Prologue
In the dark chambers of the palace, the Emperor sat on his high silver throne. Flickering torches, seated on the walls, cast shadows over everyone in the room. His advisers, generals, and tactical war planners sat on the velvet rug in hushed discussion. One man moved some pieces on the table forward, a large map showing his empire and the lands beyond. Mighty Ba Shuik, with its immense ports, rivers, and forests. The Border Mountains dividing his country from Phio. So many legends were entwined with those mountains, how the sahiks had places curses on them. He grew with rage just thinking of them.
Wretched sahiks! Sticking their noses in everyone's business, bragging of their mystical power, thinking themselves better than I! The world would be better to be rid of them all.
Suddenly an idea came to mind. Why not rid the world of them? The Emperor stood and declared his cruel plan to the room silence followed, and then some weak applause. He walked back to the window. They think I am mad. Ever since my coronation last year I have pushed my armies to the limit. But I will show them. I will be the most powerful ruler the world has ever seen! And I will be rid of the sahik once and for all! I will be forever known as Sahik-Slayer!
He turned back to see astonished faces, then realized he had said the last bit aloud. This only made his eerie cackle stronger. The Emperor's boiled up rage at the world was released into the world with his laugh, booming all through the palace.