And so ends what is arguably "the first act", with each man rising in their respective structure of power, and now the multi-century status quo getting disrupted on each side as well. A devastating (and as we know with cynical political maneuvering going on in the background) defeat for the Alliance with major whiplash from a stunning victory right before, but they've still got Iserlohn. Plus meanwhile the Empire is left rudderless at a key moment in turn as is a risk for that kind of absolute government. Reinhard has most of his own pieces gathered and battle proven, with considerable accomplishments as well, but has to contend with even more of a political war zone next, all as third parties attempt to subtly undermine each. 40 years later and it's still such an epic saga.