"You don't get to be master without drawing some blood." ------------------------------------------------------------------ The bloodiest wars are fought not on the battlefield, not in the royal courts, but in the hearts and minds of the people. In the heart of the citadel, defended by walls of stone, sits a emperor upon his blood throne. For hundreds of generations, Oerthe's crown has been won by war. Emperor Kaedrith rules the empire with a iron vice, training his army for a battle he knows is bound to happen. Those who dare oppose him are met with the blissful kiss of Death. The nation, shining as fool's gold, is a carcinogenic viper to the raven-like kings that watch their prey. Every monarchy must have its end. Now, hidden in the royal court, secrets begin to surface, threatening the change that comes soon. Rebellions whisper the end of the reign, Algyaens and Xuflians bent on regaining their kingdom, no matter the cost. Their vengeance will stop at nothing, determined to regain the years they have lost. But with their people bound in the chains of slavery, the price for their revenge might come at a cost they cannot pay. Thick with traitors and lies, the empire is crumbling piece by piece. In silence and shadows is Azrael's Alliance, ready to play their hand in its downfall, as they have for thousands of years. They fight to uphold the names the stories have bestowed them. They fight for the magic Oerthe has wronged. They fight for all those whose voices have lost to fear. They fight for the tales, the myths, which have given them such power over the realm. They are persistent, unflinching, decisive, unfaltering, reminiscent of the gods who once ruled their world. 9 Masters. 9 Apprentices. Writing a legend in blades of steel.
7 parts