Western Vadraldia Continent, formerly united under the might of the Gothicryn Empire were now fractured and was divided into seven kingdoms; The Rhodlin Confederacy, Kingdom of Swazbia, Dukedom of Urst, Kingdom of Mords, Principality of Kaegrs, Pharassid Sultanate, and Khattar Khanate. And these seven countries were also threatened by the expanding Reginus Empire from the East.

Wars between these countries were frequent, vying for the dominance over this part of the continent. Blood spilled, both from the soldiers, nobles and the innocents amidst the chaos. Slavery and crime became rampant. Order is slowly disintegrating.

The Kingdom of Swazbia was no different. They were once the largest kingdom in Western Vadraldia. But now their southern lands fell to the Rhodlin armies, their former duchy at their north was conquered by the Mords and the western territories were being ravaged by Khattar raiders.

After the downfall of the Gothicryn Empire, Rhodlin lands were once ruled by the Swazbian Kings, until the rebellion led by Grunwaldr the Unbroken. It was A very small rebellion that turned into a massive civil war which divided the once great kingdom.

And at year 876 Vadraldia Divided, under the 56th Swazbian King, Desmond IV, a peace was signed between his kingdom and the rebels. All southern territories beyond the Tyford River will be under the new Rhodlin Kingdoms. And guaranteed that the Kingdom of Swazbia have acknowledged the right to rule of the Rhodlin Kings. Then at the same year, Grunwaldr was declared as the High King of the 10 Kingdoms of Rhodlin, forming the Rhodlin Confederacy.

Hundred years of peace between the two had passed, but the Swazbian rulers consider the existence of Rhodlin a threat to their sovereignty. It was their lifelong dream to reclaim the lands which their forefathers had lost.

And in year 1032, a large army of Swazbian riders led by Archynfeld, the 67th King of Swazbia, attacked the village of Sarimish. Every man, woman, child and elderly was put to death. This massacre acted as a spark for beginning the conflicts between the two kingdoms which would later be known as the Two Hundred Years War. But unlike the Rhodlin who have their lands protected by natural barriers such as mountains and steep hills, the Swazbian lands were open to constant raids resulting in the degradation of the trade, economy and manpower in the vast lands of the kingdom.

War continued for almost a century. The nobles and lords of Swazbia were quite supportive of invading Rhodlin lands, for profit, prestige and more lands. And they were consistently sending men and armies to the lands of Rhodlin. But the lesser nobles and peasantry have a different stance.

One of them is Baron Gregory Bauhnmont, lord of Tervynberg. His lands were on the western part of Swazbia, which was rich in farmlands and a major fishing port. But due to the wars against Rhodlin, his lands were left unguarded against the Mord raiders from the northern seas.

Tervynberg, it is one of the most largest barony in Swazbia but the prospects of its development was badly mismanaged by its lord and his predecessors and became much worse because of constant raids and plundering of pirates, slavers and bandits, becoming poor and an unprofitable land.

Baron Gregory was the son of the late Arr Bauhnmont. The central nobles don’t even consider them a part of the nobles as they were famously too poor to afford a bride’s pay with other noble families that instead he was married to the daughter of the village-town mayor of Balanli, Mylene. As thus degrading the family’s reputation even more.

But what save their reputation is his wife’s beauty and prestige that she was once a trusted handmaiden of the former Queen Regent. She was a highly sought out bride to be after her retirement due to her connections with the royal family. And Arr Bauhnmont had luck on his side as Mylene was the daughter of his town mayor.

Gregory and Mylene later had six children, Frederick the eldest child and heir, Redodgey the second son, Arlene the first daughter, Pierre the third son, Vanessa the second daughter and Peterson the youngest son and child. They had already 4 children before the current baron inherited his title from his father who died from the battle against the Rhodlin.

Frequent raids and looting destroyed the rich lands he had inherited from his father and later became a barren and inhabitable. Farms were left untended for years and fishing on the seas became far more dangerous due to the presence of pirates and slavers.

The only refuge against these raids where the fortified village-town of Balanli and Tevarin Castle. Most of the fishing villages and farms were pretty much looted, burnt to the ground and destroyed already.

“Milord, I have another letter from the marshal himself.” Kevan, one of the baron’s trusted aides delivered another call for arms. The baron have been ignoring the call of the king and the marshal of over 3 years, making excuses that he is sick and his lands were being attacked by Mord raiders. And this is the 46th letter, calling him to muster his men and join the army.

“I don’t even know what to call this kingdom anymore. Last year I called it, kingdom of buffoons. Last month I call it kingdom of idiots, last week I called it kingdom of failures… now? I may be running out of words to use in describing this kingdom…” Gregory himself didn’t even mind the letter; he is just absently drinking his ale, at the walls of his castle.

“Milord, the lette-”

“Ignore it and just send a reply that I am- *sigh… it seems I will also run out of excuses to use before this kingdom gets destroyed. Anyway just tell them that we have been recently attacked by Mord raiders and by the way, where were my sons?” Gregory asked.

“Frederick is at his training sessions with Askell, Redodgey is at the stables bathing his horse, Arlene and Vanessa were at the embroidery room with Lady Mylene. Hmmm, Pierre may be at Balanli, as I saw him with his friends riding towards the town. And Pet-”

“Winter is coming, do we have enough in our storage?” Gregory interrupted.

“We may have some shortages of vegetables, meat and most especially salt, milord. More and more people gets attack by bandits in the woods and roads. I already increased the number of patrols. Do I send a caravan to buy from the capital to get the supply we need?” Kevan asked.

In the past, salt and food were not really a problem for the barony as they have massive number of farms and several prospering fishing villages and small ports. Right now, they can’t even harvest salt safely without the danger of being attacked by raiders and bandits.

“Can’t we make do by getting it from the town instead?” Gregory knew that the prices of food right now within the kingdom are increasing due to war and last year’s famine. As thus he hoped if by buying it from Balanli’s market instead could lessen the burden of the treasury.

“No milord, the town’s market may not be able to handle our needs.” But Kevan denied the possibility of it on solving their problems, as he knew that even though the baron can use his influence to buy the food cheaply, the supply of goods in Balanli is not enough.

“When it rains, it pours huh…*sigh, very well whom do I send to the capital?”

“Lemarc can do the job better milord. He is skilled in haggling especially when buying in bulk volumes.” Kevan replied.

“Okay, give him 40 guards. The road to the capital is more dangerous than ever after most of the local levies near the capital have joined the main army.” Gregory explained.

“Yes milord. But about the king’s call of –”

“Tsk, just ignore that letter and send that I am busy in the affairs of my territory after being attacked by a scouting party of Rhodlin soldiers” Gregory interrupted.

“Yes milord.”

After that Kevan left the room, leaving him able to enjoy his ale once again.

“Ahhhh… I don’t care anymore about this kingdom. If only the Rhodlin army comes sooner, the better.” He mused. He tried to feel something on his pocket, just to know that he had not lost it.

In his pocket is a letter he received from a Rhodlin messenger three months ago. In this letter, it asks the total submission of Gregory and his lands to the sovereignty of the Confederacy once the main Rhodlin armies arrived at the capital city of Swazbia. It also tells him to send help if they ever besiege the city. In exchange Gregory will be given the lands beyond Balanli and the rank of an Earl.

But the main army of Swazbia was able to repel the Rhodlin forces just the other day at the banks of River Tyford. Thus making this deal much riskier than it is. He is already willing to submit to Rhodlin’s rule but the present circumstances were making it impossible for the Rhodlin to land a foothold on the central territories of Swazbia.

This is also one of the reasons why he refused to mobilize his levies to avoid any aggression against Rhodlin and to disallow the increase of strength for the Swazbian armies. He also manipulated his fellow barons to refuse the call of arms by the king and the marshal. He was able to persuade them using the great losses the barons had suffered because of the incompetency of the previous king five years ago at the Battle of Marshtoads.

“Well, all good things come to those who waits.” He said as he raised his cup, grinning.