The Rise and Fall of the Lightning Resistance

As Shamos's War pickedup steam, decent from the common folk lit a resistance movement underground. The movement has since taken several heavy blows, and it's remnants are scattered throughout the realm.

Early Days (Years 1-2)

The early Lightning Resistance was chaotic and fragmented, with no clear structure or shared goals. In the year following King Shamos's transformation, small acts of defiance began to emerge. A mechanic sabotaged airships, a messenger "lost" key documents, and officers fell victim to suspicious accidents. While these acts disrupted Linnel’s plans, they posed no significant threat on their own.

By the second year, resistance cells started forming in cities and villages. These groups operated independently, with little contact between them. Only a few managed to connect through mutual acquaintances, but this lack of coordination hindered their efforts.

Contact and Couriers (Year 3)

In the third year, the resistance gained momentum as isolated cells began communicating. Merchants, airship crew, and traveling messengers served as couriers, discreetly exchanging information. Familiar phrases whispered in taverns and repeated interactions helped these individuals recognize one another, forming a loose information network.

This network revolutionized the resistance, enabling collaboration and strategy. Couriers distributed rings as markers to identify allies, facilitating introductions in unfamiliar cities. Unified cells began forming larger groups, but ideological differences soon surfaced, dividing them into two main factions: Radicals and Rebels.

The Radicals (Years 4-5)

The Radicals pursued aggressive, violent tactics to overthrow Shamos and the nobility, regardless of collateral damage. They orchestrated bombings, garrison fires, village raids, and even open combat, often at great cost to civilians. By the fifth year, their larger numbers and bold strategies allowed them to capture airships and amass a fleet. Focused mainly on Lindin, they had limited connections beyond its borders.

The Rebels (Years 4-5)

The Rebels, though smaller in number, favored strategic sabotage over outright violence, minimizing harm to civilians. Their methods included misinformation campaigns, smuggling, and targeted assassinations. They forged alliances in distant regions like Eiri and Suna, bolstering their resources. While less destructive, the Rebels' efforts often slowed Linnel's operations, delaying supplies and undermining the kingdom’s war machine.

Operation Stormbreaker (Years 6-7)

The Conclave (Year 6)

In the sixth year, resistance leader Mattias Scourn organized a secret meeting to unite the factions. After months of planning, representatives of most cells convened to discuss a decisive strike against Linnel. However, divisions ran deep. The Radicals proposed a direct assault on Dinnel, Linnel’s floating capital, while the Rebels pushed to seize Outpost, a vital shipyard. Unable to agree, the factions parted ways.

Dinnel Assault (Year 7, Spring)

The Radicals, confident in their fleet, proceeded with their attack on Dinnel, believing it vulnerable. Unbeknownst to them, Linnel had planted false intelligence. Their fleet was ambushed en route, and most ships were destroyed or captured. A few reached the capital but were swiftly defeated.

Outpost Assault (Year 7, Spring)

Meanwhile, the Rebels planned a simultaneous attack on Outpost, aiming to cripple Linnel’s airship production. However, Dinnel’s forces appeared overhead, revealing that the capital was much closer than expected. Bombs rained down on the rebel forces, devastating their ranks and scattering survivors.

The Shattered Aftermath (Years 7-10)

Operation Stormbreaker’s failure marked the collapse of the Lightning Resistance. Many leaders were captured, hideouts abandoned, and trust in the courier network shattered. Scourn’s reliance on long-standing members led to paranoia and accusations of betrayal, grinding communication to a halt. By the tenth year, the resistance had splintered, reduced to isolated cells reminiscent of its chaotic beginnings.

Stormbreaker left the Resistance in ruins, its members scattered and its hope dimmed, setting back nearly a decade of progress.