Embers of War      

The Assassination       

Twisted metal and broken bodies lay strung across a mountainside shy of the safety and protection of the Altrissa Empire. 17 Lives; including The leader of the Altrissa Peace Party are amongst the wreckage from the air-shuttle blown out of the sky. This act of political violence threatens to reignite long festering tensions between two rival nations; The ever expansive nation of technological might, Altrissa and the mysterious kingdom of magic, Corphye. The embers of war are being stoked and the fate of two nations lie in the balance.

The Uncrowned Queen         

Officially, the Kingdom of Corphye has been without a monarch for over a century and in its place, the nation's Parliament has decided the laws of its land. However, in every generation since the last recognized monarch, there has been one person who captures the will of the people and ascends higher than any elected official in the kingdom can hope to achieve. This unofficial, unrecognized position has become known as "The Uncrowned". One cannot earn or be given the position of The Uncrowned, it is simply understood by all.

In the previous generation, The title of The Uncrowned belonged to the Woman with the Eyes that See All; In this generation it belongs to the Dark Prima Donna. For over 20 years she has used her beauty and charisma to hypnotize the masses into adoration. Those who fall under her spell the hardest are the ones she has lifted out of despair and obscurity; they worship her as a walking Goddess.

In the eyes of Corphye, the woman who redistributed the Kingdom's wealth and made every citizen a beneficiary of its revenue can do no wrong. Yet even the Dark Prima Donna has her contractors. Those who wish to see her power and reputation diminished, so that they may take that which cannot be taken for themselves. In the midst of her greatest endeavor yet, something has gone awry and threatens everything she has worked for thus far. 

Determined not to see the work of the Dark Prima Donna go to waste, her fiercest disciple and right hand personified sets out to get to the bottom of this mistake that threatens war on Corphye and the usurping of the Uncrowned Queen.

The Twin Cities   

Constructed as the final decree of the last recognized Monarch of Corphye, The Twin Cities of Asale-Jolo and Afoji-Idabo once stood as deterrents to the ever-expanding Altrissa Empire. Today, The city of the Shielded Valley (Afoji-Idabo) and the Diamond in the Desert (Asale-Jolo) have now been absorbed into the very nation they were meant to stand against.

It was predicted 137 years ago that after burning through its natural resources, Altrissa would attempt to colonize beyond its boundaries at the bottom of the nation represented by the Devil's Spine Mountain ranges. On the other side of the mountain range were small settlements and towns that would stand no chance in standing against Altrissa if ever invaded. An agreement would be made between the settlements and Corphye that Corphye would send out teams of city building mages and construct the deterrents that would double as a new home for the vulnerable towns in the area. Thus began the construction of the Twin Cities. This would not be a popular decision amongst the Corphye Parliament who valued isolation and thought it a mistake to share resources and protection with outsiders.

Altrissa would spend decades trying to expand their borders and take the resources of the lands beyond The Devil's Spine but where force and military might failed time after time, the neglect of Corphye and a campaign of lies and promises would succeed a century later.

While the theft of the Twin Cities occurred under the watch of the Woman with the Eyes that See All, The Dark Prima Donna would make it her mission to regain them. Multiple operations in pursuit of this goal have taken place and all have been successful, leaving Altrissa reeling and vulnerable. The Uncrowned Queen seeks to put the final stages of her grand endeavor into motion but the assassination of members of the Altrissa Peace Party puts everything in jeopardy.

Altrissa's Response   

After Obtaining the Twin Cities 22 years ago, Altrissa's quest for expansion has been sated for the time being. An uneasy peace was established between Altrissa, Corphye and all surrounding territories. One of the foundations of this peace was an agreement that, after obtaining ownership of the Twin Cities, Altrissa would not establish any military presence beyond The Devil's Spine, especially in either of the Twin Cities. An agreement made and enforced by the Woman with the Eyes That See All after losing her daughter in defense of the Shielded Valley City, Afoji-Idabo.

In order to work around this agreement and maintain a forceful presence in the region, MageCorp was established. Though a small percentage of Altrissa's population, there are magic users peppered throughout the empire. These magic users were gathered together to form uniformed teams that serve as enforcers across the mountain range. 

What was meant to be an arm of Altrissa's might, MageCorp has carved out its own identity as public servants of the Twin Cities and the surrounding areas., Where unrelenting force was expected to be used to solve conflicts in the area, MageCorp would explore diplomatic and non-violent means instead. With the Assassination of Seymour Maxwell and his party members taking place outside of Afoji-Idabo and Corphye being the primary suspect behind it, Altrissa is ready to break its military abstinence.

To stop Altrissa's retaliation and certain war from proceeding, The Director of Asale-Jolo's MageCorp branch has convinced the powers that be to allow for an investigation into the assassination. Time is not on the Director's side, however. Altrissa desires retribution and the nation's hand can only be stayed for so long.