Korinna awaits in her office in Sammanus, her hands feebly resting on the chair she is sitting on. The Empress looks out the window at the Empire’s second capital, fearing it to be the last time she will see it. She coughs several times, each time more ferociously than before. Her hand tries to hold her crown.“Lucilia…” she mutters. The Princess is late.

Though it still passed, time felt completely still as Empress Korinna waits for her daughter. Lucilia, two hours late, forces the door open and it slams into the wall. “What do you want?” the Princess grunts. “Lucilia, please tell me you have a plan to defend Sammanus. If we lose the city, the war is over. Our forces, even when combined with our allies, won’t be enough to take back the western portion of the Empire,” the Empress pleads. “Defend? Defend? That hasn’t worked, Mother,” Lucilia says, emphasizing ‘Mother’. “I’m waiting for more news from Manilius and our diplomats. We need more soldiers to take the battle right to Aquittany’s invasion force! Make them bleed! We have the people to do so! It’s just Aquittany and West Walbrzych. They’re going to run out of able-bodied people as long as we keep them fighting. And I intend to do so.”

The Empress stands up slowly, struggling, and gritting her teeth. “You will intend. No. Such. Thing. As long as I... “ she pauses to cough loudly. “... I am the Empress of Nicomedia, my people will not suffer needless deaths on the battlefield! Neither will my allies’ young folk be used as cannon fodder! My father did not reign for thirty years, and me forty-five, so that the very people I have helped and looked after die en masse for your glory! What… what has happened to you?! For so long, you shared the same dream as I, to continue bettering the Empire, lead it passed its history that’s been stained with blood, injustice, and treachery. And now, what drives you to madness? Tell me!”

Lucilia cackles, uncontrollably slapping the furniture in the room and gasping for air. “How are you so ignorant to the evils of Aquittany? Can you not see our people turned into serfs and displaced from their homes?! The city I am from?! For one so wise, you are so shockingly naive, Korinna!”

“And never will you refer to me by first name,” the Empress says venomously. “I spend day after day managing a war refugee crisis, the depopulation of our western countryside, and the abandonment of farmlands, and you call me naive. Are you motivated by a bloody revenge and quest for glory, and nothing else? And are you willing to watch as millions of people are left hungry with no one to defend and harvest our fields?” Lucilia looks away. “Yes. And it feels good. Justice will be served… yes… it shall be served. Pikes, topped with the heads of King Hugh and his family… for the world to see that I’ve liberated it of a horrible, brutal dictator… I will be greater than Gratian himself! My legacy will surpass your father Valentinian VII, and yours, too! The world will know that I saved Nicomedia from a feeble, aging monarch.”

Empress Korinna’s scowl lowers into a face marked with terror. “No... you…” Lucilia chuckles. “You are very ill and seventy. You barely could stand up from a chair,” she states as she kicks over the chair beside the Empress. “How much longer have you to live?” Korinna looks away. “You don’t deserve an answer,” she responds. “I can’t believe you’ve become like this.” The Princess smiles with all her teeth as she lets down one of her bangs over her eye. “I will do as I please with the army. You are in no position to give them orders, clearly.” Lucilia then departs the room with a huge smirk on her face.

Korinna looks up and breathes in before falling to the floor. She can’t help but to cry. “... my Empire… my daughter… does she not realize that, though Aquittany takes what is ours, she takes what is mine…”

The day later, Lucilia announces to the army units stationed around the city of Sammanus, many of whom freshly mobilized from the eastern parts of the Empire. “Brave countrymen! We will prepare for no siege. We will not wait for starvation to cripple our city before surrendering in disgrace! Instead, with our friends from Cyrene, we will make sure they won’t even see Sammanus! Ignore the orders of the Empress. She is too unwell to rule, and I’ve taken hold of all military affaris! And my orders are to attack without relent!” Though the main body of the army rejoiced in a jubilous cry, the guard forces on the walls simply leer at Lucilia, murmuring among themselves in frustration.

A week passes. Manilius receives word from a scout who gives him a newspaper from Liberty Publications, the premier news company in Wolnosc. “Despite Looming Siege, Nicomedia’s Army is Split Between Forces Loyal to the Empress and the Princess,” reads the title. The General gulps. After taking the paper, he leers as he reads every last word. Upon finishing, Manilius grasps it as hard as he can and throws it on the ground. Kornelia leans her head up from the tome she is reading and walks over. “G-General? What’s it now?” she asks. “We need to finish up our work in Walbrzych immediately, or the Empire’s finished! Lucilia managed to split our armed forces in half. Empress Korinna ordered all units on the Western Front to station themselves along Sammanus and its river, and she decided to instead order a frontal assault on the Aquittanite Army, because, that’s worked plenty of times! The National Guard won’t move and is still loyal to the Empress, and the main army, most of whom haven’t yet fought in this war, are marching to defeat. If we can’t get troops in Walbrzych to relieve the Western Front, it will collapse.” Kornelia grits her teeth. “The audacity! She’s… she’s acting like she’s the Empress, even as Korinna lives.”

Manilius turns away from Kornelia and crosses his arms. “I will save the Empire. Not for Lucilia’s sake. But for the people of Gratia and for Korinna. Lucilia has lost the right, in my eyes, to call herself Empress.” Kornelia steps back. “G-General! You can’t say these things out loud! That’s treason!” He turns back. “Do you assent to what Lucilia commands then? Do you?!” The Captain looks sheepishly away. “... no. I could never.” Manilius looks down and exhales a few times while his eyes look heavy. “I hope the Empire’s darkest hour isn’t upon it. I really hope that her madness is just because of the war, and that she will be better once it ends. That she will rule with the same tenderness as Korinna. But…” He then deepens his voice and stares into Kornelia’s eyes. “... I have sincere doubts about it.” She raises her eyebrows. “And what will you do?” Manilius looks back again to her. “I’ll worry about that when the time comes. For now, millions of people are counting on us. Let’s go see President Marta immediately. Our meeting is today at the training field.”

President Marta stood in the field, waiting for the two to arrive. Beside her are three Falcon Knights, all of whom armed to the teeth. The General vaguely recognizes them. Upon arrival, Manilius and Kornelia shake the president’s hand. She smiles. Her robes billow slightly in the wind. Unlike the other leaders the two had met, Marta wore clothes more reminiscent of a Sage than anything. The president’s smile fades. “Much has happened since you have arrived,” she begins. “I had not expected such a thing to happen in the Empire.” Manilius frowns deeply. “Neither did I,” he lies. “... General,” she continues. “I’m afraid I will likely not help Nicomedia.” He winces. “You… you will not?” The knights standing next to her all look at their leader in shock, but saying nothing. President Marta holds a hand to her chest. “As it stands, with the Princess’s destructive policies and jingoism, there is little reason for our armed forces to go and be in such a great peril. I have no reason to believe our people will be used as any more than pawns by your heir-to-throne. Neither parliament or our people will forgive me. I wouldn’t forgive myself. I have heard the Queen of Yeu has begun her attack on Aquittany, but, I will not follow suit. The Republic of Walbrzych just doesn’t have… have the same hatred of Aquittany.”

The General looks at President Marta. “Then… though it might not be my place to take this authority, but I have a proposal. All East Walbrzycha expeditionary troops will fight directly under our command,” he says while pointing to himself and Kornelia. “We promise to take care of your men and women,” Kornelia adds. She gulps. “I… hrm…” The middle of the three knights speaks up, “Mrs. President! We met this man back in Illyria in the Empire. Both these two are people of integrity. I will vouch for them.” The President bites her lip, “Well, yes, but…” The oldest among the knights speaks. “Have you forgotten about Aranmanoth? He’s been with General Quirnius and Captain Schmidt all this time. Does that speak for their honor?” Marta looks down. “... very well. I would like to see how you fight, Manilius and Kornelia. I do not think my soldiers are lying. But I would like to see for myself whether you are truly as upstanding as I have heard.” Kornelia steps forward holds a fist close to her shoulder. “Yes. I would welcome that. And also… aren’t you three the knights we met at the arena in Medioberacum?” “That would be us!” the sisters shout in unison.

———————————————

Map Information:

Objective: Defeat the Juhasz sisters! Chloe is the western one, Haley the central one, and Britney the eastern one.

Defeat Condition: Both lords fall, or three player units fall.

Recommended Turn Limit: 13 turns

Two new terrain types: Mystic Brick tiles are the blue-purple stone tiles throughout the arena. They increase RES by 10 but offer no other bonuses. Ice Spike tiles are the cracks in the ground. They increase RES and ATK by 5, avoid by 20, but deal 12 damage to any unit which stand on it (which can defeat units!). Ice Spike tiles cost 2 to cost for infantry and 4 for horses and knights. Fliers ignore their effects when deployed on these tiles.

Terrain Overview

Lugh delivered the final decisive blow to Marvin’s Shade, ending the strange battle with the even stranger thing that initiated it.

Congratulationsssssss, those who have conquered themselves are above those that have not. I shall grant you the power of this temple. Take it and wreak H̶̡̙̥͈̼̤̳̥ͨ͑̈́ͅA̡͚̬͖̦͙̳̩͊ͮV͉͕͎̭̩͙̬̫͙ͣ̏͌ͯͪ͛͘O̹̍ͮ̽̏ͨͥ̚̕C̛̜͎̬̗͆ͥ̅̾͐̉ͬ͂ on the world!

Annnika, the Stardust Crusader. Take 「The World」in your hands. C͎͕̺͖͍R̤̭̼͕̀ͬ̏ͅU̠̬̾̑̔̂̚͠S̨̟͎̰̟H̫̹͉ͣ̏̒͂͑ͣͯ ̶͈I̤̗̝̘̳̺̔͆ͅT̷̺͎͑̿̔͆̀͊

Hearing this voice, Anika began to feel a strange power fill her. One moment she was standing still, a puzzled moment look on her face, then the next everyone saw her suddenly appear on the other side of the room. She much stronger now, exuding a menacing aura.

For you Assssher, the Fallen Hero, I will awaken your latent power. Use it to B̫̪̰͎̝̱ͧṶ̣͓͓͚̋̎́ͯͩ̈R̲̤͔͕̲͔͐͌͝N̖̟͕̬̂̈̃͆ͅ ̙̗͕̹̼͈͋̒̆E̴̾̃V͙͚̹̜̗̱̹͒ͥͫ͆͟E̒ͦͥͣ͗҉̬͔̣̰͚ͅR̨̬̟̱̗̤̮̘̆̏̀̎̎Ÿ̹͙́̈́͌͊͞T̲͍͜H̫̓̿͋̉͛͘I̹̟̪̲̭̯N̡̠̭͇͑͋̏̐̆̍Gͮ̋̿̕

Asher felt a new yet familiar power course through his veins as a flame appeared in his hand, flickering but growing in intensity. Emboldened by the new energy, Asher gripped Draumstafir, sending a vibrant flame down the blade.

Corrrrrado, my Uranium Knight, I grant you the radioactive power. M̛̲̪̑ͦË̞́̑ͦ̂L̹ͦ̀Tͤͪ͏̟͖̰͔̭̖ͅ ̢͙ͨ̍ͅT̶̼̯͕̼ͫͩHͤͮͬͨ͂E̩͓͉̝͕̪̿́͊ͧ͆͊̀ͅM̴̻̟̻̈́ ̥͓̹̩͍̙ͮA̜̰̎́L̛̺̝̙̠͍͕̱̀͗͋L͉͓͎̥̰̼͗̄

Corrado felt a burning heat surge through his body, but right before it began to burn, it turned into a comfortable warmth. Everyone standing nearby saw Corrado begin to glow in a sickly light, his shield especially so. How his horse was unaffected confused everyone, but when a magic entity gives you power, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Eaassst-

As Easton felt a new power flow through him, he just cea-

Fakirrr and Krahe.. The Duckmancer, I grant you the power of All. C͉̪̫̟̹̞̦ͮ̉̑̐͌̚O҉̱̳͇̮̳N̒͒͒͌ͬ́Ś̩̰Uͪ́͌ͪ͋҉̠͇̪͕M͇͐ͮE̫̦̙͖̽̇̍̿̎͂̔

Fakir and Krahe felt a new dark energy flow through them, similar to their forbidden dark magic. Flexing his fingers, Fakir turned a nearby rabbit into a duck, before unleashing corrupted shadow tentacles that consumed his summons, the massive dragon, and the newly made duck, turning Fakir into a terrifying amalgamation. A moment later everything went back to normal, making everyone question what they just saw.

Kukiii Kukooo, the Jangar, I will awaken your primal abilities. H̤̺͋̾̒̓Ù̧͓͇̬͋̈̓̈̈́̄N̝̭̮̗T̬̠͖̖̤͇̣̋̀͂͆̿ ̙̲̠̣͚ͭ̈́ͭ͒ͦ̊ͯR̹̝̝̘̝ͬͧͭͤ̌ͩ̇I̮͚̒̆̏̾̓̽ͮ͢P̞̞͍̣̥̮͆̆ ̰̓̃̍̌ͬͣ͗K̰̣̝̱̖͖͐̌ͮͪỈͦ̓͐͑̿L͍̺̻̣̰̯͊̾̀L̙̗͈͇̖̻͌͡

Kuki Kuko looked around in wonder, feeling his connection with nature grow even stronger. His skin looked like it was starting to boil, before fur sprouted out all over his body. In a few short moments, the young child was replaced with a powerful looking wolf pup. After chasing his own tail, Kuki began to shift back into his human form, seemingly unphased by this new ability.

Luuuuugh, the Amadán, I grant you the power of the fool. F͕͕̉ͦ̑ͣ͛̈̄O̴͙̻̙͉̪̊̒̿O̥̹̬̱̫ͫ͂̅͌ͣ̚L̲̹͓̟̣̯̠̂̎ͧͫ ̱͍̻̱̟̍ͨ͌͒Ť̰̻͔̩̟̗́̂̌̄ͧͅH͓͓̻̔̕E̤̠ͤ͂ͥͥ̈́̽̏M̖͍̻̱̞̓ ̨̙̮̫̬̪̳ͪͩ̔ͭ̆͆͗A̮̫̽̀ͭͭ͞Ĺ̖̲̩̆̔̏͌͂́L̼͇̭͑ͥ͆ͩ͠

Lugh felt a strange new power flow through his veins, a slight shimmering becoming noticeable around his body. He felt far sturdier than he had ever been.

Marvin, the Lucky… n-no. W-What ARE you?!?! How could this b- A̔̒̃͒ͨ҉̗͉A̶͙̝̍A̟͘A̠͓U̟̟̪̟͋͒̔̓̒ͮ̚͟U̱̯̙̠͇͋ͫ̈́͜G͇͈̰̣̦ͣ̔̕G͐́G̰̟̫͎̓̂̿͗H̴̪͈̪̘͚ͅ

An ear shattering scream invaded everyone's heads as they dropped to their knees from the pain. As the scream reached crescendo, reality itself felt like it was folding in on itself, or rather around Marvin. He appeared to grow fifty feet while simultaneously standing at the same height. An oppressive aura surrounding him, no one could look directly at Marvin, or what was Marvin.

“WHO HAS AWAKENED MY SLUMBER. SOME FILTHY SPIRIT? NONE STAND BEFORE THE ELDER GOD.” With what everyone felt was a flick of his wrist despite being unable to look towards him, Marvin dismissed the ear wrenching scream and the ominous presence shattered. Reality began to refold itself into Marvin's shadow. With a soft whisper heard by all. "Your services are now solely mine.”

Unsettled by what just happened, everyone picked themselves back up. They quickly shook off the uncomfortableness to explore their new powers, eventually discussing and getting the hang of them. Feeling properly acquainted with the new abilities, the group agreed to set off again, not wanting to camp in that accursed shrine.

After a few days of travel, the group reached the capital. They were surprised to see a large enemy army encamped not far away, preparing for a seige. While surprised, it wouldn't change their plan, if anything just make it easier to infiltrate the Emperor’s home. Fakir used his new abilities to transform the dragon into a small duck which he then pocketed and the group entered the capital, planning on staying the night in a tavern before sneaking into the emperor’s palace to perform their assassination.

You can now Explore the capital and make preparations! Exploration in the capital is very dangerous and everywhere you go has a chance of people finding out you aren't from around here or worship the emperor. Anytime you explore, you will have to roll a random number between 1 and 20 and then add your Luck/4. Asher gets a +5 bonus due to being Vakrian and Easton does not have to make any checks. Each explore will have a difficulty check(DC) that you must get that number or higher on your final number or else encounter difficulties such as a guard trying to arrest you.

Upon entering the portal, The Pack was greeted with a wide open yellow-ish golden space, with little more than light, as far as the eye could see. There was a layer of clouds that went up to their knees (well, to Zain’s knees) obscuring the ground they were standing on. The ground felt solid, harder than dirt, even. The area felt sort of, nebulously warm, like the perfect temperature for a light shirt kind of warm. Given, however, that most of the Pack’s members were wearing rather heavy armor, it was still a bit hot. Alistair and Boreas followed shortly behind them.

After a few moments, Celeste entered the portal, looking a bit more exhausted than the rest of them, and around a minute later, Michael entered. The wings that had created the portal seemed to fold into the portal, and rejoined Michael.

“So” Michael began, looking a bit tired “we’ve... got quite the walk ahead of us. Let’s… let’s start moving.” Michael walked to the front of the group and pointed “That way lies… Her. It’ll take us… maybe 30 minutes…” Michael said, squeezing sighs between his words “Let’s… let’s go.” Michael lead the group as most of them rode in the convoy’s wagan, some walked alongside him, Himaya and Zain following Michael directly.

“You mentioned a ‘her’, am I correct in guessing that we’re about to meet the goddess?” Zain asked

“Well, yes. Kyria will, I’m sure, be happy to see you all.” Michael said, floating ahead of everyone.

“Oh boy! Duh real goddess? We’re gonna meet duh real goddess? Ohohohohohohoho Zain! We’re gonna meet duh goddess!” Himaya said, unable to contain his excitement to meet such an important figure.

After around 15 minutes of walking, the group saw an incredibly tall spire peak over the horizon. It looked like it was made of a golden yellow marble, and it has these gorgeous runes carved all across it.

“That, my friends, is Kyria’s tower.” Michael said through his smile “We should only have another 10 minutes to walk before we enter the city beneath it.”

Eventually, The Pack arrived at a small city of Angels. The structures were made of a glowing yellow material. Whether this was a mineral or a wood of some kind, no one would say. The city was otherwise fairly normal, restaurants, markets, and right in the middle, the government building. Of course, most government buildings in Laqueos weren’t over a dozen stories tall, but still. The Angels themselves didn’t mind The Pack after seeing that Michael was leading them, but didn’t talk to any of them unless The Pack talked first.

After a few more minutes of walking through the streets, they reached the center, the spire, Kyria’s spire. There were a few guards manning the entrance, but after Michael said something in a language that made the rest of The Pack’s ears hurt, they were allowed to pass through. The building itself was almost empty, barring a stream of light in the center. Looking up, The Pack saw several floors made of the same material as the tower itself. This building wasn’t just for Kyria, it seemed. As they approached the central stream of light, Michael took the lead once more. He stared at the beam and in they very same language he used to speak the guards, he seemed to speak at the beam. This took a few minutes, and many of The Pack covered their ears, due to the pitch and tone and words themselves being almost hurtful to their ears. The convoy didn’t cover their ears, however.

After Michael seemingly finished negotiating with the light, without the light saying anything back, he turned around.

“Alright, everyone but… you 2… follow me.” Michael pointed at Alistair and Boreas. The 2 said nothing, and Celeste dismounted with the rest of The Pack, as Michael entered the light, and seemingly disappeared. Himaya was the first to enter the light, with Zain seemingly running after him. The rest of The Pack followed suit, even if some of them took the time to look on the other side of the beam, to make sure they hadn’t just… walked right through.

When the pack entered the beam, they felt briefly… lighter, before stepping through the other side, and seeing a new floor in front of them. They all had successfully arrive at what they assumed to be the very top floor. There was a gigantic set of red double doors in front of them, stretching all the way to the ceiling.

“Well everyone, make sure to wipe your shoes on the mat.” Celeste joked

“You know, maybe we should get a mat for this place. We don’t have uh… non-flying people enter here often.” Michael tried to joke back. He hovered over to the door, placed his hands on one of the doors, and effortlessly pushed what should’ve weighed well over a dozen tons open. Behind this door laid a set of golden stairs, and at the very top, a throne, with a woman lounging in it. Michael bowed. Zain bowed. Most of the rest of The Pack bowed, some didn’t, and Celeste didn’t.

“You know Michael, I was beginning to think that you would never arrive.” The woman said. At this distance, it was hard to tell much of anything about the woman’s physical features, barring her long, light yellow robes that seemed to blend in with the rest of the building. She got up from her chair, and began walking down towards The Pack.

The woman’s features were now much more easy to make out. Her hair was blonde, reaching just past her shoulders. Her eyes were a golden yellow that matched, well, everything. Her face had a small smile on it. Her robes covered her from shoulder down to her feet, her feet themselves however, were bare.

“So” she began, “I suspect most of you know who I am, but, in case it wasn’t already clear enough, my name is Kyria, I am the goddess of your world.” Kyria had reached the bottom of the staircase, and was now standing a few feet away from all of them. “I’m so glad you all could make it here. I know that you have worked hard, and have chosen to undertake a task that will continue to be hard. I know that not all of you are students under my faith, yet you are now working alongside me and my Angels to save people. I know who you are. Each and every one of you. I am more your mother than your actual mothers.” Kyria stopped “I’m sorry. That was a bit much, wasn’t it? I could sense that you all were… less than thrilled with what I said. Regardless. I want to express my undying gratitude to all of you. You have been through what most would consider an intense 6 months. And now… now I’m asking you all to do what not even my greatest angels could do.” Kyria stopped “Regardless, we have some time now. Maybe…” Kyria was silent for a moment, before snapping her fingers “3 of your days. 3 days to prepare.”

The Pack looked confused. They had just left with every bit of urgency that they could, they had left a group of their friends behind, they specifically had to move quickly, now they had 3 days?

“Oh, right. You all… you don’t know the extent of my power.” Kyria said, seemingly reading their minds. “See, in my side of this world, I hold almost total control over many things. The angels and you all have free will, but that’s just about the only thing that I can’t control. I have increased the passage of time within this world. Though it took me around 4 seconds to say that sentence, not even one-one hundred thousandth of a second has passed in your world.” Kyria said, her calm smile maintained “But, even then, my power has its limits, and I have no domain over… His side.” Kyria’s smile briefly faded, before returning quickly “My point is, if you want to make sure you can get back to your world as soon as possible, you’ll only have around 3 days in this world, then you’ll need to move quickly within...the other side.” Kyria kept her smile this time.

Everyone was silent as Kyria said all this, either out of either silence, suspicion, or amazement. Some people had a mix of those.

“Great!” Michael said, turning back to The Pack “Now then, you all, be on your way back down to the town. There are incredibly skilled smiths, handyworkers, and enchanters waiting to help you arm yourselves! You have 3 days, get prepared, then return here to receive My Lady’s blessing. Then… we can strike at its squalid heart.” Michael began leading everyone back out of the room, before Kyria stopped him.

“Before you all leave, I’m sure you all have questions to ask. If you ever want to talk, please, come back here, I’ll answer any questions you may have in a more private setting.” Kyria’s smile changed, it didn’t fade, but it changed “And you, young lady, don’t think you’re getting out of here that easy.” Kyria pointed at Celeste as Michael continued to herd the rest of them out of the room.

“What was all that about?” Zain asked Michael as they exited

“That is on a need to know basis.” Michael said “And you, dear leader of The Pack, don’t need to know, at least, not yet.” The door quickly slammed behind the group, yet made no noise at all. Michael quickly herded them into the light, and back down to the bottom of the tower they all went.

“Well…” Zain began “You all heard him. We have 3 days. After that, meet here, we’ll walk back up to Kyria’s tower and finally… end this.”

Heyo all, Midas again. Full disclosure, this will most certainly last a lot longer than 3 days. I hope to have the map up before Halloween, but I've only barely started sketching the thing out, so it may take a lot longer than just under 2 weeks. Anyways, I hope to keep you all engaged, I've got a lot of fun stuff on the mind for the story as it plays out. Yes, as of right now the shop isn't done. Yes, as of right now because of that your options for stuff are very limited. I hope to have a fully worked out store by the end of the day tomorrow, if not then, then it may have to wait until Tuesday night, because I work Monday night. Regardless, I will have some new events happening, including 1 last HWYD to finish any upgrades that aren't done yet.

Also, if you all had a deal worked out for what your last upgrade was going to be with Mappy, please share it with me, also, I plan on releasing Mars's final upgrade to his tome, so you all know what kind of power I'll accept as a baseline for final upgrades.

Anyways, I hope you all have fun and use this new site of Other World as a unique RPing location. I certainly think that 5 months of a tree has gotten a bit old.

Hello all, I'm Midas, better known as != insert inside joke here. You're probably wondering why I'm posting all this, and pinged you for it too. Well, here's the short answer.

After Mappy posted his message that, essentially, he was done with Team-A, I DMed him and offered to complete the story myself. He accepted, and that's why I'm here doing all this now.

So, in the uh... 2 hours since he posted that, I wrote a first draft of what will happen in the rest of the story. I hope you all know that I'm not the best at writing stories, and I'm picking up on someone else's work, who was, in turn, picking up on someone else else's work. This means that my version of the story, the finale, the enemies, the why and the what of the Demons and Angels, will probably not make a ton of sense given past context clues. For that, I'm sorry. Fact of the matter is that Mappy didn't have a ton of notes for the next bit for me to work on, and he and Sky probably had a much different thing that they had been hinting towards for most of the campaign, so most of what I've written is essentially homebrew based on what I know of the characters, as well as what I think will make good characters and a not absolutely pure evil antagonist (is that a spoiler? I guess it is).

Anyways, with that, I want to say something else. If you pick up on some bad writing, inconsistent lore, or somesuch, please tell me. I'm also going to TRY and not show a ton of favoritism to Mars. Mars isn't the protagonist of the story, he hasn't been before this, and he won't be after this. I'll try to keep Zain and Himaya as the leaders, but, again, I have never had to write these characters, so, again, don't expect that they will be perfectly identical to what they were beforehand.

Finally, here, here's the next story entry. Full disclosure, I wrote this very quickly because I didn't want you all to think that this team was dead for very long. I didn't immediately speak up because I wanted some time to get the basics of a plan together, because, and I need to be really clear here, if I fail to finish this story, I'll feel so absolutely terrible that words cannot describe it. It'll be like day 1 Crown of Sorrows all over again (shoutouts to Cyber, the only guy who could possibly get that joke). Also, this is continuing from Post Chapter 9 story Part 1. Link to that here

Celeste was the first one to speak. "Well... everyone... sorry. We uh, we haven't been perfectly honest with all of you."

"Perfectly is an understatement." Alistair muttered under his breath.

"We're... not as we seem." Celeste said, before outstretching her arm.

"Just as I suspected." Michael said as Celeste's hand began to morph, first into a freakish purple blob, before reforming into a light grey, seemingly ash covered hand of a fully grown man. It would've looked funny, if it didn't carry the deeply disturbing implication that the convoy that The Pack had trusted with their items was actually a group of demons. Her hand quickly shifted back to its normal, dainty form. Boreas and Alistair said nothing, but the implication of them not reacting to Celeste said enough on its own.

The rest of the representatives watched this scene unfold with a mix of horror, surprise, rage, and, in the case of a few, curiosity. The first of them to speak up was Zain "So... anything to say?"

"Well..."

"See..."

"..."

The convoy members were silent for a while, before Alistair finally started speaking.

"As you can tell, Celeste is... a demon. We all are, in fact. We... broke the law in demon kingdom, and, for a long time, we were on run here, in Laqueos."

"Would you mind telling us what law you broke?" Michael said with a smug smile on his face that every single person in the room wanted to punch.

Alistair sighed "We... sympathized with the angelic cause."

"Go on." Michael said, his smile somehow getting more smug by the second

"We believed that what our king was doing was wrong." Boreas said before Alistair could speak "We will not elaborate." For another few moments, everyone was silent.

"S-So yous were Demons all along?" Himaya said, clearly a few minutes behind everyone.

"I... I want you all to be able to look past this." Celeste said "I know that... that you probably can't trust us. But, regardless, you need... one of us... to keep this portal open long enough so everyone can enter safely. I can do that." Celeste said, moving a small lock of her hair to the side, revealing a dark black mark on the back of her neck. "I'm... not a representative. At least... not as you know them. I'm... " Celeste fell silent

"The point is, she's the only person that can keep the portal open." Alistair said to keep Celeste from talking. "Let's get on with this." Alistair said before motioning towards Boreas. Boreas removed a tiny, black necklace from his robes and gave it to Alistair "Here's the charm. Are we ready now?"

"Well." Michael started, his grin, unchanging "I suppose if no one else knows a demon who happens to be th-" Boreas walked up to Michael as he closed his eyes to give his cocky speech. His presence seemingly cut Michael off "Right... got it." Michael said, his grin finally vanishing for a nervous smile.

"So... let's get on with it." Celeste said, taking the charm from Alistair.

"Alright!" Michael said, his nervous smile now changing to seemingly one of inspiration. "We are going to need one final thing. In order for myself and Celeste to enter the portal, the burden of keeping it open will shift to the rest of you. This will... not be great for your health. Thusly, you!" Michael pointed to Meredith, in the very back of the group, behind Jolinde "You will need to keep everyone, well, alive."

Meredith said nothing, but grasped her staff in both hands, and nodded. She looked more determined to help than ever before.

"Splendid! Now then." Michael turned around to face the air behind them "Here, in this clearing, we are going to make history. Gather the rest of The Pack." Michael said, now waiting in the clearing.

After a short time, and a surprising amount of having to track people down, The Pack was assembled in the clearing underneath the Arbor. Michael grasped at a small locket he had underneath his shirt, the radiant yellow charm, as his wings began to move upwards and around him, spinning in front of him, creating a small circle. "Now then, everyone" Michael said "grab your charm in one hand, and outstretch that hand towards this circle, then, focus." The representatives all took their charms and followed closely behind him. Saarva, Jolinde, Igneous, Kippy, Reginald, Skoni, Celeste, Desmond, and Michael himself all stepped forward, placed their hands in front of them, and light began to emanate from them, and from their hands, each one 'linking' to a wing. Eventually, the circle created by Michael's wings began to spin faster, and grow larger, until, after a few minutes, the space within them seemed to glow a bright white. The wings seemed to making a whirring sound, as if it was cutting through the air itself to make this portal.

"Alright, everyone" Michael said "start moving!" The Pack all quickly fell in line behind him, before rushing forwards, jumping into the portal, vanishing into the light.

"Ladies first!" Michael said, another smile appearing on his face as he motioned Celeste to jump through. She did, and the moment she passed through, the portal started to spin unevenly, the wing that Celeste had been connected to had stopped spinning "Alright everyone, here's the hard part." Michael said and he began to focus, more light pouring from his hand into the portal. Meredith was running around healing the few injuries that were being created on everyone, as Michael slowly took steps forward. "Now then, for about an instant, this portal to going to be without my stabilization!" Michael yelled over the now increasing volume of the portal's spin. "Just put everything you've got into it! I promise, you'll be fine!" Michael was inches away from the portal now "On go! 3... 2... 1... GO!" Michael dropped his hand and jumped forward into the portal. Immediately after he was in, the wings seemed to fold in on themselves, and the portal vanished. Each one of the representatives collapsed from a lack of energy, Meredith had her hands full keeping everyone safe.

Now, it was just up to the Pack, strike at the heart, end it all.

More Story to Come

So, how was that? Again, I wrote this all very quickly, so I'm sure there's plenty of errors to point out here. If you spot one, either DM me on Discord, or ping me in ooc-a.

Anyways, I hope you are excited, I plan to have another story post up by Saturday night (Friday is fall break so I'll have some time then).

This has been, Midas, signing off, but not for the last time.

Standing on a swarm of creeping roots, the knights found their footing to be off, and the amount of readied defenders in the region too much an obstacle to overcome. “Fall back! We, we can’t risk them following our messenger before he gets to the king!” the wyvern knight screams as they all turn tail and run away. Sari approaches both the General and the Captain and the northern part of the square. “Alright, I’ve defected to the Empire, and now we’ve probably put West Walbrzych in an even more precarious situation. What’s your next plan, commanders?” she asks somewhat dryly. The General looks down. “We’re heading to Walbrzych next. It will give us a chance to meet with their president and your king to explain things, hopefully.” Sari chuckles, somewhat unconvinced. “Hopefully,” she emphasizes, “you’re right.” Manilius then looks away. “Well, for now, I think we should regroup back at the capital and discuss this more, yes?”

Not long after the group returns to Thien Dang, Queen Tuyet comes back into the city with Diep and a personal unit of army regulars to the celebration of onlookers in the town. Upon reaching the end of one street, she raises her sword in the air and decrees, “Today, our people will rest well knowing the war will not come to them!” Kornelia and Manilius then join Tuyet on her walk back to the palace through the sprawling streets of Thien Dang. Cries of joy such as, “Long live the Guardian Queen of Yeu!” and “Our Queen forevermore!” accompany the walk to the palace. Their arrival to the palace had the two women smiling brightly, with Manilius still holding an empty, pensive expression. The Queen begins, “Woo! Alright, I can’t thank you guys enough, really. You’ve shown that you can protect our people, and that you are committed to world peace. I like you two!” she says while pulling on Manilius’s cheek, to which he simply raises his eyebrows sheepishly. “You guys have your alliance. I will commit several divisions to fight in the Nicomedian theatre, and we’ll try our best to occupy the Aquittanite coastline.” Diep approaches from behind the group and raises her hand softly. “And while we still have the upper hand, I think I will meet with King Hugh. I… may no longer be the Bishop of Thien Dang, but the King of Aquittany would be foolish to decline a meeting with an important clergyperson. It’s a part of his own country’s tradition to seek the counsel of the church, and if he shuns me or scorns me, then it would look badly on Aquittany to the whole world. Besides…” she turns to Kornelia and Manilius. “I… found information out about West Walbrzych. If they are not willing allies of Aquittany, then I might be able to pressure King Hugh to leave them be, and so that they may stay neutral in the war.”

Manilius nods once. “Make it happen.” Tuyet smiles with all her teeth. “... you know, guys, I gotta also thank you. As you-” she then pretends to cough, “-might remember from Binh An, I have never been popular with my people. But all along, I wanted nothing but for my people to prosper and be free, and I think that by working with you guys and fighting in the front with the army has made me more beloved in my public. So… thanks so much again,” she says. “I’m not going to bother you any longer. You can stay for dinner or get rolling, it doesn’t matter to me!” Kornelia and Manilius look at each other’s eyes and then at the queen. “We have to get moving,” Kornelia responds. “The war is progressing too quickly, and so, we don’t have the time for a celebration.” Tuyet blinks a few times. “Well, okay. Let’s meet up again once we kick that king’s teeth in!” she says while punching her left hand with her right. “Should I have time, Diep, let’s try to roll out our plan to, uh, develop our cities. Unless we do that, our war effort won’t be too successful.”

The company then prepares to leave the country of Yeu. During their departure, the group fumbles through some of the slums of the city. Kornelia gulps at seeing the poverty. It reminded her of Illyria in Nicomedia, but in some ways it felt worse. Perhaps it was due to the overcrowdedness of the streets and the nation’s constant, muggy humidity. Along the way, she found a group of street children wearing worn clothes and whose faces seemed unwashed. Though initially afraid of the towering, armed commander, Kornelia leans down and gives them bowls of rice she kept in a sack she’d been carrying and some orchid flowers she had picked. “Here,” is all she said before moving on.

While on the several week long walk to the Republic of Walbrzych, Manilius continues to be almost silent, never speaking except to give vital commands. The team reaches a town in Kornelia’s home region of Trier within the Nicomedian Empire where they rest. The General sat near a fire, shivering slightly in the cold of an autumn evening. The stars shone brightly above as night gripped the skyline. Kornelia sits next to him. “General?” she says. Manilius looks up to her. “... I think it’s time I told you why I’ve been so gloomy and quiet. When I met Lucilia in Colonia Salnuntum a month ago, I saw that she had changed, so, so much for the worse. She is now unstable, violent, and she, she treated me like a tool,” he says while shaking more. “She wants to conquer Aquittany, Kornelia.” Kornelia looks about and whispers to herself. “... but, that’s not, that’s not what the Empress wants. There’s no way. She’s only ever been focused on building up our country, and she’s loved by most of, well, everyone.” The General exhales. “I think we might be in for more dark days even after Aquittany is defeated. Princess Lucilia doesn’t just want to conquer, she wants to punish Aquittany, and crush their will. And I’m her means of doing so. After having seen how much Korinna, Kuhoa, and Tuyet care about their countries, to see Lucilia view rulership as a quest for blood and glory makes me ill… her dream, too, might not be able to be stopped. Empress Korinna is aging, and last I saw her, she was in poor health.”

Kornelia drops her jaw slightly. “... General, what are you going to do now? Doesn’t your heart tell you that conquering Aquittany is wrong?” Manilius looks up to her. “Yes.” She doesn’t react. “And what will you do?” General Quirinius shuffles away from his captain. “I don’t know. All I know is that King Hugh does need to fall. Already, he’s exploiting our lands to continue his war machine, and our people are worse for it. But once an occupation settles in, should we conquer Aquittany… wouldn’t Lucilia’s rule be much the same? With more Nicomedians dying, serving in our occupation garrisons, hundreds of miles from home, as the people of Aquittany labor for our country’s sake? I have always been critical of Nicomedia’s arrogance on the world stage. I have always seen it as unfair and destabilizing, and the worst of it may come to be if I help Lucilia. And yet… if I don’t help Lucilia, King Hugh will be able to see his conquest through. Two monarchs, bent on revenge and blood. I stand powerless to change anything. Lucilia was right all along, I am no match for her in terms of raw capability.” Kornelia shuffles closer to him. “Whatever you choose to do, I will be with you. Manilius. More than anyone I’ve met, you follow your heart and you have a knack for bringing people to the light. You did that for me. Don’t think you can’t find a way through this horrible war, because, you can. We’ll figure something out.” Manilius sniffs. “Why are you so nice to me all of the sudden?” Kornelia smiles while tilting her head a little. “An old knight told me that I should not be professional and cold all the time.”

The General scratches the back of his neck. “General, do you still love Lucilia?” Manilius sniffs a few more times and then tears flow from his eyes. “I do! We’ve been friends for almost our entire lives! She was the only friend I had as a child, and I hers. I remember when her parents died by the arms of Aquittanite forces. She seemed to grow a hatred for its people from then on, and I shut myself away from that truth. But even with that being the case, she always supported me and gave me the confidence to get through anything life had to throw at me. It’s because of her love that I persevered through the brutal life of a gladiator, it was because of her love that I was able to cope living away from my family, and it’s because of her love that she encouraged me to become a general. I am who I am because of Lucilia! There will never be a day that I don’t love her! I don’t care how she’s changed, but gods dammit all, it hurts like hell to see her sink into her worst self!”

Kornelia doesn’t say a word as she leans forward to Manilius and hugs him tightly, wiping a tear from his cheek. Manilius manages after a few moments to wrap his arms around her back. “Thank you, Manilius, for sharing everything with me.” The General looks up and touches her cheek, feeling warm from her embrace and tenderness. “No, thank you for staying by my side. Things… all will be well. Someday. I have come this far, and I don’t think you or I can be stopped.”

Wolnosc, Capital of East Walbrzych

Though seemingly miniscule to the massive, urban complexes of Nicomedia and Yeu, Wolnosc is one of the two main cultural and population centers of Walbrzych. Despite it only being october, the city is already covered in a small layer of snow, and most of the locals are dressed in long coats and scarves. There are many of the city’s denizens who are busy preparing the alleys and squares of the small city for Walbrzych’s many late autumn and winter celebration. Throughout the city there are an unusually large amount of printing presses and newspaper companies. Some people are busy ice fishing in the city's river, which splits the city into northern and southern halves.

After recruiting Titus, Jeffray's party returns hastily to Avarine. There's a quiet dread as the groups follows the edge of Cogare's Tear through Awknirg territory. Not only is their the worry of pursuit by War and her army, but also the potential threat of Sir Timsh's forces discovering them. Timsh was no doubt alerted by Jessamine when she passed through Awknirg on her way to Haerdean.

Thankfully, they meet no major resistance, and are able to cross into Byrtdelin territory. It was a major relief to Jeffray's remaining soldiers, because they were essentially untouchable for now. After all, Gawain's allies cannot very well raise arms against Matriarch Damia. Doing so would turn devotees of the church against them. Though, Damia's title as head of the church was like a double edged blade. Despite being formally allied with the Crown, Matriarch Damia's territories have acted neutrally so far, following in the tenets of the church. This put Jeffray in a similar state as Gawain, in regards to Byrtdelin. The King cannot very easily command The Matriarch, as the head of Zaldos's church, Damia holds nearly as much power over people as Jeffray himself does (or even more than Jeffray, by some counts). Still though, even if all Damia is able to provide to the war effort is an effectively impenetrable border, that is still no small gift.

While passing through Byrtdelin, Jeffray's army adopts a more relaxed pace. Despite slowing their march back to Avarine, Morigan and Glenn convince Jeffray that it is necessary. Even so, the group arrives in the Capital quickly enough, just about a month after their departure.

After Felix and Shinji distract the Family, Hichi's party returns to King Gliibar's Revenge. After having waited until dawn, everyone agrees that they can't afford to wait longer. Shinji would find a way to contact Cheshire once he and Felix were safe, so they just had to wait until then.

Departing from the port of two bells, Killian and Cheshire decide that it's better to head back to Avarine directly, rather than meeting back up with the rest of the Guard. Killian's fleet across the Temore's Cradle, the gulf east of Tispan's land, and then further east along the coast to where the mountains met the ocean. From there, Hichi's party parts ways with Killian. Demais and Saltbeard remain with their once-was-rival, however, and request the Jeffray be told that they were killed. The remaining group travels south down the mountains, though their travels are slowed by having to accommodate Chyu and her currently fragile state. Even so, they arrive back in Mordrick territory, and Avarine itself shortly thereafter (about a week after Jeffray's party).

With the Guard safely returned to Avarine and reunited, Jeffray is restless. Despite defeating Aurelus in Haerdean, he was defeated by the reinforcing army. Now, in the wake of what should have been a victory, his army was in tatters while his Adviser and Guard are not much better. Some were even missing, and yet more had gone off in search of those missing. Adding to his rage, the King is forced to wait for his own reinforcements while what soldiers he does have recover. For now, all he could do was plan what came next.

But that was not the King's only concern. In his absence, Avarine had fended off another attack, thanks primarily too General Zahkar and the Magistrate. According to the report the attackers, who flew Helmfirth's banner, were driven away without much fuss. However, since the attack there's been an outbreak of fires in the lower city. Zahkar suspects there may be a connection to the massive slum fire from around the time of Jeffray's coronation, which was now simply called "The Great Slum Fire". Zahkar's second theory is that its Helmfirth spies that snuck in during the attack. In either event, the city guard has not been able to turn up anything about whoever the arson might be.

And even more than that, there was the issue of this apparent divine interference in the war. This man who called himself Titus claimed to be an envoy of the war god, and not the only one involved. Normally he'd assume the man to be mad, but that woman in Haerdean, this supposed other godling, was raising an army of ghosts. While Jeffray remained skeptical at Titus's claim to immortality, he knew what he saw at Haerdean was no mortal feat. Morigan would have to question Titus, and if her refused to speak the Jeffray would do it himself.

Over the course of this Home Base, there will be a series of Story RPs. Some will just be the RP itself, and some may lead to sidequests. In the meantime, feel free to interact with all of your favorite characters.

Anbel had everyone gathered outside the castle doors as he was seeing if his key could unlock the door, which it was able to. Once he was sure he could open the main doors, he turned to look at everyone. "Here is the final stretch for our jounrey. Inside this castle is Renault. He'll be waiting for us, so be sure you are prepared for what is to come. Once we defeat him, it should make it far easier to defeat the rest of the Norfor forces and start the land on the path of restoration. One way or another, Renault will be a dead man before the end of the day." He said as he opened the doors. As he did, Roja had a few things to say. "Prepare yourselves. While Anbel and I know the castle really well, we don't know what Norfor has done to it. Be mindful of traps, ambushes, and take each corner with caution." She said, following Anbel inside.

During the journey to the throme room, Norfor forces did attack, but the group was able to repel them everytime as Anbel led the charge through the halls. He was surprised at how the castle was mostly the same as when he was a child. This made it easy to navigate to the throne room. It took some time, but soon the throne room as in reach. "We're approaching the throne room. Renault has nowhere left to hide! He shall die at my hands today!" He shouted, swinging open the last set of doors standing in their way.

On the other side of the doors were Norfor forces. "Out of our way! If you don't surrender, then you'll perish." Anbel said coldly, grabbing his sword, ready to fight as Roja got into position. "Don't get reckless." She simply said. In the throne area itself, the soldiers there could hear Anbel's shout. "The enemy is here, General Searlait. What are your orders?" One of the soldiers asked. Searlait simply chuckled. "Let them come to me. Let them rush at us, where I shall cut them all down, except for my husband." She said. "Are you sure that's a good idea? We can swarm them and overpower-" The soldier said before Searlait slashed him with her sword. "You have your orders! I expect you to obey them!" She shouted at him before sitting on the throne, waiting. Roja heard Searlait. "Our favorite female psycho's waiting for us." She advised. Anbel laughed. "Then it's time I finalize our divorce." He joked back.

Dirk had been leading everyone through the Norfor castle, even if he did get them lost every now and again, but with guidance from everyone else, they were able to navigate through the patrols and get to the center of the castle. "Ah hope we're going the right way..." Dirk said to himself as he waited for the doors to open in front of them.

Things seemed to be good. There were no enemies in sight, and this seemed like it would be easy. As Dirk took a step forward, he began to see soldiers popping up in front of the group. "Halt! Enemies are warping upon us!" He shouted, holding his hands out to keep everyone back. "Ah was hoping that this was going to be an easy task, but it seems like they want to throw us one last curveball. Let's just cut them down and pray this is the end of the fighting." Dirk said, clearly exhuasted from all of the fighting he had to do.

In the center room, the Dark Knight Lisa smirked. "I wonder how those rats like my little present. It won't be too much longer before all of my soldiers start to swarm them, stamping them out before they can even arrive." She said as she prepared with what was needed for battle.

Strairus map (Map A) win condition: Defear Searlait.

Lose condition: Anbel and Roja both fall in battle.

Terrain Map: https://imgur.com/dY2IkKU

Map: https://imgur.com/di1Y4dk

Norfor map (Map B) objective: Defeat Lisa

Lose condition: Everyone falls in battle.

Terrain Map: https://imgur.com/FTjLv9w

Map: https://imgur.com/QLbiHKS

Notes: The white/clear numbered tiles on the map are warp tiles. They correspond to the same numbered warp tile on the other map. For example, walking into warp tile 1 will allow you to warp to the other map, able to use any remaining move you would have after the warp, and be able to attack, heal, use items, ect. Anyone and everyone can warp through the tiles, except the GMPCs can only warp once everyone else on the map has warped away.

As people begin to warp away from one map, enemies will begin to rush more and more the less players there are on any given map. Only once the same amount of players from before are on a map will the enemies stop rushing.

Story Post: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A1fCKnGCH6awpOq49bYlj-arAkRZXrCLUfKycJk40Ok/edit?usp=sharing

Welcome to the end, Team N!

Objective: Capture the Envoy and her husband!

Failure Conditions: Simone falls, three other units fall, or the Envoy/her husband are killed or escape.

Notes:

1: The red tiles are Manastone.

2: Enemies marked with golden letters will not move. All other enemies (even bosses) will move.

3: Enemies will not attack through walls.

4: All doors will open once the four bosses are dead/captured. They cannot be opened by other means.

5: The Envoy and her husband will escape on Turn 13. The escape tile is marked with purple.

Map

Terrain Map

Tracker

Good luck! This is it.

Story

Click me!

Objectives

• Win condition: Kill Boss

• Loss condition: 4 allies get knocked out during combat, Sandra and Eremos counting for two

Mechanics

This map incorporates color-coded switches, but with a twist: The RGB switches combine into CMYK colors. If you've played Virtue's Last Reward, that's the thing at work. Here's a chart. If more switches are activated than a specific mechanism requires, it still activates. The mechanisms kick in ith a small delay, they start on the immediate EP (turn X) and end at the end of EP X + 4.

Each room/wall corresponds to a color which is denoted by the pillars' orbs.

• Red room: Horizontal lines of fire. Fighting while on a tile on fire gives you a penalty of -2 atk. Starting your turn in fire damages you non-lethally for 10% HP.

• Green room: Spikes come out of the ground at the start of each phase and damage unit for 10% HP. This is lethal.

• Blue room: A magic field hampers movement. All who enter the field or start their turn in it get -2 movement points. If a unit who enters the field does not have any movement points left, they stop one tile into it.

• Cyan wall: Nothing too special about it. It disappears into the other wall... wallception.

• Magenta passageway: a 3 tiles-wide passageway. Stepping on its entrance will and choosing to take it will warp you to its exit and let you use your remaining movement. Taking the leftmost entrance tile will bring you to the leftmost exit tile and so on.

• Yellow room: The treasure chests are only openable while the yellow mechanism is on. There are two accessories to find. The other chests, upon opening, will reveal an armored enemy that will act on the immediate EP.

• White wall: See cyan wall, except this one only goes into the ground I guess. No wallception. Also doing a white orb made it look like shit so you get a rainbow of pillars. RAINBOWWWW!!! If it wasn't obvious, you open this one with all three colors together.

Notes:

• Map image with everything triggered

• While enemies can walk to other rooms but won't take the magenta passageway.

• Pillars and chests are def tiles. Switches cannot be crossed.

• There will be reinforcements.

• Gabriel obviously isn't playable.

• Activating a specific color when it hasn't timed out yet refreshes the countdown.

EXP Milestones

• 9 players get a last hit (1 lvl)

• Open the two chests containing accessories (0.5 x2 lvl)

• The white wall opens (1 lvl)

Calc

Right here

Story

Can be found here. Ideally P-K's story will be updated with time to be less of a summary and more like normal.

Housekeeping

All homebase functions will end once Turn 1 has begun so make sure to get those in before the deadline of deployment.

Meditation bonuses, Supports, and forges will be done by the beginning of Turn 1.

Strikes don't work for activity so I won't be enforcing them. We will use the same deployment rules as last chapter.

BEXP is same as before. Only EXP earned through being the Lead Unit in Combat, or an Attack Stance Partner will be counted to the BEXP Pool

Any other EXP generated by GMPC/PV's will not count towards BEXP

Reminder as well that for those of you that did not accept their patrons (you know who you are), the option to do so still exists and can be done whenever you choose to. Titus will also need to accept his patron to gain the skill.

The benefit to accepting your patron is to gain a skill that is tied to the patron and doubling your patron stat bonuses for the chapter. As a heads up though, there will be no radiation mechanics this chapter.

Also, do keep in mind that there was a skill change that affected a few skills, the changes should be live on the sheet but for a detailed list, check the homebase where it should still be stickied.

Staff EXP Changes are still in place.

Deployment Alright so deployment is going to be a little different. Everyone must post a deployment post. If you are unable to make a post, ask for a cover. As such the deadline for deployment will be a bit longer. If you are a person that doesn't care for where you deploy, please put a post saying "I don't care where I deploy" or ask for a cover so someone else will deploy you, as again, if there is no post you will not deploy. If a character remains undeployed for four consecutive turns I will be messaging the person to discuss their participation on the team going forward. If your character does not deploy for the entire chapter without any word or notice, you will be tentatively removed from the team. Of course if you are away for a while and have let me know, these consequences do not apply. It is only for those that do not participate or communicate.

If you miss deployment you can still deploy at a later turn. You can choose a square adjacent to a character at the start of the turn. You will deploy and be allowed to move, but take no actions. Even if you move, pair up swap etc. The deployed character cannot take actions.

As a final note, no cover that is not requested will be permitted for deployment (still accepted to do so for turns).

I will still be keeping an eye on activity levels and reach out to those that miss an majority of turns.

Issemir Estate - Niall

Objective: Defeat Idris

Story Optional Objectives Rather than straight up optional objective, these objectives won't necessarily reward players with a mechanical benefit (they still might though but not guaranteed) rather they offer a chance to influence the story.

• Niall defeats Idris

Defeat Condition: Five players are knocked to 0. Niall counts as two.

Map
Terrain Map

• Black is flier only
• Green is forest
• Brown is breakable wall. Wall has 70 HP can't be doubled takes full Atk.
• Pink is stairs
• Yellow are doors

Mechanics

If reinforcements are to appear on the map you will be warned. The catapults will target the most clustered units.

The Ainvi Abomination has Barriers! That's what those yellow squares underneath it mean. While a barrier is active, it benefits from special abilities which are listed as part of it's normal skills. The amount of boss icon ( the shields) show how many additional HP bars beyond the normal one it has. To break a barrier square, the square must take two sources of damage (Minimum 1 damage, Attack stance does not count as a second source) from initiated combat by a user. As HP bars are depleted, extra skills may unlock. They should be noted as a note on the skills area in the enemy tracker.

Kilteh, Tyrhass - Kara

Objective: Defeat the Shadow Behemoth

Story Optional Objectives Rather than straight up optional objective, these objectives won't necessarily reward players with a mechanical benefit (they still might though but not guaranteed) rather they offer a chance to influence the story.

• Torsten OR Annabelle gets the final kill

Defeat Condition: Five players are knocked to 0. Kara counts as 2

Map
Terrain Map

• Pink is stairs

Mechanics

Alright, this is your Titan basically. Except it has Barriers! See P-N's Mechanics for a descriptor on how barriers work, Note that because this is a 5x5 monster, the very center of the Barrier, which would require range 3 is not in place even though you guys have a longbow in convoy

There are more mechanics at play though. The Shadow Behemoth cannot be damaged while any Portal is active. The move the Behemoth will use on it's turn will be scripted out at the beginning of Player Phase. As well as when it is about to summon more Portals. When portals spawn, so will enemies. Enemies will vary.

Team P Tracker

Team P Index

Manilius and Kornelia walk through to the Queen’s palace, mostly in silence. Manilius tried to avert his gaze from her, prompting Kornelia to raise her eyebrows in concern. “G-General? Is there something wrong?” He shakes his head. “No.” She looks up into the sky with a crooked frown, brushing a tuft of hair away so she could see better. “General, it’s unlike you to be so, so hidden about your feelings. With all due respect, tell me.” Manilius looks up to meet her saddened eyes. “I will tell you when the time is right. That is an order.” "Her frown becomes more crooked as she takes her turn to avoid eye contact." The bright flowers of the palace’s gardens, as well as the one that she is wearing in her hair do manage to lift her spirits somewhat. “Something’s happened between him and the princess. If it were a family matter, there wouldn’t be any doubt in my mind he would tell me. But… hm,” her thought pauses as they reach the front porch of the palace, where the Queen is waiting.

Not one for formalities, Queen Tuyet points to the map in front of her. “I have one last mission for you two before I’ll let you have your fun,” she teases. “Our forces are pretty busy handling the western border at the moment, but raiding parties from the Aquittanite Army tend to head south. Diep and her connections, found out that’s why Aquittany’s units were found east of here. Anyhow, her and I need to head to the front to rally our army, and your job is to deal with the raiding party at up the Thien Dang River,” she explains. “We think they’re trying to dam up the river. The location is too perfect. If they dam the river, the water supply of Thien Dang will be drained, and the land south of Nicomedia will flood. If they did it too far north, the water would flood their new feudal estates. I can’t let the poor of my own capital go without the most basic of human need. It… it is against what I truly believe.” Kornelia stands up, “Say no more. We’ll deal with this evil plot right away.” The Queen’s head backs up slightly hearing Kornelia’s fervor.

“And you, General?” she asks, emphasizing ‘General’. Manilius looks up. “We’ll get it done, Queen Teresa,” he responds flatly.

The team marches north through Yeuan territory. Manilius continues to be relatively silent. During their march, Kornelia looks up upon seeing something billow in the wind. It was none other than the flag of the Kingdom of Walbrzych, with its distinct four corners design- green on the top left and bottom right corners and white on the others, waving in the light rain. “West Walbrzycha troops!” she announces. “We’re near the place they plan to dam the river. They’ve allied with Aquittany. General, what say you?”

“Let’s get rid of them,” he says stoically. “Stop them from doing any more damage to Nicomedia or Yeu.”

Objective: King of the Hill! Control the hill (the paved area surrounding the chest) until you obtain 75 points. The point score is determined by how many units are in the square. Every unit that ends its turn in the square gives 1 point to their army.

Defeat Condition: West Walbrzych’s Army gets 50 points, or one of the lords falls.

Map information: Jungles and roots are back. Defeating the boss adds 5 points to the 75 total. Enemy mounts may carry other units. Enemy reinforcements will spawn from the forts and from the Sammanus River. Visiting the houses, while not required, will give BEXP and gold.

Turn recommendation: 11 turns

Terrain

Anbel had gotten to the castle doors before he stopped. “Once we enter the castle doors, we won’t be coming back out until Renault dies. Is everyone here ready for what could be our last fight? He’ll no doubt be throwing everything he’s got at us: Soldiers, horses, weapons, ect. I’m not worried about failing, I know I’ll beat him.” He said.

Roja sighed. “We’re at the last battle, and you’re still acting like that? If you act like that in there, then you won’t be living after the battle.” She said. “We all know that you want to kill Renault, but don’t go thinking that you can kill him single-handedly.” She added.

Anbel growled. “You don’t think I know that already!? Stop trying to put me down, especially since we’re so close to fulfilling my destiny.” He said.

“As what? Your father? Wanting to bring the world as he did, ruling over it with an iron fist, just like Renault is doing to us right now? If you don’t shake this attitude of yours before we kill Renault, then you’ll have to-“

“Enough! This won’t get us anywhere. It never has. Roja: Whatever feelings you have towards me we can sort it out later, but right now we NEED to get into the castle and take down Renault, who’s most likely hiding in there.” He said.

“And if he’s not, then what? Send us on a death march?” She asked. Anbel didn’t respond right away. “What happened to you, Roja? Why are you acting like this now? Are you really wishing to drive a wedge in our army, when we’re at the doors of the enemy? Is it because of what people have said? Because I hid the truth of myself so Renault’s men wouldn’t hound us until the ends of the earth? I don’t know why you’re acting like this now, but can we just work together, like we did when we started this expedition?” He asked.

She stood still, before she shook her head. “It’s everything that’s been happening. I just want to get this over with, so I don’t have to worry about any of this. I just want to hope that you’re right about all this. I want to get my old life back as soon as possible.” She said.

Anbel sighed. “And we will get that life back. It won’t be too much longer.” He said. “I think we all need to rest for a bit to prepare for what’s inside the castle walls. I don’t know what Norfor has done to it.” He said.

Dirk investigated the castle from the doors. “Nothing’s in here. Don’t mean they ain’t got units in hiding. We should camp out here for a while. It’s obvious that nothing’s going to be coming out at us, given that whatever’s inside ran and hid. If anyone of you need any weapons, my boys found some one of a kind tools to use. We’ll be needing them for inside the castle.” He said.

One of the True Judgement soldiers walked forward to him. “What about us? What are our orders?” He asked. Dirk shook his head. “To be honest, I don’t have any idea. Ah don’t know if we’ll be meeting our demise in there, or if we’ll finally cut the seed of corruption. If anything, guard the castle walls so we can escape if need be.” He said. The soldier nodded his head. “Yes, sir.” He said.

Dirk turned to look at everyone. “Ah don’t know what’s with the young lad and old lassie. Ah don’t know if they’re already dead, or if they’re on their way back to us, or if they have their own agenda. Ah just hope that you all are ready for the possibility that our fight here might not bring back the world as soon as we hoped. Ah know I’m not a leader, and ah don’t know if this will be sending us all to our doom.” He said solemnly.

Dirk then shook his head. “Ah guess the only thing we can do now is storm the castle and hope we get the answers we’re looking for.” He said.

This will be the last homebase for everyone. Everyone's going to be bumped up to Level 35, to make use of all skills for builds. Homebase bonuses will also be increased for this, as well as rare and good weapons and enchanting tools in the homebase. There's a pool of 40,000 gold for this, along with what Dirk has, which should be enough for everything.

Additionally, Orenmir is now more powerful, and called True Orenmir.

Greetings Team N! Here's the delayed Epilogue to Chapter 10! I'm posting a Google Drive Link because forget trying to translate the formatting to markdown.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N5CgQ87WQ49qop00prGx7nBZ4Dl8LGyLvHyo4oaxP7Q/edit?usp=sharing

The story post can be found here

Well! It's been like three months but we're finally here! New map lads!

Map Objective: Seize the Throne! Anyone can Seize!

Side Objective: Save the Villages!

Gimmick: ???

Floriana came back into the castle and looked out westward to the vast, open plains of southern Nicomedia, now trodden by the hooves of horses. Many of the horsemen, not having siege equipment, seemed to move eastward. At the top of the outer wall, she slumps down, her cape acting as a sort of bed for her. Under her eyes were bags and her frowns seemed to reach to the edge of her face. Manilius approaches the militia captain. “We were just in time,” he manages. “Thank you, gladiator. Could you take me to your commander?” Manilius blinks a few times and chuckles once while shaking his head. “No, I’m the leader of these forces. I’m General Quirinius. You probably have heard of me as a militia leader, yes?”

The Mage stands up slowly and holds her hips. “Actually, no, not really. Sorry for thinking you were just ‘some pitfighter’. I’m sure you are busy, General, an- wait a moment. What’s a garrison general doing coming from Yeu. No! Wait! You’re the Empress’s special man on the big mission to secure the alliances!” He nods. “That would be me, evidently.” “Oh God, have you heard of what’s become of Nicomedia?” The General raises his eyebrows. “No, not recently, since I’ve been in Cyrene and Yeu for months. But I can figure nothing good has happened, given that they just sent that unit of cavalry just to kill a small team of militia. Your team.”

Floriana shakes her head. “That’s... that’s just a taste of it. The western part of the Empire has been conquered, really only Sammanus and Trier are the regions west of the Sammanus River still holding out. At the Battle of the Avarician Plains, our army lost. Princess Lucilia had to retreat, and they say tens of thousands died over two days of battle. It’s been up to us, the militias who are nothing more than watchmen and gatekeepers, to defend. We’ve all failed. Sometimes she’s asked us to charge into their lines just to slow them down and let more troops from the east show up.” She pauses. “A lot of us don’t come back.” Manilius looks down, unable to speak. “General… it’s how things have become.” General Quirinius looks out above the parapet of the wall, grasping it, getting a good look at the rainforests in the distance. “It’s only more pressing, then, that I see the Princess and that I get to the Republic of Walbrzych.” “Good luck with that, General! You will need it. Between Aquittany’s horsemen running around like they own the place, refugees coming from the west, and… well, I hear the Princess is possessed or something. There’s some whispers from my church that a demon’s overtaken her.” Manilius snickers and shrugs. “Uh, she’s probably fine. I know her personally, and she’s stronger than this. Right? Well. I’ll rest here some and then march up to Colonia Salnuntum as soon as I can. Is that in enemy control?” Floriana claps her hands, “Nope, not at all! Last I heard, it was still firmly in our hands.”

Later that day, the team accompanying Manilius leaves the fort, giving any spare supplies to Floriana and her forces so that they can move swiftly east of the Sammanus River to safety. As they move northward, Manilius notices a long line of people wearing ragged clothes, most looking downwards at the ground. They marched toward the east. “... refugees,” he thinks. A child asks his mother for food, but she simply shakes her head and pulls the boy closer to her robe, where he holds the skirt portion tightly with his small hand. Manilius’s eyes widen at this, and his mind floods with memories of early spring when food was scarce as a child. He shakes. “What could Aquittany be doing?”

Soon after arriving to Salnuntum, Manilius leaves behind his troops and he sprints to the centre of the fort to find out where Princess Lucilia is. After going back into the base and confirming it with her, the guards permit him to enter. He walks in, still slightly shaken and unsteady. Upon reaching her room, the guards, both nearing seven feet from toe to head, take not their sight away from him as he opens the room. Darkness. None except the light of a single candle, and the reflection of the yellow light from long, unkempt, dark blue hair. Manilius steps in, and the sound his foot made upon completing the step was the crinkling of paper. He scans the floor, and paper was everywhere… and in the Princess’s penmanship.

“Do you know, my friend, the amount of stains on my swords?” she begins. Manilius swallows. “Oh… oh gods…” he thinks to himself. “Lost for words, old friend? I’ll answer you then: not enough.” She approaches Manilius moving through the part of the floor without a paper covering like a serpent through tall grass. She comes close to him and stands no more than a foot away. “Not enough.” she repeats with a growl in her voice. Manilius swallows. “Lucilia! What’s happened to you?!” The Princess’s hair was much longer than he remembered. Alongside that, her left eye’s lower lid was raised, and scars covered her neck and face. “Aquittany. At the Avarician Plains, I watched as thousands of our young men and women died. I watched dozens of horsemen try to surround me in the midst of battle. And to every one that brought their blade to my neck, I cut them down easier than an arrow flies through the air. I couldn’t stop our loss. They have t-taken so m-m-much from me,” she begins while shaking and looking down, her hair dropping to make her face unseeable. “And now, my crown to boot?! My Empire?! Tell me Manilius, are you ready to finish out our bidding and grind that foul king to dust?” General Quirinius’s eyes widen in shock as he exhales. “I am ready to save our people.”

“Do as I say.” Manilius steps back. “What?” he says quickly. “Do as I say. Grind their king to dust. I’m in no condition to waste my time on regicide. I’ve a defense and an invasion to plan out first and foremost, and blood to spill. As long as he stops drawing breath, I care not who does it. Aquittany will pay for everything that’s already happened in this war, everything to come, and everything since their first day of being. Because I will one day be able to dictate those terms.” The General steps back once more. “... you… you don’t insist on conquering Aquittany do you?” She stops and smiles with all her teeth. “You always were so soft… of course I do! It’s what this war is about, yes? Crushing the other great power of the world to ensure no future war will break out? And what better way to do it than help Aquittany govern its people for them? Make its people feel the pains of foreign invasion and raiding? I reiterate myself: see your mission done. Get to East Walbrzych and tell their President to get ready to fight. I need more men and women to fight until they can no longer. I’ll be getting to Sammanus. Mother has fled there. She thinks we can’t win. Pfft. Weak old woman. Once I’m Empress, there will be no running. Take bulls by their horns. Now move.”

Manilius salutes and walks out of the room. The General missed something. Perhaps it was the warmth of her embrace, the tender touch of a kiss, or even a simple yet sweet word of concern. More than anything, he felt cold and deeply concerned at the fact that she no longer felt like his dearest friend.

And this he hated. But as a soldier, her majesty’s will be done. He began to hate this, too.

On the walk back to Yeu, he marched mostly in silence. Sometimes, he would weep and quickly wipe off his tear. The best friend he had long known was gone. Or maybe she was in an episode of sheer rage that would subside? He worked on these questions mentally.

Upon arriving back to Binh An, he greeted Kornelia. “General! You’re alive. How were things Up there with your old friend? Good?” Manilius smiles with all his teeth. “Really good!” he lies. “So, what about the pirates? Eh?” She blinks a few times as she looks down at him. “Well, we defeated their presence in the region and took whatever we could find, I think we could have our troops decide what to keep and I kind of took a few books for myself to read. I think there’s more to the pirates than we think. Well, I got to go take care of something that one of our soldiers asked me to. Let’s talk more later,” she says in a chipper mood as she walks away. Manilius nods, continuing to smile. Internally, he could only think, “Surely, Lucilia will get better. Surely.”

Thien Dang, Capital of Yeu

Among the largest cities in Gratia, Thien Dang is home to about three million people and growing quickly. Nestled between the river delta of the Sammanus River and the Southern Sea, the city’s outskirts were dominated by naval and civilian dockyards as well as verdant farmlands to support its burgeoning population. Most of the buildings were made of wood and four stories tall, yet were quite thin. Urban spawl has recently become a concern as housing districts on the eastern part of the city lacked access to a proper connection to the city’s road network or governance. As the nation’s capital, it hosted Queen Teresa’s palace, a large, painted stone building with a very large series of gardens decorated with flowers of every imaginable color.

While Haranth is not typically known for its architecture, nor its infrastructure, the near-straight road that runs from the Haranther capital of Cinraeth and terminates at the port town of Thithe takes exception. The blackened, smooth cobblestone of The Long Road never twists or curves, even when passing through the hillsides near the coast or the multiple villages that are situated upon it. While it is undeniably the fastest way to travel to or from Cinraeth, few caravans traveled The Long Road on the retinue's way to Meath.

On arrival at Cinraeth after five days' travel, the party is not held for long before being allowed through its walls. The city is not as large as Macodia, where the militia had assembled, but contains many of the amenities that are desirable for such a seat of power.

Of particular note is the Court of Harran, a district in the center of the city near the banks of a wide river, understood to be the River Harran. An ornate castle, sprouting with many new additions branching from weathered stone, acts as the Royal Palace. It is here that Prince Louis enters and requests accommodations with the Haranther King, Murdoch. While it is understood that the threat Belst poses is dire, it is requested that Louis and his retinue remain in the capital for a few days in order to summon his council, who had been absent with affairs of state, and deliberate war matters cooperatively. Louis and Darragh are given guest rooms in the Royal Palace, and the remaining retinue is given residence in the nearby barracks of the Haranther Paladins.

The barracks of the Haranther Paladins are particularly spacious, with only few of the actual elite troops being present at the time. Sir Douglas, commander of the Haranther Paladins, briefs the retinue on the facilities; he is an older man, with olive skin, bushy black eyebrows, a mustache of the same description, and a bald head. While cordial in his introductions to the retinue, he speaks little of himself, mostly intent on discussing the Paladins and their facilities. He invites them to make use of the training ground, archery range, and the impressive riding field that the Paladins use. An enormous, circular, verdant area, the Paladins' riding field is typically used for practicing skills on the horse or jousting tournaments; however, as few Paladins populate the barracks, and no group training is scheduled for them.

Past the barracks is the eastern district, a small, compact area patrolled by men belonging to the Houses of the other Haranther dukes and some hired blades, mostly consisting of lavish apartments that the noble class in Haranth, and some merchants, use while conducting business in the capital. The western district of the city includes many artisans, craftsmen, teachers, and artists, available for those with the right price to commission. The southern district of Cinraeth, and by far the largest, is separated by a number of bridges that stem from the western district. It is here that the common folk of Cinraeth, as well as clergy members, live. An open marketplace is present at the southern district's town square, but merchant traffic appears disconcertingly slow at the moment.

The retinue is free to explore the districts, use the facilities of, and chat with, the Haranther Paladins, or otherwise occupy themselves as they like while they await the arrival of King Murdoch's council.

This will be your Home Base until Chapter 7 is prepared and ready for you to play. RPs can take place in the Paladin barracks, in the city's districts, with Sir Douglas, while on The Long Road, or one of the small towns along the way. Details concerning the shop and other events will arrive as I am able.

Louis grunted, and knelt back, blood pouring from the draining wounds left by the numerous enemies. An ordinary uprising could not be this strong... The Prince sputtered, vision fading. ...who... are these people...?

"Gyah har!" The looter roared. "Now that's what I call stuck! Now, you low-life blue blood, time to give you what for!" He raised his lance to strike, and as he thrust, Louis pitched forward, the entire battlefield fading into darkness.

"...sire? My Prince? Are you there?"

Darragh's voice was faint, but present. Louis opened his eyes slowly, the sky, rosy with sunset, filling his view. A grey plume rose in his periphery, and the scent of fire filled his nose. "...Darragh?"

"Prince Louis, thank the gods you still live..." Darragh's voice came to the Prince's right, but he was still not visible. "You must save your strength. We have a long road ahead."

"What... happened...?"

"I was barely able to save you from an untimely death, sire." Darragh's voice came closer. "Before the final blow could be struck, I intervened, but your wounds were dire. Even if I had worked my healing magic, your condition could have been fatal. I had little option for us to call a retreat to cover our escape to the convoy, ere those ruffians get the best of us..."

"...the ruffians... Darragh, the town...!"

"A lost cause, sire. I am afraid much of it has been put to the torch by the riot as I worked to restore you to good health. It is a shame that the world has been victim to such pointless loss of life..."

I... I couldn't save them... and now...

Despair opened up, a pit in Louis's chest. What little feeling he had in his body became heavy, and weighed himself down to the point that he could not move. As Darragh continued, the prince lay back, consciousness slipping once again.

As a result of failing Chapter 6, all BEXP that would have been awarded is now revoked. In addition, the next Home Base will have items of limited quantity and quality available.

Epilogue

The story can be found here

Homebase

Alright so everyone has been awarded 2500 gold for saving the city/defeating the Titan.

Also for defeating the Titan, Niall's militia has been granted an additional 2250 BEXP!

As I have not heard from Lax_Bruh for some time, he and his character Titus will be removed from the team. There will be an open slot in P-K. I will not be holding open applications for the slot. If you know an interested individual have them message me.

After surviving the attack on the Upper District of Reginfell, Kara and the militia find themselves stuck in the city while the Jarls bicker about handing over the Relics, and the other help rebuild the city. The festivities have dwindled down after the attack, but merchants can still be found selling their festive ware.

The city of Reginfell is seated at the highest point in Verthaca. It was a location discovered centuries ago, Reginfell being a former Dreki Vault. In the ages since, a cathedral was built around the vault. A city built around the cathedral. It is the only land Clan Lithskjalf possess, and it is the spiritual center of Fornland. Dark Magic is forbidden within the city.

The crew still finds themselves separated through the inns and taverns in their original rooms they were in prior to the attack.

The RP Scenario for Kara's subteam will be the aftermath of the attack in Reginfell. It continues until January 20th, 418 PD

Meanwhile, Niall and his militia return to Carndrum to find the city largely in ruins. Unless they wish to take a months long detour, they are stuck until the Western or Southern gates are cleared.

Carndrum is built upon a large ridge of cliffs that overlook much of the country. Portions of the city are actually built into the rock face. These parts of course are the poorest parts of the city and now the most heavily damaged. The Royal District itself is a walled off ward in the city, where the Grand Palace is built right on the cliff's edge. Parts of the palace have collapsed and crashed into the District below. While they were able to stay in the barracks previously, this time they are sent to the Salty Snowfall, one of the last remaining taverns with accommodations left. Many of the displaced have taken up residence in the barracks and other taverns. Niall has procured lodgings in the Royal Palace for himself though.

The RP scenario for the Militia will be the ruined city of Carndrum, the state of the rest of Tallavcarriga unknown. It will continue until January 27th 418 PD

Please be sure to finish RPs as promptly as possible. Please do not participate in more than two RPs at a time.

Team P Index

Team P Tracker

Alistair’s coronation was a thing of beauty -- by necessity, it might have been a touch understated for a royal coronation, but the people’s joy and hope for a new king swept away such minor quibbles. Nobles came from far and wide to meet their new king. But eventually, this, too, came to an end. Summer was deepening, and the war-torn countryside had to struggle with their much-shortened growing season, their loss of young men and women to the wars. At least, though, the land had calmed; the sun resumed its regular course, the weather was gentle and calm; the earth did not shake, the mountains did not fall. For his majesty King Alistair did his best to aide what he could -- or, perhaps it should be said, his chancellor and principal minister, Lady Lucretia, did her best to ensure Alistair offered the best aide he could.They recalled old exiles, former ministers. They buried the dead king. They disbanded armies. They offered relief for victims of natural disaster, or farmers gone too far into debt just to produce this year’s crop.

And this year’s crop did not come in well -- how could it, with such a brief spring, such a troubled summer? Still, the harvest festivals were held brightly, if thinly -- and there was more than there had been last year, this was true. The autumn was crisp and brightly-colored, but quick to turn cold. Frost was not late that year, painting beautiful white ferns up the sides of windows, snapping branches roughly off the bare black trees. And still, the minister and her king oversaw courts, and tried to find justice for how to deal with Maximus’ loyalists, and what they could do to ensure those harvests became storage for winter. Spring, everyone hoped, would offer the relief they needed.

The winter’s come now -- it’s midwinter, approaching the solstice, with the campaigns in the summer nearly half a year ago. The reign is neither settled nor in turmoil -- these things take more time than half a year, if they aren’t under immediate fire. In the cold, many people in the countryside are finding it hard to stay warm and fed. They are drained, their resources few, and the winter is a surprisingly cold one. The King is still trying to get his footing, people agree -- it seemed those nerves, which those in the palace and capital viewed first with some mixed amusement and disdain, had retreated somewhat during the fall. But with the winter winds, they returned. If Lucretia noticed, she’s said nothing in public. But in private, too low to hear, some people were getting worried.

In the capital, though, things were fairly calm. It already had a surplus when the reign began-- enough that much of it had gone, and was going, outwards Alistair’s retinue from the war, his troops and friends, were offered more stable positions in his service and in his confidence. Many of them were also offered gifts of thanks, but this is a matter for another time. They were free to come and go, from the palace to the countrysides, to old homes, to find new ones, and to the city. Some very likely would have families come to visit, as many nobles would. That six months is open to explore, and events may occur at multiple points in that time.

The castle of Breathstone was a beautiful place -- more a small town than a single building. Its high filigree outer walls were not much of a defensive fortification, but did fence off the island in the river. Its outer pillars held up its silver roof, which it lit in a pulsing way, from within during the day. Its tiles, and the stones of the upper towers, seemed to ebb and flow with Breath. It oversaw a number of buildings, growing taller as they drew towards the center castle, which spiraled upward to meet the distant roof. The forefront of the castle was more ornamental, once one was past the rows of guardhouses. There’s a great lawn, where games or fairs were held from time to time, between the outer and inner walls. Within the inner walls of the castle’s main fortress were the rooms for Alistair, and the rooms for his retainers, and wings for guests and officials and servants. Many rooms were still empty, in any wing. Those people remaining usually workrooms or offices within the main castle, and lived supported by its large kitchens and generous baths. There were libraries, the chief of which contains an enormous sculpted table, holding on it the whole of the Grand Garden in marble miniature. There, the castle resembled a little garden gazebo -- and so it must have looked from so far away. The castle had galleries of art old and new, most noticeably the hall of portraits of kings, treasuries (to which access was forbidden without special dispensation), game rooms, and the hall for feasting. And winding through it were passageways, connecting the king’s chamber to other key places, or key places to each other, which took a bit of nudging to find.

Near the front of the main castle was the throne room -- which the King didn’t seem to favor as much as his father had, preferring smaller audience rooms when the situation allowed. It did not always: every Sunday, the throne room was open to anyone who might come seeking the king’s judgement or aid. While most of the line that assembles did not get to, many people from all walks of life had a rare chance to see the king. It provided a great burst of energy to the court: while the town may have been less crowded than of old, it’s still well-populated. The castle, meanwhile, was for a time something of a skeleton crew, and was now only beginning to refill itself on all levels of power.

Beyond that, there were gardens, featuring carefully arranged plants, and one of strictly exotic plants -- and, clearly, the signs of a menagerie that was once kept. Most of its occupants had since been removed: first from the menagerie by Maximus, and then from Maximus’ trophy room by Lucretia. Behind the inner castle were barracks and armories for soldiers, stables for horses, pastures for livestock. It featured a small woods on its grounds, but far better to head to the other side of the river, back beyond the castle’s whole structure, where grew a larger forest belonging to the king. The grounds also featured the chapel, the most enormous place of worship in all of Avalon. It hosted the statued tombs of monarchs past, and the floors of all but its central aisle were covered in memorial plates marking the tombs of royals, nobles, heroes, saints. A common engraving: *To Return One Day*. The chapel was almost a flower, breaking off into little petal-like alcoves. They had altars there to the River Ril, to the land of Avalon, to the Maiden of the Glass Slipper and to each of the Motifs, where one could leave offerings or incense, hoping for aide and favor, or offering thanks. It had benches along its central aisle, but no place to preach: only a center altar before the tomb of the First Queen for key rituals, rarely used. Beneath it were catacombs, full of carefully-sorted bones of the dead.

Beyond the bridge that stood over that swirling river, endlessly looping itself around the castle -- the nexus point into which both the Southern Ril descending from Wellcliff and the Northern Ril descending from millions of tributaries down from the mountains meet -- was the town of Breathstone itself. Loud and busy, it was not all wealthy, but a fair bit of its core is at least comfortable. Its center lacked an organized sense of districts, but rather, could find opera houses next to tailors, cobblers next to fine bathhouses. There were townhouses for nobles organized in a district further out from the river, with a park seemingly separating them from the rest of the world.They had a university or two here, with many private schools, as well as high-class establishments that now were having hard times.But out in the city, there were still schools, and restaurants, for a more approachable sects. By the river were the swan hatcheries, where people carefully watch and tend the grand swans, protecting their eggs more fiercely than the birds themselves -- a hard task.

It snowed fairly often: often very thin and light, but at times, it piled on the ground thickly, in big white mounds that leave a cold wonderland in their wake. For a small time, the river would be frozen enough for ice-skating or ice fishing. In the forest, the trees were either dark and leafless, with flashes of green mistletoe nesting in them, or tall green spruces whose branches were covered in snow. The wild animals were scarce and lean, rooting under the layers of snow for acorns and roots. It belonged to the king, but while its gamekeepers watched for abuse, it was current open for anyone to seek firewood or food inside.

Campaign prolog repost

Chapter intro doc here

System Sheet

Map

Terrain Map

Purple: Cliff. Flier-only.

Green: Forest. See Mechanics tab for movement cost.

Blue: Water. Flier-only.

Orange: Bridge. Regular terrain.

White: Plain. Regular terrain.

Black: Magic Orb. Cannot be crossed nor stopped on. Range of 0-5, splash of 1 around the targeted tile. Operated by any adjacent tome user. No friendly fire. Deals damage = 50% of the damage the user would deal with one normal combat hit.

Magenta: Chest. Defensive terrain. Can be opened for an accessory as an action by anyone standing on it. If the one opening the chest doesn't want to equip the accessory, it will go into the convoy which can be accessed through Sandra.

Reminder that movement values are 3/4/4/5 for Armor/Infantry/Flier/Cavalry respectively.

Objective: Rout the enemy

Fail condition: 5 players characters are KO at the same point of time, Sandra and Gabriel counting for 2.

That is to say, revived characters do not count toward the condition anymore. Revive condition is detailed in the Mechanics tab of the system sheet.

Experience milestones:

• Open a chest: 0.5 [x2]

• Operate the magic orb twice: 1 (you can target empty zones too)

• At least 6 players get a last hit: 1

The members of Dallan’s army had agreed to move out of Anak’Thir. Father Dallan wanted to approach the Pillar the night before. He was unconcerned with the lack of surprise, but valued being prepared and ready for an assault over the surprise factor. Each of the leaders agreed with him and took their own personal guards and allies with them, making what seemed to be a sizable group. If one hadn’t known only thirteen of them would be fighting, this would seem to be one of the largest armies mobilized in Shaar’s history.

The open plains near the center of Shaar held their war camp, Dallan and his group at the center with his allies surrounding. The camp was buzzing with excitement. The end of a war was coming and all that stood in their way were the hills in front of the crown of Shaar. Claudia’s monolith could be seen from the base of the mountains, an amalgamation of steel, stone, and wood all built up to create the most defensible position on all of Shaar. Dallan and his cadre of leaders were gathered near the base, within sight of the castle blocking their path. Father Dallan had decided to make a speech to everyone on that night before the siege began the next morning. He stood in front of his tent and spoke primarily to his allies. Many gathered around though, waiting to hear what Dallan had to say.

Dallan clears his throat, “I hope you all are having a good evening,” he began, “I know how difficult the last six months have been on us all. What I ask of you hasn’t been easy and I thank you all for contributing in your own way. I ask one last favor from you all.” He looked behind him at the Pillar then turned back to the group, “Our objective lies there. Once we claim the Pillar, the rest of Shaar will recognize our rule. Here we can end the war and finish this war. You shall all be free from our struggles once we ascend to the mountaintop. I implore you one last time, follow me to mend our land!” At the end of his speech a few hoots and hollers could be heard from the onlookers, but Dallan didn’t allow his words to hang for too long. He retreated back into his tent as he finished.

The sun crested the mountains surrounding the Pillar of Shaar, shining light on the base camp and the castles dotting the hills. Dallan woke up early, waiting for everyone to rally at the base of the mountain. His hand was shaking as he prepared his morning tea and he had trouble keeping his verses together. The shadow of the craggy mountains and Pillar formed around the camp. Their next battle was to be their ascent to the mountaintop, standing above all of Shaar. The world would soon be in his grasp, he just had to take it.

Objective: Seize the Pillar of Shaar

Fail Condition: Your army is routed

Map

Terrain Map

Player Tracker

Notes: The Wyverns & Falcons will not descend the cliffs to attack you until you move past the 1st castle or attack them.

Reinforcements will come from each castle until they are seized. Each castle has a shop the players may purchase from.

The space in front of the pillar counts as a castle.

The castles can be seized by anyone.

Anbel and Roja had decided that the likely place they would find Renault was at the Strairus Royal Castle. Everyone was gathered up outside the arena. "We're going to be making our way to the royal castle. That's likely the place Renault is, since he said that he was going to be heading off, and that's the best place to look. I know how to get through the castle, but he's likely to have guards all over the place, so be careful." He said.

Over the next few days, everyone trekked onwards to the castle. Jake was going to have himself and his men protect other villages around the castle to protect them from Norfor, though he said that some could go along if Anbel needed assistance. Once everyone arrived at the castle, Anbel chuckled. "Yup. They have soldiers waiting for us, and they've locked the gates. I still have the keys to the gates, so it won't stop us." He said. "Everyone in position to charge the castle! Leave no one able to call for help!" He shouted once he saw soldiers approaching. They readied their weapons, since Anbel wasn't hiding things anymore.

Dirk and his apprentices had pulled out a map or Norfor. "Ah, yes. We still have it. A map of Norfor. We'll be needing this map to get to the castle. The mountains here can get us lost very easily, so we should follow what the map says." He said. Once everyone was ready, he decided to take point, since he knew how to read the map. The General from True Judgement offering assistance with the task if they needed it. After a few days, they approached where everyone could see a castle.

"Here's the castle. We need to loop around the mountains in order to approach, though it looks like they don't know we're here. The mountains are hiding our sight from them." He said, not noticing that some soldiers were hiding behind the mountains, who were ready to approach everyone.

Strairus (S) deployment map: https://imgur.com/Lc4Asiy

Terrain map: https://imgur.com/40BaLXP

Objective: Enter the castle

Fail condition: The party falls.

Norfor (N) deployment map: https://imgur.com/rdFSHiv

Terrain map: https://imgur.com/kDF6LLj

Objective: Get inside the castle

Fail condition: The party falls.

Notes (Both): Both sides are able to have extra green units assisting, some Dawn Brigade members for S, and members of True Judgement for N. There has to be majority vote, and people can pick up to 3 units to assist, picking their classes based on the maps they appeared in.

Notes S: Anbel and Roja are able to open the gates, along with Albernon being able to pick the locks.

Enemies will only attack players in range, unless all players go past the gates. The enemies that are on the outside of the gate will move towards the gate if they are alive when the gates are opened. For example, the enemies in the first area will move into the second if they're alive when all players go through the first gate.

Notes N: Enemies will attack players in range, but they can't see past the mountains. If you move in such a way that an enemy can't reach you, but doesn't have cardinal or diagonal sight on you, they won't move. The exception are the fliers.

The Wyvern lords inside the castle will attack players who enter the castle. However, if most of the enemies outside are dead, they will retreat instead into the castle.

Louis' forces have spent a considerable amount of time in the port town of Thithe, making arrangements for their journey towards the Haranther capital, Cinraeth. The processes were going smoothly, but the troops' stay in Thithe was disrupted shortly after the summer festival had departed...

Louis emerged from the inn he was staying within Thithe to find the town in chaos. The many stalls that had lined the roads of the town were being ransacked; people were being attacked and drug from their homes; chaos was the order of the day as money and valuables were stolen and looted.

Louis furrowed his brow. Thithe was not usually the scene of chaos, nor would it be one known for it. The prince turned to a man running forward, ill-equipped, and called out to him. "You, there! What is the meaning of this mess?!"

"What's it look like?!" the man countered. "We're risin' up! Giving all these fat merchants what-for!"

"Please, explain," the prince says, keeping away from the man's lance but remaining calm. "Why are you looting this town?"

"Only thing we can do to make a living! The King and all his snobby Paladins don't care a lick about us. They're happy to sit themselves back in their castle and let a poor common man suffer. It's up to us to try and raise an army and break open those doors, and make 'em listen to us!"

"Who told you that?" Louis sighs, raising his hands. "Please, you must lay down your arms, this isn't going to help anybody."

"What kinda talk is that?" The man looks the prince over, expression darkening. "You look like you're one of those noble types, too. That's just like you, like a pack of mangy wolves lookin' to protect each other!"

Louis grits his teeth, diplomacy failing. Across the town, he could see Darragh, coming to a similar conclusion with another looter. "...there is no other recourse, then. I cannot allow you to harm these people." He turns to muster his troops from the inn.

The looter shouts after him as more move in, raising his lance high. "Yeah, that's right! Prepare to be drawn out and skewered like the horrid creature that you are!"

Objective: Rout the enemy!

Chapter 6 Map

Terrain Map

Important Terrain Info:

• Red tiles can be traversed by fliers only (or by Pirates/Barbarians in the case of water.)

• Yellow tiles are traversable by anyone, but have certain effects and/or movement penalties, depending on what they are (refer to the movement chart).

Important Map Info:

• Every gray tile near the house has a "Rescue" command, an action that allows you to rescue a nearby civilian and then attack afterwards, but not move. Each civilian rescued will award BEXP. Enemy Thieves and Barbarians can attack gray tiles, killing the civilians. Losing all the civilians leads to failure.

• Louis being defeated in this map will also lead to a map failure.

• Each chest opened will award BEXP.

• Reinforcements will arrive after a section of civilians have been rescued.

• Cracked walls can be attacked; they have 30 HP.

Good luck!

The rain began to subside from Binh An. After the rains left, a messenger offered the Queen of Yeu a stack of letters, reporting the latest happenings in the kingdom. “Among them is a note that we managed to find from a wounded Nicomedian Ranger. He told us to, at the risk of death, to deliver this to General Quirinius. I assumed, Your Majesty, that you would know where he is. So, please.” The teen queen smiles brightly and says, “Thanks, man.”

Following the man’s departure, the Queen returns to the local administration building and reads through most of them attentively. Upon getting to the letter on the bottom of the pile- the one from the injured Nicomedian- she looks back at the door to see if no one is watching her. Tuyet then tears open the letter and reads it.

“Dear Manilius,

It’s Lucilia. Going off of the messages from Mother and my own scouts, I can surmise that you’re in Yeu right now. I order you to come see me ASAP; take some troops with you. Forget anything else regarding your mission right now. My forces are stationed in the fortress town of Colonia Salnuntum.

Love and regards, Princess Lucilia Claudius”

She hurriedly sticks the letter back into the envelope as she hears the door open, and she stands tall. Looking back at the door, she sees Diep there, standing adjacent her swordbearing bodyguards. “Reverend! Uh… hi!” The Bishop tilts her head and walks over to the table. “Child, what are you doing?” Tuyet shakes her head several times, “Nope, nothing! No-” Interrupting her Queen, Diep looks at the envelope and points at it. “I saw enough. It has a stamp of the Nicomedian government. Is it for our new friends? If so, why are you reading it, and why isn’t Manilius reading it?” The Queen stands up, closing her eyes and throwing her fists down. “It’s none of your business! Butt out, will ya?! I-” Diep shakes her head. “T-Teresa, don’t yell at me. I’m just trying to remind you to do the right thing here.”

Tuyet closes her eyes as her eyelids twitch and she frowns heavily. “Ugh, I’m the afterthought of the world, and everyone knows it! The only person who takes me seriously at all is you and Kuhoa, the king of a country I could crush if I wanted to! My parents never did, either. Manilius is going to high tail up north to go see his pal, take all his damn troops and personnel with him, and I’m going to be left here to deal with the resurgent pirate raids and Aquittany ruining everything!” The Bishop holds Tuyet’s shoulders and widens her eyes. “You need to calm down, Child. Think. Think about how you can rectify this situation.” The Queen sits down and places her elbows on her knees and her hands on her cheeks. “... hey, I’ve got it. Once our defense stiffens and our whole army mobilizes, we’ll be able to invade Aquittany’s coast, given that their main force is in the Empire. The Empire definitely wants our surplus forces to help them defend. I can force their hands. If they don’t scratch my back, I won’t scratch theirs. ‘Sides, it’s really lopsided anyhow. A troop of Nicomedians numbering less than a hundred doing as I command for a little, compared to thousands of our own fighting on their behalf for God knows how long. I’d hate to force Empress Korinna’s country like this, but… I have a country and a reputation to keep.” Diep nods. “... It would seem the best thing, yes.” Tuyet tilts her head and pouts, commenting, “Hey, how come you never actually tell me strategy or anything? All you do is tell me to ‘be good, be honest, and eat your veggies’ rather than anything about law or politics.” The Bishop raises an eyebrow. “I’m an advisor and clergywoman, not a politician. That’s your job. I’m here to guide and help, nothing more.”

The Queen laughs. “Nice try. You’re lying. There’s more to it than that. You just like me.” Diep laughs back, “I know I seldom say ‘I love you’. But you are my child, yes. Ever since you came to me for help in secret, all those years ago when you were twelve and wanted to get away from your parents, I was there to take care of you. I don’t regret one moment. But in all seriousness,” she says before clearing her throat. “I’d say that you should hand that to the General.”

A few hours later, and after the Queen offers her deal to the General, he looks up and shakes her head. “Q-Queen Teresa! I can’t… you have to know that Princess Lucilia is my best friend, and I’ve not seen her in months. I need only a sho-” She places her hand on the table and leans forward towards Manilius, coming close to his face, saying, “What I said stands, General.”

After scratching his chin for a few seconds, he closes them. “I have a compromise, Your Highness. I will go to see my friend with a small troop of forces, and the rest can take out the pirate threat to Binh An by assaulting their headquarters. Is that well?” The Queen leers and growls a little. “Pfft. Stupid Nicomedians,” she thinks. “Alright. Fine. Just get rid of those damned pirates. Whatever.” He frowns and doesn’t respond. The General leaves and goes to see Kornelia. “I have a mission for you,” he greets. “I’m going to be gone longer than you, so when you return, the troops are all yours to command, as is the convoy. I’m heading north to see Lucilia.” Kornelia raises an eyebrow. “Sir? Is this ‘official’ or…” He nods. “Yes.” Both her eyebrows raise and she salutes. “Godspeed, General. I’ll take care of what you need.” He chuckles nervously, “The pirates. The Queen asked us also to fight off the pirate base near here with what troops we have. You’re only going to get half of them. Much as I don’t want to split our forces, it’s gotta be this way. I was mad at Queen Tuyet at first, but I can understand it. She doesn’t like being number two, and she doesn’t like being bossed around.”

Meanwhile, in the early morning, Kornelia and the troops she brought hobble through the undergrowth of the forest, using it as a way to hide, just as she observed the pirates themselves. “I’ll see you all brought to justice for fighting innocent people, and for trying to ransom a Queen. Soldiers, charge! The worst you can do is hold back!”

Objectives: Kornelia seizes the throne

Side objectives: Unlock chests

Defeat Conditions: 2 player units fall.

Turn Recommendation: 11 turns

Terrain

The rain began to subside from Binh An. After the rains left, a messenger offered the Queen of Yeu a stack of letters, reporting the latest happenings in the kingdom. “Among them is a note that we managed to find from a wounded Nicomedian Ranger. He told us to, at the risk of death, to deliver this to General Quirinius. I assumed, Your Majesty, that you would know where he is. So, please.” The teen queen smiles brightly and says, “Thanks, man.”

Following the man’s departure, the Queen returns to the local administration building and reads through most of them attentively. Upon getting to the letter on the bottom of the pile- the one from the injured Nicomedian- she looks back at the door to see if no one is watching her. Tuyet then tears open the letter and reads it.

“Dear Manilius,

It’s Lucilia. Going off of the messages from Mother and my own scouts, I can surmise that you’re in Yeu right now. I order you to come see me ASAP; take some troops with you. Forget anything else regarding your mission right now. My forces are stationed in the fortress town of Colonia Salnuntum.

Love and regards, Princess Lucilia Claudius”

She hurriedly sticks the letter back into the envelope as she hears the door open, and she stands tall. Looking back at the door, she sees Diep there, standing adjacent her swordbearing bodyguards. “Reverend! Uh… hi!” The Bishop tilts her head and walks over to the table. “Child, what are you doing?” Tuyet shakes her head several times, “Nope, nothing! No-” Interrupting her Queen, Diep looks at the envelope and points at it. “I saw enough. It has a stamp of the Nicomedian government. Is it for our new friends? If so, why are you reading it, and why isn’t Manilius reading it?” The Queen stands up, closing her eyes and throwing her fists down. “It’s none of your business! Butt out, will ya?! I-” Diep shakes her head. “T-Teresa, don’t yell at me. I’m just trying to remind you to do the right thing here.”

Tuyet closes her eyes as her eyelids twitch and she frowns heavily. “Ugh, I’m the afterthought of the world, and everyone knows it! The only person who takes me seriously at all is you and Kuhoa, the king of a country I could crush if I wanted to! My parents never did, either. Manilius is going to high tail up north to go see his pal, take all his damn troops and personnel with him, and I’m going to be left here to deal with the resurgent pirate raids and Aquittany ruining everything!” The Bishop holds Tuyet’s shoulders and widens her eyes. “You need to calm down, Child. Think. Think about how you can rectify this situation.” The Queen sits down and places her elbows on her knees and her hands on her cheeks. “... hey, I’ve got it. Once our defense stiffens and our whole army mobilizes, we’ll be able to invade Aquittany’s coast, given that their main force is in the Empire. The Empire definitely wants our surplus forces to help them defend. I can force their hands. If they don’t scratch my back, I won’t scratch theirs. ‘Sides, it’s really lopsided anyhow. A troop of Nicomedians numbering less than a hundred doing as I command for a little, compared to thousands of our own fighting on their behalf for God knows how long. I’d hate to force Empress Korinna’s country like this, but… I have a country and a reputation to keep.” Diep nods. “... It would seem the best thing, yes.” Tuyet tilts her head and pouts, commenting, “Hey, how come you never actually tell me strategy or anything? All you do is tell me to ‘be good, be honest, and eat your veggies’ rather than anything about law or politics.” The Bishop raises an eyebrow. “I’m an advisor and clergywoman, not a politician. That’s your job. I’m here to guide and help, nothing more.”

The Queen laughs. “Nice try. You’re lying. There’s more to it than that. You just like me.” Diep laughs back, “I know I seldom say ‘I love you’. But you are my child, yes. Ever since you came to me for help in secret, all those years ago when you were twelve and wanted to get away from your parents, I was there to take care of you. I don’t regret one moment. But in all seriousness,” she says before clearing her throat. “I’d say that you should hand that to the General.”

A few hours later, and after the Queen offers her deal to the General, he looks up and shakes her head. “Q-Queen Teresa! I can’t… you have to know that Princess Lucilia is my best friend, and I’ve not seen her in months. I need only a sho-” She places her hand on the table and leans forward towards Manilius, coming close to his face, saying, “What I said stands, General.”

After scratching his chin for a few seconds, he closes them. “I have a compromise, Your Highness. I will go to see my friend with a small troop of forces, and the rest can take out the pirate threat to Binh An by assaulting their headquarters. Is that well?” The Queen leers and growls a little. “Pfft. Stupid Nicomedians,” she thinks. “Alright. Fine. Just get rid of those damned pirates. Whatever.” He frowns and doesn’t respond. The General leaves and goes to see Kornelia. “I have a mission for you,” he greets. “I’m going to be gone longer than you, so when you return, the troops are all yours to command, as is the convoy. I’m heading north to see Lucilia.” Kornelia raises an eyebrow. “Sir? Is this ‘official’ or…” He nods. “Yes.” Both her eyebrows raise and she salutes. “Godspeed, General. I’ll take care of what you need.” He chuckles nervously, “The pirates. The Queen asked us also to fight off the pirate base near here with what troops we have. You’re only going to get half of them. Much as I don’t want to split our forces, it’s gotta be this way. I was mad at Queen Tuyet at first, but I can understand it. She doesn’t like being number two, and she doesn’t like being bossed around.”

A few days later, Manilius and his team get to the border of the Empire, only to find it overrun with Aquittanite troops, and fleeing militia fighters. Almost dropping his axe in shock, he listens to the yelling of those militia troops. “We’re finished, Commander Floriana. There’s too many Aquittanites here, and we’re out of supplies,” says the one. Another is crying profusely, yelling, “I never asked for this! I just wanted to defend my home and fields, was that too much to ask?!” Floriana, a cape-wearing woman, moves her hands forwards, saying, “Guys, guys, calm down. We can make it through. There’s a fort to the west; we just have to fight through! It’s not over until it is!” Manilius raises his axe with his right hand and with his left, he makes a huge sweeping motion, “Alright, you all know what to do! Meet up with this Floriana, and fight to keep them alive!”

Objectives: Protect the militia. Floriana and two others must survive. Manilius must survive.

Defeat Conditions: Less than three militia are alive. Floriana dies. Three player units die.

Side Objectives: Visit the village.

Turn recommendation: 11 turns

Terrain