At a social gathering in Zipangu, Doctor Ibrahim and Hound the Destroyer had crossed paths, only for the Doctor to have to leave abruptly, cutting the visit short. Dire news had reached him from his home nation of Whitemarch---an unknown army gathered at her gates, sending refugees spilling over the border in a desperate attempt to escape. It seemed as if the war of ascension between the neighboring nations of Etrugia and Nilhasse had reached a different stage, but the unknown army flew unfamiliar colors, and reportedly marched beneath a banner that Hound knew all too well.
Two weeks have since passed, and Hound has made his way to Ibrahim's canton, where he knows the paladin Praetor to also live. Praetor was healing from the wounds he received on the way to his new home, and has spent his days in quiet recovery, only vaguely aware of the dangers that had been gathering. And so Hound rode to meet him.
After an attack on a nearby farm, Antionette, the Saintaur seneschal of the estate, was found wounded and near death. Aided by Dump, a wandering Lizardman warrior, they decided what to do in the face of the Doctor's absence. The group brought Antionette to the estate, but as they were preparing to leave, Harpies, by the thousands, were seen leaving the distant Harpy province of Iveria. Hound rode to meet the threat, whole Praetor stayed true to his word and escorted the family to the capital, where everything was in chaos.
Hound arrived at Iveria and, after a fierce battle with what could only be the forces of the undead, he attempted to find and aid Aidlis, the Dragon ruler of Iveria. Aidlis was nowhere to be found, but instead, he found a nemesis long thought forgotten...
Praetor, in a desperate bit to shore up the city against invasion, attends a conclave of the nation's leaders. After making battle plans, he is.told by the Regent that his role in the defense of Whitemarch may be more fated than he was led to believe...