Ironclad Guile

Cain Harrow thought he knew the Ironclad Imperium. He’d spent countless hours in 'Steel & Smoke,' a deeply immersive historical simulation, mastering its intricate war machines and brutal societal hierarchy. Then, a blinding flash, and the cloying scent of coal smoke became agonizingly real. Now, he’s not observing from a comfortable chair; he's Cain, a nameless conscript in the Imperium's endless, grinding war. Forced into the ranks of the 'Gear-Breakers' – a frontline unit of expendable engineers and shock troopers – Cain must shed every last vestige of his modern intellect. To survive, he must become what they expect: a brutal, unthinking cog in the Imperium’s vast war machine, dedicated to conquest. Any slip, any display of advanced knowledge or un-conscript-like intelligence, means a quick, brutal end. As the immense gears of the Imperium grind on, Cain must not only survive the relentless battlefields but also meticulously build his mask of savagery, all while navigating a world far more dangerous and unforgiving than any simulation could ever convey. The only way out is through, but survival means becoming the very monster he dreads.