Dinosaurs had been extinct for millions of years. The fossil records can clearly tell us that. However, the world of the Shimmerverse is inhabited by many creatures once long extinct. The Troodon are one of many such creatures, though they are one of the few brought back that have sapience. They and all these creatures were brought back by Discord during his reign. This was mostly done to mess with the planet further and his personal amusement.

While it isn't clear if they were originally sapient or if Discord had modified them and the Oviraptors with higher levels of consciousness, both races were clearly on the road for self-dominance. It would not be until the end of Discord's reign and the subsequent settling of the continents and races, would the Troodon finally have the time to settle their own nation. Thankfully for them, they didn't have many competing sapients in the area. Most of them were either too docile or didn't have the numbers to pose any great threat.

The continent Pellucidar had all they needed to make a thriving culture and thus expand. Since they are quick to mature, the Troodon were quick to conquer the southern half of the continent. However, they weren't the only ones that had grown stronger over time. The North carried two great and growing empires: The Oviraptors and the Ahuizotl. Both species vied for supremacy and it became quite clear after a number of failed invasions, that the Troodon would not have the whole of the continent to themselves. So eventually they settled into their new lives of defending their large border, made easy with their numbers, and using the available resources to survive and thrive as always.

The young nation then came into contact with a lost Equestrian vessel. On board the vessel was a young Sun Priestess known as Hope Spring. Having lost their way due to a violent storm, they eventually arrived on the coast of Troa, the Troodon’s nation. Both sides were wary of the other and neither took the initial steps for some time. This was especially so for the Troodon as they are prone to calculating every possible outcome and measures they need to push their actions before taking said action. Finally, after a week, the Troodon sent out scout ships to meet up with the priestess. Using translation spells, the ponies were able to form a basis for communication. Said communication was handled by the captain of one of the scout ships, Kra.

This union was cut short when the Roman Empire attacked. Ever expansionist, the Roman Empire wished to make Pellucidar a new territory. Unfortunately for the Troodon, that meant wiping out the locals. See, ever since ever since the invasion of Queen Majesty {and some may argue it was always there} the Romans have had a nasty streak of xenophobia. This was encouraged over time by the emperors in order to make it easier for them to rally their people and conquer new lands as well as previous wars and continued conflicts with other species. For the Troodon, with their carnivorous appearance, this meant that they had to go as the Romans both hated and feared such creatures.

The Romans attacked the southern part of the continent, the home of the Troodon. Without mercy, the Romans slaughtered their way through the Troodon homeland. The Troodon had never faced an enemy like the Romans. The Romans were organized and used vast armies, employing technologies and druidism the likes they couldn't have imagined. The fighting was one sided. While Troodon are naturally gifted to killing their prey, they didn't have the tactics, magic, or anything of the sort to take down the organized infantry of the Roman Empire. It was nothing short of a continued genocide. Under the leadership of Aquila Africanus, a power hungry senator wanting to win favor of the Emperor, he would make sure that would be done.

Eventually, the Romans pushed the Troodon and the few Equestrians with them into the jungles. The Romans pressed on, believing victory to be in their grasp. This wasn’t exactly so, as the Equestrians had given the Troodon access to their weapons and tactics. While they did not have the ability to full-scale change their armies, they were able to manufacture and change enough of their tactics to face the Romans. One of these was the crossbow. New to the Troodon, but they took to it like glue. With their keen eye sights, the Romans had to constantly worry about being picked off in the enclosed spaces by crossbow snipers. The terrain was also against the Romans. While they had druid magic on their side, they didn’t know the areas. The Troodon did and the Romans were constantly hit.

These tactics didn’t stop the Roman advance, however. Only slowed it. The Troodon needed aid. For this, Kra beseeched Hope Spring. He had wished for her to use her magic to contact Equestria. While she was a Sun Priestess, she didn’t have the strength to make such a call. So she asked him to help her. His answer was yes.

Surprising the both of them, Kra was naturally able to help her navigate the Realm of Light through the use of her Solar Staff. Celestia of all beings was the one that greeted them in the realm, hearing their pleas. After hearing of the situation, Celestia issued her fleets in order to aid the Troodon. She knew of course that they wouldn’t get there in time. Not without something else. For this, Celestia imbued Kra and Hope Spring with pieces of her essence, gifting them immense strength and power. As well, over time, she taught them powerful spells and trained them. Over time, they took in more and more Troodon to learn this new magic.

The Troodon took to it wholeheartedly. The Romans weren’t expecting the coming attacks for the Troodon now had a goddess on their side. Using their new solar magics, the Troodon ate away at the advancing army bit by bit. The Troodon were beating back the Romans, who were unnerved by the renewed spirit of the Troodon and their powers. With each new victory, the Troodon grew more and more fervent with their war cry ‘Sun Be With Us’. Eventually, this would spill over to their culture, where some say that they are even more fervent Celestia worshippers then many ponies.

Historians say that the Romans still had a chance to win the war if not for two things: The Equestrian Fleet and Aquila himself. Aquila would never admit that the Troodon were beating him for that would mean that ‘animals’ were better than he. So his army kept using similar tactics to that they had first used when fighting the Troodon. In the jungles, this eventually turned against them as the Troodon learned to adapt to it.

It didn’t take long for Vulcan’s legions to be pushed out of the jungles. Unfortunately, this was where the Romans had set up their defenses. The Troodon knew it was possible to take them, but it would be at a very high cost. So they waited and planned, looking for a weakness.

The Equestrian Fleet would give them one. Catching the Romans by surprise as most of the ships were docked, the Equestrian navy dealt quick and divisive blows against the Roman fleets. Aquila, shocked by the new developments, rushes a good portion of his army to the docked ships in order to defend and man as many as he could so he could keep a way to escape. This left the defenses weakened. Perfect opportunity for the Troodon to strike.

Being attacked at both fronts, Aquila and as many ships as he could manage, escaped back to Rome, leaving the rest of the legions with him on the shores and sea near and on Pellucidar. His ringing words in the ears of the Troodon was that one day, another of his lineage would come back and finish the job. The Troodon still fear that threat. Of course, soon after for such a loss, he was stripped of his rank and political position before later executed. The remaining Romans left on the continent were captured and eventually transported back to Rome under the pretense that the two nations would be at peace. Shamed by the loss, the Emperor accepted it.

To this day, Troodon still hate and fear humans for what they did to them and what they fear they might do again. As well, their fervent faith in Celestia is unshakable with Kra being revered and sanctioned by Celestia herself as a Saint, the same as with Hope Spring. (Note: the two eventually did marry and have offspring)

The skills the Troodon acquired allowed them to repel any advances by the Oviraptors or Ahuizotl. As well, with the eventual decline of the Roman Empire, the emergence of the Kingdom of Prance posed a more pressing threat and one that has many times tried to take pieces of Troa without success.

The Troodon stayed out of the growing conflicts between their two neighbors even when Equestrian forces, led by Princess Luna, sent their own forces to aid the Oviraptors against the chaos effected Ahuizotl. That conflict would have the same effect for the Oviraptors and Luna as the war with the Romans had with the Troodon and Celestia. This further split the two species and nations. During the Twilight War, both the Oviraptors and Troodon would send resources but remained mostly neutral due to having just then spent some time fighting off a resurging changeling nest. This neutrality would save the Oviraptors from Celestia’s wrath after her forces turned out to be victorious.

To this day, the Troodon are strong allies with Equestria and will send troops and allies wherever their patron goddess wishes.

I just love lore.

And this was some good lore

5936393 I"m grateful you enjoyed it. I spent a lot of time editing and looking it over. Any aspects of it that you particularly enjoyed or is it overall just really good?

5936957

I liked the demonstration of just how Roman's conquer. Plus it's also show more just how well these nations think of one another

That is some awesome lore.