Recaps

Shang Ye’s troops routed a Black Pine Territory night raid with repeating crossbows and captured more than a hundred soldiers. The Night Owl leader judged the Two Rivers Territory army formidable and feared the coming battle.

• Shang Ye ordered his soldiers to pursue the routed attackers, capture prisoners, and stop at the Black Forest’s edge.
• Two Rivers Territory soldiers captured more than a hundred Black Pine Territory soldiers, while five who entered the forest disappeared.
• Santos and Makarov arrived, and Shang Ye reported the victory and minimal casualties.
• The Night Owl leader regrouped the survivors, sent some back to the territory, and ordered the rest to continue scouting.
• The Night Owl leader warned that the enemy’s discipline and limited deployment made the coming battle difficult.

Shang Ye, Santos, and Makarov assessed the Repeating Crossbows’ success in repelling a night raid as the Two Rivers Territory army prepared to advance into Black Pine Territory. Meanwhile, Lord Macut fled the fighting, Arman returned to Viscount Perez with a distorted account, and Victor traveled toward Golden Sunflower Territory while Alex continued north.

• Shang Ye, Santos, and Makarov examined the battlefield and concluded that the Repeating Crossbows had inflicted heavy losses because the enemy wore leather armor, the camp’s slope favored the weapons, and the enemy officers fell in the first volley.
• Santos ordered Shang Ye to record the battle for the Military Academy and planned to advance through the Black Forest, while Makarov stayed behind to prepare poisoned arrows.
• A Night Owl spotted the Two Rivers Territory army leaving camp by wagon and horse and hurried into the forest to report its movement.
• Lord Macut met defeated soldiers on the southern route, learned that the night raid had failed, and grew more determined to avoid fighting Two Rivers Territory.
• Arman reported the defeat to Viscount Perez while blaming Lord Macut’s subordinates; Perez stripped Arman of command and sent him to arrest them, then planned layered defenses with Raman.
• Victor watched the peaceful harvest along the Blackwater River as he traveled toward Golden Sunflower Territory, while Alex prepared to continue north with Baron Rossi and the secret agreement.

Markut arrived at Santos's camp and offered to help Two Rivers Territory defeat the rebels controlling Black Pine Territory. Santos accepted his aid and sent Mars's Light Cavalry with Markut through a checkpoint to disrupt the enemy's supply lines, while Santos hurried to engage the main Black Pine army.

• Markut's group was surrounded by Two Rivers Territory Ranger Cavalry, and he identified himself and asked to speak with the commander.
• Santos met Markut, gave him Victor's letter urging him to support Count Colt, and discussed Black Pine Territory's refusal to cooperate.
• Markut revealed that Raman and Alman had defied him and imprisoned his sick father, Viscount Perez, and asked Santos to rescue him.
• Markut offered to lead troops through the Black Forest checkpoint to cut off the rebels' supplies, and Santos agreed to send Mars's Light Cavalry with him.
• Loras questioned whether Markut could be trusted, but Santos said his forces could defeat Black Pine Territory and rode back to hurry toward the enemy army.

Viscount Perez learned that his advance force had been crushed and struggled to steady his troops as Santos reached Green Shade Pass and prepared a siege. In Black Pine Territory, Arman’s attempt to arrest Markut’s supporters triggered a standoff that ended with his reinforced soldiers routing them.

• Viscount Perez learned that news of the defeat had spread among his troops, then ordered the Night Owl to bring their leader back to Green Shade Pass.
• Viscount Perez sent Knight Raman to hasten the army’s march toward Green Shade Pass.
• Santos’s army arrived at Green Shade Pass, and Santos ordered a siege using the engineering companies’ siege engines.
• Arman tried to arrest Markut’s subordinates near the castle, prompting them to gather more than two hundred supporters and confront him.
• Arman summoned the castle guards for reinforcements, then attacked and routed Markut’s assembled supporters.

Markut and the Two Rivers Territory forces crushed Arman's troops, seized Black Pine Territory Castle, and prepared to attack Green Shade Pass from the rear. At the pass, Viscount Perez waited for reinforcements, unaware that Markut had already captured the Night Owl leader and was heading toward him.

• Arman ordered his scattered soldiers to pursue the rebels, but Mars and Markut's Light Cavalry arrived and wiped out the Black Pine Territory infantry.
• Markut ordered Cohen to kill the captured Arman, then took Black Pine Territory Castle and began arresting his enemies and conscripting troops.
• Markut recruited seven hundred men, put Cohen, Pudas, and Lorak in command, and marched with Cohen's detachment and Mars's forces toward Green Shade Pass.
• Markut used the Night Owl leader's captured family to force him to help open the pass gates from the rear.
• At Green Shade Pass, Viscount Perez heard from Raman that their arrow supplies were nearly gone and expected Night Owl to return with reinforcements.
• Alarm bells rang again, and Perez and Raman climbed the wall to prepare for another attack.

Macut Blackpine seized Green Shade Pass with help from Mars’s disguised cavalry and forced Viscount Perez to surrender. Macut took the Black Pine seal and ordered the soldiers to lay down their weapons, leaving him in control of the territory.

• After Black Pine reinforcements arrived at Green Shade Pass, Raman discovered that Macut had led them instead of Arman.
• Macut’s troops surrounded the gate guards and captured Raman, then took control of the rear gate.
• Macut split his forces with Mars, sending Mars to open the main gates while he led soldiers to confront Viscount Perez on the walls.
• When the main gates opened and Santos’s troops advanced, Viscount Perez gave Macut the Black Pine seal and yielded his title.
• Macut promised not to harm the soldiers or their families, and most of them surrendered as his forces took control of the pass.

After Santos secured Green Shade Pass, he arranged a garrison and military training for Markut’s forces while offering weapons and supplies from Two Rivers Territory on favorable terms. Markut accepted the trade offers and pledged that the Black Pine Family would remain a steadfast ally of the Golden Sunflower Family.

• Santos led Two Rivers Territory troops into Green Shade Pass and held the pass without advancing further into Black Pine Territory.
• Markut asked Santos to assign officers to train his newly recruited army, and Santos agreed to leave a detachment as a garrison.
• Santos gave Markut the equipment of two detachments and offered standardized weapons and armor at cost.
• Santos told Markut he could pay for weapons and other supplies with Black Pine Territory timber.
• Markut reviewed the catalogs, welcomed the favorable prices, and vowed that the Black Pine Family would be the Golden Sunflower Family’s steadfast ally.

Markut agreed to integrate Black Pine Territory’s troops and resources with Two Rivers Territory while retaining local forces and accepting a garrison. Santos departed with soldiers and the former lord’s household, as Alex prepared to return to Iron Mountain Fortress and warned Victor about the Silver Maple Ducal House’s spies and assassins.

• Markut accepted the terms for Two Rivers Territory’s garrison, which would be stationed at the docks and Green Shade Pass, and agreed to provide two thousand troops for the Northern Alliance Army.
• Markut arranged for one thousand soldiers to return south with Santos and planned to train the remaining troops over winter for dispatch in spring.
• On September 23, Santos left Black Pine Territory by ship with Markut’s selected soldiers, the old Viscount Perez, Knight Raman, and their families, leaving Shang Ye’s detachment and two companies from Mars’s Cavalry behind as the garrison.
• Markut watched the fleet depart and returned to address Black Pine Territory’s affairs.
• At Linshui Town, Victor gave Alex letters for Veronica, his father, and the count as Alex prepared to leave with the Iron Birch Family’s oceangoing fleet.
• Alex warned Victor that the Silver Maple Ducal House might trace events to him and urged him to return to the Northlands after handling his territory’s affairs.

After returning to Stone Castle, Victor secured nearly forty thousand tons of wheat for Golden Sunflower Territory and discussed the territory's defenses with Steward Boon. He ordered new forts built along the borders of Golden Sunflower Territory and Green Oak Ridge, where Alex had entrusted him with the territory and its border battalion.

• Victor returned to Stone Castle after helping Alex transfer the Northern Frontier Chamber of Commerce's personnel and supplies at Green Oak Ridge, and he exchanged most of the goods for nearly forty thousand tons of wheat.
• Victor told Steward Boon that Old Baron Wembley had sailed toward Two Rivers Territory with Victor's siblings and might be delayed while meeting Count Colt at Iron Mountain Fortress.
• Steward Boon explained that the territory's grain consumption had risen after Old Baron Wembley bought many male slaves, and Victor told him to grind the wheat into flour and feed the serfs well.
• Boon reported that the two southern and western fortresses had been completed in June and that Regiment Commander Foss had stationed troops there.
• Victor explained that Grand Duke Mora might attack territories aligned with the Northlands and told Boon to mobilize serfs after the autumn harvest to build additional forts along the borders of Golden Sunflower Territory and Green Oak Ridge.

Victor visited Number One Bastion to review recruitment and gave Foss command of the defense forces for Golden Sunflower Territory and Green Oak Territory. He outlined a new plan to form a five-battalion Garrison Regiment under Foss, with Holmes as deputy, while sending two battalions to Ron.

• Victor visited Number One Bastion and explained to his guards that Foss's strict discipline was why he trusted him with the territory's defense.
• Foss reported that he had completed recruiting 1,500 men, including two battalions for the garrison and 300 replacements for Ron's regiment.
• Victor told Foss that Alex had entrusted Green Oak Territory to him and appointed Foss to command the combined defense forces of both territories.
• Victor ordered Foss to expand recruitment to around 2,000 men and planned to form a five-battalion Garrison Regiment with Holmes as deputy commander after two battalions joined Ron.
• Foss accepted the appointment and swore to complete the recruitment and training and defend the territories.

Two messengers from Great Oak Territory delivered Count Black’s warning that a Noble Council would convene on October 5 and might target the Northern Frontier nobles. Victor decided not to attend and planned to visit Count Black in Sunset City, inviting the messengers to travel back with him.

• Lessot received two messengers from Great Oak Territory and directed them to Victor after learning Old Baron Wembley had left for the Northlands.
• Foss brought the messengers to Number One Fortress, where Victor was observing recruit training.
• Victor received and read Count Black’s letter warning that the Noble Council could be hostile toward the Three Counties of the Northern Frontier.
• Victor concluded he should avoid the council and decided to visit Count Black in Sunset City.
• Victor invited the messengers to stay in his territory and return to Great Oak Territory with him.

Grand Duke Mora learned that Colt's forces had attacked Raine Kingdom's messengers and taken Haiden City, then raged at his officials before agreeing to delay a northern campaign until the Noble Council and military preparations. He ordered the Golden Sunflower family's lands in Boler County to be offered as a reward for loyal eastern nobles who would attack them.

• Victor sent Foss to continue expanding the army and deliver a letter to Holmes at Green Oak Ridge, then returned to Stone Castle to prepare for Suffolk County.
• Silver Maple's internal guards reported to Mora that Alex Iron Birch had masterminded the attack on the Raine Kingdom's messengers and that Victor Golden Sunflower had taken part.
• Mora destroyed his chair in anger, then questioned Count Lagos about the failures at Haiden City; Lagos and Viscount Borey blamed Colt's planning and defended the duchy's response.
• Mora wanted Borey to march north, but Lagos and Borey persuaded him to wait until the Noble Council, recruitment, and training were complete.
• After learning of the Golden Sunflower family's history, Mora decided to target its Boler County lands, and Lagos persuaded him to let loyal eastern nobles seize them as a reward.

Grand Duke Mora approved Viscount Borey’s plan to send the Fifth Legion against the Golden Sunflower and Iron Birch territories, while Victor prepared to expand wheat cultivation in his own territory. Victor then left Steward Boon in charge and set out for Suffolk County.

• Viscount Borey persuaded Mora to deploy more than ten thousand Fifth Legion troops against the Golden Sunflower and Iron Birch territories and to restrain the local nobles of Boler County.
• Mora approved sending the troops after the Noble Council ended, and Borey hoped his son Rasul would earn merit in the campaign.
• Victor asked Linde to calculate the territory’s wheat farmland, then ordered him to expand winter wheat planting as much as possible.
• Boon assured Victor that construction and staffing would not interfere with planting, and Victor estimated the wheat harvest would cover military needs and help repay Alex’s debt.
• Victor left Boon in charge of the territory for five days and departed for Suffolk County.

Victor traveled to Sunset City to ask Count Black about the Noble Council, but first met the count’s grandson, Brando Great Oak. After lunch, Count Black asked Victor to become Brando’s guardian and teacher, leaving Victor to consider the unexpected request.

• Victor arrived in Sunset City disguised as a merchant, ordered a large shipment of lacquer from the Gorn Trading Company, and followed Count Black’s steward to the count’s manor.
• Count Black introduced Victor to his shy eight-year-old grandson, Brando Great Oak, and the three shared lunch.
• Victor entertained Brando with stories from his travels, and Brando grew comfortable with him before being led away to rest.
• Count Black thanked Victor for making Brando happy and asked him to become the boy’s guardian and teacher.
• Victor objected that he had no ties to the Great Oak Family, but Count Black insisted that this made him the right person.

Victor agreed to become Brando’s teacher, and Count Black revealed that the Grand Duke planned to expose Count Colt’s rebellion and raise funds to suppress it. Count Black chose to keep cooperating with Count Colt and proposed making Victor commander of a force against the Duchy’s eastern loyalists so Victor could earn the status needed to become Brando’s guardian.

• Victor agreed to teach Brando, though Count Black urged him to consider guardianship carefully.
• Count Black told Victor that the Grand Duke had evidence of Count Colt’s rebellion and planned to raise special military funds at the Noble Council meeting.
• Count Black revealed orders from Silver Maple City to restrain nobles near Victor while the Grand Duke sent forces against Golden Sunflower and Great Oak territories.
• Count Black showed Victor letters from the Grand Duke and Count Colt, then explained that he intended to continue cooperating with Count Colt.
• Count Black proposed that Victor command a Northern Alliance force against the Duchy’s Direct Legion and loyalist nobles in the Eastern Four Counties, with the aim of earning a promotion that would qualify him as Brando’s guardian.

Victor agreed to become Brando’s guardian and learned Count Black’s plan to protect his territory from the Duchy’s attack by seizing White Earth City and delaying the assault until winter. After Victor left, Count Black coughed up blood, while Victor and Number One began preparing defensive counterattacks aboard the ship.

• Victor understood why Count Colt could not serve as Brando’s guardian and agreed to take on the responsibility.
• Count Black explained that he had asked Count Colt to seize White Earth City and outlined a plan to delay the Duchy’s attack until winter.
• Victor approved the plan and learned that he would take over Brando’s education next year.
• After Victor departed, Count Black coughed blood and worried that Colt’s success was vital to Brando and the Great Oak Family.
• Aboard the ship, Victor and Number One discussed Count Black’s poor health and began planning defenses for Victor’s territory.

Victor learned that the Duchy planned to attack his territories after the Noble Council and accelerated preparations to defend against roughly ten thousand troops. Short of experienced soldiers and officers, he sought help from his father’s trusted allies and sent letters requesting troops.

• Victor told Foss and Holmes that the Duchy would attack after the Noble Council, likely around October 10, and ordered them to prepare the territory’s defenses.
• Foss and Holmes identified shortages in recruits, equipment, manpower, veterans, and junior officers, while Victor arranged for Ron’s troops and transport support from Iron Birch Territory.
• Victor used Number One’s calculations and confirmed the fleet could carry only three detachments’ worth of troops and supplies per trip.
• Victor reviewed Old Baron Wembley’s list of trusted allies and decided to request experienced troops from Viscount Blue Rose, Baron Black Oil Pine, Baron Oil Sunflower, and Baron Silver Sunflower.
• Victor sent two letters by carrier pigeon to Iron Birch Territory and Two Rivers Territory, then dispatched riders with four letters to the allied families.

Victor organized Golden Sunflower Territory’s defenses while allies sent reinforcements from Two Rivers Territory and neighboring territories. As the forces assembled and Victor revised his deployment plans, nobles at a conference in Silver Maple City noticed the Iron Birch Family’s limited representation and grew uneasy about the Grand Duke’s meeting.

• Victor settled at fortress No. 1 to oversee construction and train recruits while Two Rivers Territory’s leaders arranged reinforcements in response to his letter.
• Wembley ordered the First Regiment to prepare, and Iron Birch Territory’s fleet helped transport three infantry detachments and one cavalry detachment totaling more than 2,200 men southward.
• Four neighboring territories sent veteran units totaling 600 soldiers, which arrived in Golden Sunflower Territory by October 3.
• Victor assigned the veterans to his existing units, expanded his planned mobile force to six detachments, and placed five detachments under Foss and Holmes for interior-line defense.
• At the October 5 nobles’ conference in Silver Maple City, attendees noticed that the Iron Birch Family had sent few representatives and grew anxious about the Grand Duke’s meeting.

Grand Duke Mora accused the Northern Frontier nobles led by the Iron Birch Family of Colt of treason and demanded that all independent nobles help suppress them. After Prime Minister Lagos presented evidence and had several nobles expelled, he brought Bolton Ironvine onto the dais as a witness, leaving Count Lloyd furious and apparently targeted.

• Grand Duke Mora arrived at the Noble Council and had Count Lagos deliver a speech praising his rule before announcing the alleged Northern Frontier rebellion.
• Mora ordered the independent nobles to join the coming military campaign, warning that anyone who refused would be considered an accomplice to treason.
• Council Speaker Lance Iron-Thorn Willow called on Lagos to present evidence, and guards removed the Northern Three Commanderies representatives and other nobles named as Count Colt's allies.
• Lagos announced that another highly respected noble had secretly colluded with Colt and introduced Bolton Ironvine as a witness.
• Count Lloyd recognized his nephew Bolton on the dais and stared at him in rage.

Count Lloyd was accused of treason at Grand Duke Mora’s assembly, while Mora secured unanimous support for war against Colt and imposed a military levy on the nobles. The meeting ended with an urgent report that the Northern Frontier Allied Army had taken White Earth City and trapped two Fifth Legion regiments in Sextus County, leaving Mora furious.

• Baron Bolton accused Count Lloyd of conspiring with Colt and planning to marry his daughter to Colt’s son, and Count Lloyd denounced Mora before allowing guards to escort him away.
• Count Lagos persuaded Bolton to press his uncle to accuse Colt, promising that the Iron Vine Family could retain its countship.
• Grand Duke Mora called for war against Colt, and the nobles unanimously raised their hands in support.
• Count Lagos announced a special military levy, required nobles to send troops, and named eastern Boler County as the first target of the campaign.
• An Imperial Guard messenger reported that the Northern Frontier Allied Army had captured White Earth City and surrounded two Fifth Legion regiments in Sextus County, and Mora crushed his wine cup in fury.

After the Noble Council ended in chaos, the nobles worried over the new levy and troop demands, while Taros faced pressure to seek help from Count Sibeth. In another room, Baron Bolton urged Count Lloyd to name him heir in exchange for the Grand Duke sparing the Iron Vine Family.

• Viscount Borey dragged Grand Duke Mora from the hall, and Speaker Lance ended the meeting as Count Lagos reminded the nobles to pay the levy and annuity.
• Central nobles complained that the military levy would worsen their families’ debts, and some voiced resentment toward the Silver Maple family.
• Taros refused an invitation to drink because he needed to return to Blackwater City amid the fall of White Earth City and the urgent military situation.
• After hearing others speculate that the Honeysuckle family could turn to Count Sibeth for money, Taros silently considered a difficult decision.
• Baron Bolton told Count Lloyd that the Grand Duke would stop pursuing the Iron Vine Family if Lloyd made him heir to the Count’s title.

Count Lloyd escaped Baron Bolton’s attempt to force his support, killed Bolton, and fled the city with Baron Nio and Viscount Ferry. Meanwhile, Grand Duke Mora learned the rebels had taken White Earth City and ordered a regiment of the Fifth Legion to reinforce Sextus County.

• Baron Bolton threatened Count Lloyd, but Baron Nio and Viscount Ferry arrived with warriors, disarmed Bolton, and bound him.
• Count Lloyd rejected Bolton’s pleas for mercy and killed him before leaving the city with Nio, Ferry, and their men.
• Count Lagos brought Grand Duke Mora a report that the Northern Frontier Rebels had retreated to White Earth City after driving the defenders back to Sextus City.
• Viscount Borey offered to send the Imperial Guard Legion, but Count Lagos suggested redirecting a regiment of the Fifth Legion instead.
• Grand Duke Mora agreed to send messengers to redirect the Fifth Legion regiment to reinforce Sextus County.

Grand Duke Mora worried that loyalist nobles might seize the rebels’ inland territories and their wealth before he could claim it. Baron Lovski Hawthorn presented him with a priceless pearl on Count Black’s behalf and requested permission for Count Black to lead an army against the rebels in exchange for forgiveness and the survival of his family.

• Mora rejected Count Lagos’s suggestions to let loyalist nobles besiege rebel territories or postpone an invasion until spring because he feared losing the spoils.
• An imperial guard announced that Count Black’s representative had arrived, and Mora agreed to receive him after Count Lagos intervened.
• Baron Lovski Hawthorn presented Mora with the Golden Light Flowing Flame Pearl, which Count Lagos identified as a legendary treasure of the Reef Coral Sunflower Family.
• Mora accepted the gift and said he had forgiven Count Black, prompting Lovski to clarify that the count also wished to make amends through service.
• Lovski requested permission for Count Black to lead the Great Oak Territory’s army and eastern nobles’ private forces against rebel territories in the Eastern Four Counties, surrendering all spoils to Mora in return for forgiveness and permission for the Great Oak Family to continue.

Count Lagos accepted a valuable gold nugget from Baron Lovsky and tried to recruit him, unaware that Lovsky was only pretending to cooperate on Count Black’s orders. Meanwhile, Alex persuaded Viscount Hawke to stop his advance after taking White Earth City, leaving the next move to Victor.

• Grand Duke Mora ordered Baron Lovsky to lead troops and eastern Boler County nobles against the rebels in Boler County.
• Baron Lovsky presented Count Lagos with a 6.5-kilogram gold nugget from Count Black and praised his service to the Grand Duchy.
• Count Lagos offered Lovsky ministerial or military posts, and Lovsky pretended he would leave Count Black to serve him.
• Count Lagos wondered what Count Black was pursuing and resolved to get involved if the territories held something valuable.
• Lovsky privately planned to feed Count Lagos false intelligence while remaining loyal to Count Black.
• In White Earth City, Alex convinced Viscount Hawke to halt their advance after taking the city, and Alex thought the rest depended on Victor.

Count Lloyd escaped Silver Maple City with Baron Nio and Viscount Ferry Saltwood while his forces began assembling in preparation for a campaign to reclaim Cornwall County. Grand Duke Mora learned of the escape and, at Count Lagos’s urging, ordered the city gates, routes, and docks sealed.

• Count Lloyd traveled south disguised as a caravan merchant, grieving the men who had sacrificed themselves to help him escape.
• Baron Nio and Count Lloyd discussed their plan to mobilize before Cornwall County’s loyalist nobles returned, while Viscount Ferry Saltwood reported that the army was assembling.
• Count Lloyd ordered the caravan to move faster so they could leave Milan County before nightfall, and Baron Nio warned that Hampshire and the border legions might respond.
• Count Lagos arrived at Maple Leaf Palace and found Council Speaker Lance kneeling before Grand Duke Mora.
• Council Speaker Lance reported that Count Lloyd had vanished, Baron Bolton had been killed, and the Noble Council guard commander was missing.
• Count Lagos urged Grand Duke Mora to seal the city gates, major routes, and docks, and Mora sent Viscount Borey to carry out the order.