Rise of Sentinel: Setting the Stage

The Zerund Conflict ensued when the insane Solar Exalt, Daedric Cyrus, summoned the Zerund, a fallen Maiden from another realm, into Creation. He intended to free the world from the chains of the Primordials by eradicating it entirely. Cyrus, using powerful and ancient magics, had disguised himself as a Dragon-Blood and risen to a position of power within the Legions. So great was his sorcery, in fact, that even once exposed, the Deliberative could do little to prevent him from carrying out his apocalyptic scheme. A group of Celestial Exalts from the Threshold, intent on luring Cyrus from his Imperial City stronghold, managed to raise an army from the ranks of the Marukan Alliance and the Kingdoms of Halta. It is worth noting, however, that the commanders of the Seventh Legion, despite their hatred of Cyrus, were unwilling to lend their aid to the beings they considered Anathema of equal footing. The Celestial Exalts, through sheer determination and a good deal of luck, constructed a sorcerous gate across the Inland Sea, and transported their army to the Blessed Isle en masse. They attacked the Imperial City, and a small war ensued.

Despite having a powerful coterie of Celestial Exalts at its head, without the aid of the Seventh Legion, the army the group raised was no match for the disciplined, well-equipped soldiers of the Realm. By most accounts, it was a slaughter. Several Cathak, Peleps, and Sesus legions rose to the occasion, and as the battle progressed closer to the city, the Legion of Silence delivered the finishing blows to the attack force. The damage to the Imperial City was extensive, however, and was worsened further by the vast magics thrown about as the Exalts battled with Cyrus within the city. Though they managed to destroy him, they left alone, behind them a metropolis broken and battered in the short time span of only a few weeks.

It has been five years since the day Daedric Cyrus was slain. Most of that time was spent repairing the Imperial City and various other eastern coastal cities. The Legions have withdrawn even further into House control after Cyrus's takeover, and infighting has only escalated as differing opinions breed regarding how to handle the recovery. The Zerund wiped out vast areas of land in the North, and these lands are now empty, ripe to be claimed and reformed. Though this is, by and large, the first opportunity the Realm has had in some time to claim a sizable portion of land in the Threshold, they are far from unified on how to accomplish this goal. Each Great House sees this land as their ticket to influence, particularly in the vein of appointing one of their own to the Scarlet Throne.

While most Dynasts, comfortable in their seats of power, fight for their House, hoping to further gild their thrones and vaults, some do not. There are a select few who do not share this vision, a select few who would seek to unify the Realm in its quest to return to power, so that it may again set right the wrongs and injustices so increasingly rampant throughout Creation.

Cathak Jacen Sentinel is one such man, and as he will soon discover, he is not alone.