Age of Wonders 4 – Failed Mission Ends | Enchanted Archipelago Begins (Ep 9 & Ep 1)

A long and bitter struggle finally collapses. Every attempt to hold ground against the Frog King has failed, and each turn becomes nothing more than a slow march toward an inevitable conclusion. The mission unravels completely: cities fall, armies break, and the enemy advances only to pause in silent disdain, allowing the defeat to linger instead of ending it swiftly. The mission is terminated manually, closing a chapter defined by pressure, attrition, and the crushing reality of being completely outmatched.

From there, the focus shifts to a new beginning in the Enchanted Archipelago story realm—one of Age of Wonders 4’s more atmospheric narrative maps. Unlike procedural realms, the Archipelago introduces region-based objectives, unique magical environmental traits, and a more curated sense of progression. The journey restarts with a lone city surrounded by wide unexplored terrain, island chains, and early strategic questions about expansion, scouting, and resource allocation. Story realms often emphasize thematic challenges, such as navigating coastal threats, dealing with enchanted anomalies, and managing the interplay between magic, terrain, and empire development. This episode marks the transition from a collapsed campaign into a world that promises structure, lore, and a slower buildup. It is the quiet moment before the rhythm of exploration, conflict, and realm-specific story events begins to shape the new run.