Allevatore_dicapre

Bound in chains yet yearning for freedom, Alpheo, a modern historian, finds himself enslaved in a land on the brink of chaos.

As the empire of Rolmia plunges into civil war following the death of the emperor ,  his three ambitious sons  vie for the throne. In the midst of this turmoil, Alpheo finds the chance to break his chain and escape, leading his companions into the ashes of war, trying to thrive in it,  selling their swords to the highest bidder  .

But beyond the borders of Rolmia, hungry eyes watch  as the empire's grip loosens. The Sultanate of Azania, ever the opportunist, sees a chance to expand its domain and influence , while to the south, neighboring principalities breathe a sigh of relief as the once-dominant giant stumbles and falters.

In the sea, the confederation of the Free Isle finds their chance to restore their old maritime power , denied to them by an empire that is now crumbling beneath  itself , lacking the strenght to stop them.

In this crucible of conflict, where dynasties crumble and empires fall, Alpheo find his call and the chance to  forge his own destiny amidst the ashes of empires.

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Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

The war room of the royal palace in Yarzat was a chamber built for for war-planning, not grandeur, as such there were no decoration except the lone presence of a royal banner atop one of the stone wall.

At the heart of the room stood a great table, its polished surface nearly hidden beneath a collection of maps, scattered notes, and wooden figures marking key positions.

One map in particular held Alpheo's attention—the most recent and detailed depiction of the borders with Herculia, the princedom that had been his enemy just last spring.

It was a product of careful scouting and precise cartography, compiled under his orders after the campaign's success, as he found out much to his dislike just how ineffective were the maps they had in previous store, something that he quickly ractified.

Around the table stood the trusted men who had fought by his side—Egil, Jarza, and Asag, commanders of the White Army, the feared Black Stripes.

Ruined plans