Recaps

Derek’s victories and Virut’s attack on the Garcia Family helped drive the Northern nobles to proclaim the Northern Duchy under Grand Duke Leopold. As the new duchy seized control of the Northern Lands, Simon and Dean Massimo worked to win over Monta Province’s forces while the Royal Capital sent Logue to take command.

• Earl Connor fled with Baron Balin, accepted Duke Leopold’s victory, and planned to retire and turn to trade while Derek’s defeat of the Royal Private Army threw the eastern border into turmoil.
• Viscount Yanes persuaded local nobles to pledge allegiance to Duke Leopold, and Derek captured Bobby after Simon’s Northland Knights routed the Church Knights.
• Virut gathered Loyd’s men, attacked the Garcia Family’s castle with artillery, and executed Viscount Garcia and his family.
• Virut rallied the Northland nobles to declare Duke Leopold Grand Duke, and Derek ultimately accepted the founding of the Northern Duchy as knights and soldiers pledged their loyalty.
• Derek assigned Virut, Andrew, Adrian, and Simon to secure the borders, reorganize administration, and bring the Northern Lands’ cities and armies under duchy control.
• King Arthur learned of the declaration of independence and sought aid from the Holy Cross Kingdom and the Barbarians, while Dean Massimo used Leopold’s silver to persuade Farid and his officers to defect.
• At the Ganard mining base, Lawrence advised Brack to appoint black slave overseers, and Abraham used his new authority to inform on a planned revolt and help Locke soldiers crush it.
• Farid secretly offered Simon control and intelligence on the Monta Province Garrison Legion, agreed to turn against the Royal Guard Legion, and Logue arrived with the Fifth Legion to take command of the region’s forces.

Simon and Farid helped the Northern Duchy take Monta Province, while Derek secured overseas resources and helped Prince Radick prepare against the Southern Nobles. Derek then led a cannon-backed invasion of the Holy Cross Kingdom, captured the City of Sighs, and left its relief army exposed to Northern Duchy cavalry.

• Farid betrayed Logue during the battle for Monta Province, and Simon defeated the Royal Guard Legion before Logue surrendered and agreed to serve Derek.
• Derek took control of Monta Province, accepted Logue into his service, and arranged for his supposed execution to be reported to King Arthur.
• Lawrence showed Logue the New Continent’s supply ports, while Southern nobles captured a settlers’ port and Logue began building a town near the silver mine.
• Derek received intelligence about Prince Radick and sent him supplies through Baron Cliff, allowing Radick to expand his army and secretly receive cargo by river.
• Derek raised morale among his troops, then launched an offensive into the Holy Cross Kingdom and ordered artillery to bombard the City of Sighs.
• After a week of bombardment, Derek’s troops exploited a breach and captured the City of Sighs, while King Bruno secured the Church’s support by restoring the Military Chaplain System.
• General Gill retreated with the relief army and left Knight Roman to guard the supply route, while Northern Duchy cavalry located Roman’s camp.

Derek strengthened the Northern Duchy’s army, industry, and overseas settlements as the Southern Nobles Alliance faced defeat and imperial attack. The Duchy dispatched a brigade to defend its colonial foothold, while a successful ironclad trial pointed toward further expansion.

• Martin’s night raid set Roman’s Holy Cross camp ablaze, and Roman surrendered to Derek after General Gill abandoned him.
• Derek secured Roman’s service, while Balin returned to Connor territory under the Northern Duchy’s banner and reconciled with Corison.
• Derek unveiled the Duchy’s firearm production and celebrated its first anniversary, announcing a tax cut and directing officials to investigate Barbarian refugees and expand recruitment.
• Brack and Logue discovered gold on the New Continent, and Derek appointed Count Little Jefferies governor of Ganard as the Duchy planned larger migrations.
• The Empire’s fleet destroyed the Southern Nobles’ shore batteries, captured a harbor and gemstone mine, and forced Governor Kallen to seek soldiers and intelligence.
• Derek ordered support for the New Continent accelerated and sent the newly formed First Guards Brigade to defend the Duchy’s colonial foundation.
• Philip reported that the ironclad had reached twenty knots, and Derek prepared to travel to Digen Port after telling Tiona the ship would help him crown her queen.

Derek expanded the Northern Duchy’s railways, military, and overseas ambitions while Lawrence led the fleet to victory at Ganard and seized Gemstone Port. The arc ended with foreign trade worsening hardship among Holy Cross Kingdom farmers as Barin delivered weapons and gifts to the Connor Family.

• Derek visited Nameless Island, prioritized the Steam Train and Ironclad projects, then ordered small attacks on Holy Cross forces.
• Robert’s First Guards Brigade raided the gemstone convoy and mine, while Abraham forced enslaved black workers to farm and crushed their planned rebellion.
• Derek tested the railway, founded Hadley University, welcomed relatives to Swan Castle, and summoned Virut to help form the First Infantry Division.
• Derek funded military expansion and ordered a railway built with enslaved labor, while officials and soldiers violently suppressed riots.
• Derek appointed Lawrence commander of the Ganard Naval Command and urged him to use naval power to expand the Duchy’s influence.
• Lawrence led the fleet to Ganard, defeated General Amanda’s United Kingdom fleet, and captured Gemstone Port.
• The Navy secured Gemstone Port and began building its base as the railway linking Digen Port, Augusta City, and Pulan City was completed.
• Cheap Northern Duchy goods worsened smallholders’ hardship in the Holy Cross Kingdom, while Barin brought weapons and gifts to Knight Kane.