A general born to rule

fixing problems and new monsters

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the camp surrounding Valorcrest’s newly integrated Golden Orcest Empire stirred with activity. The soldiers, now mingled between both Valorcrest and the remnants of the Orcest forces, were already moving with purpose. The peace brought by the fall of Emperor Valdrak was fragile, and there was still much to be done to restore balance to the lands.

But as the sun rose higher, an urgent message arrived from a distant nation—one that had once been under the protection of the Golden Orcest Empire. A horde of undead, a threat long kept at bay by the empire’s military might, was now marching toward their borders, threatening to consume everything in its path. The fall of Valdrak’s regime had left the region vulnerable, and now the undead sought to take advantage.

Marcus and Sam stood together in the war room, the map of the surrounding territories spread out before them.

“We should’ve known something like this would happen,” Marcus muttered, his eyes scanning the reports of the undead horde’s movements. “The Golden Orcest Empire was brutal, but they kept the undead at bay. Without them, it was only a matter of time before those monsters made their move.”

Sam nodded, deep in thought. “We’ll have to mobilize quickly. We can’t let the horde overwhelm those people. If they break through, it’ll spread like wildfire.”

“I agree,” Marcus said, straightening up. “I’ll start preparing the defenses. We’ll need to reinforce the borders and move troops to key positions. This won’t be a simple battle—this will be a war of attrition. The undead don’t tire.”

“Understood,” Sam replied, already formulating a plan in his mind. “I’ll begin organizing the logistics. We’ll need to get supplies to the frontlines and make sure our forces are well-prepared.”

---

Later, after hours of planning and preparation, Sam found himself back at his quarters. The tension of the impending battle weighed heavily on his mind, but as soon as he walked into the room, the sight of Alara, Aislin, and Seraphine brought him a sense of calm. They were sitting together, talking quietly, but as soon as they saw him, their faces lit up.

“Hey, you look like you could use a break,” Aislin said with a gentle smile as she walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest.

“I think I might,” Sam replied, chuckling softly as he held her close.

Alara, sitting by the window, looked at him with concern. “Is everything alright? We heard about the undead horde.”

Sam sighed, his hand running through Aislin’s hair. “It’s serious. The undead are threatening a nation that used to rely on the Golden Orcest Empire for protection. With Valdrak gone, they’ve been left defenseless.”

Seraphine stood up and joined them, her hand resting on Sam’s arm. “But you’ll stop them, won’t you?”

“We’ll do everything we can,” Sam replied, his voice filled with determination. “We’re already building up defenses and moving troops. We won’t let the undead overwhelm us.”

Alara walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve already done so much, Sam. You’ve given these people hope.”

He smiled at her, grateful for their support. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”

The four of them stood together in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. But even in the midst of the looming threat, there was a quiet strength in their bond—a reassurance that, no matter what came next, they would face it together.