The initial small victory at the Battle of Richard Plains brought joy and enthusiasm to Ryan and his army. Everyone believed that conquering Richard Castle was only a matter of time. Since the knights could defeat the undead army in open battle, defeating the undead and reclaiming Mousilon seemed inevitable if Matthew Bard's undead forces were willing to engage the knights in the field.
However, Ryan miscalculated the situation. After the initial defeat, Matthew Bard abandoned the idea of a decisive battle with Ryan. Instead, the Serpent of Mousilon dispatched numerous Blood Knights and Black Grail Knights to attack the northern chivalric army's supply lines from the rear. Ryan's established supply lines faced a series of attacks, and whenever Ryan sought a decisive battle with Matthew Bard, the latter would retreat. When Ryan attempted to attack Richard Castle, Matthew Bard would once again strike Ryan's supply lines, sending vampires to corrupt and incite the refugees to revolt.
In this mutual harassment over several days, both sides found themselves in a predicament. Matthew Bard's raiding parties suffered heavy losses, while the joint Imperial and Bretonnian forces became exhausted by the ongoing skirmishes.
Richard Castle remained unconquered, and the war appeared to have reached a stalemate. Both Ryan and Matthew Bard sought a favorable opportunity for a decisive battle.
Ryan was anxious because his greatest fear was Matthew Bard choosing to withdraw and defend within Mousilon's walls. To capture Mousilon, Ryan needed to annihilate the main force of the undead army here.
However, Matthew Bard denied Ryan the chance for a decisive battle, repeatedly attacking the supply lines, which left Ryan exasperated. His previous small victory at Richard Plains seemed meaningless. The Imperial troops were indeed brave and skilled, and the Bretonnian knights were undeniably strong, but humans could not outrun the undead.
Matthew Bard, in fact, felt even more urgency than Ryan.
Clearly, Matthew Bard could retreat to Mousilon, but doing so would lead to a loss of prestige. His rule in Mousilon was already unstable, and at this critical moment, he could not afford to retreat.
With Spire Palace lost, Matthew Bard knew Ryan's forces were currently exhausted and understaffed, resting and waiting for reinforcements and supplies. If he couldn't defeat Ryan's army here, he would face a two-front assault once Ryan recovered. Given the remaining undead forces in Mousilon, Matthew Bard was no longer capable of fighting on two fronts.
As for attacking Ryan's supply line, Matthew Bard hadn't considered it. Ryan's supply line was transported through forest paths in Charon Forest, guarded by the Charon Forest Patrol Battalion and a group of Wood Elf Rangers, the "Green Wind." Vampires were at a significant disadvantage fighting in the forest, as the Rangers could attack from beyond their sight.
Furthermore, vampires always had an ominous fear of Charon Forest, a fear that needed no further explanation.
Both sides were thus at an impasse, seeking their own solutions.
Surprisingly, Matthew Bard became increasingly gloomy and silent. He often locked himself in his tent for an entire day without any noise. Yet, whenever he emerged, his various ingenious and bold plans always astonished the other vampires. Because of this, neither army could gain a decisive advantage.
Despite this, the undead army's situation grew increasingly dire. Faced with the overwhelming firepower of the Imperial reinforcements, Richard Castle was nearly reduced to ruins. Both sides had clashed several times amidst the castle's debris.
Unknowingly, March arrived.
In the Warp, within the realm of Chaos, lies Tzeentch's Labyrinth.
Tzeentch's Crystal Labyrinth is situated atop the endless Rainbow Plateau; it appears to span all demon realms, with its alternating crystal passages of every color intersecting and intertwining in Tzeentch's domain. Through secret paths, infused with plots and lies, it connects the ever-changing realm of Chaos.
No demons reside within the Crystal Labyrinth; the illusionary corridors of the maze alone are enough to deter intruders without the strongest minds and imaginations. The glittering halls reflect not just light but also hope, pain, dreams, and nightmares. The labyrinth doesn't just reflect; it distorts, dividing intruders' goals and aspirations, turning them into madness and despair. Controlled by Tzeentch's subconscious schemes, the labyrinth constantly shifts and rearranges itself. Every path, turn, and dead end is a whim of the Changer of Ways. Those lost within will wander forever, their thoughts swaying between repeated failures and shattered dreams.
Now, the Great Master of Fate, the Architect of Change, the Bringer of Hope, the Deceiver, the Supreme Eagle, the Lord of Tricks, the Great Schemer, and the Celestial Emperor (as the Cathayans call him), the Eagle King (as the Norscans call him) sits within his Citadel of Despair. Here dwells Tzeentch, one of the Four Chaos Gods.
Tzeentch is the most peculiar of the Chaos Gods, with faces continually shifting across his skin. These faces leer and mock those daring enough to look at them. When Tzeentch speaks, these faces echo his words with subtle variations, offering deceitful interpretations to confuse the listener. His wrinkled face emerges from his formless torso, making his head and body one. Above his burning eyes dance two horns, their tips emitting mysterious flames.
Tzeentch, the Architect of Fate, the Great Schemer, revels in deceit and political machinations, preferring cunning over brute force. No plan of Tzeentch's is simple; they often contradict themselves, for he desires perpetual deception and intrigue.
In Tzeentch's view, mortal lives are deeply immersed in schemes and full of unpredictability. They live their daily lives without realizing how many flaws and contradictions reside in their souls. Tzeentch cannot resist meddling in mortal affairs, sometimes as part of the grand game against his fellow Chaos Gods, more often to satisfy his own needs, secretly manipulating, altering, and controlling. Though he disdains dirtying his hands with loud warfare, he prefers winning battles through cunning and devastating sorcery over brute strength.
Now, this god watches the mortal conflicts with great interest. The intense emotions of Black Knight Matthew Bard have piqued his interest. Over the years, the changes in Bretonnia have provided Tzeentch with ample spiritual nourishment, gradually recovering from an earlier mishap.
Tzeentch loves change. Ryan's reforms of Bretonnia have provided Tzeentch with vast energy. Tzeentch cares not whether the change is good or bad. For this Chaos God, any change offers immense emotional energy from mortals, which he can then harness.
Therefore, when a unified nation becomes strong, Tzeentch yearns to disrupt and divide it, gaining immense energy from the process. Conversely, when a divided nation is in chaos, Tzeentch will guide powerful mortals to unify it. While a united mortal realm may resist Chaos more effectively, Tzeentch doesn't care.
As long as there is change, Tzeentch gains power.
The best way to counter Tzeentch might be eternal stagnation, maintaining a constant state to deprive him of any energy. However, this would benefit his rival, Nurgle, the Father of Decay, who thrives on eternal stagnation and balance through perpetual decay and renewal. If mortals remain unchanged, Nurgle gains strength.
In short, whatever mortals do, either Tzeentch or Nurgle benefits, just as constant war or peace benefits either Khorne or Slaanesh. The existence of the Chaos Gods reflects the extremes of human emotions. As long as life exists, Chaos will never disappear.
This is why mortals need to worship gods. When they fervently call upon their gods, their emotional energy flows more towards their deities, providing less sustenance to the Chaos Gods.
While Ryan's reforms and the ensuing fervent devotion mostly directed energy to the Lady of the Lake, depriving Tzeentch of his fill, the emotional turmoil of Black Knight Matthew Bard opened a spiritual treasure trove for the Changer of Ways. He savored Matthew Bard's fluctuations of despair and hope.
Tzeentch knew his long-brewing plan was ready to unfold.
It was all Tzeentch's plot. Since a thousand years ago, one of the original twelve Grail Knights, Landuin, had fallen victim to Tzeentch's machinations. The enmity between Landuin and Serulf was another successful experiment of Tzeentch's scheming, their falling out over territorial disputes and personal matters delighting the Chaos God. Since then, Mousilon had started its descent into corruption and decay.
Tzeentch, satisfied with the vast energy from this land, manipulated its fate, orchestrating the tragedy of Mousilon.
Mad Duke Merovin and the events at Dol Tower were also his doing.
It was all Tzeentch's plot.
Now, the scheme was coming to fruition. Unbeknownst to Matthew Bard, his mind and body had been corrupted by Tzeentch. His countless ingenious ideas were gifts from the Chaos God, who subtly corrupted the Serpent of Mousilon, having his own plan in mind.
There is nothing Chaos cannot corrupt.
Tzeentch aimed to reclaim the Duke of Mousilon Landuin's crown and his lance, the Lake Light, which had accumulated centuries of energy. He also sought the relics of the original twelve Grail Knights—the twelve lances given by the Lady of the Lake.
"Karlos," the Master of Fate called to his side.
A Chaos Daemon responded softly. It appeared extremely aged, hunched and withered. Its once grand wings were now shriveled stubs, its two heads drooping. Hearing its master's call, it stepped forward.
It was the first Chaos Daemon under Tzeentch, the Weaver of Fates, Karlos.
"This task is yours," Tzeentch's voice was thick with interest and amusement. "Do not disappoint your master!"
"I will lead the most powerful Tzeentchian daemon army—the Eternal Legion—to victory!"
"I understand, master."
With Tzeentch's command, the strongest daemon army began its march from the Crystal Labyrinth. Thousands of Pink Horrors, flocks of Screamers, flame-spitting Flamers of Tzeentch, cunning and ever-changing Lords of Change, shrieking Heralds, and dozens of Burning Chariots rolled towards the mortal realm under Karlos's command.
"For the Changer of Ways!"
"For the Great Tzeentch!"
...I am the divider praising Tzeentch...
Night fell in the undead army camp, within the central tent.
The Black Knight, the Serpent of Mousilon, Matthew Bard, lay resting.
Yesterday, he had led a Black Knight force attempting to raid Ryan's supply line. But after multiple assaults on his supply line, Ryan had learned his lesson. Leading a team of Kingdom Knights and an Imperial musket regiment, he ambushed and heavily defeated Matthew Bard and his Black Knights.
Matthew Bard had been lightly injured by musket fire and was forced to retreat.
The dire situation on the battlefield left him restless. Pondering Mousilon's plight kept him awake, and he traced the bullet hole on his shoulder, knowing he would lose if this dragged on.
He couldn't lose! He sought revenge! He needed to unveil the conspiracy of the Lady!
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Matthew Bard roared, slamming his fist into the bed, breaking a sturdy board. He racked his brain for a solution.
The letter bearing Duke Theodoric's seal had been delivered to the Bretonnian camp, but the plan couldn't be enacted immediately. The real Duke Theodoric was temporarily detained at the Lady's Abbey in Bastogne. He needed to apply and gather men to come to the front line. If the plan started too soon, it would arouse the dukes' suspicions.
Thus, Matthew Bard had to hold out for some time, but he was struggling. Ryan's attacks grew fiercer, eager for a decisive battle.
What to do? He couldn't retreat, couldn't engage in a decisive battle, and time was running out. If he couldn't quickly defeat Ryan's army, he would be in a desperate situation once Ryan's knights at Spire Palace recovered.
Lost in chaotic thoughts, Matthew Bard gradually fell into a deep sleep.
In his dream, he found himself in a crystal labyrinth.
At the labyrinth's center stood an imposing, impossible fortress, hidden from those lacking the insight to find it. Pink and blue flames twisted and spewed from the twin towers and turrets at the core of the fortress. These existed for just a heartbeat, then flickered and vanished, replaced by an even more insane structure. Doors, windows, and enticing entrances yawned open like hungry mouths, only to shut abruptly, blocking all access the next moment.
"Where is this?" Matthew Bard asked, bewildered.
A two-headed bird flew down, whispering to Matthew Bard, "Mortal, you need my help!"
"Help?"
"Yes, you need me. You need the power of the Changer of Ways to help you overcome this crisis."
"No! I know what you are. I won't accept your help!" Matthew Bard immediately recognized what it was, instinctively rejecting it. "Never!"
"No, no, no, young mortal. We only wish to propose a deal. We can both get what we need. You can overcome your predicament, and we will get what we want. Once it's done, you will still be the Duke of Mousilon, and we will have no further contact," the two-headed bird whispered, full of temptation.
Matthew Bard wanted to refuse, but some part of his mind stopped him. Reflecting on his predicament and his wounds, he spoke impulsively, "I will never trust you! Never."
"But... let's hear it. What do you want?"
"We can help you... deal with Ryan Malcador !"
"And... what is the price?"
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