A general born to rule

The new foothold

As Marcus and Sam watched the lizardmen village, they knew the real work had only just begun. The military show of force had secured their compliance, but if the alliance with the lizardmen was to truly succeed, they would need to bring progress and prosperity to the village, transforming it into a thriving part of the Valorcrest Alliance.

The first convoys arrived within days, large trade ships carrying essential supplies—food, clothing, and construction materials—to begin the process of transforming the lizardmen’s primitive village into a more modern settlement. The lizardmen watched in awe as advanced machinery was unloaded, something beyond their understanding, but Marcus made sure to involve the elders in every discussion. Though they had been reluctant at first, the elders began to see the benefits of aligning with Valorcrest as trade opened new opportunities.

“You see,” Marcus said, standing in front of the chieftain as a convoy rolled through the village, “We’re not here to rule over you. We want to build a partnership, to make sure your people are stronger, healthier, and able to stand on their own. But for that to happen, we need your cooperation.”

The chieftain, now understanding the advantages of this new relationship, nodded. “Our people have known only one way for so long, but we see the changes you bring. It will take time, but we will learn.”

As they began to work on the village, soldiers and engineers from the Freehold Republic, Valorcrest, and their allies—including dwarves, dragonkin, dark elves, and elves—arrived to establish military bases and factories. The soldiers of the Freehold Republic were the first to establish their outposts, securing the area with the lizardmen’s help and ensuring that any outside threats were kept at bay. Alongside them, dwarven engineers got to work building factories, taking advantage of the raw materials the new landmass had to offer. It was a slow but steady process, as they dug into the earth, setting up mining operations for metals and resources that could fuel the factories and the growing settlement.

The dragonkin, proud and mighty, began constructing their own base near the mountains that bordered the village, creating a stronghold that would serve as both a defensive point and a hub for trade. Dark Elf Queen Elandra’s people, skilled in the shadows and masters of stealth, offered to help train the lizardmen in tactics of guerilla warfare, should they ever need to defend themselves. The elves from the Alliance brought their expertise in agriculture and forestry, helping to cultivate new crops and restore damaged parts of the forest.

Sam, overseeing the transformation, kept a close eye on the process. He was especially focused on ensuring that the demi-humans—who had once been slaves in this land—were given equal opportunities. Alara, Aislin, and Seraphine played a key role in this, helping the newly freed demi-humans find their place in this evolving society. They set up schools, established trade systems, and began integrating demi-humans into the workforce.

“There’s still a long way to go,” Sam said to Marcus one evening as they walked through the bustling camp that had been set up on the outskirts of the village. “But you can already see it. The lizardmen are starting to trust us. They’re starting to see that we’re not just here to take what they have.”

Marcus nodded in agreement. “That’s how you build an empire—by getting people to want to join you. The days of forcing obedience are over. If we want this alliance to last, we have to make them see the benefits of progress.”

As the lizardmen began to see the changes around them—factories producing goods, trade routes bringing in new food and materials, and military outposts offering protection from neighboring threats—there was a noticeable shift in their attitude. Slowly but surely, the traditional ways of the village began to give way to the values of the alliance. They started holding councils with the elders, discussing matters of trade, defense, and development. Marcus and Sam’s goal was to gradually introduce the concept of democracy, showing the lizardmen that they could govern themselves in a more efficient and equal way.