The gruesome Battle of of Black Metal Ridge was both an ending and a beginning. For the Sovereign, it was the end of their rule over the people of the Carthagian Badlands. For the Free Peoples Collective, it was the beginning of their independence and self-governance. On that fateful day, when the sun rose above the obsidian peaks, the leaders of the Free Peoples Militia beheld the forces of the Sovereign Empire arrayed before them -- legions of infantry and artillery, columns of armored vehicles, squadrons of aerial attack ships and airships. Yet, they remained resolute; committed to attaining their shared vision of freedom, no matter the cost. The day was long but ss the sun set on that same day, the last Sovereign war banner was cast down. With the help of powerful allies, the Peoples Militia won the day. Yet, there was no victory cry, no celebration. Both sides had suffered terrible losses. The Battle of Black Metal Ridge was the closing chapter of The Uprising. Years of struggle against a seemingly invincible foe had finally come to an end. One month later, the Treaty of Restoration Point was signed, giving the people of the Carthagian Badlands the freedom they had sacrificed so much to achieve. For Polonius Neathergarden, the Battle of Black Metal Ridge was also an end and a beginning. As the sun set on the carnage and destruction of the battlefield, Polonius lay dying in the arms of his wife, Lady Penelope Genevieve Philpott-Neathergarden. His life as a Sovereign Warden, or regional governor, of the Carthagian Badlands was soon to be over. Severely wounded in the battle, there was no Sovereign medicine that could repair his injuries. Huddled amidst the smoldering wreckage of a downed Sovereign attack ship, Lady Penelope held her unconscious husband close. She knew he would not last the night. A bright flash of blue light caught her attention. Lifting her tear-streaked face, through the sooty layers of blowing smoke and ash, she saw a dark form materialize. Wreathed in tendrils of blue crackling energy, the figure approached. As the figure neared, Lady Penelope made out more details -- dark robes, black feathers, a beaked facemask. Her eyes widened in disbelief. It could only be one person -- the mysterious entity known as The SpiritWalker. #Steampunk #TheAirshipAndalusia