Our saga begins in the year 1099.



With no suitable heir to his dynasty, the late Chief of Pruthenia has passed in the night. With a difficult decision ahead, the Elder Council left for their sacred glade to divine the newest ruler of the Prussians.



After three days and nights, they returned, pointing to the warrior Prusas. A simple fighter and tribesman, Prusas is no one truly special. Admired by some for his honest dealing and bravery (despite his shortcomings), he is not the clear first choice to lead the Prussian people. Of no prominent clan or pedigree, he's an otherwise plain man.



However, despite the grumblings of many in the tribe, he is the choice of the gods. Nervous with the new weight on his shoulders, Prusas becomes recognized as the Lord of the Prussians, Sword of the Gods, and High Chief of Pruthenia.

Seeing the importance of his newfound position, High Chief Prusas wastes no time attempting to legitimize his rule. A popular cause in Pruthenia is unification. The neighboring Chief of Galindia, Chief Glande, has remained independent of Pruthenia for several decades.



Prusas sent a delegation in early February with a firm stance: submit or face the sword. The answer is laconic, saying Galindia will never kneel to a weakling.



War is declared in March, with a reluctant army swiftly descending on the rogue chiefdom. Swarming from all sides, the Galindian troops stand no chance.



Seeing no need for further loss of life, Chief Glande forfeits his claim shortly after the Battle of Galindia. In a firm showing, Prusas exiled Glande from Pruthenia, sending the man into the land of Lithuanians disgraced and alone.



Most Prussians, however, rejoice the brief war. A unified Pruthenia is here, with all of the tribe together at long last.



Amidst the festivities, a shaman approaches Prusas. Confiding his vision, he shares that Prusas will bring favor to Prussians and is a chosen of the gods. Declaring that his clan will be more vast and strong than the trees of the forest, he leaves him with an axe like that of Perkunas himself.



While uncertain whether the shaman was true or not, Prusas kept this story to himself.

As unified Pruthenia stands as a growing power, other have taken notice. From the south, the Poles have attempted to convert with their Cross and their Blessed Virgin.



Firm in his ways, Prusas and the Pruthenians find no cause to leave their Old Gods and convert to Christianity. This would begin a feud that will last for many, many years to come.

Despite his accomplishments, Chief Prusas did not feel he was living up to the prophecy of the shaman. In the decade following the War of Unification, High Chief Prusas sought ways to solidify his legacy.



From seeking the fabled White Bear to building the village of Malborka to fathering a second son, Alvydas, Prusas felt restless in his rule. If he was to be the chosen of the gods, what was his lot in life? It had already been 10 years, and he felt he had not accomplished enough.



Going to the Elder Council for advice, he found they had several ideas of how to continue his rule.

Elder Ekkelis came forward first. Considered by many to be a backseat commander and a glory hound, his solution was simple. With the wave of the Cross cresting by his kingdom, the faithful would have to fight the rising tide.



With the recent death of the Polish king leaving a newborn babe in the hands of a regency, the Christian lands to the south were ripe for conquest. By fighting an infidel claiming to be king, he believed, songs of Prusas will echo throughout history.

Elder Gelennis was next to advise. To the west live the Wends. Although uneasy allies of sorts against the wave of Christianity, they must be brought to heel under the iron fist of Pruthenia.



The future, according to Gelennis, lies westward. By boldly crossing the Vistula, a new land lies for the taking.

Finally, Elder Milyuns came forward. Ever the pragmatist, she believes that the future does not lie in such fancies as conquest of foreign lands. The solution lies much closer to the faithful.



To the east, she believes, further unification of the faithful will lead to a strong heartland full of the Romuva faithful, eager to follow a leader bold enough to command them.

With all this advice of the Venerable Elders filling his mind, High Chief Prusas left to deliberate in his homeland of Sambia.



The choice to wage war weighing heavily on his head, he deliberated for several days and nights before coming to his ultimate conclusion.