Chapter Summaries

Victor led fresh cavalry reinforcements onto the battlefield, turning the tide against the exhausted Duchy Army and breaking through to Alex’s surrounded force. Victor found Alex unharmed, and Alex thanked him as the two reunited.

• The Golden Sunflower banner rallied the scattered Northern Alliance forces, including Alex’s troops beneath the Iron Birch banner.
• Viscount Borey and Legion Commander Kimberley halted their pursuit and reorganized when Victor’s cavalry appeared.
• Victor’s cavalry swept past the Imperial Guard Legion, split into three detachments, and attacked the Duchy Army from behind.
• Victor’s charges routed several Duchy units and opened a gap in the troops surrounding Alex’s men.
• Victor reached Alex beneath the Iron Birch banner, confirmed he was unharmed, and received Alex’s thanks for arriving in time.

Victor’s elite cavalry turned the Duchy Army’s rout into a decisive defeat, and the Northern Alliance forces captured the battlefield. But Grand Duke Mora vanished after setting Sextus County’s seat ablaze, and Count Colt’s death left the victorious Northern Alliance devastated.

• Alex told Victor that a surprise attack had struck Count Colt’s command post and that the Northern Alliance Army had collapsed, so Victor urged Alex to rally their troops while he led the cavalry into battle.
• Victor’s cavalry routed two duchy forces, then feinted toward the county seat and drew Borey and Kimberley’s army into an ambush by the concealed Heavy Cavalry.
• Victor’s forces shattered the Duchy Army; Borey and Kimberley fell, while Alex regrouped his soldiers, helped Edmund defeat Labia’s Third Legion, and joined Victor to surround the county seat.
• Victor and Alex found the county seat engulfed in flames and learned that Grand Duke Mora had opened the gates, sent out the garrison, and set the governor’s residence ablaze before disappearing.
• Hawke returned with Count Colt’s body and reported that the officers and nobles at the command post had also been killed; Alex collapsed, and Victor and Edmund confronted the heavy losses suffered despite their victory.

After surviving Victor’s failed assassination, Hurst escaped through the Blackwater River while Victor’s forces searched for him. Alex arrived from White Earth City and asked Victor to take supreme command of the remaining Northern Alliance Army and continue its campaign across the Grand Duchy.

• Hurst escaped Victor’s camp after the Silver Maple Secret Guard’s assassination attempt failed, then hid from pursuing cavalry in the Blackwater River.
• Hurst sensed he was being watched, swam downstream, and made his way toward Silver Maple City after evading his pursuers.
• Victor learned that his soldiers and Gale had failed to find the escaped assassin, and he predicted they would meet again.
• Alex rode from White Earth City to check that Victor was unharmed and explained that he needed to return to the Northlands after the Iron Birch Family’s heavy losses.
• Alex asked Victor to take command of the remaining Northern Alliance Army and continue its campaign across the Grand Duchy.

Alex handed command of the Coalition of Nobles to Victor and returned north with the surviving Iron Birch Family troops to stabilize his family after its heavy losses. Victor remained to manage the aftermath of the battle and was warned that the Silver Maple Family might target him again.

• Victor agreed to take command of the Coalition of Nobles after realizing Alex needed to return to the Northlands.
• Alex left Hawke and Edmund under Victor's command and accepted nearly thirty thousand gold coins from Victor for the Iron Birch Family.
• Victor and Alex warned each other to avoid danger and protect themselves from further attacks.
• Alex returned to White Earth City and, that afternoon, led the surviving Iron Birch troops north.
• Victor stayed behind to handle the battlefield's aftermath while fewer than half of the Iron Birch Family's three legions departed alive.

Victor’s Northern Alliance Army besieged Silver Maple City, using counterweight Catapults to test its defenses. After seeing little damage to the walls and many civilians hurt, Victor halted the bombardment and said the outcome would soon be clear.

• After taking control of the Northern Alliance Army, Victor gained the surrender of nobles across the Eastern and Southern Regions and gathered their troops at Blackwater City.
• Victor led his army through the Central Region, capturing every county except Milan County before marching on Silver Maple City in autumn.
• Victor waited more than a week for counterweight Catapults from the Two Rivers Territory to arrive before beginning the bombardment.
• The Catapults damaged some defenders but barely harmed the city walls, while their stones injured many residents.
• Victor ordered the Catapults to stop firing and told the commanders seeking permission to assault the city to be patient.

Victor's forces captured Silver Maple City after Viscount Taros Honeysuckle opened the South City Gate, bringing the Grand Duchy's war to an end. Victor left negotiations with the Raine Kingdom to Alex and prepared to return home.

• Viscount Taros opened the South City Gate, allowing Viscount Hawke's Fourth Legion and the Northern Alliance Army into Silver Maple City.
• Count Lagos retreated to Maple Leaf Palace after the defenders collapsed, then died by his own hand when the palace fell.
• Alex retook Durham County, and most of Turas's troops surrendered while the rest fled into the Carson Mountains.
• Victor left the Western Three Counties to the Raine Kingdom under its agreement with Count Colt as fighting continued along the border.
• Victor walked through Maple Leaf Palace, declared the war over, left negotiations with the Raine Kingdom to Alex, and prepared to go home.

Victor raced to the Silver Maple Family’s hidden Garden and discovered its defenders were preparing an ambush. After defeating Grand Mentor Hurst’s forces and securing the estate, Victor ordered the imprisoned serfs cared for and returned to Silver Maple City ahead of Count Alex’s arrival.

• Victor left Gaita in charge of Silver Maple City, entrusted Viscount Hawke with the allied forces, and led an elite cavalry force toward the Garden.
• Victor reached the hidden estate, learned from Little Paru and Gale that enemy troops were concealed inside and nearby, and ordered his soldiers to hold position.
• Grand Mentor Hurst emerged and demanded that Victor surrender, but Victor refused and revealed that another friendly force was approaching from beyond the mountains.
• Hurst led his troops into battle, and Victor’s Bed Crossbows devastated the advancing ranks before Victor’s army charged.
• Victor’s forces cleared the Garden, where they found many imprisoned serfs, and Victor ordered the estate protected and the serfs given care before he returned to Silver Maple City.

Victor staged an elaborate welcome for Alex Iron Birch and a Raine Kingdom envoy in Silver Maple City, hoping Alex’s arrival would establish authority over independent nobles urging rebellion. Alex arrived with Marquis Gelorge, who announced that Alex was now a duke and that the kingdom would reward nobles who had fought the Silver Maple Family; the procession then prepared to enter the city.

• Victor arranged a red-carpeted route, an honor guard, and cheering villagers to welcome Alex and impress the independent nobles.
• Scouts reported Alex’s fleet approaching, and Victor ordered the assembled commanders and nobles into formation as the military band played.
• Alex disembarked with armed guards and Marquis Gelorge, whose royal bearing and position beside Alex awed the gathered nobles.
• Alex introduced Gelorge as the son of former King Bulshard III, and Gelorge announced that Alex was a duke and that the king had sent him to award titles to nobles who had resisted the Silver Maple Family.
• Victor escorted Alex and Gelorge into a gilded carriage and led the assembled procession toward the city.

Alex and Victor received their new titles at a ceremony hosted by Marquis Gelorge, then completed the transfer of authority in Silver Maple City. After Victor departed for the Northlands, Alex ordered an investigation into nobles who had tried to sow discord between them.

• Marquis Gelorge welcomed Alex into Silver Maple City and presided over a ceremony that elevated Alex to Duke Iron Birch and Victor to Marquis Golden Sunflower.
• Marquis Gelorge told Alex to lead the high nobles of the Three Provinces of Vela to Golden Tree City for an audience with the king at next year's Harvest Festival.
• Alex and Victor celebrated the end of the war and discussed Victor's plan to return home to Veronica.
• Victor completed the transfer of authority to Alex, then sailed north with the Golden Sunflower Family's troops.
• Alex burned the letters sent by nobles who had tried to drive a wedge between him and Victor, then ordered an officer to investigate them and the nobles on Victor's list.

Victor spotted the Iron Birch Fleet while traveling home and rushed to meet its flagship. There, he reunited with his father-in-law, now Earl Benjamin Pear.

• Victor learned that the Iron Birch Fleet was approaching and asked Captain Blox to take him to it.
• Blox stopped Victor from boarding a small boat and arranged a fast, stable rowing sailboat instead.
• Victor crossed to the Iron Birch flagship and climbed aboard using a rope ladder.
• Earl Benjamin Pear welcomed Victor, who greeted his father-in-law and remarked on his good health.

Victor met with Count Benjamin aboard the Iron Birch fleet and learned the human cost of the war in Durham County and the Carson Mountains. After discussing the reorganization of the former Grand Duchy, Victor returned to his fleet, expecting to see Benjamin again in the Raine Kingdom the following year.

• Victor congratulated Benjamin on his promotion, then asked why reports of the Durham County war had omitted precise casualty figures.
• Benjamin said his Third Legion had suffered fifteen thousand casualties, Captain Pim had died protecting him, and Raymond had lost his prosthetic arm; Pim’s son had been made a baron.
• Benjamin recounted how an arrow wounded his right arm during a desperate defense until Albert’s reinforcements and troops from nearby noble fiefs helped repel the Duchy Army.
• Benjamin described Albert’s legion losing more than six thousand soldiers and the Purple Alfalfa Fief suffering destruction, captures, and the near-death of Baron Sneider, who was promoted to viscount.
• Benjamin explained that he had missed the promotion ceremony while escorting surrendered Duchy Army troops, and that Alex planned to remove fortresses along the Carson Mountains to open trade.
• Victor and Benjamin discussed how the kingdom’s new provinces and noble appointments would limit the Iron Birch Family’s growing power before Victor returned to his fleet.

Victor oversaw the fleet’s final supplies and discussed plans to feed and resettle a large influx of serfs over the next three years. He assigned Gaita future duties in Golden Sunflower Territory and Blackwater City before departing north.

• Victor asked Gaita about the last batch of supplies, and Gaita reported that grain reserves could provide quarterly rations for 150,000 people.
• Victor explained that he planned to relocate 200,000 serfs over three years and warned that feeding next year’s arrivals would be difficult.
• Victor assigned Gaita to help develop Golden Sunflower Territory and procure grain and other supplies in Central Vira Province.
• Victor planned to expand Golden Sunflower Territory by trading scattered lands for neighboring nobles’ territories.
• Victor told Gaita to maintain the joint council of the merchant guilds and left Blackwater City with the fleet, which would stop at Great Oak Territory before heading north.

Victor returned from Blackwater City with a fleet laden with wealth and supplies, including Softbark Trees whose resin could solve the problem of underwater cable insulation. He arrived at Sunset City, appointed Yellen a viscount, and prepared to meet Magnus and Brando.

• Victor discovered that Softbark Tree resin was an excellent insulating material, bought the merchant’s entire stock, and ordered more saplings and goods for cultivation in his territories.
• Victor sent a fleet detachment under Foss toward Golden Sunflower Territory and instructed Foss to tell Steward Boon to prepare for next year’s immigrants.
• Victor planned the expansion of the Two Rivers Territory and the distribution of fiefs among his newly ennobled officers and officials.
• Blox told Victor that the fleet had reached Sunset City, where Victor went ashore with guards and was welcomed by Yellen.
• Victor gave Yellen his viscount appointment and fief map, then asked Yellen to lead him into the city so he could deliver another appointment to Magnus and a gift to Brando.

Victor visited Great Oak Territory, where Yellen described Sunset City's growing trade and prosperity. He awarded Magnus a baronial title and credited Brando with the remaining military merit before setting sail for home as winter's first snow began to fall.

• Yellen told Victor that Sunset City had prospered as trade expanded after the Civil War and the completion of new ocean-going ships.
• Magnus and Brando welcomed Victor to the manor, and Victor wrapped his cloak around Brando against the cold.
• Victor gave Brando a gift and Magnus an appointment document, then credited his remaining military merit to Brando.
• Victor enjoyed a banquet with the people of Great Oak Territory and said farewell to Brando the next day.
• Snow began falling as Victor boarded his ship to return home.

Victor's fleet sailed north, inspected the nearly completed Rotten Tree Beach garrison, and encountered allies before continuing home. On November 25, 1635, Victor arrived at Sea Song Town, where Veronica greeted him with tears of joy.

• Victor met Lodan at Rotten Tree Beach, where Lodan reported that the harbor and fortress were progressing well and promised to finish the garrison by the following year.
• Victor's fleet prepared to defend itself from an approaching fleet, then recognized it as the Great Oak Territory fleet commanded by Viscount Sonanda.
• Victor reunited with Sonanda and Sodoma, learned that their fleet had delivered goods and supplies, and watched them head back toward Sunset City.
• Victor's fleet followed the Iron Birch Family's ocean route north toward the Two Rivers Territory.
• Veronica waited at Sea Song Town with Irene, spotted the returning fleet, and welcomed Victor with an embrace when he came ashore.

After the celebration banquet, Victor organized his growing territory and resumed training his personal guards. The guards learned that Victor’s wife was pregnant and celebrated the news, which promised a direct heir for the Golden Sunflower Family and the Two Rivers Territory.

• At the celebration banquet, Victor granted noble titles and fiefs, promised new immigrants and development support, and placed the nobles’ diplomacy and military command under the Two Rivers Territory.
• Victor arranged leave for the army and visited the families of fallen soldiers and troops who had suffered severe injuries or disabilities.
• Victor overwhelmed his personal guards during morning training and scolded them for letting their skills deteriorate during leave.
• After Victor left, the guards joked about the training and a veteran revealed that Victor’s wife was pregnant.
• The guards celebrated the news, discussed the importance of Victor’s heir to the territory’s succession, and went to a tavern for drinks.

Veronica's pregnancy brought celebrations across Two Rivers Territory, and Victor decided to attend his required royal audience despite worrying he might miss the birth. When many nobles announced they would visit in spring, Victor hurried to inspect the new estate being built to host them.

• Victor announced Veronica's pregnancy throughout the territory, declared a holiday, and distributed celebratory red envelopes.
• After learning Veronica was due in September, Victor considered asking Alex to excuse him from the royal audience, but Veronica persuaded him to go.
• Alex replied with congratulations and promised to visit Veronica and the baby in spring.
• Victor received letters from numerous noble families announcing plans to visit Two Rivers Territory, revealing the extent of his influence and creating a need for more guest accommodations.
• Victor inspected the thirty-hectare estate under construction east of Wood Fort Town, intended to accommodate hundreds of guests and servants.

Victor caught up on accumulated work after hosting nobles from the Vela Three Provinces, while caring for his pregnant wife Veronica, who was expected to have twins. He reviewed a huge paper order from Count Edmund that would buy nearly all of Two Rivers Territory’s production for the coming year.

• Veronica brought Victor pastries and water while he worked late, and Victor escorted her back despite her protests.
• Victor reflected on how entertaining the visiting nobles had delayed his work, though their gifts and commercial agreements benefited Veronica and Two Rivers Territory.
• Victor examined an order from Count Edmund, a newly elevated count known for his naval service and victory in the Western Three Counties.
• Victor was surprised that Edmund’s order requested enough paper to buy out nearly all of the territory’s next year’s production.

Victor recalled the nobles’ visit to the paper mill and his plans to improve production, while the nobles showed little interest in the new paper. Count Edmund unexpectedly ordered nearly a year’s output, and Victor planned to ask him about it when he visited the Raine Kingdom’s mainland in August.

• Victor led the visiting nobles through the paper mill, where most praised the new paper but Count Edmund watched the production line in silence.
• Victor arranged for the territorial government to buy the mill’s entire output and planned to introduce new papermaking machinery to increase production and lower costs.
• Most nobles showed little interest in buying the paper, as Victor had expected.
• Count Edmund booked nearly a year’s output of paper for at least two thousand gold coins.
• Victor wondered why Count Edmund had placed such a large order and decided to speak with him during his August visit to the Raine Kingdom’s mainland.

Victor inspected Two Rivers Territory after six months of governing and saw farming, settlement expansion, and education progressing. The territory prepared for major population growth, while Victor planned new administrative units to manage its expanding lands.

• Victor rode through the territory during spring plowing and saw labor shortages ease as returned auxiliaries and soldiers resumed civilian work.
• The Government Affairs Office and Agricultural Department planned to open five hundred square kilometers of farmland northward toward Blue Lake and connect the scattered settlements.
• Victor inspected agricultural technicians trained by the Agricultural Department and found their practical skills strong enough to support wider agricultural reforms and possible promotion to village heads.
• The territory trained teachers alongside agricultural technicians to address its shortage of educated workers and prepare for hundreds of thousands of new migrants.
• Victor decided to establish county-level administrative units above villages and towns, though the plan threatened to worsen the territory's shortage of officials.