Charles's forces consisted of four factions: his original followers, the Black Phoenix nobility who joined him, the New Worlders who recently surrendered, and the Ghost Fleet.
When the Mecklen Duchy was first established, over a hundred Black Phoenix nobles turned to Charles, most of them lacking loyalty. During the aggressive attacks by the New World Conference, more than sixty Black Phoenix nobles surrendered to preserve their lands and riches.
As they reclaimed territory, the surrendered Black Phoenix nobles, fearing retribution, almost entirely sided with the New Worlders. Charles thus seized the opportunity to strip these individuals of their lands and incorporate them into directly governed districts.
However, a portion of the Black Phoenix nobility, when faced with the attacks of the New World Conference army, abandoned their lands and heeded Anne's call, bringing their entire families into Black Phoenix City to fight alongside the Westwind Knighthood.
