The Republic's army attacking Hegrande mutinied and collapsed. In one stroke, the country's military strength went from the greatest of the three to the weakest.
This was the intelligence gathered by the scouts Prince Chris had deployed on the battlefield. It was then relayed to Ankandela at top speed, arriving within a day.
Along with it came an order from the prince.
+Form the Defense Force's Third Infantry Regiment immediately, then advance toward Votradnoi with the other warbands. Reinforcements are already on the road and will reach Ankandela soon.+
Oh, the players understood this sort of thing. It was a land grab.
Thick fog wound through the woods like blood-soaked bandages. The air was so heavy with moisture that it almost seemed wet enough to raise fish in.
In the infantry camp outside the city, Joachim sat in front of a military tent, carving Chinese characters and designs into an oak shield with a dagger. After learning of his craftsmanship, an officer had specifically given him five silver dollars to carve something onto his shield.
Joachim could not understand it, but that did not stop him from taking the money and doing the work.
"Joachim!"
Roderick called his name from a distance. As Joachim looked up, Roderick spotted him too, then led a horse over to him.
"Did you send the money home? Those hundred and sixty silver dollars?"
Joachim slipped the dagger back into his boot, brushed off his trousers, which were covered in wood shavings, and stood up. The warhorse Roderick was leading snorted, its white breath condensing into frost in the cold air.
His movement sent wood shavings fluttering off the shield, revealing part of an unfinished Chinese character... It was a crooked "福," meaning good fortune, with a fierce tiger's head carved directly beneath it.