A harsh winter had passed as
Koguryo entered its 19th year of Yuri's reign. Nomadic tribes have suffered
the season's relentess cruelty moreso than any established kingdom. The
lands these tribes camped on had been ravaged by frost and snow, leaving
them with no food. Prince M'hul had met with the leaders of both the KaKhan
and Sonhi tribes to see how Koguryo might help them in their need.
The reputation of Khan
preceded them. They were known to be proud, short-tempered and skilled
with magic and physical assault. Despite the diplomatic negotiations
of the prince, the leader of the Khan declared an invasion upon Koguryo,
threatening to take the throne if his demands were not met.
The kingdom gathered countless
weapons, meats, and coins for KaKhan and his nomads, yet it was still
not enough. Insults were spat at the kingdom and its people, and as
promised, the Khan launched forth a scouting party shortly before the
full attack.
Setting up camp in the
three valleys close to the Vale, the Khan nomads proved to be a brutal
force. Spearmen, swordsmen, shamans, chongun and even Kogurian traitors
were part of the vast numbers of enemies that clashed swords and magic
with the defensive strategies of the Kogurian covenants. Taking many
unfortunate souls by surprise was a giant serpent, the mighty Autumn
Thunder, which slaughtered many in the brutal carnage of the battlefield.
KaKhan, however difficult
an adversary he proved to be, never had the chance to realize his vision
of claiming the Koguryo Valley as "KaKhan Valley". Through determined
teamwork of the kingdom's greatest fighters and healers, the Khan were
defeated. Their greed and their pride were their downfall.