Recaps

The Northmen marveled at life in Wilderness Town as Allen arranged care for the wounded and sent troops south to clear Wargs from Mirkwood. After Beorn revealed that Klethi could communicate with animals, Allen began considering how to build an intelligence network and left plans for it undecided.

• Alix and Olay discussed their injuries and wondered whether they could remain in Wilderness Town, while they and the other Northmen observed the town’s prosperity and customs.
• The Northmen saw Firentis lead more than a thousand soldiers south toward the ancient road to search for Wargs, accompanied by Augris and Beorn’s people.
• Beorn visited Allen to discuss honey production and dairy cattle, and gave him a large golden hunting dog that Allen named Juan.
• Allen asked Beorn about using animal communication to gather intelligence, and Beorn told him that Klethi had already learned the skill.
• Allen decided to think through the network’s practical plans before discussing its creation with Klethi.

As Wilderness Town prepared for its New Year’s feast and victory celebration, Sauron began rebuilding Barad-dûr and ordered Khamûl to enlist the Easterlings after learning of Azog’s death. Allen then summoned Klethi to ask whether she had mastered communicating with animals.

• Wilderness Town’s residents and returning soldiers worked together to prepare the grounds for the New Year’s feast and the celebration of the victory at Lonely Mountain.
• Sauron learned that Azog had been defeated and killed, and declared that humans, Dwarves, and Elves would perish.
• Sauron ordered Khamûl to travel to the lands of Rhun and summon an Easterlings Tribe chief.
• Allen asked Klethi whether she had learned to communicate with animals, and she confirmed that she had.

Allen celebrated the New Year as Wilderness Town held banquets, while he planned the opening of the Old Forest Road and reflected on his growing distance from his subjects. Fireworks and time with Gandalf, Bilbo, Ymira, and the others lifted his spirits, and Gandalf asked about preparations for Sauron’s return; Allen said he intended to seek an alliance with the elves and dwarves.

• Wilderness Town’s residents gathered at neighborhood banquets, while Allen met with Tyr, Ymira, Stephen, and Alayen to plan a faster opening of the Old Forest Road.
• Allen assigned Alayen to lead two hundred soldiers and Stephen to join Tyr’s expedition after the New Year, supporting road repairs and preparing to learn about grain prices.
• Allen stayed away from the town banquets and watched them from the Lord’s House with Ymira, then joined Gandalf and Bilbo to set off fireworks on the eastern wall.
• Ymira, Klethi, and Alayen joined Gandalf and Bilbo in lighting fireworks as the New Year celebration spread across Wilderness Town.
• Gandalf asked Allen how he would resist Sauron’s forces, and Allen said he planned to seek an alliance with the elves and dwarves after Thorin became King of the Lonely Mountain.

Allen investigated the renewed Half-orc presence near the High Pass and devised a plan to lure them out of Orc Town using the One Ring’s attraction to creatures of darkness. Bilbo agreed to help, and Gandalf joined the planned operation as they prepared to return to the Shire.

• After the Great Eagles reported Half-orcs near the High Pass, Allen sent Klethi and Grim to investigate, but Klethi ventured into the mountain tunnels and found at least a thousand Half-orcs before Grim rescued her.
• Klethi reported the Half-orcs’ numbers and locations to Allen, who reprimanded her for risking the mission and then considered how to draw the enemies out of Orc Town.
• Allen recalled the One Ring’s ability to attract creatures of darkness and decided to use it as bait, while avoiding handling it himself.
• Allen asked Bilbo Baggins to bring the Ring on a mission in which elite cavalry would lure the Half-orcs into an ambush, and Bilbo agreed to help on their way back to the Shire.
• Gandalf joined the planned battle after returning that evening, while Bilbo kept the Ring’s significance from him.

Allen prepared an operation to lure the Half-orcs near the High Pass into an ambush, while Thorin visited Wilderness Town after being crowned Thorin II in Lothlórien. The chapter ended with Allen set to depart for the valley the next day and Thorin inviting him, Gandalf, and Bilbo to his enthronement ceremony.

• Allen chose Hollimion, twelve Twilight Knights, thirteen Swadia Knights, fifteen Rhodoks Sharpshooters, and forty Khergit horse archers as bait for the Half-orcs.
• Allen arranged for eight hundred soldiers under Bunduk to ambush the Half-orcs after his firework signal and for Firentis to lead three hundred cavalry as a fallback.
• Thorin told Allen that Thráin II was too frail to leave Lothlórien, where Lady Galadriel's protection could sustain him for years.
• Thráin II crowned his son Thorin II king of the Lonely Mountain in Caras Galadhon, and Lady Galadriel welcomed Thorin to visit his father in Lothlórien.
• Thorin invited Allen, Gandalf, and Bilbo to his enthronement ceremony two months later, then returned to the Lonely Mountain to prepare for it.
• Allen kept his plan unchanged and prepared to leave for the lower valley of the High Pass the next day.

Allen led his force into the Upper Valley to bait the Half-orcs, but no enemies appeared during the day, leaving the plan's success uncertain. Fimbul watched Allen's party and recalled how he seized Orc Town and secured his rule before a sudden impulse brought him out of the settlement.

• Allen advanced through the Upper Valley with his men, finding a deserted road, a dry riverbed, and bones but no signs of Half-orcs.
• Allen considered whether the Half-orcs had hidden in their tunnels or were moving to attack that night, and resolved to continue his plan.
• Fimbul watched Allen's party from a hill and remembered becoming leader of the surviving Warg Riders after Azog's death.
• Fimbul's armored Warg Riders defeated the returning Half-orcs who challenged his claim to Orc Town, killing some and enslaving the survivors.
• Fimbul established himself as the New Orc King and enjoyed his growing wealth, but a sudden stirring made him lead his men out of Orc Town.

Fimbul and the Wargs were drawn toward the One Ring as Allen’s party took shelter in Orc Town’s main entrance and prepared to use the cave as a defensive trap. The Wargs attacked, Hollimion’s signal summoned Bunduk’s reinforcements, and Sting warned Allen that Half-orcs were approaching from within.

• Fimbul spotted Allen’s banner, gathered his forces, and planned to kill the humans and seize the treasure that had drawn him.
• Allen recognized that Deshavi had led the party into Orc Town’s main entrance, while his soldiers prepared the cave for battle and Bilbo cooked dinner.
• The One Ring’s influence attracted nearby Wargs, who joined the Half-orcs and howled outside the cave.
• Allen ordered Hollimion to signal Bunduk and hold the entrance with the Twilight Knights and Rhodoks Sharpshooters.
• Hollimion fired the signal fireworks, led an opening volley that killed nearly twenty Wargs, and withdrew into the cave passage.
• Sting glowed blue in Bilbo’s hand, and Allen raised his bow toward the depths of the cavern.

Allen and his allies fought Fimbul’s Half-orcs inside Orc Town while Hollimion and the Twilight Knights defended the cavern entrance against a Warg assault. After both battles reached temporary pauses, Fimbul sent guards to prepare a counter to Allen’s archers, and the Half-orcs advanced behind boards taken from Orc Town’s walkways.

• Fimbul led Half-orcs through Orc Town’s four gates and sent enslaved Half-orcs to attack Allen’s waiting force.
• Gandalf blasted the leading Half-orcs with lightning, and Allen, the horse archers, and the Swadia Knights killed more than a hundred attackers before the survivors stopped advancing.
• Fimbul sent dozens of Personal Guards back into the passages while Allen used the lull to recover and watched the dark shapes deeper in the cavern.
• The Wolf Leader drove the Wargs into a mass charge, and the Rhodoks Sharpshooters formed a shield wall as Hollimion’s Twilight Knights fought alongside them.
• Arnod killed a Warg that pinned him down, and Hollimion saved him from another before the Twilight Knights cleared the passage and the Wargs paused to move the corpses.
• Fimbul’s Half-orcs returned with large wooden boards that Allen recognized as walkways from Orc Town, countering the archers under his command.

Bunduk, Klethi, and Grim reached Allen’s cave as the wargs attacked, while Allen used fire oil to turn the half-orcs’ advance into chaos. The wargs fled and Fimbul escaped into Orc Town, leaving the battle unresolved and the town gates open.

• Bunduk hurried his troops toward Allen’s cave after seeing the signal, while Klethi rode Grim ahead to join the fight.
• Klethi directed Grim at the White Wolf Leader, and the bear charged through the wargs as she struck down attackers with her Elite Scimitar.
• Hollimion led the soldiers out of the cave, and the White Wolf Leader fled when Bunduk’s approaching force added to the pressure; the wargs abandoned the field.
• Allen realized the half-orcs were beginning to retreat and ordered Hollimion and Bunduk to prepare for them to emerge from the cave.
• Allen hurled fire-oil jars into the half-orcs’ ranks, then had his soldiers clear the passage and protect the horses as flames spread through the cave.
• Fimbul’s forces descended into panic, and Fimbul fled to Orc Town with his remaining guards, leaving the gates open.

Allen’s forces routed the Half-orcs at the cavern and advanced into Orc Town, while Gandalf pursued the survivors. The Half-orcs abandoned their settlement for Moria, and Gandalf captured one survivor to question about where the others had gone.

• Allen’s fire-driven plan sent the Half-orcs fleeing from the cavern, and he led the Swadia Knights into the passage while Gandalf pursued the escaping enemies.
• Hollimion and Bunduk’s soldiers ambushed the Half-orcs outside, and Bunduk ordered the archers and infantry to kill those who resisted or tried to escape.
• Allen blocked the retreating Half-orcs inside the passage and killed the last of them, then decided to take Orc Town after realizing its gates had been left open.
• Allen, Bilbo Baggins, Grim, and their companions entered Orc Town, while Bunduk brought more than seven hundred soldiers behind them and sent the wounded to Firentis.
• Fimbul abandoned Orc Town and led his followers toward Moria; Gandalf caught several fleeing Half-orcs and demanded that the sole survivor reveal where the others had gone.

Grim led Allen and his companions to a cavern where they freed hundreds of human slaves, and Allen heard Malherb’s account of his capture and plea to return home. Malherb revealed gold in Orc Town’s iron mine, prompting Allen to promise him an escort while requiring him to swear secrecy.

• Grim sensed wounded humans in a side passage and persuaded Allen to rescue them before pursuing the Half-orcs.
• Allen’s soldiers freed hundreds of prisoners, arranged food and medical care, and prepared to escort them from Orc Town.
• Malherb told Allen that he came from Red River Town, had spent five years imprisoned, and needed to return home to protect his claim to succeed his father.
• Malherb led Allen to Orc Town’s iron mine and showed him gold in the rock.
• Allen agreed to arrange Malherb’s journey home as soon as possible, and Malherb swore to keep the gold discovery secret.

Allen secured the newly discovered mineral vein and organized the return of supplies and rescued captives before using the Simulator to learn the Sacred Qi Art and summon Marnid. The chapter ended with Marnid appearing in the Lord’s House and greeting Allen as his lord.

• Allen ordered Malherb to swear secrecy about the gold vein and assigned Furdin to survey Orc Town before its renovation.
• Allen arranged for the recovered goods to be taken to Wilderness Town, sent Bunduk to continue searching Orc Town, and entrusted Klethi and Grim with escorting the rescued people toward Old Ford.
• Allen planned to settle the rescued blacksmiths and miners near Old Ford under Ymira’s supervision, then prepare trade with Eriador by summoning Marnid.
• In the Simulator, Allen served a physician for five years, learned the Sacred Qi Art, and had Marnid learn a basic qi technique from Rolf.
• Allen abandoned his Bounty Hunter identity, gained the Sacred Qi Art’s power, and summoned Marnid, who recognized him and greeted him as his lord.

Marnid joined Allen’s government as a caravan master, and Allen arranged for Ymira to accompany him to Thorin II’s coronation while he traveled to check the Mirkwood Road project. At the road, Allen sent Malherb home under escort and saw the clearing work progressing as Alayen rode out to greet him.

• Marnid chose a government post under Ymira over establishing his own caravan, hoping to help improve trade.
• Allen invited Ymira to attend Thorin II’s coronation, and she planned how to delegate Wilderness Town’s duties during her absence.
• Allen told Gael to prepare Malherb for departure and set out for Mirkwood Road to inspect construction.
• Tyr’s three work groups cleared trees, processed timber, and made steady progress on the road, while Alayen’s soldiers cultivated nearby farmland.
• Allen assigned Hollimion and five Twilight Knights to escort Malherb home with supplies and horses, and Malherb promised to encourage trade with Wilderness Town.
• Alayen rode out from the camp to greet Allen.

Allen visited the Mirkwood Road construction camp, where he learned that Alayen and Caroline had grown close and heard reports that the work was progressing well. He spoke with Hank, who considered bringing Pine Tree Village and the other Northmen under Allen’s rule but left the possibility unspoken.

• Alayen praised the Northmen to Allen, who realized he was hoping Allen would look after them; Allen also noticed Alayen and Caroline’s embarrassment and guessed they had become romantically involved.
• Tyr and Stephen reported that the Mirkwood Road was on track to reopen in six months, grain purchases were arranged, and the Northmen were working enthusiastically without major accidents.
• Gael brought Hank to meet Allen, and Hank thanked him for employing the villagers while assessing whether Allen could be trusted with their future.
• Hank reflected that the three villages might eventually have to submit to Allen or migrate, and he considered entrusting their people to Allen while deciding to observe him longer.
• Over dinner, Hank asked whether Allen needed more workers to cultivate his lands, and Allen confirmed that he was recruiting without pressing Hank to offer the villages.

Allen traveled to Wilderness Town while continuing to consider how to win over the Northmen villages, then worked on improving the intelligence network that used birds to scout. He rewarded Klethi with a Brave’s medal and waited at Beorn’s garden for a chance to give his newborn niece Rebecca-Allen a gift.

• Allen left Gael with Hank and rode toward Wilderness Town with the remaining Twilight Knights, believing his goodwill would eventually bring the Northmen villages together with him.
• At Beorn’s garden, Klethi reported vague intelligence from birds about Great Spiders in Mirkwood, and Allen decided to direct the birds toward specific areas and use professional scouts to investigate.
• Allen noticed Klethi feared he was displeased with her work, reassured her, and gave her a Sword-and-Shield Medal naming her a Brave.
• Allen waited for Beorn so he could give his newborn niece Rebecca-Allen a mithril Longevity Lock enchanted by Thranduil.

Allen gave Beorn a magical Longevity Lock called Protection for newborn Rebecca and prepared for a journey to the Lonely Mountain to attend Thorin’s coronation. Three days later, Allen sent Marnid and Deshavi toward Eriador to scout trade opportunities before setting out with his own party.

• Allen asked Beorn whether he could manage at home while Grim traveled with him, and Beorn agreed to take care of Marian and Rebecca.
• Allen gave Beorn the magical Longevity Lock Protection for Rebecca, and Beorn recognized its life-giving magic and accepted the gift.
• Three days later, Ymira woke Allen, and Marnid and Deshavi prepared to lead mounted archers toward Eriador to scout trade and seek Old Toby.
• Allen instructed Marnid to explore Eriador, contact the Grey Havens if possible, and use his connections in Bree-town for help.
• Marnid and Deshavi departed toward the High Pass, and Allen then prepared to leave for the Lonely Mountain with his own party.

Allen traveled toward the Lonely Mountain, inspecting the successful breeding of Elves Horse foals and resting with his party in the Woodland Realm before continuing with Legolas. Near the Lonely Mountain, Frey returned from greeting arriving Dwarves with grave news, leaving Allen awaiting his report.

• Allen visited Horse-herding Village, where Tuoju showed him dozens of foals that had inherited scales from Elves Horses.
• Allen gathered a hundred cavalrymen and continued north, then accepted Thranduil’s invitation to rest in the Woodland Realm for two days.
• Thranduil arranged for Legolas and a dozen mounted Elves to accompany Allen’s party to Thorin’s coronation at the Lonely Mountain.
• Allen met merchants and Dwarves traveling toward the Lonely Mountain, and Frey identified some newcomers as Blackhair and Ironfoot Dwarves from the east.
• Frey went to welcome the arriving Dwarves, then returned to Allen with a grave expression and unwelcome news.

Allen learned that nearly ten thousand Easterlings had gathered east of the Redwater River, forcing him to prepare for a war that could threaten Wilderness Town and his allies. He dispatched orders to mobilize his forces, asked Gandalf to seek aid from other realms, and reached the Lonely Mountain for Thorin’s coronation.

• Frey warned Allen that nearly ten thousand Easterlings had camped east of the Redwater River, and Allen gave his people mead in thanks for the information.
• Allen ordered Klethi and Grim to take half the cavalry to Alayen and tell Firentis to prepare to call up every soldier.
• Allen decided Ymira would return with him soon rather than travel separately, while Gandalf agreed to warn Galadriel and seek aid from Rohan and Gondor after Thorin’s coronation.
• Allen and Gandalf persuaded Bilbo to return to the Shire, and the party traveled to Dale before continuing to the Lonely Mountain.
• Thorin welcomed Allen, Gandalf, and Bilbo as he prepared for his coronation with Dáin, Balin, Dwalin, Glóin, and Óin.

Allen warned Thorin and his advisers that more than ten thousand Easterlings had gathered near the Iron Hills and threatened the North. Thorin agreed to seek an alliance with the Woodland Elves, and Allen began explaining the danger from Mordor.

• Thorin welcomed Allen, Bilbo Baggins, and Gandalf, then agreed to discuss Allen’s troubling news with his advisers.
• Fili announced Legolas’s arrival, but Thorin postponed meeting the Elven prince until the banquet.
• Allen presented a map and warned Thorin, Dáin, and Balin that Easterlings were gathering near the Iron Hills and could threaten their kin and northern Rhovanion.
• Thorin urged an immediate attack, but Allen and Gandalf explained that the Dwarves and humans lacked the strength to defeat the Easterlings without allies.
• Allen proposed drafting an alliance agreement and approaching Thranduil, and Thorin agreed to try.
• Allen pointed toward Mordor on the map and drew two more lines.

Ashur ordered the Baltrai to attack Red River Town, while Hollimion and the Twilight Knights discovered the Easterlings’ camp and rescued Brendan. Hollimion escaped into the darkness with Brendan as Ashur sent cavalry and hunting dogs after them.

• Ashur ordered Bal and Akkad to prepare their tribes to attack Red River Town and divide the spoils with him.
• Kurda and Amish had Brendan whipped and hanged at the camp gate after Ashur ordered his execution.
• Hollimion and the six Twilight Knights followed Bal’s tracks across the Redwater River to Ashur’s camp, while Malherb rode back toward Red River Town.
• Hollimion noticed Brendan moving and sent Malherb away before attacking the guards at the camp gate.
• Hollimion cut Brendan down with an arrow, lifted him onto his Elves Horse, and escaped as Twilight Knights shot the pursuing Easterlings.
• Ashur sent a large force of cavalry and hunting dogs after Hollimion and Brendan.

Malherb planned to move Red River Town’s people to Lord Allen’s territory and asked Hollimion to help persuade his father. After Hollimion’s party destroyed their pursuers and crossed the Redwater River, Hollimion agreed to hear Malherb’s proposal.

• Hollimion slowed his party to draw the Easterling mounted archers within range, then killed them and the pursuing cavalry with his Twilight Knights.
• Malherb waited by the wooden bridge, planning to destroy it after Hollimion’s party crossed and hoping to use their success to persuade his father.
• Hollimion returned with his men and captured Rhûn Horses, crossed the bridge, and cut through its supports so the current carried it away.
• Malherb told Hollimion he intended to persuade his father to lead Red River Town’s people to settle in Lord Allen’s territory.
• Hollimion recognized the plan would strengthen Allen’s kingdom and asked Malherb how he could help.

Malherb learned that Ashur had ordered Bal and Akkad to attack Red River Town, forcing him to hurry his plan to move its people. Meanwhile, Allen secured support from Thorin and Bard for a defensive strategy, then began a Calradia simulation as a Swadian knight caught in battle.

• Malherb asked Hollimion to help him move Red River Town’s people and deal with anyone who opposed them, and Hollimion agreed.
• Brendan woke and asked Hollimion to take him in; after Hollimion accepted, Brendan revealed that Ashur had ordered Bal and Akkad to attack Red River Town with an army of one to two thousand men.
• Hollimion urged Malherb to accelerate his plans and prepared to return with him and Brendan.
• Allen persuaded Thorin to abandon a decisive battle and use a defensive strategy, while promising cavalry and horses to help the dwarves reach the Lonely Mountain.
• Bard pledged fifty professional soldiers and three hundred militia to Allen’s summons and agreed to cultivate land quickly to prepare for shortages.
• Allen opened the Simulator and found himself a Swadian knight charging Rhodoks forces in a battle near Veluca.

Allen’s Calradia simulation ended with him capturing King Graveth and earning a barony and Wincord Castle. Back in reality, Allen considered the castle’s income potential and activated management mode.

• Allen charged through the Rhodoks army, overcame Hunter, and captured King Graveth, ending the battle.
• King Harlaus promised Allen a fief, and Earl Dilinard assured him that the family would secure the best possible reward.
• A month later, Allen received the title of baron and Wincord Castle, while Earl Tredian relinquished the castle in exchange for Yaragar.
• The Simulator awarded Allen King Graveth’s sword, honor, renown, and denars, and offered him the option to manage his fief.
• Allen declined to continue the simulation, considered the potential income from Wincord Castle, and activated management mode.

Malherb persuaded Herbert to evacuate Red River Town before the Easterlings attacked, while Hollimion helped prevent word of their preparations from reaching the enemy. Several days later, Allen, Balin, and Thranduil agreed on defensive plans against the Easterlings, and Red River Town’s residents began moving toward the Mirkwood Road.

• Herbert accepted Malherb’s warning and ordered Theodore and Malherb to organize Red River Town’s evacuation.
• Malherb asked Hollimion to intercept anyone traveling east across the Redwater River, and Hollimion left to carry out the request.
• Herbert sent five messengers to warn other human settlements as Red River Town’s residents prepared to leave.
• Thranduil rejected Balin’s proposal for an offensive but agreed to send Legolas and a hundred mounted Elves to help relocate the Iron Hills Dwarves.
• Balin proposed a temporary Dwarven camp at Lake-town, while Thranduil planned to station a thousand Elven soldiers in the Mirkwood Mountains.
• Allen discussed defending the Mirkwood Road and buying supplies for the Dwarves and Northern Men as Red River Town’s boats and wagons departed along the Running River.

After Malherb uncovered a family betrayal, Herbert secretly dealt with the culprits while Red River Town evacuated ahead of the Easterlings. Bal caught Herbert’s rear guard on the river, but Herbert drew the cavalry’s attention away from the fleeing townspeople, and Akkad later arrived with reinforcements.

• Herbert praised Malherb for handling the captives and ordered him to keep the matter secret before secretly arranging for his two other sons to be sent away with broken legs.
• Bal and Akkad hurried their forces across the Redwater River and marched straight toward Red River Town, while the townspeople evacuated.
• Bal found Red River Town deserted and guessed that Brendan’s rescue had warned the residents, so he led his cavalry west in pursuit.
• Bal caught Herbert and his archers traveling in boats and threatened to torture Herbert’s family, but Herbert ordered a volley that killed Bal’s horse and then kept the cavalry occupied along the river.
• Akkad arrived with more Easterling cavalry after Bal and Herbert had spent half a day shadowing each other.