Beginning of Volume I, Act I

A/N: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Volume I: The Rise of Hasounga

Act I: Crossing the Deserts

It was in front of a massive army of 280,000 that you stood atop a podium to address them, the hopeful soldiers eager to hear your speech for the upcoming campaign. Accompanying you (of course) were your bodyguards Matilda and Chloe, your Queen Olga, and the greatest strategist in the entirety of Hasounga, Griselda Lothar.

"We shall hereby conduct an invasion of Yanikara's western lands!" You declared, "In the name of our great Empire, we shall demonstrate our strength to the world and put an end to the attacks of Yanikara once and for all!"

"And our first target is the city of Emti!" Said Olga, "It is not an easy quarry to conquer, but once we have it in our hands, our control of the western half of Yanikara is all but assured! Now is the day we demonstrate the strength of our union, as one people and one nation!"

The soldiers enthusiastically raise their voices and thump their chests, before they pipe down.

"And so, we have handpicked three generals to oversee this invasion!" Said Griselda, "They are among the very best of our nation's decorated generals against the Three Lions of Yanikara, good odds for any invasion! Come forth, Briolforn Yitav!"

The Dark Elf General, Briolforn, was a massive giant of a man by most standards, and some whispered he had ogre blood in his veins. Mighty and strong and clad in thick black plate, he cut a very imposing figure with the minute scars on his skin. His white hair and brown skin, perfect contrasts, only added to the mystery of his personality.

"That's Briolforn, the Giant of Ganadonia!"

"So he's really returned to the battlefield, and as a general!"

"He's lost badly to Yanikara before, but that doesn't seem to have discouraged him! I daresay I feel more confident, knowing he knows a thing or two about fighting the Three Lions!"

With his broad axe and shield sheathed, Briolforn bows to you and Olga.

"I am ready to redeem my failure, My Emperor, My Empress," He said, voice booming and low.

You nod at him in response.

"Next, General Gabriella Haushofer!" Said Griselda.

The motherly general who lost her husband in a war with Frindia, was a woman of slender grace and dignity, akin to a Warrior-Queen who diligently guarded the lives of her own children. Armed with a long spear, it is said that to face her is to face the pinnacle of Danubia's martial might.

"And finally, the Supreme Commander of the combined three armies, General Hoteac Betzale!"

The young one-eyed Dwarf had striking red hair braided intricately with clasps of brass and gold, his lips smoking a pipe of hashish. Dressed in thick plate armour with eagle motifs and a gold-trimmed crimson cape on his back, he cut a dashing heroic figure like the legends of old. His hand rested naturally on his axe's pommel by his hip, a shield on his back.

"It's not Briolforn?"

"Hoteac's an esteemed general, he knows his stuff."

"Still, wonder how things will go from here."

Such were the whispers among the men gathered.

"Gird yourselves with steely resolve and iron hearts!" You shouted, "This day, we go to war!"

And a jubilant roar erupted on the assembly ground.

The news immediately spreads throughout Euronia and the Continental Highway in a flash, shocking the other states.

Within Frindia, arguments of worry were exchanged between officials, debating their next course of action in front of a concerned Bogdan and an uncaring King Stanislaw, who remained apathetically silent to the proceedings.

"We cannot ignore this at all!" Said Lyuba, "If they're able to conquer Yanikara, they'll have gained an important milestone in conquering the rest of the Continental Highway, and they'll have become more powerful than ever!"

"But if we did not agree to the alliance, we would not be able to concentrate on our campaign in Mazaria!" Said Treasurer Bilyana Kowacewicz, the aged woman looking extremely worried, "We're nearing the end of the campaign, and we will still need years to recover from the economic strain it has put on our coffers and on our food supply!"

"Even so, we had to give up the Fortress-city of Koszale! That's an insult I'll never live down!" Said Lyuba, "And with that, they'll have a strong location from which to launch an invasion of us!"

"Calm down," Said General Branimir Golitsyn, the young man's melodic voice a beacon of calm, "If they conquer Yanikara, they won't be able to attack us in just a few years; they'll still need to integrate conquered subjects and rebuild damaged infrastructure and troops, and that's something that will take much resources and time."

"General Brainimir is right about that," Said Bilyana, "Never underestimate how costly wars of conquest can be."

"Still, I don't think they'll stop at Yanikara," Said Lyuba, "I don't know why, I just feel that I can't put it past Emperor Xarric to do that."

"You are right, Lyuba," Said Bogdan, "But... we can only watch right now, due to our alliance with them."

Lyuba grumbles, but says nothing.

"In any case, we ought to recover our losses first and lick our wounds," Said Bogdan, "Acting against them can come later."

The large Hasoungan armies marched at a rapid pace towards the city of Emti, led by General Hoteac at the helm, running like the demons themselves were on their heels.

They were so fast, they arrived at the outskirts of Emti an entire three days ahead of their predictions, where they saw an enthusiastic garrison ready to take on the invaders who dared sully their homes.

"Here they come, men!" Shouted the garrison commander of Emti, "Let us show these heathens the true meaning of war, and bathe the soil red with their blood!"

"Huurah!"

"They're very enthusiastic, I'd say," Said Briolforn, "Can't say I blame them, though."

"Indeed, morale is a very terrible enemy," Said Hoteac, "But, we need only to conquer the city in a day, and the plan can proceed as intended."

"Aye, I'd hate to keep our comrades waiting," Said Claudia, "You sure Kalgol's going to keep its word?"

"The Shahnuba desires to gain as much profit as possible," Said Hoteac, "She'll come through for the duration of our alliance, I daresay. Anyway, who would like the first honours?"

"Let that be me, Hoteac," Said Briolforn, "I haven't forgotten the sting of loss I felt years ago, and I'm eager to avenge it."

"Then be my guest," Said Hoteac.

"With pleasure," Said Briolforn.