The War of Flame has died to mere embers; the Empire is engulfed in a bloody civil war. Amidst ruins and devastation, the people of the Southern Kingdoms try to rebuild, only to face challenges from bandit kings, crusaders from the Prelacy, and the machinations of the Merchant and the Red Store. New heroes are called upon to stand up to these challenges, and to save all of Shaintar from a fate worse than total war.