THE CRUMBLING PILLARS

Across the vast and sprawling landscapes of once mighty empires, a pervasive sense of unease has taken grip. The foundations that for centuries sustained their authority are showing undeniable signs of corrosion. Rebellions erupt in distant provinces, resentment festers among the populace, and once-loyal vassals begin to doubt the emperor's legitim

The year the year of our Lord eight hundred and forty-five AD. A chill wind blasted across the Seine River, carrying with it the scent emanating from salt and fear. The Norsemen had arrived, a ravenous swarm of warriors seeking plunder. Their longships, like serpents, sliced through the waters, their banners fluttering in the wind. A city once conf