The Roland War

This flow traces the imperial civil war from entrenched loyalty to the fall of Roland’s capital.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Roland Resistance

A War of Legitimacy Roland Cordelica claims the imperial throne while Selfia’s forces advance. His supporters frame the conflict as a defense of the old order against a dangerous queen. Soldiers as Believers Hoffman and Conrad fight because service gives their lives purpose. Their loyalty is emotional and social, not merely obedience to a monarch. High Table Influence The Black King supplies technology and political direction, turning Roland’s rebellion into a front in a larger plan.

Windermere Siege

The Broken Defense Selfian forces surround Windermere after orbital weapons cripple Roland logistics. Colette and Hoffman hold the defensive lines despite knowing the larger war is ending. Jack’s Offer Jack broadcasts surrender terms and promises humane treatment. His appeal exposes the difference between the imperial war doctrine and the future order he claims to represent. Colette’s Choice Colette refuses because House Light expects punishment. Jack defeats her without killing her, converting a battlefield encounter into a family crisis.

Hoffman’s Last Stand

The Final Officer Hoffman remains in Windermere after the army retreats. He chooses to defend his city even when the promotion offered to him is effectively posthumous. Armor of the King The Black King’s armor enhances Hoffman beyond safe limits. Jack recognizes that the equipment is killing him but cannot persuade him to remove it. A Death of Obedience Hoffman dies in combat, still insisting that he must obey. His death shows how loyalty can become a form of self-erasure.

Rolanda Assault

The Capital Encircled Selfian fleets surround Roland’s capital while the remaining army collapses from the Red-Eye Curse. The war’s military outcome is no longer uncertain. Roland’s Puppet Rule Roland learns that Michael created the empire to serve him. The prince’s authority is revealed as an illusion maintained by control over his soul. A Final Duel Jack fights Roland and Lancelot while demanding Jill’s location. The clash destroys the capital’s defenses and leaves the old regime morally exposed.

Aftermath of Civil War

A Defeated Empire The old imperial structure disappears after the Shutdown. Survivors must govern without mana, fleets, or the centralized military systems that sustained the war. Restored Enemies Resurrection returns people from earlier conflicts, including officers and civilians whose deaths had shaped the narrative. Former enemies suddenly share the same uncertain world. Republic and Frontier Selfia’s Republic and the New Frontier emerge from the ruins. Their relationship remains tense, but diplomacy replaces the immediate logic of extermination.

before Windermere

during Siege of Windermere

end of the Windermere campaign

during Assault on Rolanda

after Resurrection Day