At the ruins of the Black Wall, once an impregnable fortress, now a testimony of imperial might, men and women labored to clear the rubble. The sight of this once great wall sparked unease in Lord Ilyrion's heart. But he clenched his teeth and urged his men to work harder. His people were depending on him.
"House Ilyrion will rise again," he whispered under his breath.
Over at the harbor, former slaves were granted their first taste of freedom, gradually learning how to interact with a world that no longer saw them as property but equals. Most found it unbelievable, their eyes wide with confusion mixed with wonder. Helping them adjust was an intricate process that demanded patience and empathy, qualities that had been scarce in Volantis for centuries.
Across the city, in places hidden from plain view, Imperial soldiers were dismantling the underground slave-trade rings and tracking down the remaining slavers who had tried to escape the Imperial Union's justice. Maximus knew that as long as the old networks of human trafficking still operated, Volantis would never truly be free. It was not just about winning battles; it was about eradicating the poison that had corroded the soul of the city for centuries.
Before heading to Slaver's Bay, Maximus had established a 3 Month plan to establish control over Volantis before his next campaign. The plan was to build more ships for the navy over the 3-month period and amass his army which he would take to conquer Slaver's Bay.
Faraday had already reported that Slaver's Bay had already gotten word of their defeat at the Battle of the Rhoyne which made them very agitated as they anticipated their victory over the savages of Heaven's Reach.
The Great Masters of Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen had convened to discuss their strategy against the recent victory of the Imperial Union in Volantis. Talks of raising more armies and bolstering fortifications filled their chambers. The crushing defeat at the Battle of Rhoyne which nobody returned from served as a grim reminder of what lay ahead should they fail to prepare adequately.
Slaves were worked harder than ever, and even more were forced to pick up the sword and fight. The cities of Mantarys, Elyria, and Tolos were invited to join the Three Cities Alliance. A few months ago, when the Three Cities army first marched off, the other three cities in the region had didn't think it was necessary to join the alliance as they thought the Three Cities Alliance would be able to take care of a few savages without any problem.
However, as news of their defeat reached them, their minds changed. The cities of Mantarys, Elyria, and Tolos convened their own meetings, whispering behind closed doors. Fear hung heavy over these cities. The fall of Volantis was only a prelude to what was to come of their own downfall should they fail to acknowledge the threat of the savages from the West.
"They're monsters," one Master uttered during a meeting in Tolos, his hand fiddling with the edge of his robe. "We've all heard the stories."
"Indeed, we have heard the stories, and if I am to beleive the stories then we can assume that this Imperial Union is trying to re-create the Valyrian Freehold." replied another Master. "But these people are not Valyrian, and I will not bow my head to them in any way."
The other Master agreed with this statement and a general consensus was reached that they would Ally themselves with the Three cities Alliance to prepare to defend themselves against the Western Savages.
Maximus, far removed from the whispers in the chambers of the Three Cities, was deep in the strategy of consolidating his rule over Volantis and its surrounding region and preparing for the next stage of his conquest.
But the news from Slaver's Bay was troubling, and his intelligence network in Essos reported that the Great Masters of Astapor, Yunkai, and Meereen were already preparing to continue their war. The defeat at the Battle of the Rhoyne, a stunning blow that had sent shockwaves throughout the region, had only hardened their resolve to defend their corrupt, entrenched system of slavery.
In the heart of Volantis, Maximus stood before a map spread across a grand table in the command center of his new headquarters which was to become the center of power for the city. The city around him was still reeling from its fall, but in his eyes, it was a canvas, waiting to be reshaped. The massive fortress of the Black Wall was just one piece of the puzzle. They had already begun the work of reconstruction and even introduced the first steps in abolishing slavery.
The Red Priests were completely eradicated alongside their slave soldiers known as the Fiery Hand, as Maximus didn't want another powerful figure to emerge from one of them. In its place, a Temple to worship Mother Rhoyne would be established. Maximus wanted to establish a new religion which would replace the widespread R'hllor religion.
The R'hllor religion would be branded a hostile religion due to its practice of sacrifices and the overall ideas of the religion. Any worshippers of R'hllor would not be outright killed, but their religion would not be protected under Imperial Law and will not be able to establish or have temples within any territory conquered or claimed by the Imperial Union.
Simply put, one could worship R'hllor in any Imperial City, but they won't be allowed to establish temples, open preach their religion's ideas, or influence others to join their faith. Religious freedom was important, but Maximus also knew the dangers of insidious ideologies worming their way into the society that he was trying to create. He needed unity, not fragmented loyalties. R'hllor's following would be allowed to persist, but in silence.
"Your Excellency, I have another matter to discuss," a voice broke through his thoughts. It was Faraday, his Master of Shadows, who entered the room with a slight bow.
"Speak, Faraday," he commanded.
"The Three Cities have begun amassing forces," Faraday said, his expression serious. "They fear the rise of the Imperial Union, and their emissaries are already en route to the cities of Mantarys, Elyria, and Tolos. They believe the destruction of Volantis is just the beginning, and they are preparing for a great war."
Maximus exhaled, the weight of the situation settling over him. "Do they think they can stop us?" he muttered, his gaze returning to the map that was laid out on the table next to him.
"They believe they can," Faraday replied, his voice low. "And they have the resources to put up a fight. Slaver's Bay is the key, and they are fortifying their positions. If we strike too soon, we risk drawing all of them into battle. But if we wait too long, the alliance will solidify, and they will become a formidable foe."
Maximus nodded slowly. "The alliance will break eventually. They are too disparate, too divided in their core interests. But they will not break easily. The longer we delay, the more they will prepare." He turned to face Faraday. "We need to act. But we must be clever about it."
Faraday raised an eyebrow, sensing an unfolding plan. "What do you propose, Your Excellency?"
"We need to send a message. Not through force, but through disruption. The Great Masters of Slaver's Bay have always relied on fear to maintain control. What if we take that fear from them? What if we cripple their trade, their power, without ever stepping foot on their shores?"
"Trade is their lifeblood," Maximus said. "The flow of goods, slaves, and wealth keeps them in power. We will disrupt their trade routes, steal their merchant ships, raid their supply lines, without ever engaging in open battle. Let them fear for their wealth and their livelihoods before we ever set sail. And while they are distracted, we will be preparing our forces."
Faraday's eyes brightened with understanding. "A campaign of disruption… hitting them where it hurts most. But then what happens when they retaliate?"
"That's exactly what we want," Maximus said with a confident smirk. "We will force their hand, make them desperate. And when they make a mistake, we will be ready to strike." Faraday nodded, seeing as how it was a sound plan which would offer the Imperial Union a lot of room to maneuver.
Back in Heaven's Reach, Legions of soldiers have already started making their march to Volantis where they would prepare for the invasion of Slaver's Bay. Each soldier knew what they were fighting for, it was the vision that their Emperor had, and they were more than willing to risk their lives for this dream to become a reality.
With these forces were the former Unsullied who have been renamed to the Dawnborn to show how these Freeman have emerged from the darkness of Slavery into the light of Freedom. The Dawnborn was made up of Freeman who voluntarily signed up to fight as an Imperial citizen after their liberation. For some, fighting was all they knew so joining the Dawnborn was the perfect place for them.