A single flag bearing the red and black insignia of the Freekish nation fluttered gently in the dusky air, flying solemnly high above the square outside the Great Hall. Fifty thousand souls stood cloaked in silence as the last rays of sunlight licked the horizon, leaving in its wake a haunting swirl of deep purple, orange, and red. These were the Sentinels of Automagfreek, the fiercest fighters known throughout history... born of fire and madness many centuries before. As darkness enveloped the land, a faint glimmer of light could be seen from the balcony of the ancient palace as the Imperial Warlord, Vladius Dreadfire, stepped out into view. Flanked by two torch bearing Death Dealers, he advanced towards the microphone that had been set up on the railing and stood silently for but a moment, his eyes scanning the endless masses that had gathered to hear his decree.
It had been many years since the presence of Automagfreek had been felt on the global stage. The Imperial Warlord had halted all of its long running conquests in order to rebuild an economy that had been ravaged by decades of nearly endless warfare, and the military machine that drove the engine of Imperial expansion was in need of revitalization. All of these things had now been accomplished, but the cost was high; AMF no longer commanded the same fear and respect that it once did on the international stage, but this was of little to no consequence. Vladius cared not for the musings of infidels and lesser nations, and soon the greased and repairs gears of war would start turning once more.
My children... sons of Automagfreek, you stand before me as a great monolith; defiant and eternal. The pages of history were writ with the blood of those slain by your predecessors, and by the blood of those who wore the Sentinel uniform before you. I speak to you now at the coming of a New Dawn, for this great nation has been awakened from its slumber once more to take its rightful place as host of all nations. Our strength and our resolve has been rebuilt in the time you have given me, and now the wheels of conquest are beginning to turn. Expand or die, this has been the philosophy that has guided our great nation to glory and riches unknown to anyone but we fortunate few. No longer shall we be content to lurk in the shadows while lesser men take what is rightfully ours!
The mass of motionless figures erupted in cheers, hailing their leader and raising high the banners of their great nation; the crimson and black of House Dreadfire; the green, grey, and gold of the Advocate; the silver and blue of the West Wind. They were roused and ready for whatever the fates held in store for them, and they would be honored to fight, bleed, and die to achieve new glory just as it was earned through the blood-price paid by their ancestors.
The God of War speaks to me, and he curses our names and our houses. He grows angry at our complacency and indifference, and demands a blood sacrifice of ten billion souls to stay his wrath... and you, brave sons of Automagfreek, have been tasked with filling his cup. Let the blood flow, and let the fires burn! We march now, to the ends of the Earth if the Gods command it. By the Winds, let their will be done!
The news that evening spoke ominously of the war drums now beating throughout the Imperial Republic. Seventeen billion souls within Automagfreek stood in solidarity, for their hard earned glory and honor had all but faded into oblivion. The time had come for the Sentinel hordes to descend upon the world and lay claim to lands, riches, and resources that rightfully belonged to the people of AMF. Across almighty Gholgoth, Freekish military units began to prepare themselves for immediate deployment, with the intention of bolstering Freekish holdings first on the outskirts of the region, and then eventually across the planet....
