Having taken Evans Castle past the Grannvale/Verdane border, Sigurd is visited by his old friend Eldigan of Nordion, who pledges his support in protecting Evans from the warmongering lords of Agustria. Meanwhile, at Verdane's Genoa Castle, the errant Princess Ayra of Isaach is forced by Cimbaeth to fight under his command with her ward, Crown Prince Shannan, held hostage by him. Elsewhere at Marpha Castle, Edain is released from imprisonment by Prince Jamke, who disagrees with Verdane's actions and seeks a peaceful resolution, along with the thief Dew; Jamke returns to the Verdane capital to attempt to dissuade his father again. After killing Cimbaeth and seizing Genoa, Sigurd learns of Ayra's plight from Shannan and convinces Ayra to stand down and ally with him, despite their status as scions of mutual enemy nations.
While Sigurd's army is out in the depths of Verdane, the malicious Lord Elliot of Heirhein in Agustria seizes upon the opportunity to assault Evans behind Sigurd's back, but is stopped by Eldigan and his Cross Knights. Edain and Dew rejoin Sigurd's army, which assaults Marpha Castle and kills Prince Munnir. Inside Marpha, Sigurd rescues Deirdre from harassment by a ruffian, but she flees Marpha to return to the Spirit Forest.
At the Verdane capital, Jamke's efforts to dissuade King Batu from the conflict fall on deaf ears, such is the sway of his advisor, Sandima of the Loptrians. Jamke is forced to lead a troupe of warriors into the field to stop Sigurd, but Batu begins to question Sandima's hold on him, for which he is mortally wounded. As Sigurd's army passes through the Spirit Forest, Deirdre approaches them again, telling them of Sandima's power and her ability to stop it with a Silence staff, and she and Sigurd confess their mutual attraction. Edain talks to Jamke and convinces him to ally with Sigurd to put an end to Sandima's hold on Verdane.
Upon killing Sandima and seizing Verdane Castle, Sigurd finds a dying Batu, who with his last words warns Sigurd of the rise of the Loptr Church and its hold on his and other nations.
Chapter data
Chapter Data
Conditions
Unit Data
Victory: Seize Verdane Castle Defeat:Sigurd dies or Evans Castle is seized
• The Verdane army appears once Genoa and Marpha have been seized. • A small portion of the Spirit Forest leading to the castle becomes traversable once Genoa and Marpha have been seized.
• The Nordion army does not emerge until Heirhein has arrived; once Heirhein has been routed, they return to Nordion castle. • Enemies will not attempt to capture Nordion Castle
Authority: Commander Moves to attack if a player unit is in range of any unit under the Warrior Commander's authority; moves to Genoa castle otherwise.
Authority: ★★ Begins retreating to Genoa Castle upon reducing the number of units under his authority to 2 or less or receiving severe damage; upon reaching the castle, returns healed the next turn with reinforcements.
The Marpha army appears at the start of turn 2; additional forces appear to replace the commander and his subordinates if any of them are killed in a region northeast of where Edain and Dew appear.
• Moves to attack any player unit in range of the nearby Fighters. • Prioritizes seizing Genoa Castle once Sigurd seizes it, then prioritizes attacking Sigurd.