The northern territories of Westmark had always been considerably more dangerous than the prosperous commercial regions surrounding the Royal Capital.
Beyond the fortified towns and cultivated settlements of Northgard lay vast stretches of wilderness, where dense forests, rocky valleys, and snow-covered mountains provided shelter for countless monsters.
The region's inhabitants had learned to coexist with these dangers through fortified settlements, experienced patrols, and the military presence maintained by House Hohenberg.
However, even the strongest defensive arrangements could not protect every road, village, or isolated farming community.
And recently, the situation had begun to deteriorate.
That morning, a formal delegation from Northgard arrived at Kingsford Headquarters carrying reports concerning increasing monster activity along several important commercial routes.
