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The core of this tactical system is flexibility and adaptability. Unlike the fixed combat patterns of traditional armies, Grommash Hellscream emphasizes choosing the most suitable tactics based on the specific situation. Whether facing a massive swarm of Zerg or technologically advanced Templars, there are corresponding strategies to deal with them.
Integrated air-ground operations are a key feature of this tactical system. The flight capabilities of the semi-dragon warriors enable the army to conduct three-dimensional warfare, while the powerful firepower of ground troops ensures control of the battlefield. The organic combination of the two can maximize effectiveness in various battlefield environments.
The development of intelligence gathering and battlefield awareness capabilities has also been prioritized. In the complex battles that may be faced in the future, information superiority is often more important than equipment superiority. To this end, a dedicated intelligence gathering team has been established and equipped with advanced reconnaissance equipment.
The importance of a robust logistical support system cannot be overlooked. Although Elena has ample reserves, rapid and effective resupply remains a crucial factor in determining victory or defeat in actual combat. Old Howl has established a multi-layered logistical network to ensure timely support for frontline troops under any circumstances.
After several months of effort during the Faerûn period, the army brought back from the world of Atars has undergone a complete transformation. From equipment to tactical proficiency, from organizational structure to fighting spirit, every aspect has seen a qualitative improvement.
66. Training
Of course, Casalos's current focus is not on this army. To be honest, as its true form, it doesn't quite agree with its old man's oppressive, slave-like rule over his followers, and it's even less likely that it would get involved in this.
However, the demiplane where Elena is located is the bridge between the Dragon Treasury and the real world in the astral plane, and it is the window for the Dragon Treasury's RTS mode to project troops to the world of Aiur. The primary purpose of Grommash Hellscream leaving Toril was to recruit troops to start this RTS mode, and the situation is obviously very good now.
Ares is a dying world. Without change, the only fate for the creatures struggling there is to perish along with their world. Now, Howl has given them a new choice.
Whether to perish along with their hopeless world, or to migrate to a brand new, vibrant, and dangerous world to pioneer... Well, Growl didn't give his newly acquired followers any choice. He directly started a war with the three Witch Kings. If his followers refused to leave Ares with him, they would face immediate annihilation.
What's even more interesting is that the passage Old Roar created can be opened and closed at any time; its conquest of the Ares world is not yet over. Relying on the floating city of Elena, its followers can rapidly grow stronger, and then, like the astral pirates Gith Yankees, they will occasionally go to the Ares world to make a quick buck, causing trouble for the Witch Kings while also "recruiting" more "new recruits" to be sent to the front lines of El.
Casalos observed the current state of Elena's floating city through Roar's senses. Seeing that those who once struggled to survive in the desert were now well-fed and clothed, and that even under Roar's oppressive rule, their faces could not hide their satisfaction with their new life, Casalos couldn't help but click his iron beak.
"For those accustomed to the harsh environment of the Near-Death World and the Witch King's brutal rule, this is paradise," Casalos muttered to himself. "Though a bit brutal, at least Old Roar doesn't kill indiscriminately on a whim. And..."
His gaze fell on the training area of the floating city. There, a full thousand pioneers were making their final preparations. They were elites carefully selected by Old Roar from nearly ten thousand refugees, and after a long and rigorous training, the time for handover had finally come.
"Old Roar really went all out." Casalos was somewhat surprised as he checked the condition of the pioneers through the mental link.
In the almost frozen flow of time in the astral plane, Grommash Hellscream spent the equivalent of several years in the prime material plane honing these individuals. Memories of that training flooded Casalos's consciousness through the mental link—
The initial selection was extremely brutal. Old Roar made nearly ten thousand refugees who had undergone the dragon transformation ceremony kneel in the square for three days and three nights, without food, only the most basic water. The weak fell, the weak-willed collapsed, and only the truly resilient endured to the end.
"The weak have no right to go to Eldar to die!" Old Roar's roar shook the heavens and earth. "I need demons who can survive in hell, not just crying lambs!"
In the end, Old Roar personally selected a thousand people. Not the strongest, nor the most talented, but those who could remain rational under extreme conditions and support each other. Old Roar understood that in El's environment, teamwork was far more important than individual bravery.
The training began with the most basic cognitive restructuring. Grommash Hellscream locked these people, who had never left Atas, in a huge classroom—a military academy from the Netheril era, which Grommash Hellscream had brutally transformed into a brainwashing center.
"Forget everything you know!" Old Roar's first lesson was to shatter their old ideas. "Atas's experience is utterly useless in Aiur! Desert survival? What a joke! The dangers of Aiur will make you miss the gentleness of the desert!"
In the days that followed, Roar used the most direct method to educate them. It threw a live swarm larva into the classroom, watching the panicked students scramble for cover. Only after the larva easily tore through the protective suits of three people did Roar kill it with a single swipe of its paw.
"See that? These are just larvae!" Old Roar roared. "Adult insects can tear you to shreds in two seconds! And they're everywhere in Eldar!"
To help them understand the terror of the swarm, Old Howl brought a small piece of corroded material into the classroom. The putrid, twisted stench instilled an instinctive nausea and fear in everyone. Some vomited on the spot, while others became delirious.
"This is the power originating from the evil god within the insects!" Old Roar coldly watched the suffering students. "It will corrode your bodies and devour your souls! In El, this thing is everywhere!"
But the Roar wasn't just about intimidation. After destroying their sense of security, it began to systematically impart knowledge. The composition of the multiverse, the ecology of Aiur, the operating mechanisms of the safe zones… every point of knowledge was repeatedly instilled until it was deeply imprinted in everyone's minds.
"Ayr's gravity is 12% lower than Atas'. What does that mean?" Grommash would suddenly grab a student. "Wrong answer? Go play with the Zerg swarm!"
The student, pale with fright, stammered, "It...it means the transport will be easier, but...but the water flow will be slower, and the building structure will need to be recalculated..."
"Barely passing!" Old Hou tossed him back into his seat. "Remember, every little detail could cost you your life!"
Psychic training was another major component. El Al was a world where psychic powers were universal, and these familiars had their psychic potential forcibly activated by Serendella in Ares. But that wasn't enough. Casalos could ignore the omnipresent "spiritual pressure" of El Al, yet it was enough to crush the fragile will of any humanoid being with psychic perception. Howl's method for strengthening their resistance to this "pressure" was simple and brutal—directly impacting the trainees' consciousness with his dragon's might.
"Awaken, or go mad!" The ancient red dragon's terrifying majesty pressed down like a landslide and tsunami. "In Aiur, without psionic power, you are blind!"
Many people screamed in agony under this pressure; some bled from all seven orifices, some suffered mental breakdowns, and many couldn't withstand it and went insane or became mentally unstable. With each impact, everyone was forced to develop a mental barrier to resist spiritual pressure.
"Can you feel it? That power throbbing in your mind?" The old man's voice echoed in everyone's consciousness. "Grab it! Control it! This is your capital for survival in El!"
The psychological resilience training was extremely brutal. Lao Hou constructed various terrifying illusions, simulating the attacks of insect swarms. The trainees experienced countless "deaths" in these illusions, felt the fear of being corrupted and devoured, and experienced the pain of their consciousness being torn apart.
"Crying? Fear? Despair?" Old Roar coldly watched the trainees struggling in the illusion. "In Aiur, these emotions will only make the swarm devour you faster! Learn to fight back! Learn to remain rational even in the face of fear!"
Some went mad and were mercilessly eliminated by Old Roar. But the survivors became more resilient; they learned to maintain a sliver of clarity amidst extreme fear and to fight against mental erosion with their willpower.
After specializing in group work, Lao Hou's training became more systematic and in-depth. He designed unique training content for each group.
The ecological survey team was thrown into a laboratory teeming with all sorts of fungi. Old Roar collected specimens from various dimensions, including some deadly species.
"Is this an edible mushroom or a poisonous one?" Old Hou pointed to a seemingly ordinary mushroom. "The price of a wrong judgment is the entire team getting poisoned!"
The trainees observed, recorded, and analyzed with trepidation. They had to learn to judge the characteristics of fungi by details such as spore morphology, hyphal structure, and growth environment. Old Roar would deliberately mix in some magically disguised poisonous fungi to test their observation skills.
"Remember, in El, fungi are your primary food source!" the old roared, "but one wrong move, and they can become your grave!"
The geological exploration team underwent equally rigorous training. Old Roar led them to the deepest mine in the floating city, a place with complex geological structures and unstable magical fields.
"See those purple veins?" Old Roar pointed his claws at the rock wall. "Those are the marks of magic crystals, and a sign of active ley lines! Dig too deep, and the ley lines will erupt, and everyone will die!"
Trainees must learn to use various detection tools, from traditional geological hammers to magical detectors. More importantly, they must develop an intuition—where it's safe to dig and where it's forbidden.
Old Roar would deliberately create some "accidents," such as suddenly triggering a small earthquake or disrupting the magic field in a certain area. In these crises, the students learned how to quickly assess the situation and how to evacuate in an emergency.
The agricultural development team faced a unique challenge—getting people to accept fungi as a staple food. Lao Hou forced them to eat only various fungi for several months in a row, experiencing the taste and nutritional value of different varieties.
"Vomiting? Disgusted?" Old Roar sneered at the green-faced trainees. "In El, this is your food! Adapt or starve!"
But Old Hou also taught them how to improve the texture of fungi, how to make them palatable through special processing methods. There were even some magical techniques that could give fungi a meat-like taste and texture.
"Look, this is a hybrid of shiitake and blood cap mushrooms," Lao Hou demonstrated a successful example. "After three generations of selective breeding, the protein content has increased by 40%, and it even has a barbecue aroma. That's the power of knowledge!"
The training ground for the fortification construction team was a specially designated underground area. Old Roar required them to build fortifications under various extreme conditions—soft sand, hard rock, unstable strata…
"It collapsed?" Old Roar stared at a newly built tunnel that had crumbled. "Congratulations, you've just killed all your teammates! In El, engineering failure is murder!"
It personally demonstrates the correct support structure, showing how to choose the appropriate construction method under different geological conditions. Every angle and every support point has its reason.
"Remember, 47 degrees!" Old Roar marked the rock face with his claws. "This is the most stable support angle! Even a deviation of one degree could cause the entire structure to collapse!"
The site selection and planning team received the most comprehensive training. Lao Hou prepared hundreds of case studies for them, all of which were real-life examples of failed colonizations across various planes.
"Look at this, perfect location, abundant resources, easy to defend and difficult to attack." Old Hou showed an image of ruins. "Guess how they perished?" (The rest of the text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the previous sentences.)
The trainees analyzed various possibilities, and finally, Lao Hou revealed the answer: "The underground river floods seasonally, and a single flood destroyed everything. They only focused on the surface, ignoring what was underground."
Through these bloody lessons, the trainees learned to think comprehensively and to anticipate various possible dangers.
The live-fire drills were the climax of the training. Old Roar perfectly recreated the environment of El in an area of the floating city—the gloomy sky, the barren land, and the "lucky" danger.
"Survive for three months," Old Roar gave the simple order. "Establish a base, ensure survival, and then I'll give you some 'surprises.'"
The initial days were relatively peaceful, and the trainees established their base according to the training plan. But soon, Old Roar's "surprise" arrived.
First came a small-scale swarm attack. The Great Roar released some of its tamed swarms—less lethal, of course, but still enough to cause damage. Watching the trainees scramble to respond, it coldly critiqued each mistake.
"Disorganized firepower! Inadequate melee preparedness! Slow medical response!" Old Roar's roar filled everyone with shame. "With this level of skill, they wouldn't last a day in a real Eldar!"
Next came the environmental crisis. The Roar had secretly polluted the groundwater, causing large areas of the fungal farm to wither and die. Looking at the panicked trainees, it coldly announced: "Solve the problem, or starve."
This crisis made everyone truly understand what survival pressure means. They had to quickly identify the source of contamination, establish isolation measures, salvage remaining food, and develop new food sources. Every decision was a matter of life and death for everyone.
Internal conflicts also erupted under pressure. Some hoarded supplies out of fear, while others felt that resources were being distributed unfairly. Arguments, accusations, and even physical altercations occurred.
Old Roar watched coldly from the sidelines until the situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control before intervening: "Internal strife? In El, internal strife is suicide! Solve your problems, establish your rules, or annihilation awaits you!"
The most grueling test was simulating a massive Zerg swarm invasion. Grommash unleashed hundreds of Zerg, including various types—reconnaissance, armored, flying, psionic…
"This is El's daily life." Old Roar stood high above, looking down at the students fighting bloodied and battered. "Hold on, or die."
The defensive line was breached time and again, and casualties continued to rise. But the trainees did not collapse. Relying on the knowledge they had gained in training and the tacit understanding they had developed, they stabilized the line time and again. When the last insect fell, although they were covered in wounds, they had survived.
"Barely passing." Old Roar, unusually, didn't criticize. "Remember this feeling; in El, this is just the beginning."
The final task is to submit a site selection report. The trainees must use all their knowledge to evaluate twenty potential locations and select the five most suitable for establishing a colony.
"This isn't homework; this is a life-or-death decision," Old Roar warned. "Choosing the wrong place means total annihilation."
A thousand people were divided into small groups to carefully study each location. They analyzed the terrain, assessed resources, predicted risks, and planned development. Every detail was scrutinized repeatedly, and every decision was the subject of intense discussion.
When the final report was submitted, Lao Hou spent a long time reviewing it. It pointed out every oversight but also acknowledged their efforts.
"You are no longer refugees of Atas." This was Old Roar's final assessment. "You are qualified pioneers."
Old Roar's training was brutal, but it was indeed effective.
"They're ready." Serendella's call interrupted Casalos's reverie. The Crystal Dragon would accompany the settlers to Aiur as an advisor; it was part of the plan.
Casalos arrived at Elena's floating city from the Dragon's Treasury. When he descended in his true form, the entire floating city trembled.
A thousand pioneers had already assembled in the square. They wore the protective suits Old Roar had prepared for them, carried carefully selected equipment, and had firm and alert eyes.
"Your training is complete." Casalos's voice resonated in everyone's minds. "Old Roar has forged you into qualified pioneers; now it's time to head to the real battlefield."
He flapped his dragon wings, and space began to warp. A portal to El slowly took shape.
"Remember everything Old Roar taught you," Casalos continued. "In El, knowledge is life, discipline is power. You are no longer anyone's slaves, but the pioneers of a new world."
Each pioneer gripped their magical storage device tightly—containing an electronic version of the "El Pioneer's Handbook," which Old Howl had forced them to memorize countless times.
"Go." Casalos took a step back. "El is waiting for you."
A thousand people stepped into the portal in an orderly fashion, heading towards that new world full of unknowns and dangers.
They are ready; they are no longer desperate refugees, but rather sparks of civilization carrying knowledge, skills, and hope.
67. The Emergence of an Empire
The so-called spark of civilization is nothing but self-comfort. Casalos was keenly aware of his decision. The reason he went through such a complicated process—recruiting pioneers from Ares and then transforming them into qualified colonists through Grommash Hellscream's brutal training—was essentially because he was unwilling to invest the talent he had carefully cultivated in Faerûn into the extremely risky and uncertainly profitable development of Aiur.
Those thousand pioneers who had just been teleported to Aiur were less of an advance party and more of cannon fodder sent to scout ahead. Their mission was to establish a basic foothold in that dangerous world, preparing for large-scale colonization later. As for whether they could survive the threat of the Zerg swarm, Casalos, frankly, didn't hold out much hope.
After all, it was now basically certain that the Eldar dungeon was content it should only unlock after reaching adulthood, and its difficulty far exceeded its current overall strength. Each trial reminded it of this harsh reality—its adolescent body, even with the blessing of the Dragon Treasury, was still as fragile as an ant when facing the top threats of the Eldar world.
Since the Dragon Treasury is a cheat system developed specifically for dragons, then territory and followers should naturally be considered part of one's strength.
A simple fitting reveals that, based on the original growth curve of clearing the room, when Casalos reaches adulthood and activates the El Star Torch, he might be able to organize a five-figure all-legendary pioneering force to be sent to El. Such an army, coupled with a complete logistics system and magical support, would be the normal progress of the campaign.
Right now, those pioneers had better pray that the safe zone was stable enough that no defensive incidents would suddenly occur. Given the Dragon's Vault dungeon's usual pattern, such an event was almost inevitable. Of course, based on its understanding of the system, the trigger condition for such an event might only be met after defeating the second boss. Considering that it hadn't even reached the edge of the first boss yet, that timeframe was still quite far off, so it wasn't entirely just messing with the Ares people.
After multiple phases of investment, if a robust defense system can be built in Aiur, then withstanding the Zerg swarm's attack in time-limited defense events should not be a problem. Playing an RTS game like a tower defense game is a kind of traditional skill.
Casalos's personal involvement was unnecessary. The creators of the Dragon's Treasury clearly considered this an operation within the preparation phase, so the entire process was automated. With just a thought, the prepared thousand-strong force was "warped" to Aiur amidst golden light and shadow effects, beginning their pioneering journey in the new world.
As for Casalos himself, after completing all this, he naturally opened the strategic map and began yet another round of dungeon trials, nothing new. The same overwhelming swarms of insects, the same grinding spree as before, rushing headlong into the artifact's location. The new artifact brought new attribute bonuses, the new terrain required new strategies, and new development paths awaited exploration, but essentially it was all the same familiar content—the old monster hordes, the familiar elite monsters, then the newly-skinned NPCs providing temporary opportunities for interaction, followed by cutscenes with changed effects and scenes, and finally, once again, crashing into the insurmountable embrace of the Seraph—this time, it withstood a full twenty killing arrows, a significant improvement yet utterly useless.
Although this repetitive process was tedious, each session brought tangible improvements. Casalos had grown accustomed to this rhythm. After completing this round of uninspired trials, he invested his crystals and gold into the talent tree branch he had already decided on, and hastily withdrew from the trial to return to the great cause of building up Faerûn.
Compared to the seemingly unattainable conquest of El, there are many more pressing matters to attend to.
The most pressing issue was naturally Dragonspear Fortress, a stubborn holdout. This fortress, occupied by demons for centuries, stood like a thorn in the side of Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate, severing the land connection between the two cities. While sea transport had temporarily solved the problem of the flow of goods, in the long run, a unified Waterdeep Territory needed an unimpeded internal transportation network.
More importantly, the portal within Dragonspear Fortress leading to the Hells of Breton is itself a significant threat. No one knows when the demons of Hell will launch a massive invasion of the Material Plane through this portal. Rather than waiting for the crisis to erupt, it's better to take proactive measures and eliminate this threat once and for all.
Of course, none of this is actually a problem. With Casalos's current power, when it decides to resolve this issue, the Gate of Hell, which has plagued the continent of Faerûn for centuries, will inevitably become "further reading" in history textbooks.
Since taking over the Sword Coast city-states of Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate during the turbulent years, Casalos, through switching identities and working from within and without, has effectively cleared away all external obstacles hindering the development of Waterdeep. Post-disaster reconstruction, repelling powerful enemies, eliminating threats, deterring troublemakers, delaying or even subverting the future development of surrounding hostile forces through proxies or other means, and establishing good and stable diplomatic relations with neighboring friendly forces—at this point, only internal conflicts remain, requiring time to adjust, sort out, integrate, and evolve. The nascent dragon-ruled empire, centered on Waterdeep, has officially stepped onto the grand stage of Faerûn and even Toril.
In the long history of Faerûn, no power has ever transformed from ruins into an empire in such a short time. Just a few years after the catastrophe that swept across the entire continent during the turbulent years, Deepwater Territory has become the undisputed hegemon of the North, and its influence has even begun to radiate to the southern kingdoms.
Casalos, the creator of all this, was now perched in his usual pose atop the deep-water mountain's dragon lair, overlooking the ever-changing city below. The young iron dragon's body was already approaching the size of a mature dragon, its silvery-white scales reflecting a cold, metallic luster in the morning light. In its indigo vertical pupils, there was both satisfaction with past achievements and, more importantly, a scrutiny of future challenges.
The reconstruction of Waterdeep is long complete. On the ruins once ravaged by the tsunami, stands a modern metropolis blending the characteristics of multiple civilizations. Standardized steel-framed buildings have replaced the previously chaotic wooden and stone structures. The wide, straight Dragon Avenue and Casaloz Road crisscross the city, dividing it into clearly defined functional zones. The port's throughput has more than tripled compared to its pre-disaster peak. Merchant ships from Carinthia and cargo ships from Lantan Island line the docks, waiting to load and unload the goods that sustain the Northland's economy.
The situation at Baldur's Gate is equally encouraging. Thanks to the combined efforts of the dragon legions and the grey dwarf construction teams, this ancient city, once ravaged by Baal and ravaged by plague, has been reborn. While the reconstruction isn't as rapid as that of Waterdeep, the steady and methodical development strategy has strengthened the city's foundation. Especially after successfully purifying the negative energy pollution left behind by the demigod lich, Baldur's Gate's population has begun to steadily recover. Those who fled are returning, and new immigrants are attracted by the relatively lenient policies.
The increasingly busy sea routes are not the only link between the two cities. In Casalozé's plans, a major land transportation artery running through the entire Sword Bay coast is gradually taking shape. This connection is not limited to the economic level; the integration of the two cities in various fields such as politics, military, and culture is accelerating.
The resurgence of the Aetherian race is another achievement to be proud of. At Casalos's call, the Aetherian dragons, previously scattered and independent, reunited. Deepwater Territory and Damara became their two major strongholds on the continent of Faerûn, providing this ancient and noble race with a safe haven and space for development. The submission of Vicaritura, the ancient chromium dragon, was particularly significant; it not only brought him followers but, more importantly, its actions themselves served as the strongest endorsement of Casalos's leadership.
The internal governance system of Dragonlands has become increasingly sophisticated. From its initial ruthless and brutal rule to its current complex and sophisticated diversified management model, this transformation reflects Casalos's maturity as a ruler. It skillfully balances the interests of different races and social classes, allowing kobolds, goblins, grey dwarves, humans, and other groups to find their place within the system. The results of educational reforms are particularly remarkable; the first batch of commoner children to receive modern education have begun to excel in various fields, and their sense of belonging to Dragonlands far surpasses that of their parents, laying the most solid foundation for the long-term development of Deepwater Territory.
The Astral Expansion was also progressing smoothly. Tunaras, the colossal astral city originally belonging to the Githyanki, was now completely under Casalos's control. By supporting resistance forces like Valeris, it successfully undermined the rule of the Lich Queen Vyrakis from within. Even better, this transformation was presented as a choice made by the Githyanki themselves, rather than a conquest by an external force, greatly reducing resistance to subsequent governance. The establishment of the Astral Forward Base not only provided the Dragonlands with an important extradimensional stronghold, but more importantly, it opened the door to other planes.
While its presence on the Tindor Plains was relatively low-key, its strategic significance was no less than that of other regions. Through supporting local tribes, stationing dragon-like creatures, and disseminating advanced production technologies, Casalos subtly brought this vast plains under its control. On the surface, it maintained its status as the "Red Dragon" lord, but in reality, the entire region's development was entirely in its hands.
Charson's intelligence network has infiltrated every corner of Faerûn. This once ambitious drow dragon has now become a weapon in Casalos's hands. Through the bondage of a blood oath and a well-timed combination of kindness and severity, Charson has not only abandoned all thoughts of resistance but has even begun to genuinely serve its new master. The intelligence network it has built has provided Casalos with countless valuable pieces of information, allowing Deepwater Territory to be fully prepared for various unforeseen events.
The diplomatic achievements were equally remarkable. The strategic partnership established with Silvermoon City opened the gates of Deepwater to the entire Northlands. Although the elves' inherent arrogance remained, these could be temporarily set aside in the face of shared interests. While the Northern Railway project was still in the planning stages, the very concept had already generated a tremendous response throughout Faerûn. Merchants, scholars, and adventurers from all over flocked to Deepwater City, hoping to gain a share of this epoch-making project.
Relations with the Metal Dragonflight are also steadily improving. Through his adventures in the ruins of Mysdrano, his participation in the Abyss Expedition against the Garros Dragon Nightmare, and his display of righteousness on various occasions, Casalos has successfully won the favor of many Metal Dragonflight. In particular, the support of "Soft Wing" Vera Marandes not only cleared a major obstacle for the Northern Railroad project but also provided Deepwater Territory with a reliable ally in the face of the Chromatic Dragon threat.
Although the reforms in Candlehold are progressing slowly, the seeds have been sown. Mireem, the ghostly silver dragon imprisoned for eight hundred years, sees hope for regaining her freedom with the help of Casalos. Guided by her in dreams, a new generation of Candlehold scholars begins to encounter and accept new ideas for the dissemination of knowledge. While it will take a long time to completely transform the way this ancient institution operates, at least the first step has been taken.
The development of military power has never ceased. In addition to the ever-expanding half-dragon legions and dragon vein troops, Casalos is actively absorbing new military talent and technologies. Guerrilla tactics learned from Amn mercenaries, engineering techniques acquired from dwarves, and magical applications borrowed from elves—these military essences from different civilizations have been organically integrated to form the unique military system of Deepwater. More importantly, through the testing of actual combat and continuous improvement, this army has become one of the most powerful armed forces in the entire Northlands.
The achievements in economic development are also evident. By introducing modern production management concepts, promoting standardized industrial production, and establishing a sound financial system, Deepwater Territory's economic output has multiplied several times in just a few years. Deepwater City, which once barely survived on the support of adventurers, has now become the economic center of northern Faerûn. Numerous job opportunities attract people from all over, while a comprehensive social security system ensures that these new immigrants can quickly integrate into city life.
While the changes in the cultural sphere may not be as eye-catching as those in other areas, their far-reaching impact cannot be ignored. Through educational reforms, the promotion of a common language, the establishment of public libraries, and the funding of artistic creation, Casaloz is subtly changing people's ways of thinking. Prejudices and discrimination that were once taken for granted are gradually dissolving, and barriers between different races are slowly breaking down. Although it will take several generations to completely eradicate these deep-seated ideas, at least within the territory of Deepwater Territory, a more inclusive and open new civilization is taking shape.