For three hundred years, Cosimir the Eternal has ruled over the land of Evania with uncompromising force. After forcing the throne from the hand of a long-ruling family, slaughtering all that he could find, he and his dark mage, Eldryn seized control of Evania. The twelve kingdoms of Evania refused to recognize Cosimir as the high king, and a civil war erupted.

After several defeats in open combat and his fresh rule quickly waning, Cosimir resorted to drastic measures. At his command, the High Mage Eldryn sent a scourge across the land, a disease so contagious and deadly that it spread across the land in just four months time, killing all who dared step out into the sunlight.

Afraid of the scourge, the kingdoms found themselves burrowing underground, building new societies that could live in the dark to escape the wretched disease that had rocked the land. All those who contracted the plague were left on the surface to die. Mockingly, Cosimir called the rulers of these new subterranean kingdoms “Dungeon Lords”, indicating their subservient status compared to his mighty rule from Mt. Fluore. These Dungeon Lords were forced to pledge fealty to Cosimir, and in exchange the scourge was lifted from the land.

The above ground kingdoms, having been pillaged for resources to build underground, were no longer inhabitable by the people. They stayed underground to remain safe, lest another scourge be cast about the land. Having pledged their fealty, and providing dues to the new Emperor Cosimir, the twelve kingdoms were brought under the tyrant’s boot.

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As the decades passed, small communities arose again on the surface to provide crops and other goods that were not possible to yield underground. After centuries of this new life, there was no hope for a life restored. That was until a vision came to Eli, a lowly blacksmith from the dungeon kingdom Incarta. In the vision, he was seen as the one who would defeat Cosimir and bring a rightful rule back to the land.

As his lesser visions came true, over time the peoples began to see Eli as a prophet, and the one chosen to free them from their servitude under the tyrant. The twelve Dungeon Lords sent a chosen champion leading an army from each of their kingdoms to join Eli and confront Cosimir in his mountain stronghold. The battles were long and fierce, but eventually the armies and the chosen thirteen found themselves on Cosimir’s doorstep, ready to take the mountain stronghold of Fluore.

But it was on the eve of the final battle that Eli’s heart, for unknown reasons, changed, and upon entering the throne room of the evil tyrant, the champions of the kingdoms found Eli had turned on them to kill Cosimir not for justice, but to take his place. Those who did not join him were killed or cast out. Those who remained loyal were sent with their armies to overthrow the Dungeon Lords and make sure, without a doubt, that all kingdoms would be loyal to Eli’s new reign.

This is where our story begins.