Following the destruction of the right flank of the Linowan army by Cadence, and the decapitation of the expeditionary force's leader by Zen, the two met as erstwhile rivals, with the latter surrendering to the former. Innocence completed the corruption of one of the naval captains, bringing the first essence cannon armed warship into the Duke's service. Innocence and Fate met on the docks, where Innocence's little speech brought the crew captured by Fate into their service as well. The battle a complete rout, the Linowan forces retired north. Innocence had a good few days personally servicing all the sailors.
After a quick break, they returned to Rubylak to continue to push their agenda.
Seeing an opportunity, Innocence played the seditious school girl and induced several of the eighty Linowan barons into rebellion. Over the next few days and weeks, the barons would bring in their disgruntled allies and begin to build a formidable force.
In the interim, Zen returned from his PoW status and reported to the Linowan General's Staff. Playing the part of a PTSD sufferer, he spoke through Sake (aka Innocence) and convinced the city elite that a circle of three solars (possibly allied with or opposing the Great Bull of the North) was responsible for the fall and defense of Valga's Lake. Further, they had ill-intentions towards the nation of Linowan and thought poorly enough of them to release their inept servant, Lt. Wang Chung. To reward his loyalty, he was given command of another 1000 soldiers.
Working with the Duke to firm up the illusion, the party orchestrated a cadre of war ghosts to raid river towns and farms from Valga's Lake down to the border. This would result within a few weeks time of a large deployment of Rubylak soldiers (plus one of the three Realm warships) to the south.
Meanwhile, Fate was working with Baroness Vika to build a lasting tribute to her husband. The plans called for a rough chamber beneath his mausoleum. Once completed, the chamber was consecrated with the blood of its builders. Over its short lifetime, a small shadowland was created allowing for over two-hundred war ghosts to be surreptitiously smuggled into the city.
Not content to sit on his laurels, the maggot-faced Fate instructed his zombie servants to grind themselves into a putrescent powder. With Cadence, Zen and company, the military warehouse was infiltrated and the meat supply poisoned. Within a scant few days this would kick off a series of events that would lead to the downfall of the city.
As the diseased meat began to make its presence known a few days later, the Duke's war ghosts had finally caused enough trouble to elicit a military response. Sending troops from the capital itself, the Linowans sent a large contingent of soldiers south (along with one of the three Realm warships). The locks of Valga's Lake opened for them in the spirit of friendship, only to slam firmly shut behind them (though the unfortunate sailors and soldiers have yet to uncover this treachery).
Midori/Brandi/Innocence's 25 barons assembled their soldiers the south of the city, as General Arias (who had fallen under her slutty spell) dispatched military transports to fetch them. Lt. Wang Chung moved his cohorts to the same rally point. Thus, embarking the Linowan transports, the rebellious army penetrated the undefended heart of the city and made quick work of the undiseased defenders.
Following the defeat of keep's main defenders, the diseased soldiers attempted to rally, and were wiped out to a man (all 1000 of them) by Cadence standing alone before the keep's gate. To further the confusion, Fate attacked and occupied the city's gates with his force of war ghosts.
Meanwhile, Dark Side took control of the siege essence cannons that defended the harbor, and proceeded to turn the Imperial warships to ash while they were attempting to get under way. This predictably drew the attention of and started an artillery duel with Queen Arkasi's castle across the river.
With the city in chaos (yet, firmly in hand), the circle turned its attentions across the river towards the queen herself.