About 85 years ago lived Nikolas Talon, a tall and strong Ala Mhigan highlander.
Nikolas was the most loyal advisor to King Manfred of Ala Mhigo.
King Manfred was a man both ambitious and greedy and had his sight on annexing the Black Shroud to Ala Mhigo.
As such, he convened a council, summoning all of his trusted advisors, both military and civilian.
Sitting on his throne and facing his assembled court, he spoke;
“To all of you worthy vassals, I say, our land is barren while that of our neighbors’ are bountiful and as such, many of our fellows have to sell their skills as mercenaries to sustain our kingdom and feed our families.
We Ala Mhigan are warriors tried and true. As such, we should rule our neighbors, they should be working for us, not the other way around.
I say now is the time to claim our rightful place and I would start with the pansy Gridanians in the Black Shroud.
Would any of you like to suggest a plan for consideration?”
A tall highlander spoke; “Your majesty, the Gridanian lancers and archers are a crafty bunch but lack any real courage. If we don’t fall for their tricks, victory is certain.
I am well acquainted with their tactics, having worked for them a few years. Give me command of the vanguard and before long, you will be ruling the Black Shroud.”
The man who had spoken was known as Gylbarde and the king very much liked his suggestion.
“Who would you have bringing up the rear?” asked the king.
“My friend Ingvar Strongfist is a wise commander and well versed in logistics. With him covering my back, I will easily march all the way into Gridania.”
The king was pleased. Turning to Ingvar, he asked; “what do you think of this?”
Ingvar Strongfist was small, for a highlander, charming in appearance but envious and insecure in personality, obsequious with his betters and always eager to mention his slightest achievements or put down others for their slightest failures.
“With my friend Gylbarde, we will bring the land of the Black Shroud under our control for the benefit of every Ala Mhigan.”
Nikolas spoke loudly; “Your majesty, it cannot be done.”
The king was upset. “How so?” he asked.
“The Gridanians have enjoyed peace with their neighbors for a few years now. Ishgard hates and fears us. They are sure to come to their aid and we will be forced to retreat.”
The king didn’t like this perspective and challenged Nikolas; “What do you suggest we do then?”
“The Coerthans are a fickle bunch with a natural aversion to foreigners, their friendliness with the Gridanians is superficial. If we threaten the Gridania right now, they will unite. Better to wait for some diplomatic incident between them and then strike.”
Ingvar retorted; “Nikolas is a coward and just interested in seeing us fail. Your majesty, if you let him, he will lower the morale of our troops and sabotage our efforts.”
Nikolas walked in front of the king, bowed low and knocked his head to the ground;
“Your highness, we should send spies to Coerthas and the Black Shroud to foment dissension between them and when the time is ripe, strike swiftly.”
The king very much wanted to go to war. “Enough, we will annex the Black Shroud. Gylbarde will lead the troops.”
“Your highness, ignore my words and we will march into disasters. Attacking the Black Shroud right now is sure to bring us misfortune,” Nikolas lamented.
The king became so angry that he shouted for the guards to execute Nikolas on the spot, but the whole court but Ingvar appealed to the king not to.
The king agreed to just have Nikolas jailed for the moment.
The warden of the jail was an elderly highlander woman named Signy Thorne who had been given that post as a reward for her long and loyal service to king Manfred and his predecessor.
She was miffed as to how a loyal man like Nikolas could be sent to jail.
Surely this was a mistake she thought and saw to it that Nikolas would be as comfortable as possible in an Ala Mhigan jail cell.
***
And so, in the year 1468 of the Sixth Astral era, Gylbarde took command of the Ala Mhigan force and set out to invade the Black Shroud.
The story of the Autumn War is well known, the first engagement happened on the Finesand Banks and was rather inconclusive.
This was soon followed by a decisive victory by Ala Mhigo at which point negotiations for a surrender by Gridania began.
At this point, thanks to the friendly jail warden bringing him what he needed, Nikolas wrote a letter to his king, urging him to not press the Gridanian too hard or risk the rest of Eorzea uniting against Ala Mhigo.
The king read this letter to his court in Ala Mhigo.
Ingvar, who was back in Ala Mhigo at the time yelled; “the gall of this man, he just wants to diminish our achievements. Your Majesty should have him executed.”
The king agreed, but once more his court appealed in Nikolas’ favor.
Ignoring Nikolas’ advice, King Manfred pressed Gridania to concede all the East Shroud and a part of the Central Shroud.
When the leadership of Ishgard heard of this, they feared they were next. They enlisted Ul’dah and Limsa Lominsa to join a newly minted Eorzean Alliance.
Strengthened by their allies, Gridania broke negotiations and the fighting resumed.
When he heard that these four nations had united against him, King Manfred himself led reinforcements but that would prove insufficient.
The Ala Mhigan forces were routed, Gylbarde slain and King Manfred injured and the rest is history.
But what happened to Nikolas after that?
When words of the outcome of the war reached Ala Mhigo, Signy, the warden of the jail paid Nikolas a visit.
“I bring bad news, King Manfred and General Gylbarde were defeated. The General is dead and the King injured.
This is bad news for Ala Mhigo, but at least the King will certainly acknowledge the wisdom of your advice.”
But Nikolas lamented; “This is disastrous.”
“I know,” replied Signy, “but at least you will go free now.”
“No,” replied Nikolas. “Had the King been victorious, he would have been in a magnanimous mood and he would have pardoned me for giving him honest, loyal advice.
But now, defeated, he will look for people to blame. You will certainly receive orders to execute me real soon.”
A jail guard showed up announcing: “A royal messenger brings royal orders.”
Surprised, Signy gave Nikolas a glance to see his reaction.
Nikolas sighed, shrugged and said; “So it is.”
Simplus' FFXIV storytelling 