The royal chambers trembled with urgency.
Word of Emil's declaration had spread like wildfire.
The Crown Prince, pale but resolute, summoned his generals and advisors.
"They've thrown down the gauntlet," he said, gripping the edge of the war table. "This war will not be contained by quiet patrols or isolated skirmishes."
Maps littered with red marks — Union-controlled villages — covered the table.
"We must crush this rebellion before it spreads further. The North is lost if we allow them to organize."
Mobilizing the Loyalists
Barons and counts across the realm rallied their levies.
Knights clad in gleaming armor, mercenaries hungry for pay, and conscripts called from distant provinces poured into the Northern frontier.
Supply lines hummed with activity, and war banners fluttered ominously.
Espionage and Sabotage
The Crown Prince ordered spies and saboteurs to infiltrate the Union's workshops and propaganda offices.
Rumors whispered of arrests, assassinations, and betrayals.
But the Union's network was deep, its loyalty fierce.
Preparing for War
Meanwhile, Emil and his Council strategized.
Jorund drilled the militias relentlessly, honing their musket volleys and forest tactics.
Elna coordinated communications between the scattered Union cells.
New uniforms and banners solidified identity.
First Major Battle Approaches
On the edge of the Redwood Forest, Baron Rask marshaled his forces for a decisive strike.
He was determined to break the Union's hold before the spring thaw.
But the rebels were ready.
The stage was set.
The civil war, declared openly in newspapers and pamphlets, was about to ignite in blood and fire.