-Second Realm-

An age had passed since the Exile was whisked away from the Realm, and much had changed for Astoria as well as the other civilizations beyond the Glass Sea. Upon discovering Xerilla's treachery the gods of the First Realm chose to strengthen their control in the Mortal Realm by sending down their own personal Heralds made in a more holy means than what the ex-Watcher had used to bring her child back into the Realms. During the early years Astoria went through a series of wars and revolutions that left her people bitterly divided into three separate kingdoms. After the latest and most bloody war between the alliance of Grath to the North and the industrial powerhouse of the West against the demon worshiper infested kingdom of the South.

A fragile peace treaty was signed between the three kingdoms on the fiftieth anniversary of the first Herald summoning. To the far south beyond the Glass Sea buried beneath the dunes of Reshinir the discovery of the thirteenth Herald has helped a young Shekh rise to prominence in mere months. The news, while bringing celebration throughout the Reshi people, filled the Astorians who heard it with a strange mix of indignation with a hint of dread. The tentative peace has been all but completely broken as the Southern kingdom has gained familial ties with the Shekh. While the Western kingdom will begin their ten year isolation upon the return of their delegates.

Unbeknownst to the mortals of the Realm the Heavenly royal family has ordered for another distribution of Heralds to the Astorian kingdoms to increase their influence. While the order became necessary sooner than they'd first believed, the gods would not only increase the number of Heralds they would send to the Mortal Realm: Once they discover Xerilla's child their orders are to personally apprehended the rouge god, and bring harmonious balance to the Cosmos. Mortals and gods alike would soon be preparing for war, but few know that the walls of the Abyss are fading as the Starlight throne sits empty. The dissidents held throughout the Abyss are slowly regaining egos lost to the void, and all but four look to the old gods below for guidance.