(Eager to kill the king and end the war for good, many adventurers went north to the Haunted Lands. There, Colonel Richter went from Caesilon's last line of defense to the Crown Army's first.)

You and your party decided for an extremely short journey to the Haunted Lands. As it turns out, it's not that far away from the capital, so you didn't even need weeks worth of supplies to get there. Even then…

Colonel Richter: Nngh…

Everyone is dead. Hundreds of the Crown Army's finest, and thousands more adventurers. The ground shows signs of intense cracking, many adventurers being crushed under or pierced by rock spikes. The last one alive is an old man, his shirt torn from several cuts and bleeding everywhere. He crawls for a healing potion on the floor next to him. He's holding the royal Caesilonian banner in one hand, he must be an enemy.

Ranger: Oh no, you don't!

The Ranger nocks and fires his bow, hitting the man's shoulder just as he's about to drink the potion. He screams… but also drops the potion into his mouth, the red elixir going down his throat. In a flash, he regains his strength, then takes the empty bottle and throws it back at the Ranger.

Colonel Richter: You're too late. Caesilon stands proud, always!

As the Ranger panics over glass lodged in his hand and the Bard heals him, Colonel Richter stomps the ground. A small pillar of dirt launches a cane into the air, which he catches.

Colonel Richter: Now…

Just as some more adventurers begin to come in, Colonel Richter bashes the cane onto the ground and you find the reason behind why there are so many random spikes — him. The Ranger dives out of the way, but another skewers him midair. A Barbarian charges in, but the Colonel reveals a blade from inside his cane and cuts the Barbarian's arm off.

Colonel Richter: Any more of you little shits wanna fight the Crown Army?!

Despite his best efforts, a lot of adventurers are just ignoring him and moving forward. Without his soldiers to fight alongside him, he can't stop them all.