Recaps

Victor and Alex secured the secret pact and gathered support while Mora prepared to challenge Count Colt. Meanwhile, Santos’s campaign entered Black Pine Territory, where Shang Ye’s forces turned Arman’s night raid into a rout.

• Alex captured Baron Rossi and obtained the genuine secret pact, then brought Rossi with him as Victor’s fleet escaped the burning castle.
• James persuaded Baron Brown and Sura to join Victor’s cause, and Brown pledged his troops to the Two Rivers Territory.
• Mora’s advisers urged him to raise taxes and build support against Count Colt, while Victor and Alex learned how corruption and grain hoarding had damaged the Central Region.
• Victor and Alex reached Blackwater City, where Victor saw rising prices and poverty, and Alex tried to win over members of the Honeysuckle family.
• Victor left for Golden Sunflower Territory as Santos led nearly four thousand troops into Black Pine Territory and prepared a supply outpost near the Great Fish River.
• Macut’s allies rescued him from Viscount Perez’s castle, and he set out to reach the Two Rivers Territory army before fighting escalated.
• Alman led Black Pine Territory troops through the forest to raid Santos’s camp, while Shang Ye prepared Makarov’s Repeating Crossbows and warning signals.
• Arman’s troops attacked the camp and triggered a trap, where concealed archers devastated them, and Arman fled to report the defeat to Viscount Perez.

Santos helped Markut take control of Black Pine Territory while Victor prepared Golden Sunflower Territory for the Duchy’s coming attack. At the Noble Council, Mora declared war on Count Colt, but the Northern Frontier Allied Army’s capture of White Earth City disrupted his plans, and Count Lloyd fled south.

• Shang Ye’s forces routed the Black Pine attackers, and Santos later led the army through Green Shade Pass after Markut offered to help overthrow Raman and Alman.
• Markut took Black Pine Territory Castle, joined Santos at Green Shade Pass, and secured Viscount Perez’s surrender before agreeing to ally with the Golden Sunflower Family.
• Santos left Black Pine Territory with Markut’s selected soldiers, while Victor returned home, expanded his defenses, and prepared to support Alex and protect his territory.
• Count Black asked Victor to teach Brando Great Oak and proposed that Victor command Northern Alliance forces against the Duchy’s loyalists, and Victor accepted responsibility for Brando.
• Victor gathered troops and veteran reinforcements as Mora prepared to attack the Northern Frontier, then the Noble Council endorsed Mora’s war and military levy against Count Colt.
• The Northern Frontier Allied Army captured White Earth City, forcing Mora to redirect troops toward Sextus County, while Lovski Hawthorn negotiated Count Black’s service to the Duchy.
• Alex persuaded Viscount Hawke to halt the advance at White Earth City, while Count Lloyd escaped south after killing Bolton and Mora ordered the city gates, roads, and docks sealed.

Victor seized Red Ginseng Territory and its people and supplies, then prepared to meet the approaching vanguard led by Viscount Isold and Viscount Leo. As the nobles hurried toward the docks, Victor positioned his forces for a battle and began moving the fleet.

• Count Black sent troops toward Boler County while Victor planned to attack the hostile Red Ginseng and Perilla territories before their forces could unite.
• Victor ambushed Baron Freyzer’s army in the fog, defeated it, and captured most of its soldiers while Freyzer escaped.
• Ron captured Red Ginseng Castle, and Victor arranged the transfer of its serfs and supplies to Golden Sunflower Territory.
• Victor seized Perilla Territory’s outposts and Farm No. 1, then withdrew after Baron Charles concentrated his defenses.
• Count Black directed Viscount Isold and Viscount Leo to lead a vanguard to help Freyzer reclaim Red Ginseng Territory, while Victor prepared to attack their separated forces.
• Victor planned to abandon Red Ginseng Castle and fight on the plain, sending Ron’s cavalry north to harass the advancing vanguard and conceal Holmes’s position.
• Victor arranged his infantry and ranged troops around the docks and signaled the fleet to move as Fick reported that Red Ginseng Territory had been stripped of its resources.

Victor defeated the Vanguard Army, secured Red Ginseng Territory, and negotiated the release of Viscounts Isold and Leo. As Count Black prepared to withdraw, he revealed Count Lloyd’s rebellion plans, and Victor agreed to help supply Lloyd while discussing routes with Viscount Ferry.

• Ron harassed Viscount Isold’s cavalry while Victor prepared at Red Ginseng Castle, then Victor’s forces repelled the Vanguard Army and destroyed its formation with hidden ship-mounted weapons and a cavalry charge.
• Holmes trapped Viscounts Isold and Leo, and Victor persuaded them to surrender and help convince Baron Red Ginseng to submit.
• Victor arranged the viscounts’ ransom with Oberon and Tira, agreeing to gold, wheat, and serfs while counting captured Serf Soldiers and their families toward the total.
• Veronica’s researchers found that Salt-leaf Trees could produce soda ash, which Veronica used to make caustic soda before asking Alex to help find more trees.
• Victor inspected Red Ginseng Territory, ordered improvements to serfs’ living conditions, and reinforced security after Michael found Count Black’s punitive army nearby.
• Victor met Count Black, who said he would withdraw after the viscounts were released and revealed Count Lloyd’s plans to rebel with support from Colt’s heir, Alexander.
• Victor agreed to provide weapons and equipment to help Count Lloyd raise an army, then showed Count Black and Viscount Ferry a map and heard Ferry describe possible transport routes to Ironvine Territory.