Blood and Belief

The Fifth Legion and Valorheim's main army clash on the Ashen Fields. Karthian priests cast golden light blessing soldiers, making them faster and stronger. Tomas becomes a mechanical killer within the formation, losing individual identity to the machine of war. The Karthians win by sheer numbers.

Following Thornhaven, Tomas receives a letter from Elsa confirming the baby's health. The Fifth Legion ambushes a Valorheim supply convoy, burning supplies and personal letters.

The Fifth Legion participates in the systematic burning of Thornhaven, a Valorheim border village. Centurion Gaius orders scorched earth tactics, destroying homes and supplies. Soldiers including Marcus and Helena commit violence against civilians. Tomas witnesses atrocities but cannot stop them.

Cardinal-General Corven is revealed as a traitor who made a dark pact with entities beyond reality. In secret meetings with a shadow demon, he reveals plans to use the war at Valtherion as a catalyst to weaken the ancient seals imprisoning the Wurm Lords.

Tomas arrives at the provincial garrison and begins military training under Centurion Gaius. He bonds with tent-mates: Lucien the carpenter, Marcus the former guard, Helena the revenge-driven volunteer, and Orin the scribe.

Tomas Grenn, a blacksmith from Greenhollow, enjoys a peaceful life with his wife Elsa and two children before receiving a conscription notice. Accompanied by Father Aldous's proclamation of a righteous war against Valorheim's blood mages, Tomas is drafted to fight.

The night before a major assault on the fortress of Valtherion, Aldric confides he knows he will die - he felt his daughter's death. The attack begins at dawn. In the brutal fighting, Aldric is killed by a Karthian officer, fulfilling his premonition.

The war's psychological toll becomes apparent. Petyr has stopped talking, hollow-eyed and empty. The squad has lost and gained members. Aldric receives devastating news - his daughter Lyssa is sick and may be dying. He attempts to desert, is caught, and receives twenty lashes instead of execution.

Sevrin announces another grand ritual requiring twelve volunteer sacrifices in exchange for six hours of invincibility. Twelve soldiers volunteer, including those with nothing left to lose. The ritual is horrifying - twelve throats cut, blood ignited, power distributed.