head of 100,000 Drymarks!
Furthermore, the Republic declares that The Dreadpass is hereby under the Republic's control as well as the village of Berez! We shall continue our occupation of these lands until such a time that Barovia delivers the city of Tuefeldorf back to rightful Gundarakite sovereignty!
FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST, GUNDARAK SHALL BE MADE WHOLE ONCE MORE!” (THE DIET OF GUNDARAK, CIRCA 776)
Not all did, of course- At this time, there were still those within the Black Army who held onto these practices in secret, something which would quickly rise to be a problem in the future. At this time within Black Army, an infamous figure in Gundarakite history would come to be known as Erzebet Varga. Unknown to the leadership at the time, she acted as an agent of the Old Faith and their own agenda, and would eventually lead to some of the most major blows to the Republic as a whole, and lead various atrocities underneath her name. Regardless of future involvement, she was kept away from more sensitive military dealings, but, found uses within the Black Army’s own tasks as a rebel contact. Alongside this, the military declared the intent of taking Berez, a small town on one end of the Dreadpass, for a temporary amount of time. Planned for the strategic value of holding the territory for the sake of controlling the Dreadpass until the taking of Teufeldorf, the temporary occupation of Berez became one of the fiercest fronts in the war’s history.
Deeper in Invidian territory, with the help of the Company of Phoenix of Dementlieu, an undisclosed fortress location came under the direct assault of Invidian forces, employing both arcane and monstrous infantry against the conventional warfare means of the Black Army. Despite a long and hard battle, and the incident involving a large, arcane cannon being improperly handled by a recruit of the Phoenix Company leading to the death of several infantrymen, The Black Army held the vital strategic point. A mourning pyre was built to honor the men lost to the battle, and more importantly, would mark only the first contact of engagement against the Invidian combatants of Malocchio Aderre, whom had his own forces still strewn in a civil war for control of the countryside with his mother’s own forces, Gabriella Aderre. The failure of the Phoenix Company is still remembered by several soldiers to this day, acting as a near final black mark on the reputation of the mercenary company out of the finer country of Dementlieu, with its command going as far as calling it slander despite the actual events of the battle. Despite this, the extra manpower and offered arcane aid of Phoenix Company helped win them the day, making the final mistake made by the greener recruit of the mercenaries an unfortunate accident.
The taking of Berez and conflict against supernatural elements - FEBRUARY, 776
he taking of Berez was a swift battle. The attack by the Black Army was unexpected due to their unknown presence within the area near the town itself, the elite Fifth Company infiltrated the city at night through the side gate and climbed the walls, bursting through the meek defenses to either capture or kill resistant militia. In accordance with orders, certain boats within the docks were set aflame to prevent outgoing word. The night remained quiet beyond minor musket fire, and there were no Black Army casualties. The Burgomaster is kept alive, alongside his family, for complying with the Army’s requests- Alongside this, several militia members are moved into service as Irregulars within the Black Army. Over the next few days at the beginning of the occupation, the town was heavily fortified on all sides through wooden barricade, ballista emplacements. Not soon after the fully prepared defense of the town, several waves of undead creatures, followed by a gaunt mist, strike against the town’s defenses and are eventually fought back, though not without the help of sympathetic Outlanders whom come to observe and learn of the Army’s nature. They are allowed to pass and conversate as necessary. Controversially, some of the crowd were of the Christian cult of Barovia, earning further ire for the Christian Cult by the Barovian leadership within the local area.
“If one more of those blasted furry bastards put a TOE towards this town I want you to light them up like it were Navorhan!” - Lt. Gabor Halàsz, CIRCA 776
Wagons and supply lines are built. Despite not being of the original vision of the war, Berez is secured on the basis entirely of making sure the Dreadpass is within the full control of the Republic, allowing a flow of supplies and men to both the warfronts and as a forward fortress. Citizens within Berez are allowed to continue their normal lives, but several choose to flee, spreading rumors of other creatures of the night assailing them outside of the walls- Such as werewolves. Interestingly, Gundarakites are spared from this onslaught, despite no direct involvement from the Black Army, nor was any dealing made with such forces. This is an event that is still disputed in written history, but Barovian propaganda was quick to push this to their advantage, to display the Black Army as in league with unscrupulous elements.
Infighting from the Death Cult of Nerull and their illegal elements - MARCH, 776
Following the great ban of the vicious fiend-worshipping cult of Nerull, there is discontent within the capital of Zeidenberg. The best efforts of informing the public and reminding those of the terrible times during the rule of the duchy did not prevent small uprisings and riots in the countryside of the new Republic. Incidents from the Capital itself included civil unrest as the soldiers of the city enforced the new rule against the worship. Despite the lack of a future with the self-destructive nature of Nerull worship, several Gundarakites continue to hold onto this as the major truth and a stamp upon their freedom. The debate of Nerull’s validity continues, while their agents slip into the shadows and prepare for their next move.
Berez continues to be occupied by the elite Fifth Company of the Black Army, enacting several guerrilla missions within the local area and ensuring the safety of other rebel elements against creatures of the night which continue to openly assault the walls of the town. In response, the Fifth Company simply ups the amount of musket-armed soldiers along their walls.
“I don’t know what I see beyond the wall, oftentimes- But the more they say the word of the Devil, the more muskets I ask to be brought to shut them up.” - Unknown Black Army Soldier, CIRCA 776
The involvement of the Barovian Congregation of Ezra begins due to direct order by Barovian leadership. Barovia increased patrols and orders to observe the movements of the Black Army, albeit not postured in direct opposition to them. Underneath the heel of the tyranny of the country, they are forced into what is essentially pseudo-military service, despite facing what was almost wholly the Ezrite-believing Black Army. At this point, several of the Fifth Company were even baptized, and had an Ezrite clergyman, the good Anton Durand, enlisted as a soldier, maintaining his connection to his faith while fighting for the liberty of the Gundarakites. Eventually their forced involvement led to the Krezk Massacre, where several of the Congregation were forced to witness atrocities, and chose not to stop as the infamous Dog Company of the combined Barovian forces put down a small riot within the town of Krezk by revolting Gundarakite peasantry, who set fire to a local building as an act of rebellion. None of those who rebelled survived beyond tangential family members, who were later questioned by Black Army operatives about the nature of their involvement.
This massacre to this day is an incredible hole in Gundarakites’ hearts everywhere. The brave men who stood up to their oppressors were cut down for their act of defiance, despite knowing they would have no outside support, only the pride that knowing they were fighting gave them. The Barovian congregation of Ezra was later confronted within a small meeting of their involvement to clear up their direct actions within the event, causing several Ezrites (whom in this tome will not be named) to express their dismay with their Barovian masters, but seeing themselves unable to stand for themselves, due to the forces at play. At this point, the black coach of the infamous Von Zarovich family was long since sighted arriving into the Vallaki area. Their constant looming threat was considered as an extra measure to keep the local faiths in line with the Barovian law- As similar threat and conversation was put over the heads of those of the Morninglord.
The Wachter guard militia of the town later skirmishes with the Black Army outside of the walls of Krezk, leading to the quiet death of several Wachter guardsmen with zero Black Army casualties. In a later skirmish, the great statue depicting the statue of Count Strahd von Zarovich is bombed with blackpowder in a display of Gundarakite pride.
The continued conflict for control for Berez, the fight against Alexandria von Zarovich, and death of the Lord Regent - APRIL, 776
Berez continued to prove to be one of the most difficult holds for the Black Army within the war. Despite being held by it’s most elite of soldiers, Black Army scouts were quick to inform the uninformed garrison of an incoming plan of attack from the Wachter forces- A huge detached legion of horsemen and guardsmen from the local area, using stolen black powder cannons, planned to lay siege to the small town of Berez with risk of civilian casualties. The battle went on for most of the day it begun, the rupturing sound of musket shot and cannonfire only ending after most of the prepared defenses of the army were splintered and battered, but at the end of the day, ending in a Wachter route with minimal Black Army casualty. Despite being surrounded on all sides, the Black Army had effectively choked their ability to properly lay siege to the stone walls of the town itself through a well-set up deployment of muddy waters to ruin the movement of horsemen, as well as generously deployed caltrops. Though Berez is still held, the damage is measurable- Not discouraged, many of Fifth Company quickly return to constructing its defenses back up and further out as the border of the Republic is continued to be defined by the worn cobble of Berez.
The encouragement of victory would be short lived, however, for the Republic of Gundarak as a whole. In a grand tragedy, during the grand sermon and speech from Oton Boritsi outside of the in-construction Ezrite temple within the Capital City of Gundarak, the Fifth Company and Lord Regent were assailed by Nerull cultists and demon worshippers. Forced into the incomplete innards of the beautifully constructed temple in a Western part of the city, the Fifth Company were charged as the sole security of the Lord Regent himself, considering their elite status. Following a harsh night of brutal indoors combat, the Fifth Company were overwhelmed due to the betrayal of one Erzebet Varga, a previously trusted member of the rebellion, who chose to shoot her brothers and sisters in the back with deadly crossbow bolts for the sake of her fiend worshipping faith. Multiple Fifth Company members were forced to witness the head of Demetrius Ajkler haphazardly removed from his neck in a gross display of dedication to their dark god and continued oppression of their people. Not only losing both pride and several fellow countrymen to the betrayal, but their great leader and figurehead of liberty, General Katheryna Roskoványi declared emergency measures for the sake of the country’s stability, assuming leadership until a next possible movement between the Diet of Gundarak, the collective council of polgarmesters and other influential rebel figures could come to the agreement for a second election. Once more, Gundarakites everywhere mourned for the man who spent his entire life preparing the Black Army and their men for the freedom of Gundarak, only to die due to the betrayal of countrymen, all thanks to the corruption of the Old Faith and their extensive crimes. Neurell cultists and sympathizers were persecuted on an even more intense level, causing even several members of the once infallible Fifth Company to be put into question as several members were forced to be open on their religious beliefs. Several soldiers were executed for treason due to their utter loyalty to the cult, breaking more hearts among the otherwise close knit family of the company as a whole.
“We call upon not just the Gundarakite people to stand up to the evil Tyrant Count, but also against the evil cult that besmirched our people's name for too long. Nerull and Duke Gundar shall die and be forgotten and make way for the new, enlightened era of the Republic! Gundarak's citizens shall exercise their rights to vote in upcoming elections in the coming summer!
We press on, but we shall not forget. Nor shall we ever forgive.
Vas és vér!
LIBERTY OR DEATH"
(THE DIET OF GUNDARAK, CIRCA 776)
Unfortunately, the heartbreak and struggle did not end with Zeidenberg. Upon their return to Berez, several men down and exhausted, a scouting squad informed the men of the Fifth that a soldier’s family from a local town had been stolen away by the infamous black coach of the Von Zarovich family. Not willing to lose more than they already had, Captain Zalan Eotvos and Dzenifer Uralkodo had directly intercepted the coach alongside an entire squadron of men. However, what they discovered upon their set ambush on the roads of the black coach’s path is, upon opening the coach itself, nothing but corpses. The nearby trees were set aflame through the arcane and conventional combat. Out of the shadows and mist came forth Alexandria von Zarovich, the “Red Bitch” as she was soon to be called by several soldiers of the company, who began direct combat with the squad and two members of Fifth Company. The entirety of the squadron were cut down in a hail of arcane fire, leaving only Eotvos and Uralkodo to slow her advance. Eventually forced upon orders to leave to gather for reinforcements, Eotvos would, by record, duel the vampire for almost an entire night straight with nothing but a musket and his own available skills. By the time reinforcements had arrived, Eotvos was beaten, but by a miracle, alive, sprawled onto the very soil which marked both of their boots and blood being spilt in their struggle Having lost both family and several more countrymen, the Fifth Company would return to Berez, exhausted and with the looming threat of Alexandria’s possible return to their affairs of dealing with a new problem of risen spirits within the town limits.
Civil massacre and dispute, the taking of Karina in Invidia, and the fall of Berez - MAY, 776
It is unclear who struck first during the sudden flaring mob of Gundarakite and Barovian riot disputes within the fortified town of Berez in May, but what is known is the Black Army’s attempt to stop the violence. Despite Gabor Halàsz’s attempt to calm the age-old tension and cease the unnecessary violence, an unknown citizen struck out first, each crowd armed with small tools or clubs, leading an uncontrolled, violent riot. What had begun as protest and argument between the groups ended in the death of several on both sides. The riot was eventually put under control by the occupying Black Army forces, leaving them to clean up what bodies were made by the years of bad blood between Gundarakites and Barovian peoples.
Within the same month, the forces of the Black Army were roused to the borders of Invidia once more.he waters leading to the coast of the city of Karina. Promised soldiers and support from Gabrielle Aderre upon the taking of the city away from her son, the Black Army deploys their soldiers through a coastal raid in an attempt to take the city itself, leading to a conflict seeing several adversaries- The mad spearman and Invidian war hero known as Hector, infamous for his lack of clothing and insanity after losing his unit (as well as his skill), Falkovnian Talon Knight mercenaries on the side of Malocchio, and an even more advanced version of the infernal cannon witnessed at another conflict within Invidia’s borders months prior. The Black Army successfully disarmed the weapon after two volleys of fire were unleashed toward the shore, destroying several vessels, buildings, and possibly risking even further collateral damage to the city should the arcane construct have gone without being stopped. Despite their immense victory and taking of the city as a whole, the direct faceoff and escape of Malocchio himself, the Black Army had in the battle lost a valued member and soldier General Katheryna Roskoványi. Once again returning in both mourning and with the weight of another successful victory over their shoulders, the mantle that Fifth Company and the Army as a whole wore was one of the tired soldier.
With the election near and no longer seeing the necessity in its hold over the town itself as the Dreadpass was long seen as needing to be re-secured as a whole from the side of Zeidenberg. The Black Army soldiers and Gundarakite citizens of Berez take whomever is willing and return to Zeidenberg in short order, preparing for the coming political event and further future of the Republic as a whole.
Election day, the massacre of Zeidenberg, and the current state of the Republic
- JUNE, 776
“Many among you are far too young to remember the Gundarak that was. It has been spoken of in honeyed words as a golden age for our people, that we were prosperous and happy. I have even heard tell that the Duke, Nharov Gundar is hailed a hero. This is nothing but lies. The Duke was no hero, but a butcher of our own people. They languished and suffered under his wrath for decades on end. This creature who worshipped the Old God, and commanded his subjects to do the same … Demetrius Ajkler will never be forgotten, for he will live on in the faces of every man, woman and child that lives their lives within the serene Republic of Gundarak. His vision for the future we will fiercely uphold and guard until our dying days. Our enemies believe us weak and helpless, they believe us to be broken and vulnerable. They are fools! They know nothing of the unbridled power of the people, the cities and lands built on the backs of Gundarakites! We are not weak, we are strong, robust and burning with the passion of a free people! To the thrice cursed assassins of our beloved Lord Regent, you have failed to split our people in two, you have merely forged us together through a bond of shared pain and suffering, melted into one organization, one nation! Spilling the blood of our people only makes ours boil with righteous fury! To the enemies of Gundarak, I say come before us if you dare, for we are as hardy as any stone wall, as forceful as a storm, and burning with the strength of a raging fire! Liberty or Death, Iron and Blood!” - Lt. Gabor Halàsz, 776, Election Day in Zeidenberg
Following the plans for the coming Summer elections, tensions remained high within the new Republic. Only one city away from technically claiming most of its old ancestral territory once more, military plans openly spoke of and the Diet proudly announced that Tuefeldorf would be next in line for liberation. Despite this continued pride and hope for their future, not was all it seemed during election day. The Black Army was recalled to facilitate security and protect the city of Zeidenberg in order to prevent atrocities during the elections. Several candidates stepped forth with differing stances in the Republic. However, things were not as they seemed with this election. Fifth Company had arrived the latest to the capital city of the Republic compared to the Third and Fourth and rest of the military respectively, being given proper greetings as Lt. Gabor Halàsz presented a speech proper about the future within the Republic itself to an entire crowd of onlookers and fellow political party members, while Captain Zalan gave a separate speech within another city. While Zalan during an outburst struggled to survive a direct assassination attempt from an unknown assailent, leading to his injury (albeit, complete and utter survival), alongside a political victory, Zeidenberg went through an entirely different horror story.
Interrupting the scene within Zeidenberg was the rising growth of mist- Mist, darkness, and the appearance of an unexpected creature. In the middle of the great speech by Halàsz, he was quickly interrupted by the growing sounds of concern from the crowd as a certain figure came from the mists themselves, a man in a dark cloak and deathly cold stare- Count Strahd von Zarovich, the Tyrant. The Devil. Everything that the greater Republic had opposed. Pushing him from the stand with his presence alone and aura of unease, the Count had announced the Republic as ‘foolish’- Deeming that he only allowed it to propagate so that crushing it while they still had hope to be all the more demoralizing. It was not long before combat and panic began to spring- Tiring of the tyrant’s words, Fifth Company was the first to let loose bullets and smoke toward the man himself. With the mists only swelling around the entire city of Zeidenberg, the screams of dozens of citizens rung out at the same time as mysterious wolf-like creatures and other heinous abominations begun swarming the streets of Zeidenberg out of thin air, somehow passing the very walls of the city’s defense and swarming a surprised Black Army garrison. Although blows were attempted to be traded with the Tyrant himself, one Black Army soldier, known as Balthasar Eotvos, brother to the well respected Zalan Eotvos, had gotten a genuine cut and made the Tyrant bleed. What was once deemed invulnerable had been harmed- And with it, pride swelled, despite insurmountable odds.
This angered the Devil to the point of fleeing, temporarily. However, what he left behind was hardly better. In a struggling attempt to try and keep the city, the Black Army as a whole stood together to fight off every single abomination they could. In a grand ploy to save whom they could, parts of the Elite company stayed behind to allow the Fifth to recollect to the docks of the city with the Third and Fourth Company’s remaining men, leaving Dzenifer Uralkodó as the highest remaining within the chain of command. With the lives of Gundarakite citizens on the line and several available naval vessels still remaining to them, Uralkodó made the order for Third and Fourth Company, alongside some of Fifth, to push through the horde in an attempt to save as many citizens of Zeidenberg as possible. As homes which the ever-growing tide of undying corpses had not breached and mysterious hounds continued to pile relentlessly against the dwindling defenses of the Army, the sacrifices of Third, Fourth, and Fifth Company allowed the contingent of remaining Black Army forces to return with entire boats of rescued civilians away from the docks of a burning, haunting sight of Zeidenberg, unable to be saved from a horde which did not cease to grow, no matter how many were slain. Retreating to a discreet location to successfully recollect the Army’s forces, resources, and properly relocate the Gundarakite citizens saved in the aftermath of Zeidenberg’s horrid massacre at the hands of the Devil’s awful machinations, some persisted in the face of adversity.
With the loss of the capital city and hundreds of lives, there was still some hope. From their hidden location, the new Lord Regent, Zalan Eotvos, rises to power despite the attempt on his life, proudly serving Gundarak as its next public servant and directing the Army as necessary. While the countryside was soon to retreat its forces and other rebel coalitions were quick to return to the shadows, Wachter and Ionelus forces march onto Zeidenberg, the city already decimated by the creatures of the night- Seeing only it fit to further pacify the population by, rumor has it, complete and utter brutality. Executions, beatings, and hunting of known rebels and Gundarakite men remaining in the city continued as something of Barovian ‘normality’ returned to the once proud capital.
Despite this incredible loss, the Black Army of the Republic of Gundarak remains alive. Its members return to the shores of where it had begun so humbly within Dementlieu. They found purchase in returning to the old ways of its grand predecessors in finding its services in the hire of the countrymen of the City of Lights and to prove itself again as a military force, and to someday, return to the homeland, to reclaim it once more for its rightful people. The Gundarakite people have not yet put down their arms, or given up the dream of freedom. To this day, the casualties of the war are memorialized with a major obelisk within the cemetery not too far outside of the Lucine, respecting those who fought for the ideals of liberty against insurmountable odds, as any good man would-
With blood and iron.
