An Angel of Death and Ruin

prologue

In the faraway kingdom of Rivera, a young princess was arranged to be married.

The princess, of course, was far from overjoyed at the prospect of marrying her betrothed. It was not as though she was hoping to marry for love and was robbed of it; she did not care about such frivolous things like that. In fact, she would be content with being indifferent towards a husband her entire life. It seemed to be enough for the rest of the married women she knew. What worried her was the nature of the prince she was to marry. It was common knowledge that he came from a cruel and dark royal family who governed their kingdom unforgivably and violently.

Her parents were delighted at the match for their daughter, or rather themselves. Hothen, the kingdom of the dark prince, was swimming in wealth and resources and her parents snapped at the chance to access it. They gave up their only daughter without a second thought to her happiness and well-being. The young princess was not angry or disappointed at her parents' utter disregard for her. Truthfully, it was not surprising in the least. Power and wealth were more important to the king and queen of Rivera than anything else and they would kill to keep them.

The kingdom of Rivera did not always have such a greedy and dishonorable royal family. Many generations ago it was said that the royal family Hevensfire was god-touched. The first king and queen were born aasimars, half-angel half-human. They ruled Rivera justly and honorably and cared for the well-being of their subjects. They followed their patrons with devout religious piousness and were granted many blessings from the gods because of this. The royal family Hevensfire was blessed with many aasimars throughout their lineage all names written famously in history through their good deeds and just rule.

Unfortunately, aasimars were cursed with the constant temptation from both the light and dark. The later generations fell prey to these evil temptations. Brothers killing brothers for the throne. Kings starting unjust wars for the expansion of land. Queens raising taxes to abhorrent levels to fund their lavish lifestyles. Princesses accusing innocent women to be burned at the stake.

Countless crimes of injustice were committed by the royal family Hevensfire. Angry and saddened by the stained bloodline, the gods turned away from them and would no longer bless another aasimar to the family. Shameless, unfit, and greedy kings and queens were now the lineage of the Hevensfires, their reputation now scorned forever.

There is hope.

50 years ago a prophecy was told before the court of Rivera by a prophet from the goddess of fate and destiny, Istus. Another aasimar was to be given to the royal family, but it would be its last. This aasimar will be born for the sole purpose of destroying the Hevensfires. The earth will be purified from their evils and the family will be lost and forgotten forever.

So a young princess was arranged to be married, as the stories always go.