Northern Territory, Coldwind Hills.
The camps stretched on without end, banners fluttering in the wind. Built from heavy, sturdy northern stonewood, the military encampments followed the slope of the mountains, as if they had plowed a dark trench through the snow. Soldiers wearing the Northern Territory Legion's distinctive "Winter Wolf" armor ran between the barracks, reinforcing the newly established camp like busy worker ants.
Above the camp, a faintly shimmering magical shield was gradually taking shape. The archmages from Icewind Valley were working overtime to erect barrier pillars throughout the camp, hoping to complete the magical screen before the blizzard arrived.
This was the elite army of the six northern provinces—the Northern Territory Legion, the empire's pride. Until half a month ago, it had been the sturdy shield of northern Dragon, blocking invasions by the fiends of the Gorgon Abyss in the far north. Yet now, it had established a new camp far from its original defensive line, its swords pointed south as it prepared to attack the imperial capital.
A figure clad in heavy black-steel armor arrived at the hillside and looked down at the camp and the busy officers and soldiers within it. Although the armored figure possessed an imposing presence and stood rather tall, the armor specially tailored to its wearer's physique still made the commander's limbs noticeably slimmer than those of ordinary male soldiers. The rose-trimmed edging decorating the cloak also seemed to hint at the wearer's true gender.
The creak of footsteps crushing snow came from behind. A white-haired veteran general also arrived on the hillside. His face was leonine, and despite the wind and snow, his arms were bare. His build was so massive that one could almost suspect he had barbarian blood. He stopped behind the black-armored figure and said respectfully, "Your Highness