Dungeon of Niflheim

Duke Runak and General Jared Bando left shortly after Frost and the envoys departed. One heading to the battlefield while the other back to the palace. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

Meanwhile several hundred kilometres south in the Northrend Capital of Arkheart, a report was delivered into the throne room.

Randolph Northrend the former crown prince sat upon his father's seat while his loyal confidants stood below him discussing the current political state of the Empire.

"Prince Sedrick still refuses to accept his highness' rule as do the ancient noble families that follow him." One of the Generals loyal to Randolph spoke out.

The two brothers had been fiercely fighting for legitimacy and control over the past two weeks with neither giving an inch.

While Randolph had the support of the orthodox battalions in the military, numerous government officials and even several low ranked and newly founded noble houses, Sedrick relied on the ancient families with their vast coffers and deep seated influence to fight.

Both had their advantages and disadvantages and unfortunately were quite similarly matched in strength thus neither had come out ahead since the start of the conflict.

The only ones who actually suffered were the commoners and those who tried to retain their neutrality.

The Empire was rife with crime and chaos as it was literally torn asunder by the two brothers.

"That fool just doesn't know when to give in." Another loyalist of the crown prince spoke out, seeing Prince Sedrick as nothing but a child throwing a tantrum. It was clear that Prince Randolph had won, drawing out this war was pointless.

"You should not underestimate my younger brother Tallin lest you fall victim to his schemes." Randolph warned his subordinates.

"Yes your highness." Tallin replied with a slightly reddened complexion.

"….Although we have control of the majority, Sedrick is in bed with the ancient noble families and their foundations run very, very deep." Randolph was extremely wary of this group of people ever since he was young and perhaps because of that they supported Sedrick over him.

In his mind an Emperor should have absolute power, he should not have to take into account the opinions of a subordinate family beyond simple suggestions.

These ancient families and clans however had the power to refuse a monarch and even usurp his power if they worked together. How could Randolph with his purist vision ever accept such a threat to his rule.

"We must find away to purge Northrend of their poison soon otherwise the common people will continue to suffer." Randoph put on a fake saintly expression, convincing the vast majority that his heart was truly bleeding for the common folk.

Beneath his mask however he simply couldn't abide by their insubordination. Anything that didn't follow his will needed to be destroyed.

"Wise words your highness." Another General who held no ties to these ancient families and even had a personal grudge against a few loudly praised.

"Yes I agree with General Ruman but how?" replied a middle-aged scholar.

The scholar's question resulted in an awkward silence. This was a problem that no one knew the answer too. How could they destroy an opponent of equal strength while at the same time retaining a great deal of their own?

The moment they engage in a truly bloody conflict, no matter who wins in the end both will have lost. Northrend without a powerful military was no longer a nation to fear, the wolves on the periphery would thus strike with a vengeance.

It was at this time that a shadow cloaked individual appeared next to Randolph and whispered into his ear.

"You're certain?" The crown Prince asked.

"Yes sir, it's been confirmed." The cloaked individual replied in a monotone voice that couldn't be identified as either male or female.

"Good work." Said Randolph and in the next instant the cloaked individual vanished, returning to the shadows.

"Gentlemen there's been a change." Randolph wasted no time informing his loyal subordinates that the War Ursa Battalion and the Duchy of Icethorne was under attack.

Normally such news would call for a summon of the armies with a grand march being on the horizon, but these were not normal times.

Northrend was in the middle of a civil war, strife was rampant, and the military was spread thin, they didn't have many soldiers to spare but more importantly, was Duke Runak loyal.

The friendship between the Duke and Emperor Franz was known far and wide, would such a man willingly follow his suspected killer.

Most did not think so, especially given the reports they received about Princess Avira being seen heading into the Glacial mountains.

Randolph had also come to the realisation that Avira headed North and had likely come in contact with the Duke and his War Ursa Battalion.

His forces tracked down General Anya and even came across Dartanan, but Avira wasn't among them. Tracing her last steps she was found near the Furano Viscounty, add in the unverified reports of her being sighted near Frost's territory and even the Glacial mountains external regions Randolph put two and two together.

This meant Duke Runak, the strongest solider of the Empire was most likely his enemy.

So was it necessary to send aid to such an individual?….certainly not.

"Though I feel for the War Ursa Battalion and the loyal Duke, Northrend is in no position to send its soldiers into foreign lands to defend a distant outpost." Randolph once again put on his fake mask.

"Uncle Runak is a strong solider, perhaps the strongest and because of that I'm sure he'll understand our current predicament." A soldier's duty was to fight for their nation even at the expense of their own lives, even vaunted Generals were not above this principle.

"I choose to believe in him, in the might of our nation, the War Ursa battalion shall not fall."

"To the Empire."

"Victory for the Duke."

The many men of status spoke in empty praises sounding loyal and generous but really they were just choosing to ignore Icethorne's plight, instead leaving the Duke's fate up to the heavens.

If he died then that was his fate but if he survived then they'd have justification for their decision here today.

Each and every one of Randolph's loyalists were of the same mind. The Duke was a potential enemy and therefore deserved to die.

They cared not a single iota about the deaths of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the War Ursa Battalion that would happen because of this selfish decision.

A bunch of disgusting trash that paraded themselves around as people.

While everyone was in consensus on Randolph's side, over by Sedrick's, in a recently furnished throne room everyone's expression was marred with difficulty.

The 2nd Prince had received the same intelligence report and was thus put in a difficult position.

Unlike his brother he did not see Duke Runak as an enemy.

Though he fiercely desired the throne and had done some quite underhanded things to get to where he was, he didn't kill his parents, nor had he forgotten the service which the Duke and his battalion had long provided.

If he could simply ignore such longstanding efforts and bravery then why would he be supported by the ancient families. Their entire power structure came from long standing service after all.

In a room reminiscent of the actual throne room albeit with a few key difference Sedrick addressed his supporters, hiding nothing about the most recent report.

"Duke Runak is in a perilous position, his Icethorne Duchy and the War Ursa Battalion are pinned down by the force of 5 nations who have come together as the Glacial mountains liberation alliance….the outlook even with the strength and reputation of the Duke is dismal at best."

"Oscar Runak is a loyal soldier, strong and unwavering in his decisions….he will never retreat in the face of the enemy." The head of the Stewart Duchy, a long standing family spoke out in a mixture of praise and regret.

There were many times when Duke Runak butted heads with the ancient families and even supressed them somewhat but nevertheless they still respected him.

More importantly however a great deal of their wealth came from the Glacial mountains, a substantial income that was only possible as long as the fortress of Icethorne stood tall at the gap between the inner regions and the external regions.

Protecting his position meant protecting their profits thus unlike the loyalists of Randolph many felt that they needed to send some sort of aid. Even if it wasn't soldiers then perhaps supplies.

Unfortunately Sedrick and his supporters were spread even thinner than Randolph and his ilk. Their side was inherently smaller and considered the underdog therefore the civil war truly took up their entire focus.

Thus the reason for the collection of difficult expressions.

"Has he officially called for aid?" If there was an official call then perhaps they could force Randolph to make some sort of move as well thus keeping the balance.

"No he hasn't, and I doubt he ever will." Sedrick raised his hands in defeat and shook his head. He knew his position in the Duke eyes was probably just as bad as Randolph's but even, so he didn't want to see him and the mighty bastion of Icethorne fall into enemy hands.

"My sister has probably reached him by now and given my Father's actions before his murder she probably carries a token of his will. Therefore the Duke will not trust anyone that is not beholden to Avira." Sedrick felt truly defeated in this moment.

For most of his life he had been compared to Randolph and because of that he desperately wanted to surpass him, to prove to his father and mother that he was the better choice.

He had done so much to earn the support of these ancient families just so he could officially fight for the throne.

Alas when the time truly came, when Randoph's true nature was revealed it was not him they chose but Avira. A young, spoiled girl who never thought of becoming Emperor even once throughout her sheltered life.

Such a choice nearly drove him insane but in the end he stopped clamouring for his parent's approval.

'So what if they chose her in the end. They're dead, their opinions no longer matter. '