In the heart of the once-thriving kingdom of Verdwynne, where ancient forests whispered secrets to the wind and rivers sang gentle songs, King Emerick reigned. He was a ruler both powerful and wise, beloved by his people for his just hand and fierce protection. Under his rule, Verdwynne blossomed into a peaceful haven, where harmony with nature was the way of life. Yet, this prosperity and strength cast long shadows over neighboring realms, who grew envious and fearful of Emerick’s might.

In a desperate bid to destroy what they could not control, a coalition of rival kingdoms waged war against Verdwynne. The conflict raged for years, a brutal campaign that scorched the earth and turned verdant forests into fields of ash. Despite the relentless assault, King Emerick stood defiant, his spirit unbroken as he led his people with unmatched courage. But the forces arrayed against him were too many, and one by one, his cities fell, his people perished, and the heart of Verdwynne was torn apart.

As the kingdom crumbled, Emerick's enemies believed they had finally conquered the great king. They razed his palace to the ground, leaving nothing but ruins where beauty once stood, convinced that the mighty ruler had met his end in the inferno of his own city.

But King Emerick survived.

Wounded, weary, and alone, he fled the ruins of his kingdom, driven by a force of will that had sustained him through the darkest of days. For days, he stumbled through the remnants of his beloved Verdwynne, a shadow of the man he once was, until he reached the very border of his former domain. There, with the last of his strength spent, he collapsed, his vision fading as the world around him dissolved into darkness.