A cursed land that drags anyone who claims it into destruction. A druid, the last of a thousand claimants, who strives to organise it into her little green empire. An old friend who longs to be more than a friend. An undead who carries unsettling secrets of the past. A handsome ruler from a neighbouring country, looking for a reliable ally or maybe something more serious. A young paladin, juggling her roles as a military leader and the ruler's lover. Through challenges presented by mysterious powers scheming in the background, their fates intertwine. Originally a Pathfinder: Kingmaker CRPG (by Paizo/Owlcat) fanfic, but I hope readers outside the fandom will also enjoy it. I do not own the rights to the adventure path, the setting or the NPCs showing up in the story.Cover photo: Bernard Dupont (Wikimedia Commons).