Recaps

Derek secured Melgen Monastery’s support, conquered the Barbarian forces at Yanle Mountain, and began reshaping Melgen Province under Augusta rule. After Duke Wilson’s execution and the killing of Marquis Hussein’s son, Derek and Louis II maneuvered to contain the growing conflict.

• Derek explored the Barbarian Wilderness, met Guli’s tribe, and then traveled with Archbishop John and the Augusta Knight Order to Melgen Monastery.
• Derek challenged the monastery’s leadership, baptized Burdett Kutz and other knights, and formed a secret alliance with Melgen Monastery.
• Derek gathered more than thirty thousand men and captured Yanle City, but Barbarian forces trapped his army in Yanle Mountain Corridor.
• Derek led the Augusta forces through Duke Wilson’s formations, broke the Barbarian command, and took Wilson prisoner.
• Derek claimed Melgen Province for Augusta, ordered tribes to provide recruits and settlers, and had Simon destroy a tribe that resisted.
• Derek returned to Saint Myra Province, executed Duke Wilson before Marquis Hussein, and sent Wilson’s head to King Louis II.
• Baronet Raymond captured the Lovett ships and killed Tamir Rovitt, while Hussein’s son Gaido was murdered by professional attackers.
• Louis II ordered Derek to come to the Royal Capital and pay Hussein one thousand Gold Coins, while Derek sent Hussein condolences and a copper coin.

Derek expanded Augusta’s trade and influence while drawing Prince Radick into the Northern Lands’ power struggle. After exposing the Perez Family’s hidden cavalry and setting the Perez and Jefferies Families against each other, Derek left the Northland Nobles divided as Louis II prepared to reshape their balance of power.

• Derek welcomed Barbarian soldiers home on leave, encouraged Guli to establish a business, and drew more Barbarians into Augusta’s service as Tiona announced her pregnancy.
• Marquis Hussein tightened restrictions in Melgen Province, but Baron Shawen and the new nobles killed him, and the First Prince and Louis II maneuvered over the fallout.
• Louis II sent Prince Radick to the Northern Lands, where Derek met him and persuaded him to cooperate in exchange for political and military opportunities.
• Derek encouraged pressure on the Garcia Family, which surrendered its mine to Radick for protection, while Derek secretly helped Radick discover the Perez Family’s hidden Heavy Cavalry Regiment.
• Derek used Louis II’s response to strengthen Count Jefferies, sold him equipment for the Iron Wall Legion, and let suspicion grow between the Jefferies and Perez Families.
• Derek overheard Count Jefferies and Count Perez plotting, then retaliated against the Perez Family while maneuvering against Jefferies influence in the Iron Wall Legion and trade routes.
• The feud spread among the Northland Nobles as Augusta gained support, and Louis II decided to divide their power by settling Jefferies debts and granting Derek’s request.

Derek claimed Duke Leopold’s title amid a royal coup, then expanded his domain by defeating the Barbarian clans and building alliances. The arc ended with Tiona giving birth to Derek’s son, who received a noble title and was baptized.

• Derek traveled to the Royal Capital, where Louis II granted him Duke Leopold’s title and proposed settling tax disputes through combat.
• Arthur arranged a slave uprising that killed Louis II, seized the throne, and forced Derek to escape the capital before accepting his title and new lands.
• Derek secretly aided Prince Radick and investigated the Southern Nobles’ weapons purchases while preparing to defend Melgen Province from the Barbarian clans.
• Derek’s forces defeated Pabo’s troops, captured the clan camps, and drove the clans into retreat as Dagu distinguished himself in battle.
• Pabo surrendered and helped Derek seize his castle, then Derek used gunpowder to breach Renato’s fortress and take the Yanle Mountain Corridor.
• Derek ordered the nearby Barbarian clans to submit or leave, while Dagu began recruiting his people and farmers for the Duke’s domain.
• Tiona gave birth to Derek’s son, and Derek celebrated with rewards and tax cuts before Viscount Chavez offered him gifts on behalf of the Southern Merchant Guild.
• The King’s Emissary granted Derek’s son the title of Court Count, and Archbishop John baptized him with the name Derek chose.

Derek expanded the Leopold Family’s reach overseas and prepared an attack on the Holy Cross Kingdom, using intelligence, artillery, and staged retreats to draw its forces into battle. The Locke army shattered Earl Connor’s forces, while General Michel’s army also collapsed under the bombardment and assault.

• Derek negotiated an alliance with Viscount Chavez, then sent Lawrence and a fleet of knights to establish the Leopold Family’s foothold on the New Continent.
• Derek named new gunboats and expanded the fleet, while plans to attack the Holy Cross Kingdom took shape with Viscount Yanes and Baron Balin.
• Captain Jones’s pirates attacked Lawrence’s fleet, but the Northlanders sank their ships and killed the survivors.
• Derek coordinated an invasion of Holy Cross territory, and Simon’s forces used cannon fire to breach and capture the Royal Private Army’s camps.
• Derek concealed his central force and manipulated Earl Connor into advancing, while Locke troops disrupted the Holy Cross Kingdom’s scattered forces and reinforcements.
• Derek drew Earl Connor into battle, then used a devastating artillery barrage to destroy his reserve and sent the Northland Knights charging through the shaken army.
• Earl Connor fled with his private army as his forces routed, while Derek ordered the Locke army to press its attack on General Michel’s troops.
• General Michel’s army collapsed under the Locke artillery bombardment and assault, and Earl Connor fled again with Baron Balin, abandoning the supplies.