Mongoliad Book One

I am preparing to write another Kindle Worlds fan fiction and this time I will be taking a shot at a Final Fantasy type story set in real world history of the Foreworld Saga. Cid, Gilgamesh, Tiamat, a dragoon, and Gilbert the Spoony Bard will all be a part of a story I'm researching/brainstorming titled Dragon Hand. But I'm getting ahead of myself, first let's talk about the original story, Mongoliad.

Ogedei Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, led the Mongols in an invasion of Europe in 1241 AD. First they entered Russia, then went through Poland at the Battle of Legnica and conquered Hungary in the Battle of Mohi(which involved the Knights Templar) before setting their sights on Bulgaria. Ultimately, the Mongols were stopped when Ogedei Khan drank himself to death; without their leader driving the invasion, the Mongols retreated. That is the true history of the Mongol invasion of Europe, the Mongoliad takes a unique angle on this history, by which I mean dramatic fiction.

The fact that Ogedei Khan was an alcoholic is part of the story, told in every other chapter from the perspective Gansukh, a Mongol who has been tasked by Ogedei's brother to monitor his drinking. The fact that Ogedei's brother arranged for someone to curb the great Khan's drinking is historically accurate, however little is known of exactly who this was. In this book, Gansukh was a Mongol warrior who was very used to a rugged life on the steppes, and is suddenly thrust into life at Kharakorum, the de facto capitol of Mongolia. While some might appreciate this turn of luxury, Gansukh has trouble adjusting and requires the assistance of Lian, a Chinese woman who used to be of high standing but has been reduced to a slave after her people were conquered by the Mongols. A romance seems to develop between them, further complicating Gansukh's life as does his rivalry with the leader of the guard. We know ultimately that Gansukh will fail to save Ogedei Khan, but the question is whether it was truly Ogedei's drinking or an assassination.

For the latter possibility we look to the main narrative of the Ordo Militia Vindicis Intactae, also known as the Shield Brethren, an order of knights and monks similar to the Knights Templar, but with a bit of Shaolin style thrown in. The very beginning of the book introduces Cnan, a Binder, while I don't know precisely what that means, it seems to be a person from India. Perhaps this reference was better known at one time, but I was not familiar with the term. In any case, Cnan was a survivor of the Battle of Legnica and is told by a man named Ilian to find the OMVI which she does manage to accomplish. The order was involved at the Battle of Mohi and have their own personal vendetta against the Mongols and decide to assassinate Ogedei Khan. The one catch is that they have been invited to a "Circus of Swords" the tournament in which the Mongols are forcing the remaining warriors in the conquered territories to fight for entertainment in an arena. If they don't show up, they know they will be found out, so the group splits up sending a contingent to fight at Legnica while a dozen quest to kill Ogedei Khan. Leading the group is Feronantus, a man who seems to be the quintessential leader, older and experienced and level headed enough to wrangle the warriors. Other notable members include Raphael the healer, Yasper the alchemist and Percival and Roger, a pair who you just can't help but love. Percival is a charming knight who seems to relish combat as well as women, despite the fact that the Shield Brethren take a vow of chastity. Percival is arguably the hero, if not the scene stealer.

The story alternates from chapter to chapter telling us the story of the various members of the Shield Brethren and the story of Gansukh, leaving us with a measure of tension as to exactly how the story will end. Interestingly, Gansukh's story makes the reader rather sympathetic to the Mongols and it's sad when you realize that he will have to fail for the heroes of the OMVI to succeed, but as he is isolated half a world away he is not in direct conflict and you can only wish he would achieve a victory that you know he will never have.

This is the first installment in the trilogy and I will have to read them before I can get to my own story, but so far I am planning on centering on Princess Catherina of Hungary who around age 12 or 13 was lost when her family fled from the Battle of Mohi. Lacking details of what actually happened to her, I am suggesting that she actually became a ward of the Shield Brethren, specifically Claude Dragonhand, named for his hyperkeratosis that gave him a scaled hand. Along with his healer Cidolfas, Gilbert the Bard, and a Binder(tentatively named Shiva), they struggle to protect the young princess while surviving the Mongol occupation of Europe, particularly a Persian mercenary named Gligamesh. Sounds fun huh?