The high-walled, granite fortress of Valenwood cast a dark shadow over the capital city beneath it as the sun began to set.
The kingdom of Valenwood, to the far west, was known for its harsh, mountainous terrain and its shrewd, often ruthless, political maneuvers.
Tonight, those skills would be put to the test.
Inside the grand council chamber, filled with the hushed tension of an imminent storm, Valenwood's highest lords and military strategists gathered around an obsidian table, its surface carved with intricate maps of Eldoria and Valenwood.
At the head of the table, sat King Perceus Yvander, a man known for his calculating mind and iron will.
His gaze, cold and piercing, lingered on the map before him, tracing the outline of Eldoria with a predatory focus.
Around him, his most trusted advisors, men skilled in both war and deception, awaited his signal.
With a slow nod, King Daeron turned to Lord Vlad Kane, a grizzled warrior and seasoned strategist who had long argued for an aggressive approach to dealing with Eldoria.
"Speak, Vlad. I trust you have something substantial to report on our neighbors."
Lord Vlad leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming with fervor.
"Your Majesty, our spies in Eldoria have confirmed it. The kingdom is faltering. Their resources are strained, their nobles divided, and the people... well, they're growing restless. The conditions are ripe for a... subtle intervention."
A murmur of approval swept the chamber.
Eldoria, with its rich resources and fertile lands, had always been an object of envy for the rugged kingdom of Valenwood.
But the Eldorian unity and stability under the late High King David Eldoria had made any direct confrontation a dangerous gamble.
Now, however, with Queen Adrian at the throne and the weakening of Eldoria's foundation, it presented a unique opportunity.
King Perceus raised a hand, signaling for silence.
"And how exactly do you propose we fan the flames of this unrest? If we are to involve ourselves, it must be discreet. Eldoria has a loyalist faction that would respond harshly to any open aggression."
Lord Vlad smiled thinly.
"Precisely why we're not proposing open aggression, Your Majesty. We have made connections with two key figures within Eldoria: Lord Vernon Carrington and Lord Larth Rohan. They are noblemen of significant influence, each with their own grievances against Queen Adrian. With their support, we can initiate a movement that appears entirely internal—a grassroots uprising against the crown."
The room fell silent, and King Perceus's icy gaze settled on Lord Vlad, considering his words.
"Carrington and Rohan," he mused. "I've heard rumors of their discontent. Why do they turn their backs on their queen now?"
Lord Vlad's eyes glinted with satisfaction.
"Lord Vernon Carrington is ambitious. He detests being bound by the stringent controls Adrian has imposed on military power, particularly as they impact his vast holdings in the southern regions. He believes he could achieve greater power—if Eldoria were more lenient or, better yet, restructured entirely. Lord Larth Rohan is of a different temperament. He comes from a house known for its vast money and business, and his family has long resented the way Queen Adrian's policies favor taking care of the people rather than fueling the kingdom's treasury and the pockets of the nobles. He yearns for a vast amount of wealth, and his loyalty lies more with his own ideals than with the queen."
The gathered nobles and advisors exchanged approving glances.
They understood the value of men like Carrington and Rohan—men who could be manipulated to sow chaos from within, weakening Eldoria without Valenwood having to lift a finger.
King Perceus's face broke into a rare, cold smile.
"Then we proceed. But how can we ensure the people will follow? Unrest among the nobility is one thing, but the citizens are another matter."
A younger noble, Lord Alaric Pheonix, known for his cunning nature and connections within the intelligence network, cleared his throat and leaned forward.
"The people of Eldoria are already disillusioned. The recent hardships, poor harvests, rising taxes, and tales of noble squabbles. They've all taken a toll on their trust in the throne. A few well-placed rumors, some whispers of betrayal and corruption among the Eldorian nobles, will be enough to tip the scales. We'll have the common folk believing their queen has abandoned them."
Lord Vlad nodded in agreement.
"Our agents in Eldoria have already planted seeds of discord. Stories of Queen Adrian's alleged favoritism toward certain houses, her supposed lavish spending on her court, and rumors of incompetence in handling the food shortages are circulating. If we fuel this narrative, the people will be primed for rebellion."
King Perceus leaned back, his gaze hardening as he processed the information.
"And how do Carrington and Rohan play their part in this scheme?"
Lord Vlad responded, his tone laced with calculated malice.
"Carrington has promised to use his military to submit the people if he must and use them to forward the dissenting voices among the commoners, to stir up protests in the southern regions where his influence is strongest. Meanwhile, Lord Rohan will incite unrest among the business and merchant factions, framing the queen as weak and unfit to fund and feed the kingdom. His men will spread tales of how Queen Adrian's policies are softening Eldoria and leaving it vulnerable to outside threats."
The king considered this in silence, a quiet intensity burning in his gaze.
He could see the potential for a perfect storm—a fracture in the Eldorian nobility combined with an uprising from the common folk.
And all while Valenwood's hands appeared clean.
"However," Lord Alaric continued, "it will be critical to provide 'incidents' to reinforce these rumors. A few attacks by roving bandits or mysterious fires in key Eldorian towns would only deepen the sense of abandonment among the people. We can arrange for subtle acts of sabotage along their trade routes, or disrupt vital supplies. Small but effective provocations."
A ripple of agreement coursed through the room as Alaric spoke.
King Perceus's smile grew, cold and calculating.
"Excellent. If Eldoria is to be brought low, it shall be done not by our swords, but by the seeds of discontent within their own walls. And when the time is right, Valenwood will step in as the necessary savior, not the conqueror."
The mood in the room shifted, a palpable eagerness buzzing among the gathered nobles.
They could sense the potential for expansion and dominance that lay in the queen's growing vulnerability.
"Let it be so," King Perceus decreed, his voice filled with resolve.
"Vlad, Alaric, see to it that our allies, Carrington and Rohan, know what is expected of them. Give them the resources they need. And make sure our agents keep feeding the fires of rebellion. I want Eldoria weakened from within, ripe for the taking when the time is right."
One by one, the nobles rose, bowing deeply to their king as they departed to carry out his orders.
As the council of Valenwood's most cunning and ambitious dispersed into the dimly lit corridors of the fortress, King Perceus remained seated, his gaze fixed on the map spread across the obsidian table.
His fingers traced the delicate, intricate borders of Eldoria.
This was no ordinary conquest; it would require precision, patience, and the cooperation of those ready to betray their own queen.
Once the last of his advisors had departed, leaving the king in silence, he motioned to a shadowed figure standing near the edge of the room.
It was Lyra, a mysterious spymaster known only by whispers.
She had overseen the infiltration of Eldoria and was Valenwood's bridge into the minds of those closest to the Eldorian crown.
"Lyra," Perceus began, his voice low but laced with authority, "ensure our allies understand what's at stake. Carrington and Rohan may hold grudges, but loyalty to Eldoria dies hard. We need assurance they're fully committed. I want your agents to monitor their every step. A single whisper of doubt, and I'll have them removed before they endanger our plans."
Lyra inclined her head, a cold smile flickering on her lips.
"It will be done, my lord. I have agents who report directly to me. They'll feed Carrington and Rohan exactly what they need to hear to stoke their discontent—and to keep them firmly under our control."
"Good," Perceus replied, settling back in his chair.
"And as for the Queen's allies? I have no doubt some nobles will cling to her, out of loyalty or fear."
"They will. But some of them already doubt her strength. The unrest we sow will add to their hesitation. And we have one or two within her own ranks who are susceptible to… persuasion."
Lyra's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"If we play this right, even her most trusted supporters will question her."
Perceus's gaze shifted to the golden candelabras casting their flickering light across the room.
He could almost see the future unfolding: Eldoria's citizens, outraged and defiant, calling for the Queen's head as her allies grew wary and her enemies emboldened.
All he needed was time, patience, and the right spark to ignite the fire.
"And the people of Eldoria?" he inquired.
Lyra nodded.
"Already primed for rebellion, especially in the poorer regions. With Carrington's men, Rohan's funding, and our agents' provocations, unrest will become an unavoidable force. The citizens will be the perfect distraction. They'll weaken her forces and allow us to position ourselves as 'peacemakers' when the time is right."
Satisfied, Perceus allowed himself a grim smile.
"And when Eldoria falls, her allies will beg for our protection, grateful for the stability we can provide. The nobles will realign themselves, seeing Valenwood as the rightful power. We will take Eldoria without a single open battle."
Lyra's gaze gleamed with anticipation, and she nodded.
"I will see to it personally, Your Majesty. When the people of Eldoria cry out for relief, we will be the only ones offering it."
For a moment, King Perceus sat in silence, the echoes of his plan resonating in the quiet chamber.
The kingdom of Valenwood was ready to exploit the fractures within Eldoria to its fullest advantage.
By the time the Queen even realized the depths of her betrayal, her kingdom would already be slipping through her fingers.
"Very well, then."
Daeron's voice was filled with a dark finality.
"Let the fall of Eldoria begin."