[h2][b]Developer Diaries: France, 858 AD — A New Direction for Your Conquest![/b][/h2][p]We apologize for the long silence.[/p][p]Today, we’re excited to share a special announcement — [b]new chapters are in development[/b], dedicated to one of the most dramatic and vulnerable periods in French history: [b]the West Frankish Kingdom in the year 858 AD[/b].[/p][p][/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45471275/4d8a15c03d3c62dab6371fccd5ee8d73fc74061b.jpg"][/img][/p][p]At this moment, [b]the kingdom of Charles II stood on the brink of collapse[/b]. The powerful Count [b]Robert the Strong[/b], father of the future kings of West Francia (Odo and Robert I), rose in open rebellion. Most of the nobility sided with Robert, and the king was forced to flee to Burgundy, losing control over a large portion of his lands.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45471275/050e40b96a802fd4ee1e23f5980fa93b53e49fe6.jpg"][/img][/p][p][b]A temporary power vacuum, fragmentation, and internal betrayal[/b] made France incredibly fragile. It was a moment when even a relatively small army could shift the course of history.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45471275/2f35cc424a40cf4467ecdfa7d89dea626251034c.jpg"][/img][/p][p]Historically, [b]Robert the Strong was supported by Charles’s own brother[/b], [b]Louis II[/b], King of East Francia. He will become your final obstacle on the path to building a kingdom — or perhaps even an empire.[/p][p][/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45471275/0c2de03bf67e6a932cfea9ebcdc8a2734fb5e707.jpg"][/img][/p][h3]What to expect?[/h3][list][*][p]A full-scale [b]expansion into the territory of France[/b][/p][/*][*][p]Unique characters — from the cunning [b]Salomon of Brittany[/b] to the wavering [b]Robert the Strong[/b][/p][/*][*][p]A [b]legitimacy system[/b] allowing you to seize the throne and secure it for your heirs[/p][/*][*][p][b]5 brand new endings[/b] based on your choices[/p][/*][/list][p][/p][p][img src="{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45471275/d7ed4b992328ada2b65ab87a71a037dd5b586cfd.jpg"][/img][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]Thank you for staying with us — your interest, feedback, and support keep us inspired. The game is developed by just [b]two people[/b], so we’ve fallen a bit behind with developer updates — but we’ll do our best to post at least one news update every month going forward.[/p]