The jungles of Jabali breathed rebellion. What the Eldorians saw as a conquered people, they were quickly learning was a phantom. The Mau Mau, once just a legend, moved like ghosts through the forest canopy, striking from the shadows. Their guerrilla tactics were brutal and effective. They didn't stand and fight, not in the open where they could be easily defeated. Instead, they hit supply lines, ambushed small patrols, and melted back into the trees before the Eldorians could retaliate.
The invaders, masters of open combat, found themselves fighting a war against an enemy they could never quite find. Frustrated and with their losses mounting, the Eldorian council met in their newly claimed fortress, a plan taking shape. The people were too devoted to their king, Kaso. His presence was a symbol of their unity, the very root of this resistance. The council decided they needed a scapegoat. A puppet they could discard when they were done with him. King Kaso would be perfect.
Using propaganda and subtle manipulation, the Eldorians spread rumors and half-truths, planting seeds of doubt among the people. The council, ever ambitious, used the growing unrest to seize power. They declared that the king had made a deal with the Eldorians and was a traitor. With the support of the now-ruling Eldorians, they staged a swift and bloodless coup, taking control of the nation while the people were still reeling from the shocking news.
Overnight, the beloved King Kaso was cast aside. Stripped of his titles and his throne, he was no longer useful to the Eldorians, and they abandoned him. The once-venerated king became a pariah, a lone figure wandering the streets of his own city. He tried to hide from the people he had once commanded, but it was all in vain. They found him in a quiet alley, their faces twisted with rage and grief. The man who had been their hero was now their traitor. Without a word, they began to stone him, their rage and pain turning the cobblestones crimson. The king, who had once ruled the lands, met his end as a condemned man, betrayed by everyone he trusted.
For two years, the Eldorians maintained a semblance of order. They brought taxes down from an oppressive 70% to a more manageable 20%, an act they hoped would ease the tension and make them look like saviors. They were praised for their fairness, and for a short time, the Mau Mau's attacks lessened. But the Eldorians now saw no need to maintain this facade. They decided to go all out.
Lord Shadow, a clever and perceptive figure, saw the shift in their demeanor. He spread the word to the council, advising them to raise the taxes themselves. He believed the Eldorians only wanted to recover their losses and would leave the land if it became too much of a burden. Lord Shadow saw a path to peace, thinking they could eventually rebuild what was lost. Little did he know, he was playing right into their hands.
The Eldorians gradually increased the taxes, first to 30%, then to 50%, until they reached an unbearable 90%. They had a darker, more insidious plan. They began their final phase: selling off anyone who couldn't meet the impossible tax quarter. The people of Jabali weren't just being robbed; they were being sold into slavery.
The realization hit Lord Shadow like a physical blow. He had been so blind, so foolish. His desire for a peaceful solution had played a part in the destruction of his people. Overcome with grief and rage, he declared war against the Eldorians. He quietly rallied the people, gathering those who had nothing left to lose, those who sought revenge, and those who were ready to die for their freedom.
Four years into the Eldorian rule, they made their final proclamation. "The land of Jabali has a debt to its conquerors," a booming voice declared from the Eldorian palace. "And we are going to collect."
That was the day the first wave of Eldorian troops, backed by forces from the two other conquered lands, swept through Jabali. They called it "The Crimson Harvest." They killed anyone who resisted and enslaved anyone of a dark complexion. The combined forces were overwhelming. Lord Shadow's newly formed army, though fierce and courageous, was no match for their sheer numbers. He stood alone, fighting to hold his ground, a glimmer of hope in the rising tide of blood.