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Chapter 12 - It Can Always Get Worse

When things seemed they couldn't get any worse for the Republic of Kidonia, neighboring human nations reported a massive horde of goblins mounted on magical wolves plundering, violating, and destroying everything in their path. As if Karl Lin Marx couldn't be more reckless, he ordered a tax increase across the entire territory and the mobilization of all men aged 15 to 30, of all races, leaving the nation in a critical situation, both in terms of resources and the patience of the population. All this to send an inexperienced expeditionary force, aiming to gain political renown at the expense of the exhausted Kidonian citizens.

As the news of the goblin invasion spread, despair gripped the cities and villages of Kidonia. Families watched their sons being drafted into what seemed more like a death sentence than a heroic mission. In taverns and markets, murmurs of indignation echoed among the citizens, who were already suffering from scarcity and now faced the prospect of an even darker future.

The government of Kidonia, under the relentless command of Karl Lin Marx, disregarded desperate pleas for moderation. Taxes, already burdensome, were increased ruthlessly to fund the military campaign. The ranks of the armies were filled not only with trained soldiers but also with peasants and artisans who barely knew how to wield a spear. Disorganization reigned in the camps, where the lack of adequate supplies and equipment was evident.

Meanwhile, the goblins advanced relentlessly. Their brutal tactics and the ferocity of their magical wolves left a trail of destruction wherever they went. Villages were set ablaze, fields were plundered, and women were taken as slaves. The helplessness of Kidonia's army only compounded as news arrived of successive defeats and massacres of entire villages.

Amidst the chaos, rumors surfaced of resistance and shadowy figures promising to liberate the people from the oppressive yoke of the government. Guerrilla groups began organizing retaliatory attacks against the goblins, leveraging their agility and knowledge of the terrain. These anonymous heroes were the only hope for those who could no longer trust the official forces that had failed them.

While politicians sought fame and glory through the sacrifice of the young and the suffering of the people, the cry for justice grew among the masses. Karl Lin Marx's words, once praised as vision and leadership, now echoed as a cruel irony. The promise of a just and prosperous republic had turned to ashes, as the goblins continued their march ever closer to Kidonia's capital.

Behind the scenes, intrigues intensified. Factions within the government vied for control, while foreign agents watched closely, ready to exploit any weakness that emerged. Kidonia's leadership was torn between ineptitude, greed, and hopelessness, while the fate of the nation hung in the balance, at the mercy of the invaders' razor-sharp claws and the shadows moving within the corridors of power.