Prologue II: Twenty-One Years Later...

In the Year 70 After Shalraza

The Emperor is dead. At the age of 96, Endymion Norson perished of natural causes after refusing to seek and employ the potentially life-extending technologies once at his disposal. It remains to be seen how history will remember him, as if Endymion were two drastically different people in one life time: a merciless despot in his youth and a wise patriarch in his twilight years. Whatever might be said of the Emperor, the world endured beyond the Emperor's War and the Legacy Event in part through his efforts. Sadly, the fate of his empire is less assured.

It was intended Prince Deucalion Norson, biological son of the Emperor, would succeed him, however in Norsland's eastern empire of Soveros a contender rose. Bela Norson, daughter of the crown prince of the Nors Kingdom which predated the empire, appealed to the families that once served the line of kings ending with her late father Frederick Norson. The elf-touched empress succeeded in rallying the east and splitting the empire. Unofficially supported by the elves of The Corellon Dynasty across the sea and the venerable Kaylan Gloriandel, Prophet of Kalia and Bela's own mother, armies were raised and The War of the Crown began.

Considered a civil war by the rest of Othyr, the other nations have worked tirelessly to remain neutral in the affair, but with the self-destruction of any super power, the political whirlpool inevitably pulled neighbors into the conflict. The young nation of Avencia, Loranna's first and only democratic republic, has shouldered increasing pressures to choose a side. Despite its independence, Avencians still share many blood and cultural ties with Norsland's halves. However, the Third Avencian Congress and the majority of Avencia are adamant about staying out of the ordeal.

With battles raging along the eastern borders of Norsland and the emergent Eastern Kingdom of Belarion, envoys of the emperor and empress have descended upon Avencia's capital of Edmark to secure, or perhaps force, alliance. And on the third day of their visits, the generation begins...