Recaps

Velin and his knights were nearly overwhelmed by Rogus’s gnoll army until the awakened Legendary Ice Mage Anastasia froze and shattered the attackers. Anastasia formed a thirty-year Guardian Contract with Velin and agreed to protect him and his territory, while her curiosity about his divine favor remained.

• Rogus ordered his gnolls to attack, and Velin led six Silver Knights against the one-armed gnoll while the Knight Squires fell back.
• The gnolls surrounded Velin and steadily wore down his Battle Qi as he fought them off.
• Anastasia awakened and froze the gnolls, then shattered them into crystals with another spell.
• Velin thanked Anastasia and told her they were on Gray Mist Mountain in the Graylight Wasteland of the Cyprian Subcontinent.
• Anastasia agreed to protect Velin and his territory for thirty years, and they sealed the Guardian Contract before the Goddess of Life.
• Velin sent Raimondo and the others to collect valuable supplies while Anastasia watched him, wondering why the gods had taken an interest in him.

Velin returned to his territory with a large haul of supplies and arranged a private domain for Shia. He then turned his attention to the main gnoll force in the south, planning to target its population.

• Velin learned that the gnolls' supplies included tens of thousands of Gold Coins, weapons, armor, magic materials, potions, and books, then ordered most of the weapons and armor buried for later retrieval.
• Two days later, Velin returned to his village with the captured supplies, where Shia praised the cleanliness of his territory and asked to study his Rock Lizards.
• Shia requested thirty square kilometers of land away from the territory's center, and Velin showed her two possible locations.
• Shia chose the site thirty kilometers west of Lake of Star Prayer, and Velin granted it to her as private territory.
• After arranging Shia's lodging, Velin summoned Belder to learn about the main gnoll force in the south and considered targeting its population.

Velin established the Silver Ice Region with Shia’s help and received a protective token from her. He then convened a meeting and set plans to expand westward, dividing his people into competing development teams.

• Velin ordered supplies and half the goods taken from the Gnolls sent west, then traveled with Shia and his soldiers to the Silver Ice Region.
• Shia created an ice castle as her residence and transformed twenty female serfs into Ice Elves who pledged their service to her.
• Shia gave Velin a Token of Credence that could block three attacks below Legendary rank.
• Velin told fourteen Silver Knights that his territory would expand westward and outlined plans to develop land and establish a buffer belt.
• Velin divided the group into development and construction divisions, promising rewards to the team that made greater progress after one year.

Velin divided his people and resources between a construction team led by Belder and a pioneering team led by Orlando, setting them to compete over the coming year. He began preparing a private treasury and proposed separating the territory’s supplies into regular and emergency reserves.

• Velin assigned Belder, Cassius, Imogen, and Orion to remain at Lake of Star Prayer, while Orlando led the pioneering department with most troops and Silver Knights, and announced an evaluation for next year.
• Velin asked Raimondo about the assembled merchant caravan and gave him two days to select goods before they opened a trade route.
• Orlando told Hebrew that the pioneering assignment was both an opportunity and a responsibility, then urged his thirty contractees to train hard and prove themselves to Velin.
• Orlando linked the Battle Qi signatures of his thirty contractees, forming a pale red sphere around them as Velin watched from the castle.
• Velin put Belder in charge of Lake of Star Prayer’s resources, gathered valuable goods into a private treasury, and proposed keeping seventy percent of supplies for regular use and thirty percent as emergency reserves.

Velin and Raimondo began a trade expedition through Cadro Province, arriving in Baron Grovner’s city to establish contact with the local nobility. After the Ex Family’s calling card reached Duke, he gathered intelligence and summoned his father, who arrived that night to prepare for their meeting.

• Belder agreed to oversee the castle warehouse and construction at Lake of Star Prayer before Velin sent him away.
• Raimondo outlined the caravan’s cargo and prepared twelve carriages to depart the next morning.
• Velin traveled with the caravan to Baron Grovner’s Small City and instructed Raimondo to lead the trade mission.
• Raimondo hired the peddler Tom as a guide, arranged a place for the caravan to stay, and sent a calling card to Baron Grovner.
• Duke learned the Ex Family had sent the calling card, investigated the caravan, and reported its location and cargo to his father.
• Duke’s father arrived at the castle that night, praised his work, and ordered him to withdraw the spies.

Duke accepted his father Wisk Grovna’s plan to introduce him to Velin, hoping to find a place in the Ex Family pioneer’s territory. Velin visited Baron Wisk to discuss trade in processed rock salt, and Wisk interrupted the negotiations with a request.

• Duke told his father he had completed his task, and Wisk praised his conduct during the wilderness monster attack before asking him to follow his arrangements.
• Duke agreed to meet Velin, the Ex Family Pioneer, hoping Velin would see potential in him.
• Velin visited Baron Wisk at the Small City with Raimondo and two caravan guards, and Wisk welcomed him.
• Wisk told Velin about the Silver Knight Order stationed in Kadlo Province as they discussed the region.
• Velin offered fine and coarse processed rock salt, and Wisk proposed prices of twenty-five and ten Copper Coins per pound, respectively.
• Wisk set the price discussion aside and told Velin he had a request.

Velin tested Baron Wisk’s second son, Duke, and agreed to take him in for training after seeing his perseverance. Velin’s caravan also finalized a higher-priced Rock Salt contract with Wisk’s territory, exclusive to Grovner and nearby territories, and left for the city’s Commercial District.

• Velin offered Duke a chance to join him if he could pass a fight against Raimondo, who matched Duke’s Mid-Bronze strength.
• Raimondo defeated Duke, but praised his perseverance and said he lacked proper guidance; Velin then invited Duke to follow him, and Duke accepted.
• Raimondo finalized a contract with Wisk’s Butler to buy one ton of refined Rock Salt and three tons of coarse Rock Salt every three months at higher prices.
• Velin learned the contract would cost 132 Gold Coins and barred him from trading Rock Salt with other nobles in Grovner’s and nearby territories.
• After lunch, Velin left Wisk’s castle with Raimondo and two guards to explore the Commercial District.

Velin continued his trade route, arranging the purchase of 1,300 serfs for his territory before encountering a strange civil war between Kent Brom and his son. He ordered the caravan to bypass the conflict and continue to Gresley, expecting to learn more on the return journey.

• Velin entrusted Duke's training to Raimondo after Duke reported for duty.
• Velin arranged for Wisk to buy 800 male serfs and 500 female serfs for 9,000 Gold Coins, plus food and transport, and send them to Lake of Star Prayer.
• After five days in Grovner Small City, Velin's caravan departed, then spent a month visiting three more destinations and signing business agreements.
• At the fifth destination, Raimondo reported that Kent Brom was at war with his son Beri over Kent's fixation on his daughter Evelyn.
• Velin questioned the strange account, suspected a hidden conspiracy, and ordered the caravan to detour directly to Gresley.

Velin reached Gresley Military Town and arranged a trade for food and liquor, but could not buy weapons. An ascetic of the Church of Dawn asked him about demons, and Velin pointed him toward Kent Brom as an unusual figure; an army then set out for Kent Territory.

• Velin arrived in Gresley Military Town and met Kane, president of the Gresley Merchant Guild and deputy commander of the town.
• Velin agreed to buy fifty tons of wheat and two hundred barrels of liquor, but Kane could not sell him weapons.
• Velin and Raimondo wandered into a dim alley, where an ascetic of the Church of Dawn appeared and revealed that Kane had vanished.
• Velin told the ascetic that Kent Brom had been behaving unusually, and the ascetic thanked him before disappearing with the barrier.
• Velin received a Church of Dawn token and returned to the caravan, while the ascetic headed toward his destination.
• An army of around three thousand men departed the Provincial Capital for Kent Territory, which was in civil unrest.

Velin led the Gresley Merchant Guild home and considered how Lake of Star Prayer could develop more trade goods. An army blockade stopped the caravan, where Velin met Flora Ex, a knight from his family, and she led him to her tent.

• Velin and Raimondo discussed the poor value of their trade goods and considered developing fine pottery and other products.
• A caravan guard reported that an army blockade had closed the road, and Velin ordered Raimondo to approach it cautiously.
• Flora Ex inspected Velin’s caravan at the Fallen Rock Hills checkpoint and confirmed that it carried no demons or their lackeys.
• Flora recognized Velin as her kinsman, introduced herself as his aunt, and led him to her tent.

Velin met his aunt Flora at a military camp and learned that demons and Half-demons had caused a disaster in Kent Territory, prompting a lockdown. After giving Flora a Token of Dawn and leaving by a detour, Velin continued his journey while a group of Half-demons and demon worshippers plotted to attack the forces ahead.

• Flora told Velin that a demon invasion had killed and transformed thousands in Kent Territory, and that the remaining Half-demons and demon worshippers were being hunted inside the sealed area.
• Flora refused to let Velin pass through the lockdown, so Velin decided to take a detour.
• Velin gave Flora his Token of Dawn to aid her in the demon extermination, and she accepted it, telling him to prepare for a military operation against the monsters of the Graylight Wasteland later that year.
• Velin ate lunch with Flora, said goodbye, and left with Raimondo and the caravan along their newly planned route.
• More than a hundred Half-demons and over a dozen demon worshippers gathered in a forest, where a Half-demon considered attacking the Kingdom knights and noble troops ahead.

Flora led the camp’s defense against a Half-demon attack, was nearly killed by its leader, and survived when the cross insignia released a beam of dawn that destroyed him and healed her. Meanwhile, Velin received a warning that the Famine Cult would cause extreme weather in western Ilia Kingdom in five months and decided to prepare.

• Flora ordered the camp’s soldiers to fire holy-water arrows and hold the line as more than a hundred Half-demons charged.
• The Half-demon leader broke through the Shield Wall, and Flora took command of the fight against him while the Viscount directed the defense against the remaining attackers.
• Flora lured the Half-demon leader away from the camp, but he sacrificed part of his arm to gain speed and sent her flying with a powerful strike.
• As the Half-demon leader approached the injured Flora, her gray cross insignia emitted a beam of light that destroyed him and healed her wounds.
• On April 1st, Radiant Calendar 9721, Velin received Guidance of Fate warning that the Famine Cult would bring extreme weather to western Ilia Kingdom in five months, and he decided to prepare.

Velin returned to Lake of Star Prayer after three months away and praised the staff and soldiers for their progress. He ordered military expansion preparations and grain stockpiling as he planned to join the kingdom’s campaign against the Monster Clans and grow the territory’s population.

• Velin ordered grain purchases and stockpiling to prepare for extreme weather and future population growth.
• Belder, Cassius, Imogen, and Orion organized a formal welcome as Velin returned to Lake of Star Prayer with Raimondo and Duke.
• Velin praised the territory’s soldiers and Knight Squires for advancing in their training during his absence.
• Velin told Belder that the kingdom planned to campaign against the Monster Clans of the Graylight Wasteland and confirmed he intended to take part.
• Velin ordered preparations for military expansion and instructed Belder to secure enough grain for thirty thousand people for up to three years.

Velin learned that an ice-attribute magic plant with healing properties had been found near the border of the Frozen Zone and Lake of Star Prayer, and decided to discuss it with Lady Shia. After resting, he rode out with Kyle toward the Frozen Zone and approached an Ice Elf.

• Belder reported that Orlando’s land reclamation was progressing well and that the forces had cleared monsters from six hundred square kilometers in the Frozen Zone.
• Belder told Velin that the newly discovered magic plant grew at six locations along the border, resembled blue vine grass, and could quickly stop bleeding; Velin said he would handle the matter with Lord Anastasia.
• Velin reviewed the territory map, rested for two days, and sent letters to three baron territories through Knight Squires.
• On April 10, Velin rode out with Kyle, praised his progress, and offered to help with his training questions.
• At the edge of the Frozen Zone, Kyle fell back as Velin approached an Ice Elf.

Velin visited Anastasia to apologize and warn her that the Famine Cult might be preparing a large-scale sacrifice, then headed to the newly developed region to inspect Orlando’s progress. Anastasia outlined possible ways the cult could carry out the ritual and promised to protect Velin’s territory if necessary, while Orlando received word that Velin was on his way.

• Velin traveled by ice carriage to Anastasia’s Ice Castle and apologized for his subordinate’s recklessness; Anastasia said he could cultivate and use ordinary plants that had evolved into magical plants.
• Velin told Anastasia about the Famine Cult’s planned Famine Sacrifice, and she described three possible methods: a collaborator in Velin’s kingdom, a destroyed Demiplane, or an invading enemy kingdom.
• Anastasia said she had witnessed a similar sacrifice in her homeland and offered to protect Velin’s territory if he could not stop the danger; Velin shared lunch with her before departing.
• Velin met Kyle at the border and changed course to inspect the newly developed region, where Orlando reported eliminating sixty-two Kobolds with no Knight Order casualties.
• Orlando read Hebrew’s letter warning that Velin had returned and would arrive that day, then ordered the Knight Order back to the development town and left Knight Randolph with two infantry companies to search the area again.

Velin inspected Pioneer Town and praised Orlando, Hebrew, and the troops for their progress, then left town the next morning to focus on training until the Kingdom Army assembled. Belder began buying up grain across nearby territories, drawing varied reactions from nobles and Pioneers.

• Hebrew nervously welcomed Velin and reported on Pioneer Town’s construction, military achievements, and captured supplies, with Andrew stepping in to finish the inventory report.
• Velin inspected the troops and praised the results of the three-month pioneering effort.
• Orlando returned from clearing roaming Kobolds, greeted Velin, and guided him around the town.
• Velin heard Orlando’s plan for the next nine months and told him to guide Hebrew while leaving the plan in his hands.
• Velin left Pioneer Town with Kyle the next morning, while Belder began buying nearby grain stores and nearby nobles and Pioneers reacted in different ways.

Brandon decided to join the grain-buying rush after learning that neighboring nobles were stockpiling food, while Velin paused his own purchases after spending nearly all the territory’s liquid funds. Velin then received an invitation to join a military operation and began preparing troops for it.

• Brandon learned that Caisley and Barry were buying grain and ordered enough provisions for twenty thousand people for a year from distant territories.
• Guidance of Fate revealed a Stranger’s book beneath a residence in Rando City, but Velin set the distant lead aside for later.
• Velin learned that Kyle had advanced to Bronze Knight and that his territory had purchased eleven thousand tons of provisions before exhausting its liquid funds, so he ordered the purchases suspended.
• Velin received an invitation from the Kingdom’s Sixteenth Knight Order to assemble at Luoyun Slope before August 15 with twenty cavalrymen and two hundred infantrymen.
• Velin ordered five Knight Squires and one company of infantry from Belder, plus fifteen Knight Squires and three companies from Orlando, to report for training.
• After reading Flora’s personal letter about the operation and its logistics, Velin planned new equipment and a month of training for the two hundred soldiers.

Velin brought his newly trained army to Luoyun Slope for the military operation and reunited with Brian, Olcott, and Edgar. He learned that his uncles’ families had met every requirement for Viscount except the necessary Battle Merit, which they hoped to earn in the coming campaign.

• Velin trained his troops for a month and a half, then led twenty cavalrymen and two hundred infantrymen to Luoyun Slope.
• At Camp Six, Velin met Brian, who arranged for Adrian to settle Velin’s troops and brought him to meet Olcott and Edgar.
• Velin told his relatives that his two hundred infantrymen and twenty Knight Squires were all at least Apprentice Intermediate Stage, astonishing them.
• Brian explained the sizes of his, Olcott’s, and Edgar’s armies, and Velin said Aunt Flora had already arranged his logistics personnel.
• Olcott and Edgar told Velin that their families still needed Battle Merit to qualify for promotion to Viscount.

Velin learned how rare battle merit was and how difficult it would be for his uncles to earn the points they needed. Flora brought him to meet Moira Colombo, the Logistics Unit’s leader, after arranging a position for him, while promising to ask her eldest brother about assignments for Olcott, Edgar, and Brian.

• Brian told Velin that only seventeen noble houses were joining the operation and that Velin was the sole reserve noble.
• Edgar said he needed three more battle merit points, while Olcott needed five, and both worried that a supporting role might leave them waiting years for another chance.
• Flora Ex arrived, reunited with her clansmen, and explained that the Knight Order would form the Center Army while the Noble Army split into Left and Right Armies, with the Right Army handling logistics and cleanup.
• Flora promised to ask her eldest brother to assign Olcott, Edgar, and Brian to the Left Army, and the three agreed to offer him sixty pounds of Mountain Copper if he helped.
• Flora took Velin to the logistics office, introduced him to Moira Colombo, and left for a meeting with the combat unit officers.

Velin met Moira, who revealed herself to be an ardent admirer of his father, Angus, and arranged his role in the upcoming military operation. After the armies reorganized and set out, Velin traveled with Moira’s Logistics Unit as part of the Sixteenth Knight Order.

• Moira questioned Velin about his family, became excited when she learned he was Angus’s son, and asked for a portrait or keepsake from him.
• Velin told Moira about a wooden toy from his father and a Magic Potion growing in his territory, and Moira promised to visit and help with cultivation, production, and sales.
• Moira gave Velin his appointment letter and assigned his troops to the Logistics Unit to protect priests, transport the wounded, and prepare fallen personnel for burial.
• Velin integrated his troops into the logistics system while Moira supervised them and explained that his service would earn one military merit unless the situation escalated.
• On August 16, Madmonchi Colombo took command of the Central Army, Moncas Lowick led the Left Army, and Cadmonk commanded the Right Army as the forces reorganized.
• The armies marched out, and Velin traveled in a logistics carriage while Moira coordinated the unit's personnel and defenses.

The Middle Army found only low-level Goblin and Kobold clans in Graylight Wasteland before receiving orders to reinforce the western defensive line, which hundreds of thousands of monsters were attacking. Madmonk planned to send the combat troops and priests while leaving others behind, and Flora chose to stay in Cadro Province as Moira struggled with the decision.

• Over half a month, the Middle Army wiped out Goblin and Kobold clans, and Velin supervised the counting of their left ears.
• Madmonk and his officers discussed the absence of higher-level monsters before a Griffin Knight delivered Jerome Latin's order to reinforce the western defensive line.
• Madmonk ordered the Left Army and Right Army to assemble, and the encampment prepared to depart.
• Flora told Moira that Madmonk planned to leave Knight Apprentices and ordinary logistics personnel behind while sending the combat troops and priests with the elite Noble Army.
• Moira objected that Cadro Province would be left vulnerable, but Flora said she had applied to stay behind and insisted Moira needed to go as a Silver Priest.

Velin suspected the border attacks and the coming Famine Cult incident were connected, while Black Robes plotted to exploit the forces being sent away from Monny Province. He agreed to stay in Cadro Province and assist Flora as the Knight Order and noble forces departed for the defense line.

• Velin reviewed intelligence with Kyle, ordered him to keep their discussion secret, and burned his notes.
• Four Black Robes reported that troops, Church forces, and adventurers were being sent from Monny Province, then planned sacrifices for five days later.
• Flora asked Velin whether he would go to the Lunsa-East-Dani Provinces defense line, and he chose to stay and help protect Cadro Province.
• Most nobles voted to reinforce the defense line in hopes of earning Battle Merit.
• Two days later, six thousand elite troops departed for Cadro Province's Provincial Capital to use the Teleportation Array.

Flora organized the remaining forces into a Defense Force to protect Cadro Province and asserted her command over the noble families’ Silver Knights. The commanders assigned troops to clear five border areas and build forts, while the nobles’ representatives later gathered to complain about how many soldiers had been taken from their control.

• Velin reported the Defense Force’s personnel, supplies, and equipment, and Olcott proposed clearing border areas and building forts.
• Flora declared herself commander and forced the fourteen Silver Knights representing noble families to swear obedience to her orders.
• Olcott identified five areas for the first phase of operations, including the Yellow Stone Area near Lake of Praying Stars, which Flora would command with more than eight thousand troops and Velin under her.
• Flora, Olcott, Edgar, and Brian reorganized their forces, taking ordinary soldiers and low-ranking officers while leaving mid- and high-ranking officers under the noble faction.
• The fourteen Silver Knights met that night and tallied that thirteen thousand of their troops had been reassigned, leaving them with six thousand; they silenced a knight who complained about Flora.

The Defense Force marched to Deer Gate Mountain and prepared to begin clearing the surrounding area and building a fortress. Velin organized his thousand-man unit and considered using the force's temporary fort as a base for developing the Graylight Wasteland.

• The Silver Knights warned a Low-level Silver Knight not to underestimate the Ex Family, then discussed the force's combat advantage near the Ironforge Mountain Dwarf Kingdom.
• The Defense Force split into five units and set out, while Flora ordered Miller to integrate the troops and expand the scouts' range.
• Velin organized his thousand-man squad, sent Kyle to alert Belder and Orlando, and considered occupying the force's fort after the campaign.
• After five days, the eight-thousand-man force reached Deer Gate Mountain, where Miller explained that it had once been a Gnoll city.
• Flora divided the eight thousand-man teams into two battalions, assigning the First Battalion to clearing operations and the Second Battalion to fortress building.

Velin led the Seventh Thousand-Man Team into the Gray Mang Wasteland to clear Monster Clan tribes, changing their route to follow a river after thorny terrain slowed their march. As his soldiers moved toward a Goblin camp, ordinary soldiers quietly discussed the possibility of leaving their lords for Lake of Star Prayer, while the Goblins remained unaware of the approaching danger.

• Velin received Flora’s orders to clear Goblin and Kobold tribes and more than twenty other tribes, then prepared the Seventh Thousand-Man Team for the campaign.
• Flora ordered Miller to watch Velin closely as Velin led eleven hundred soldiers out of camp.
• After thorny bushes slowed their advance, Velin redirected the troops north to a tributary of the Yellow Sand River system and continued downstream.
• During a rest, Blackhammer’s fellow soldiers asked him to find out whether they could take their families to Lake of Star Prayer.
• Velin learned that the first target was a Goblin tribe of roughly four hundred members twenty kilometers downstream and ordered the troops onward.
• An ugly Goblin warned the acting chieftain of unusual activity upstream, but the acting chieftain dismissed the report.