Greedy Player's Guide To Rule An Empire In A (Not) Game

1. The Dawn

The sea churned beneath a sky heavy with storm clouds, as if the heavens themselves sensed the violence about to erupt. Waves crashed against the hulls of the warships, their steel bodies gleaming under the faint light of a setting sun. On the horizon, the two great navies of the world stood poised to clash.

In the distance, the New Albion's fleet cut through the water like a blade, its battleships bristling with guns and arcane weaponry. The Royal Ace, the flagship of the fleet, led the charge, its cannons aimed squarely at the enemy.

Opposite them, the Rheinmark Empire's fleet formed a line, as disciplined and unyielding as ever. Their battleships were no less formidable—dreadnoughts of steel and firepower, honed from centuries of naval warfare. The Höllenflamme took its place at the front, its massive turrets already turning to face the approaching threat.

For a moment, the two fleets drifted in silence, carried by the currents. Then, with a sound that seemed to shake the very sky, the first volley was fired.

From the Royal Acecame a roar as its guns unleashed their fury, shells hurtling through the air toward the Rheinmark ships. But these were no ordinary shells—each one crackled with arcane energy, glowing faintly as they streaked toward their targets. Moments later, they struck. A Rheinmark cruiser erupted in a shower of flame and shrapnel, its armor unable to withstand the combined force of steel and magic.

But the Rheins did not falter. Their own guns opened fire, sending a barrage of shells toward the New Albion's fleet. The sea exploded as the rounds hit, sending columns of water skyward. One of the Kingdom's destroyers was hit, but an invisible barrier prevents it from splitting in two.

"All ships, maintain formation!" the admiral of the New Albion's fleet shouted from the deck of the Royal Ace. His voice, hardened by years of command, was steady despite the chaos around him. "Prepare to engage the enemy's flagship. We must break their line."

The Kingdom's fleet surged forward, arcs of magical energy crackling between the ships as they activated their arcane shields. These barriers, invisible to the naked eye, shimmered briefly each time they deflected an incoming shell, providing a defense that no conventional technology could match.

The Rheins, however, had no such advantage. Relying solely on their steel and firepower, they fought with grim determination, trusting in their superior tactics and the indomitable will of their fleet. The Royal Ace fired, its massive guns targeting the heart of the enemy formation. A direct hit sent one of the Empire's cruisers listing to one side, smoke billowing from its deck.

"Enemy dreadnought on the starboard side!" came the cry from one of the Albion officers.

The Höllenflamme had closed the distance, and its guns were now trained on the Royal Ace. The two ships, the pride of their respective fleets, faced each other across the open sea, the tension between them palpable.

"Prepare to fire!" the admiral of the Royal Ace ordered, his eyes locked on the enemy flagship.

The Höllenflamme struck first, its guns unleashing a devastating volley. The Royal Ace shuddered under the impact, its arcane shields flaring as they struggled to absorb the blow. For a moment, it seemed as though the Kingdom's flagship might falter, but then its cannons roared to life in response.

Shells tore through the sky, slamming into the Höllenflamme with a force that sent shockwaves across the water. Fire erupted from the Rhein dreadnought's deck, but it did not fall. Both ships continued to fight, neither willing to concede defeat.

As the battle raged, the storm overhead finally broke. Rain lashed down in sheets, drenching the decks of the ships and obscuring the horizon. Lightning flashed, illuminating the battlefield in brief, terrible bursts. The sea became a maelstrom of fire, steel, and magic.