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South Hill City - Ten days before harvest.
As soon as they rode out from the city, Audrey, dressed in dark hooded garb, asked with a blushing face, "What's with the last decree?"
Lansius, riding a common horse and dressed similarly, chuckled. "Why, don't you like well wishes?"
"It's embarrassing," she protested as they trotted along a quiet r...
2024-01-26 21:50:45 +0000 UTC View Post
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Agatha
Like the previous year, this year's harvest season was also late, but it was slowly inching closer. The cool wind from the northwest, beyond the mountain separating Nicopola and the Great Plains of Lowlandia, began to make its presence felt. Even during midday, one could easily notice the subtle change in the air.
Instead of a relaxed atmosphere,...
2024-01-23 11:37:45 +0000 UTC View Post
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The City Council official, Sigmund, and his men returned to the market, riding their horses. Upon seeing the donkey and the empty cart, Sigmund asked Robart, "Do you have the receipt?"
Robart gently set the kids down from his arms and rummaged through his pocket to produce a small parchment with a seal on it.
Sigmund took the parchment, examining it with a sm...
2024-01-19 11:29:12 +0000 UTC View Post
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South Hill, Great Hall
The banquet halted as Servius recounted the fall of the Nicopolans. From their high table, Lansius and Audrey noted how intently the entire chamber listened, with even the castle staff and servants straining to hear.
"There was no more food in town. The baker had closed, and everyone kept a watchful eye for chimneys billowing smoke...
2024-01-16 10:25:45 +0000 UTC View Post
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As the sun leaned toward the western horizon, Lansius, Audrey, and their entourage rode towards South Hill city. Instead of heading to the castle, Lansius stopped at the gates, pulled his hood down to conceal his face, and then proceeded to walk towards the market. Audrey and half of their entourage followed, similarly disguised.
With plans for the farming villages...
2024-01-12 18:03:32 +0000 UTC View Post
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Korelia
The city buzzed with celebration, honoring Lord Lansius' official confirmation as the Baron. It was during this festive atmosphere that Sir Michael and Lady Astrid arrived, accompanied by their new household and entourage. Everyone was pleasantly surprised to learn that the newly married couple had pledged their service to House Lansius. Their arrival provi...
2024-01-09 10:28:15 +0000 UTC View Post
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The Lord of Korelia's Command Tent
The little girl whom Sigmund ushered forward was becoming the center of attention. She had her hair in a ponytail and wore a simple brown garb, marking her peasant background.
"Sigmund," Sir Harold called lightly. "This area is off-limits."
"I know," Sigmund replied. "But her ideas are quite convincing."
"Wh...
2024-01-05 09:49:18 +0000 UTC View Post
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Nicopolan Encampment, South Hill
As dawn broke over the camp, Lansius, still bleary-eyed from a night spent poring over scrolls, was roused by activities outside his tent. He had just taken his first sip of water when Audrey entered.
"Oh, you're awake," Audrey said with a smile, already clad in her stylish black brigandine.
"Did I hear someone ment...
2024-01-02 09:56:18 +0000 UTC View Post
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Several weeks before Lord Lansius' battle in South Hill, Sir Michael and the White Lake cavalry had arrived safely in Korelia. The city celebrated their victorious return from the Korimor campaign. As Korelia's leading authority, Sir Justin promptly organized a celebration to honor their allies and commemorate House Lansius' latest victory in Korimor.
After rest...
2023-12-30 06:01:26 +0000 UTC View Post
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With South Hill's Vanguard routed and their cavalry captured, the battle for South Hill was largely over. The remaining men under Lord Gunther's command, having fought in vain against much larger forces, finally offered a truce when facing near annihilation.
Servius, the column's commanding officer, accepted their truce, recognizing that further bloodshed would be ...
2023-12-26 11:20:45 +0000 UTC View Post
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Nicopolan Column
During their march to South Hill, the Lord of Korelia often spent time walking with his men on foot, claiming that riding all day was tiresome. And just as he had promised at the start of the campaign, he treated his men equally. Without any hesitation, the Lord marched alongside the Nicopolans, with Servius proudly at his side.
It was clear ...
2023-12-22 09:34:08 +0000 UTC View Post
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The sound of a girl screaming was heard as the knights and cavalry charged toward Sigmund and his men's lightly defended position. Despite firing their crossbows, many of the untested skirmishers ended up wounded, saved only by their cheval de frise, or the tight and narrow streets of the village.
"I'm fucked!" one of the men groaned, his leg appearing to ...
2023-12-19 12:18:36 +0000 UTC View Post
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South Hill Castle
The supper feast in the Great Hall was lively, especially so close to harvest season. While wheat and rye were yet to be harvested, the wild animals in the forest had fattened and the fruits in the orchards had ripened. Moreover, the barley, harvested half a season earlier, was now ready to be consumed.
The ale had been malted and fermented ...
2023-12-15 09:43:06 +0000 UTC View Post
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Two-day distance from South Hill Castle
The messenger dressed in bright clothes but covered with an inconspicuous brown traveling coat entered the tent, knelt, and reported, "My Lord, My Lady, a message from Dietrich."
"Speak," Lansius instructed.
"We rescued children and their families from rampaging guardsmen, capturing six men. None have escaped...
2023-12-12 11:06:53 +0000 UTC View Post
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Three Hills
The Lord of Three Hills treated Dame Daniella and Sterling as their guests and allowed them to stay in a guest house in the scenic part of the city. It had been almost a week, but the Lord of Three Hills still postponed their decision. The indecision was not expected, but not entirely surprising.
Fortunately, the envoy was allowed to conduct their...
2023-12-08 10:04:35 +0000 UTC View Post
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Fall of the Elven Calendar, 4425. Despite the ongoing succession crisis in Midlandia, at the behest of the Tiberia and Elandia provinces, which were struggling against Lord Gottfried's assault from Arvena, Lord Bengrieve decided to act, marching his troops to the border.
Externally, this action demonstrated Midlandia's loyalty to the Imperium. However, Bengri...
2023-12-05 10:25:58 +0000 UTC View Post
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Lansius
It was evening on the seventh day of their march. Soon, they would arrive at the closest point to Three Hills City. Since the main army was laden with the confiscated baggage train, almost everyone assumed the Lord would purchase food in Three Hills City and solve all their food problems. However, this was certainly an unrealistic hope.
"Wh...
2023-12-01 10:01:46 +0000 UTC View Post
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The Lord of Three Hills, Jorge, had summoned a war council to discuss the situation in Umberland. They had sent multiple armed parties to assess the situation. Jorge and his staff had personally little interest in the mountainous region, but now their survival depended on it.
If Umberland remained at the mercy of the Nicopolans, then thousands more armed re...
2023-11-28 11:35:50 +0000 UTC View Post
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Korimor
Who would've thought that the fearless intruder was the current Knight Champion of the Imperium? And that such a highly esteemed champion was on friendly terms with the Lord and Lady. People were abuzz with this newfound revelation, their respect for the Lord and Lady reaching an all-time high despite the order to mobilize.
Wherever the Arveni...
2023-11-24 11:17:50 +0000 UTC View Post
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Arvena Province
The land south of the Great River ripened, appearing as if a blanket of gold had been spread over the countryside. The fall of 4425 had arrived, and it should have been the merriest time of the year. However, for the Arvenians under Lord Gottfried's control, there was only preparation for war.
Men from Bellandia were among the thousands of Arve...
2023-11-21 12:35:07 +0000 UTC View Post
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Korimor
People were still celebrating the accolade ceremony when several armed men barged into the castle, quickly breaching security and clashing with the guards. The skirmish reached the courtyard. The Lord and Lady watched the scene unfold from above. They were barred from descending, as Carla had blocked the stairs, following Sir Hugo's orders.
"Twen...
2023-11-17 12:53:12 +0000 UTC View Post
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The music, the field tent, and the high position of the gatehouse shielded Lansius from witnessing the grim aftermath of yesterday's battle. He knew his staff tried hard to protect him from the unsightly procession of the Nicopolans, who were collecting and transporting their dead to be buried in mass graves just outside the fertile grounds.
However, bei...
2023-11-14 12:39:03 +0000 UTC View Post
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Lansius
After deliberation, Lord Lansius sent Hugo, Sir Michael, and Servius to broker a deal with the remnants of Sergio's followers. Aware of his still precarious situation, he solidified his position by bringing Servius' group into his fold.
Riding to the western forest with a heavily armed escort, Lansius met with the Servius' allies. It was a t...
2023-11-10 12:52:03 +0000 UTC View Post
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The Blue and Bronze and the Black Horse banners marched confidently toward the Nicopolan camp, with the nomads on their left flank and the knights riding in front.
As they marched closer, more and more Nicopolans fled to the west.
"Should we give pursue, My Lord?" asked Hugo.
"No, maintain formation. The men are exhausted, let's not over-exert...
2023-11-07 12:47:13 +0000 UTC View Post
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A trumpet sounded in the distance, blaring low notes in quick succession. Lady Audrey and her Korimor men halted their approach. They had been facing Sergio's rear guard, who outnumbered them nearly five to one.
Audrey dismounted and joined the men-at-arms on foot. "Dietrich, bring all the men-at-arms to me and reform the line," she instructed.
"Bu...
2023-11-03 13:16:50 +0000 UTC View Post
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Sergio was in deep denial upon learning that his vanguard had been pushed back. He heard sporadic reports of nomadic archers being deployed over the wall. "How strange," he pondered.
His words drew his staff's attention. Sergio continued, "If the opponent had their bowmen at the ready from the start, shouldn't they have rained arrows down from the walls?"...
2023-10-31 10:54:23 +0000 UTC View Post
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The battle had raged for an hour when the Nicopolan vanguard finally breached the Korimor wall defense. In an attack that exceeded expectations, the young Nicopolans demonstrated a fierceness and tenacity shaped by surviving numerous life-and-death conflicts that arose from recent famines. While the Korimors displayed their stubbornness, hardened from countless wars...
2023-10-27 11:12:48 +0000 UTC View Post
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Nicopolan Side
The five thousand Nicopolans marched across the farmland, trampling crops that were almost ready for harvest. Then they slowly approached the wooden wall, shields at the ready.
As anticipated, crossbowmen from both sides opened the battle by exchanging volleys. However, the Nicopolans found themselves at a disadvantage, shielded only ...
2023-10-24 10:11:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Nicopolan Side
While many were awakened from their slumber in a state of panic, Servius awoke with clarity in his mind. Through the darkness, he walked with a hammer in hand and a lantern covered with a coarse cloth.
The words from Lord Lansius echoed in his mind: "On the third day, remember to give your reply if you agree to my plan."
"How should I do it?" he had asked, to which the Lord had answered, "Set aflame a small section of the camp, and I shall see it clearly."
... 2023-10-19 12:43:36 +0000 UTC View PostUpdate: In addition to the issues with italics, I have just learned today that Patreon has stopped sending the full chapter update in emails. Instead, they allow readers to see only half the chapter before requiring them to continue reading in their app. I assure you, we have no control over this change. 🥲
I apologize for this [downgrade] and wholeheartedly disagree with Patreon's decision. I believe everyone should have the freedom to read in whatever format they fi...
2023-10-18 05:05:45 +0000 UTC View Post