Before the War

The powers that be in the Dragon Empire contend with disasters all the time. It's rare, however, that so many pile up at once.

Between the rising anger of the Druidic Enclave, the festering of necromantic cults, reports of the orcs rallying around a returned Orc Lord, the sudden spread of new hellholes, and internal separatists threatening to splinter the Empire's power, whispers of the encroaching end of the Thirteenth Age have never been more prevalent.

This arc was played using Kingdom.

## Story

### The Orc War

The Empire officially declared war with the increasingly hostile orc clans. The dwarves, long-time allies of the Empire, joined their war against their ancient enemies, while the declaration further rallied the clans behind the Orc Lord's cause.

The prospect of war also brought the promise of increased industrial activity, which would benefit the Empire economically.

### Cults in Glitterhaegen

The Empire placed Glitterhaegen under martial law to quell the activities of necromancer cults. While the measure seemed successful, it put an economic strain on the Empire's primary trade hub, and fomented serious civil unrest in and around the city.

Further, the Court of Stars, whom the Empire has always had a frosty relationship with, made clear their disapproval of such an authoritarian measure.

### Druidic Attacks

The Empire was deciding whether to send military aid against druidic incursions.

However, before the issue could be fully addressed, crisis broke out. The overstretched imperial military saw the orcish army storm the gates of Glitterhaegen.

### Frommler's Counterattack

Lord Frommler's Triumphant Legion came to the Empire's aid in Glitterhaegen, crushing the invasion. Frommler then took command of the 2nd imperial army and spearheaded the counterattack against the orcs, pushing them back past Anvil and establishing a new Triumphant outpost in the Dwarven Kingdom to safeguard against further incursions, and to act as a monument to the Legion's victory against the Empire's enemies.

In the aftermath, support for the Orc Lord among the clans sharply diminished.

### Newport's Secession

Newport, along with Proud Fort and Cape Thunder, seceded from the Dragon Empire, under the influence of Drakkenhall. Commander Brath, who was revealed as an agent of the Black Fang, defected from the Empire to join Newport's governing council. Lord Baconworth defected too, and would become Newport's new governor.

### Druidic Treaties

George Baconworth and Adelina Elci each negotiated separate deals with the Druidic Enclave. The druids would cease hostilities against both Newport and Santa Cora. In exchange, they would be allowed to oversee the mining operations at Proud Fort to minimise environmental disruption.

## Characters

### Player Characters

* Arvan Basorium, the Dragon Emperor -- played by Hinchy58
* Adelina Elci, the Priestess -- played by VoidDemeter
* Anoteras Katheti, the Archmage -- played by Cascaded
* General Macintosh, commander of the 2nd Imperial Army -- played by Hurage
* Lord George Baconworth, the Emperor's chief economic advisor -- played by Carsindor

### Non-player Characters

* Colonel Powers, a half-dwarf officer in the imperial army
* Captain Sanderson, a skilled tactician and negotiator, and Powers' second-in-command
* Varithas, a half-elf battlemage
* Admiral Snackbar, a (probably incompetent) naval officer
* Sergeant Macintosh, General Macintosh's brother
* General Hershey, formerly an officer in the second army, recently appointed general of the third army
* Commander Brath, an officer in the third army who deserted
* Commander Buttersworth, an officer in the third army who didn't desert
* Commander Ableton, an officer in the third army who didn't desert