Despite the debt burden shouldered by its Archduke, Lanark remained a prosperous land.
The effects of the drought were challenging for agriculture, but the domain of the Archduke had never experienced a famine. This was primarily due to the diligent efforts of the knights of the First Order who held equal authority to the royal guards and meticulously implemented the edicts of Kaiser de Lanark, ensuring fair distribution of goods and the collection of taxes with utmost respect for the people. Their authority and autonomy were deeply ingrained in Emorian culture, greatly facilitating everyday life.
The emergence of a force that dared to challenge these esteemed knights was unprecedented, shattering the peaceful harmony that had prevailed until that fateful day. The citizens, filled with trepidation, trembled in their houses listening to the sounds of impending doom that echoed from the cursed depths of Lanark's Forest.
