“A flame lit is easily snuffed.
But we light many flames. You cannot stamp them all out. And they are spreading”

Nearly a year has passed since the spark of Resistance was first struck. And now indeed, those fires are growing. Ilac stands, independent and defiant. The city’s walls are cracked and broken in places. Many of the mindless dead have wandered out into the wilderness of Ilac. Many of the defenders lie dead once again, a death not to be returned from. But their deaths were not in vain. The siege is lifted, the Scourge withdraw. The army to North pulls back to Sauropsida, too large a force to harry. While the army to the South attempt’s to withdraw fail, the fury of Ilac, Castann and Wasters combined fall upon them. With hatred born of years of slavery, torture and repression; the combined forces of General Cassia of the 2nd Legion, Toa Prime Attoa of Castaan and General Dust In Wind of the Waster army crush the Scourge forces to the south of the city. The bodies are piled and burned, an evening of revelry and celebration is permitted throughout the city. Come morning, the bolstering of defences and restoration of the city begins. Messengers are dispatched to the Wastes, to Castann, to Shujin, to Mirandola and more to discuss the future.
In the Duchy of Archion, Mirandola is taken by the forces of Captain Dominico and Phillipe Tavari, aided by Lady Fiorella and her Resistance fighters. The battle is not an easy one and victory is achieved through blood and sacrifice, but at the end of the fifth day the flag of the Blackcoats hangs from the walls. Dominico wastes no time in beginning to recruit soldiers to bolster his dwindling forces. Lady Fiorella sets up office in Mirandola, planning the next phase of the Resistance. Phillipe and his men are seen boarding a ship. His mission and destination known only to a select few.
Further North in the Duchy another large battle is recorded taking place. A thousand Escari march upon the Temple of the Eternal Court. The Templars step forth, their armour glowing and their weapons cutting through even the thickest of Escari armour. The Archangel Clymenia is seen raining fire and cutting through hordes of Escari herself. The battle lasts but a day. At the end, several hundred templars lie dead upon the ground. One thousand Escari are annihilated. Much of the Duchy now lies in the hands of Clymenia and her Templars.
Down in Valkyrie Point a successful rescue mission has been carried out. A small group broke into the Cathedral and fought off never before seen Scourge to free Vandria. The guardian is now the second to be found alive and helping the Resistance. Although weak to begin with, her strength returns quickly thanks to her connection to the Aeturnium Pallio. Vandria mourns the death of so many people and guardians, amongst them her husband Jotan. But the time for mourning shall come later, now is a time for strength. Vandria declares her intention to find the rest of her kind and bring them together and into the fight. She cannot do this alone but has no doubt that when she calls for aid from the Resistance, it will come.
In the rainforests of Castann, Oba Whanui and the free Castanni have a home. The mines that they have occupied for so long are left by the majority of the people, who gather their possessions and relocate to the northern fortress of Kinga Redoubt. The fortress is remote and has strong walls, allowing Whanui to keep her people safe as she plans her next move against the Scourge. The people hold a feast in honour of Maka and the others who delivered the fortress to them. Tamahine sits at the table with them, her presence brings hope and renewed life to the people.
In the Delvings, Luna’s Stand is in uprising. Scar, the vicious Escari overseer has been assassinated. But his forces are still in the area, scattered and confused for now but they will regroup sometime. The town intends to be ready. Defences are being constructed and the people reach out to the forest, to the trees and to their guardians for aid. The town has been freed for now, but can they maintain that freedom.

It is anyone’s guess as to what this year will bring. Hope? Order? Tragedy? Chaos?

“Will you stand before the flames of Freedom?
We are the ocean and the ocean does not fear fire”