Recaps

Hawk witnessed Labia execute soldiers who had retreated without orders and feared another attack was coming. Meanwhile, Alex’s exhausted warhorse collapsed and died before the cavalry reached White Earth City.

• Hawk watched Labia’s troops execute a squad for abandoning the battlefield without authorization.
• Labia threatened further executions, promised rewards for taking the city, and rallied his soldiers to charge.
• Hawk sent for Lukaku and urged Ricardo to send reinforcements quickly.
• Fifty kilometers from White Earth City, Alex’s warhorse Black Cloud collapsed from exhaustion and died.
• Alex’s guards ran to him and confirmed that he was unharmed.

Hawk and Baron Lukaku fought to hold White Earth City’s north wall as the Seventh Legion launched repeated assaults and the city’s defenses ran low on reserves and ammunition. When the enemy seized a large section of the wall and Lukaku fell, Hawk led his guards into another counterattack, then heard a horn whose source was unclear.

• Alex’s horse, Black Cloud, died on the journey, so Alex transferred its tack to a spare mount and pressed southward.
• Hawk and Lukaku repelled another assault on the north wall, while the enemy’s black-armband supervisors executed at least two hundred routed soldiers.
• Ricardo sent reinforcements north, and Hawk learned that the southern wall was under heavy attack while the eastern and western walls still held.
• The Seventh Legion advanced with over eight thousand troops, and Lukaku urged Hawk to withdraw before admitting he had misjudged him; Hawk refused to abandon the wall.
• The enemy attacked with siege towers as the defenders ran short of arrows, and Hawk found that the attackers had seized a large section of the wall and Lukaku lay fallen nearby.
• Hawk charged at the enemy with his guards, determined to kill as many as possible, and then heard a horn.

Hawk’s defenders held White Earth City as Alex Iron Birch’s Cavalry routed the Seventh Legion and the besieging duchy troops surrendered. After reuniting with Ricardo and learning the enemy had withdrawn from the other walls, Hawk spotted a new development on the battlefield.

• Hawk saw the Iron Birch Family’s Cavalry attack the Seventh Legion’s camp and race toward White Earth City.
• Hawk called on the trapped duchy soldiers to surrender, and troops on the walls and below laid down their weapons.
• Regimental Commander Navarro told Hawk that Viscount Alex had arrived and instructed him to hold the city gates while Count Colt’s main force followed.
• Hawk kept the gates closed and ordered the surrendered enemy soldiers to leave, then found Baron Lukaku alive and recovering from a blow.
• Ricardo reunited with Hawk and reported that the enemy had withdrawn from the southern, eastern, and western walls.
• Hawk hurried to the wall and saw a new change on the distant battlefield.

Alex’s exhausted Vanguard Army broke off its attack on the Seventh Legion after Kimberley brought Fifth Legion reinforcements, then withdrew toward White Earth City and relieved its siege. Both sides suffered heavy losses and the duchy’s Fifth and Seventh Legions eventually retreated to their garrisons in Sextus County.

• The Fifth Legion’s cavalry clashed with Alex’s scouts, and Ricardo realized their horses’ stamina gave the Vanguard Army the advantage despite its own exhaustion.
• Kimberley gathered reinforcements and marched to support Labia, while Alex’s cavalry harassed the Seventh Legion and tried to slow the pursuing duchy cavalry.
• Labia’s Seventh Legion held its formation, and Alex abandoned his attack and reunited his two cavalry forces as Kimberley’s troops arrived.
• Alex withdrew toward White Earth City and told Hawk to keep its gates shut until the duchy forces left the area.
• Kimberley and Labia joined their forces and left the battlefield, ending the clash with heavy casualties on both sides.

A messenger delivered Viscount Alex’s report to Count Colt as the Northern Alliance Army marched toward White Earth City. Count Colt ordered the army to continue its advance and rendezvous with Alex, without pursuing the duchy’s forces.

• The marching army struggled through muddy plains as Old Pete and the auxiliary troops freed a wagon and tended to his horse.
• Viscount Alex’s messenger passed the army’s guards and carried an urgent report to Count Colt.
• Count Colt and his Legion Commanders read Alex’s letter and debated whether to publicize the battle or press the attack.
• Count Colt ordered Delock to hurry toward White Earth City, meet Alex, and avoid continuing the pursuit.

In Silver Maple City, Mora and his advisers responded to the failed attack on White Earth City by ordering reinforcements to prepare defenses and planning deployments against threats in the Eastern and Southern Regions. The chapter left Mora’s forces preparing for multiple campaigns while the Hampshire nobles agreed to join the fight against Lloyd.

• Mora discussed the failed White Earth City attack with Viscount Borey and Count Lagos, who advised him to reinforce Sextus County and prepare for the Northern Alliance Army’s arrival.
• Mora ordered Mback to hurry the Third Legion and told Labia and Kimberley to prepare their forces for defense.
• Viscount Borey explained that the damaged Fifth Legion should not be sent south and that the First Legion was better suited to confront the Golden Sunflower Family; Mora ordered the First Legion to mobilize.
• Count Lagos reported that Hampshire nobles planned to join the Cornwall County coalition and the Fourth Legion in an attack on Lloyd’s Iron Vine Family.
• Count Lagos explained that Lloyd’s extermination of two noble houses had prompted the Hampshire nobles to campaign against him, reassuring Mora that the Southern Region would be handled.

Grand Duke Mora ordered his forces to mobilize, sending the First Legion east to confront the Golden Sunflower Family while the Sixth Legion advanced into Notting County. Turas received a separate message from Count Carter, whose contents remained unrevealed.

• Mora approved Viscount Borey's plan, ordered the Imperial Guard Legion to accompany him, and left Count Lagos in charge of Silver Maple City.
• Bikair received Mora's decree and told the First Legion's officers to march east to Boler County and help Count Black's coalition defeat the Golden Sunflower Family.
• Bikair promised that a quick victory might let the First Legion join the northern war, and the legion departed for the Eastern Region the next day.
• Turas read a letter from Silver Maple City and burned it after the Sixth Legion entered Notting County.
• Karanga arrived on Count Carter's orders and personally handed Turas a sealed letter.

Turas learned that Count Carter and Cant planned to install Cant as the Second Legion's commander before Turas could take control. He sent Karanga back to Carn City with the commander seal and orders to free Zapar and open the city gates, then summoned Dirac.

• Turas stopped Sailik from attacking Karanga and recognized the Second Legion's commander seal in Karanga's letter tube.
• Karanga explained that Carter had recovered, endorsed Cant as his successor, and allowed Cant to imprison Zapar while senior officers backed Cant's appointment.
• Turas decided to use Zapar's influence to gain entry to Carn City and control the Second Legion without seeking its command himself.
• Turas gave Karanga a letter and the seal, instructing him to rescue Zapar and help open the city gates for Turas's troops.
• Turas promised to recommend Karanga for Zapar's vacant deputy commander post, then ordered Sailik to summon Dirac.

Turas sent Dirac and Karanga to seize Carn City's gates while he marched with the Sixth Legion, using a false arrival time to mislead Cant and buy the force more time. He then appointed the jealous Sailik to command the Third Infantry Regiment and continued toward Carn City.

• Turas ordered Dirac to help Karanga take Carn City's gates and hold them until the Sixth Legion arrived.
• Dirac and Karanga departed with the Cavalry Regiment, while Turas told them he would arrive before sunset the next day.
• Sailik admitted he envied Karanga's appointment, and Turas offered him command of the Third Infantry Regiment.
• Turas explained that his stated arrival time was a smokescreen meant to mislead Cant and give Dirac's force more time to secure the gates.

Cant searched Carn City for Zapar, suspecting that officers in the Third and Fourth Regiments might be hiding him. He returned to Count Carter’s bedside, troubled by the Count’s worsening condition and Zapar’s escape with the Legion Commander’s seal.

• Cant and Ribelius searched Carn City but found no trace of Zapar.
• Cant reasoned that Zapar might be hiding under the protection of officers he had appointed in the Third or Fourth Regiment.
• Cant told Ribelius not to alert Zapar and to let Gerard and Hulk quietly monitor their troops.
• Cant explained that Count Carter had intended the Second Legion to remain loyal to the Duchy while retaining autonomy.
• Cant visited the gravely ill Count Carter and recalled how Zapar had escaped house arrest after Karanga stole the Legion Commander’s seal.

Cant learned that Zapar and Karanga had taken control of Carn City's South City Gate with a force from the Sixth Legion and some Second Legion troops. He refused to attack the allied force first, instead ordering Gerard to investigate their intentions while Ribelius negotiated with them.

• Cant returned to camp and learned that Ribelius had spoken with Gerard and Hulk and begun inspecting their troops for Zapar's supporters.
• Cant heard commotion in the southern city and feared Zapar had started an internal conflict.
• Ribelius reported that an unidentified force had seized the South City Gate, disarmed Hulk's guards, and joined Zapar and Karanga.
• Cant and Ribelius rode to the gate, where Hulk and Gerard reported that the force included Sixth Legion troops and around five thousand men.
• Gerard urged Cant to attack, but Cant refused because the Sixth Legion was an allied force and the disarmed guards had not been harmed.
• Cant told Gerard to investigate the force and locate Zapar and Karanga, while Ribelius went to negotiate with them.

Cant learned that Turas planned to take control of the Second Legion by backing Zapar and Karanga, and decided to move against them before Turas arrived in Carn City. He ordered his allies to gather troops the next morning and retake the city gate, while trying to avoid a direct fight.

• Ribelius returned and reported that Zapar had refused to explain why a Sixth Legion cavalry regiment occupied the city gate or disarmed its guards.
• Gerard received a spy's letter, and Cant learned that Turas intended to make Zapar Legion Commander and Karanga Legion Deputy Commander.
• Cant asked Ribelius, Hulk, and Gerard to support him, and they saluted in agreement.
• Ribelius warned that influential Old Master Beck might neither join the opposition nor support Cant, while Ribelius and Hulk urged action against Zapar and Karanga.
• Cant ordered the others to gather their troops the next morning, retake the city gate, and try to make Zapar's forces back down without direct violence.

Dirac and Zapar prepared to hold the South City Gate against the Second Legion as Cant’s troops advanced and nearly clashed with them. Just as Cant was about to order an attack, Turas arrived with the Sixth Legion, leaving Ribelius to lament that they had come too late.

• Dirac saw the Second Legion gather in force and urged Zapar to help build a defensive line.
• Zapar’s surrounded troops were disarmed, and he retreated to the wall while Dirac prepared fortifications.
• Cant’s troops advanced until the opposing soldiers began fighting, and Zapar warned the Second Legion that attacking friendly forces was a grave crime.
• Ribelius urged Cant to order an attack, and Cant resolved to do so despite the risk of fighting fellow Duchy troops.
• Turas entered Carn City with the Sixth Legion, and Ribelius released Cant’s shoulder and said they were too late.

Turas arrived in Carn City with authorization to command the front, took control of the southern district, and backed Zapar’s bid to lead the Second Legion. Count Carter’s return reversed Zapar’s growing support in favor of Cant, then Carter summoned Turas to meet him.

• Turas showed his authorization to intervene in the Second Legion and proposed that his Sixth Legion take over Carn City’s southern district, which Cant and the others accepted.
• Turas recommended Zapar as the Second Legion’s next commander, while Hulk and Gerard declared neutrality and Zapar’s faction gained support from four battalions.
• Count Carter recovered and, with Beck’s help, publicly supported Cant as commander, causing most of Zapar’s newly gained forces to abandon him.
• Turas accepted the reversal without surprise, and Count Carter sent word that he wanted to meet him.

Turas brought Zapar to Count Carter’s meeting after reassuring him that refusing the summons would be more dangerous. Count Carter said he had informed Silver Maple City that he would resume overseeing the Second Legion despite his lingering health problems.

• Zapar panicked about facing Count Carter, but Turas told him to attend and warned that he could not protect him if Carter wanted him dead.
• Turas led a cavalry squad to the lord’s manor, where Beck welcomed him and stopped the guards from taking his weapon.
• Zapar insisted that his rank entitled him to keep his sword, embarrassing Turas and Beck before they entered the manor.
• Turas and Zapar joined Count Carter, Cant, Ribelius, Gerard, and Hulk at the meeting table.
• Turas asked about Carter’s health and the Second Legion’s disorder, and Carter said he had contacted Silver Maple City and would prevent further trouble.

Count Carter resumed command of the Second Legion and reorganized its leadership after exposing Zapar’s failures. He appointed Turas overall commander on the Carn City front, leaving the Second Legion to cooperate with him in the campaign against the Northlands.

• Count Carter confirmed he would continue serving as Legion Commander, and Zapar struggled to respond when Turas questioned him.
• Carter appointed Cant as a second Legion Deputy Commander and asked Turas to serve as overall commander on the Carn City front.
• Carter rebuked Zapar for disrupting supplies and patrols, taking money for appointments, and leaving a gap that let Northern Frontier forces destroy Haiden City and devastate the legion’s logistical base.
• Carter allowed Zapar to keep his post but divided his authority and put Cant in charge of monitoring him.
• Carter said the Second Legion would support Turas in the Northlands campaign but warned him not to use it as a stepping stone, and Turas agreed to use it properly.

Turas and Count Carter reorganized the Second Legion, dividing its command among Cant, Zapar, and Beck while giving Turas influence over most of its regiments. Turas then appointed Karanga to command the Sixth Legion's Third Regiment and arranged Carn City's garrison to secure his control of both legions.

• Count Carter and Turas divided the Second Legion's command, with Cant and Zapar each commanding two regiments and Beck's Fifth Regiment remaining neutral.
• Turas protected Karanga from punishment for his betrayal, then offered him command of the Sixth Legion's vacant Third Regiment.
• Karanga accepted the appointment and pledged his service to Turas.
• Turas announced Karanga as the Third Regiment's Regimental Commander at a Sixth Legion meeting, and the officers accepted his decision.
• Turas rearranged the Second and Sixth Legions' defense zones in Carn City, giving him full command of the city's garrison.

A Northern Frontier Allied Army fleet reached the coast of Suffolk County for a planned landing, while Victor and Sodoma kept its movements concealed. After spotting the prepared landing site, Sodoma anchored the fleet overnight and planned to land the next morning.

• A fishing crew spotted the Northern Frontier Allied Army fleet, and Old Gouzi advised the skipper to head for shore rather than flee south.
• Sodoma decided not to pursue the fishing boat after it turned toward the coast, then reported to Victor that the fleet had reached Suffolk County.
• Victor ordered Sodoma to lead the fleet to the prepared landing site, and they agreed to rearrange the ships for landing.
• Sodoma told Blox that his squadron would lead the landing because it carried supplies, cavalry, and temporary dock components.
• The fleet arrived at the landing site that afternoon, and Sodoma ordered it to anchor and wait until morning to land.

Victor watched the fleet’s crew build a temporary dock and waited to go ashore with the main force. As Little Paru released the Desert God Eagles, Victor saw the young birds take flight and encouraged their keeper ahead of the war.

• Victor asked Captain Jack how long the temporary dock would take to build, and Jack said it should be finished by the next morning.
• Captain Jack told Victor that Fleet Commander Sodoma had sailed south with two fast ships to check the currents and nearby vessels.
• Little Paru released Gale, who flew around the ship, then guided the two younger Desert God Eagles out of their cages.
• Little Paru launched the young eagles from the mast, and both learned to fly alongside Gale.
• Victor praised Little Paru’s training and told him they would rely on him in the war.

Sodoma delivered Victor’s letter to a Great Oak Territory patrol fleet, and Victor’s forces began landing at Rotten Tree Beach. Victor reorganized the unloading and inspected the temporary camp as troops and supplies came ashore.

• Sodoma met a Great Oak Territory patrol fleet, handed its officer Victor’s letter for Viscount Sonanda and Count Black, and returned to Rotten Tree Beach.
• Victor ordered the fleet to speed up unloading, then reassigned infantry ships to use small boats when the pier proved too slow.
• Victor went ashore and arranged for a guard suffering from land sickness to receive treatment and porridge.
• Victor inspected the Temporary Camp and advised Piero to build watchtowers, secure the river, and place wells nearer the mountains.
• James’s Cavalry began landing as Victor left the camp.

Victor oversaw the Cavalry regiment’s orderly landing and spoke with James, who was managing the horses and troops. After giving James spiced red wine and advice, Victor left him to prepare for the next day’s scouting mission.

• The Cavalry regiment disembarked its warhorses, fed and calmed the stressed animals, and gathered them for settlement in camp.
• Victor waited until James had finished directing the landing, then teased him about working so hard.
• Victor gave James a flask of spiced red wine, and James accepted it after tasting it.
• Victor told James to keep his troops rested and scout the surrounding area the next day, with Lodan authorized to approve supplies.
• Victor reminded James to request cloaks because of the cold, and James headed back into camp.

Victor landed his army at Rotten Tree Beach and concealed its size by driving off Eastern nobles' ships that approached the fleet. Rumors exaggerated the landing as the First Legion advanced toward Suffolk County, leaving Foss uncertain about its intentions at Linshui Town.

• Victor inspected the completed temporary dock, ordered Sagras to finish the camp quickly, and learned Sagras planned to add another pier.
• Victor told Sodoma to keep distant ships under observation and destroy any that entered the warning perimeter; Sodoma's fast boats drove off or sank the scouts.
• Prisoners revealed the fleet's origins, and rumors of the Northern Frontier Allied Army landing spread across the Eastern Four Counties, growing to claims that Count Colt had brought two hundred thousand troops south.
• Count Colt joined Alex and Viscount Hawke at White Earth City on April 9, 1634, and their army camped north of Sextus County's seat while waiting for the Imperial Guard Legion.
• The First Legion changed course along the Blackwater River toward Suffolk County, and Foss sent Holmes to watch its fleet at Linshui Town before going to gather more troops.

Foss learned that Viscount Victor had returned and landed in Suffolk County, where the First Legion was heading. Unable to attack the fleet directly, Foss planned to strike the eastern enemy forces and delay their return to Suffolk County.

• Steward Boon delivered Foss a letter reporting that Viscount Victor had returned and begun landing at the designated point.
• Foss and Boon realized the First Legion had continued south to reach Suffolk County quickly.
• Boon suggested using their remaining ships to hinder the First Legion, but Foss refused because the vessels and their crews were too vulnerable.
• Foss proposed attacking part of the eastern Coalition of Nobles to tie down troops who might otherwise return to Suffolk County.
• Foss chose to attack the eight enemy battalions north of Perilla Territory rather than the four battalions near the Blackwater River.

Knight Yellen helped Foss exploit a gap in the Coalition of Nobles’ defenses, then used the resulting disorder as an opportunity to return to Sunset City. There, he met Viscount Sonanda and Steward Magnus, who prepared new troops for him as Count Black’s eastern campaign began.

• Knight Yellen received Count Black’s order to return to Sunset City and learned from Foss’s messenger that Golden Sunflower Territory planned to attack the northern Coalition of Nobles.
• Yellen moved a battalion away from the northern defensive line, allowing Foss to ambush and destroy two Coalition battalions before withdrawing to Golden Sunflower Territory.
• Yellen stirred tensions among the Coalition’s officers, then left Perilla Territory by ship under the pretext of seeking reinforcements.
• Count Black summoned eastern nobles to gather their private armies in Suffolk County, though nobles whose troops were besieging Golden Sunflower Territory could not withdraw them.
• Yellen returned to Sunset City, where Viscount Sonanda and Steward Magnus told him to take command of newly prepared troops and begin their plan.

Knight Yellen returned and visited Count Black, whose failing health had improved thanks to Life Grass. Count Black then ordered Yellen to report to his new unit and prepare to lead the troops alongside Sonanda in support of Victor.

• Yellen paused before leaving for the military camp because he had not yet paid his respects to Count Black.
• Magnus told Yellen that Count Black’s health had worsened, but Life Grass from the south had kept his condition from declining further.
• Magnus led Yellen to Count Black’s study, where he found the Count asleep at his desk and covered him with a cloak.
• Count Black woke, welcomed Yellen, and said the Life Grass had helped him survive the winter.
• Count Black told Yellen that Victor had reached the designated location and ordered him to join his new unit and prepare the troops for deployment with Sonanda.