It has been 68 years since Emperor Apaos toppled his half-brother,the lich Zanthax, from the throne. Though the peoples of Dien rejoiced at first his rule has become evermore cruel. The guards that patrol every street at one time would at least help the people, but now they let all sorts of monsters run rampant across the plains. Those who speak out against are banished to the underground world of Avernum, from which none have returned. With an ever growing powerbase, the surrounding nations are helpless to stop Apaos' expansion across the realms, but someone must stop the tyrannical rule...