The news of Elder Lyraea joining the Tempest Federation sent a fresh wave of anxiety through the established alliances and a surge of furious alarm through the Black Hand. The Weaver knew that controlling knowledge was paramount, and Lyraea's influence could dismantle decades of their subtle propaganda.
The Weaver, furious at Mark's persistent successes and the growing strength of the Tempest Federation, decided it was time for a dramatic, undeniable show of force. This would be their first overt act of aggression against the entire Federation, designed to expose its weaknesses, fracture its unity, and prove that the old powers, backed by the Black Hand, still held sway. They would target the newly established trade routes and the burgeoning industrial zones of a recently joined, smaller Beastfolk kingdom, The Sunclaw Plains, known for their rich animal resources and eager adoption of etabsam's new agricultural techniques.
The plan was orchestrated by Master Theron from his Crimson Canyon stronghold, with logistical support from the Ironblood Pact (who supplied mercenaries and a distraction force), and arcane enhancement provided by Arch-Councillor Vorlag (who conjured massive, mana-enhanced monstrous beasts from the Demon Wastes).
The attack was swift and brutal. A sudden, coordinated surge of monstrous, berserk Gorgons – massive, reptilian beasts with paralyzing gazes, far larger and more aggressive than any previously encountered – descended upon the Sunclaw Plains. Simultaneously, a heavily armed mercenary army, flying the banners of a minor, rogue kingdom secretly allied with the Ironblood Pact, launched a devastating raid on the newly constructed Iron Serpent tracks and a key agricultural processing plant. Their objective was not conquest, but utter destruction and fear-mongering, aimed at crippling the Federation's infrastructure and demonstrating its vulnerability.
The Sunclaw Plains, still developing its defenses, was overwhelmed. Pleas for aid, carried by desperate Beastfolk runners, reached etabsam and the other Federation members. This was the moment of truth for the Tempest Federation. Could 21 diverse kingdoms, with different cultures and histories, truly act as one?
Mark, receiving the urgent call, immediately convened the Federation Council. The situation was dire. Some smaller, newer members wavered, fear clouding their commitment. Lord Corvus's earlier whispers, though he was long gone, echoed in their minds – was this 'progress' too dangerous?
But Prince Kaelan of the Human City-States, Princess Lyra of the Elven Dominion, Prince Zarthus of the Demon Wastes, and Lady Anya of etabsam, stood firm. They had seen Mark's vision, fought alongside him, and believed in the Federation's principles.
"This is not just an attack on the Sunclaw Plains," Mark declared to the council, his voice resolute, imbued with a steely resolve that radiated confidence. "This is an attack on the very concept of our unity, on the future we are building! The Black Hand and its puppets seek to show us that progress is impossible, that cooperation is a weakness. We must prove them wrong!"
The Federation mobilized. etabsam's newly formed Steam Legion, equipped with the latest coal-forged armaments and supported by early steam-powered supply wagons, moved with unprecedented speed under Captain Lysandra's command. The Human City-States dispatched their elite light cavalry and archers, experienced in skirmish warfare. The Elven Dominion sent their skilled forest scouts, who knew the treacherous terrain, and powerful Elven Wardens, whose mana-spells could disrupt the Gorgons' paralyzing gazes. Prince Zarthus himself led a contingent of fearsome Demon warriors, whose raw power was invaluable against the magically enhanced beasts.
It was a combined-arms operation unlike any Sugbu had seen. Mark, coordinating from the temporary command center established by Anya, utilized Ellaine's real-time mana-readings to track the Gorgons' movements and Grumble's tactical understanding of terrain to deploy the Steam Legion effectively. Alfred, acting as a crucial liaison, maintained communication between the diverse forces, his charisma easing tensions and coordinating attacks. Ben, ever the frontline guardian, personally led a detachment of etabsam's Royal Guard, focusing on neutralizing the mercenary leadership.
The battle for the Sunclaw Plains was fierce and bloody. The Gorgons were terrifying, their stony gazes turning warriors to statues, but Ellaine's counter-spells, developed through Mark's analytical approach to magic, proved unexpectedly effective at disrupting their abilities. The mercenaries, though formidable, were caught off guard by the coordinated might of diverse forces moving with unprecedented speed and cohesion.
The Tempest Federation fought as one, not just as a collection of independent kingdoms. Their combined strength, their shared technology, and their unified command, driven by Mark's vision, began to turn the tide.