The halls of the capital, once vibrant with life and power, now echoed with unease.
King Eldric's health had slipped into frailty. The royal court whispered of his fading strength, and the realm held its breath.
But the true storm stirred in the North.
A Prince's Dilemma
In the shadowed chamber of the Crown Prince, the young heir pored over grim reports. Skirmishes near the baronial borders were no longer isolated incidents — they were a growing tide.
"They're not just rebels anymore," the Prince muttered. "They're organizing. Building… armies."
A map lay sprawled before him, dotted with red marks — the growing network of Union strongholds and supply routes. Each red mark represented a thorn in the Crown's side.
The Prince's gaze hardened.
"We must act. The Barons will bring these villages to heel."
Rising Fires in the North
The Northern Lands were aflame with unrest.
Skirmishes erupted nightly—small groups of musketeers harassing tax collectors, intercepting supply caravans, and sabotaging roads. The Union's Companies—militia units organized like military companies—were forming, complete with blacksmith workshops producing flintlocks and ammunition.
Supply lines stretched from hidden mountain forges to forest hideouts. Couriers raced through snow and mud, delivering weapons and orders.
Nobles Strike Back
Baron Rask and several allied counts banded together, amassing troops to crush the uprising.
Armored knights and mercenaries descended on villages, torching homes and slaughtering those who resisted.
But the Barons' assaults failed.
The Union's knowledge of the terrain, guerrilla tactics, and growing numbers turned each attack into a costly defeat. Villagers who had once been simple farmers now fought as hardened soldiers, wielding muskets with deadly precision.
The Prince's Frustration
In a private council, the Crown Prince confronted his advisors.
"These rebels are not peasants," he snapped. "They are soldiers. Organized, armed, disciplined."
His advisor warned of the growing Duke Hallen's influence, suspected to be secretly supporting the rebellion by controlling northern supply routes.
"We face enemies within and without," the Prince concluded grimly.
He clenched his fists.
"If we do not act decisively, the North will be lost."
A Kingdom on the Brink
Back in Dünrath, Emil received intercepted messages detailing the nobles' failures.
He gathered the Council.
"They send armies, but we hold the land. Their strength breaks against our will."
Jorund, the Union Guard commander, nodded.
"We must prepare for their next move. We need to keep growing, training, and uniting."
Emil's eyes burned with quiet fire.
"The crown fights a losing war. The revolution isn't coming—it's already here."