The Eastern Empire is a place where only the strong are truly respected. The weak are cast out by society and looked at with disdain, their entire culture revolving around war. That was not always the case, however. It used to be a society where the people were separated by the more common way societies are separated -- their prestige and their wealth.

That all changed when the current Emperor of the Eastern Empire took over. Surpressed by the higher classes and their former Emperor, the masses retaliated in what is now known as the Bloody Rebellion, led by Brutus Xernadad who became the new Emperor.

Imperial Palace, Eastern Empire

The Imperial Palace was truly a sight to behold. Made of polished gold, it shined out to the people as a reminder of who they are and how great their Empire is even in the darkest of nights.

With the alliance of the three great nations, the High Priest of the Holy Kingdom visited the Imperial Palace many times, blessing it along the way as the relationship between the two improved over the years. The blessings of a High Priest of Helios along with the palace's natural shine resulted in an ethereal glow which could be felt by the soul as the people of the Eastern Empire looked upon it with admiration and reverence.

Today however, that glow was nowhere to be seen. Clouds darker than night itself appeared seemingly out of thin air in the middle of a sunny day. Soon, the entire capital was engulfed in a period of never-ending darkness. It was believed the eerie clouds would soon pass by within the hour. That was two days ago.

A man of large stature could be seen looking over a balcony in the Imperial Palace. Dressed in armour forged of goldsteel and draped with a crimson cape that fluttered as wind rushed by, the Emperor of the Eastern Empire, Brutus Xernadad, watched his capital from overhead.

"What troubles you, my liege?"

An ethereal voice like no other reverborated softly across the balcony. A feminine figure which would swoon many of the opposite sex walked toward and stood beside her husband. 

"I feel as if this is an omen, a foreboding, for what is to come."

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A rough voice sounded from the Emperor's mouth.

"We are ready for anything the Gods may throw at us."

The confidence and national pride she had was evident in her tone. The Emperor no longer replied, but instead continued to stare off into the distance, watching the magical lights which lit up the capital and the people as they continued on with their lives, most of them heading home from a day of work to their families. After a few moments of silence, he spoke.

"I will be here for a while, go back to sleep."

The Empress looked at her husband with unwillingness, but eventually kissed him on the cheek and started to walk back into the Palace. The Emperor continued to look at his capital for a while when eventually a strange happening garnered his attention.

A black something started to fall from the clouds. It seemed to be slow in its travel towards the capital below, but before long, the streets of Xernadad, the capital of the Eastern Empire, were filled with inches of this black substance. One small piece of it floated down softly onto the hand of the Emperor.

It feels like...

“...Snow?”

One Day Later

Throne Room of the Imperial Palace, Eastern Empire

A regal, unmoving figure could be seen sitting majestically in the throne of the Eastern Empire. This, of course, is the current Emperor of the Eastern Empire, Brutus Xernadad. It had reached three days since the estimated time the aligned army of Mainland would reach the corrupted and overrun city of Prehg, where the Immortals reside.

Magically-powered light sources lit the room, the sky still under the ominous clouds of the day before. Ever since the start of the black snow, the capital had been in a state of anxiety all around, many residents taking this the same way their Emperor did the day before.

Suddenly, the large doors of the throne room were pushed open by the Royal Guards outside. A servant raced in and quickly prostrated on the floor.

”Y-Your majesty, a transmission has been received from Prehg! And the aligned army is—is—“

The servant desperately tried to collect his breath.

”Is what? Speak!”

”Is—the aligned army of Mainland is no more!!”

”What?!!”

In his mind however, the Emperor of the Eastern Empire was not surprised. He was only fearful of what was to come. He would never allow something like fear appear upon his face however, for he was the symbol of his people.

News would spread throughout Mainland about the decimation of the aligned army, and the entire world would take notice of the new threat known as the Immortals.

 Somewhere on Torathul

“Mainland is now weakened—it is time we made our move.”

”But sire, what of the threat that destroyed the aligned army? The Immortals?”

A large, dark silhouette sat upon a grotesque throne. A heavy air could be felt surrounding it as the being looked down at its subordinate.

”What of them?”