text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, grimdark, serious, fantasy, villain protagonist]
  
  Year 550
  
  More and more each year your nation is starting to resemble the Empire of old. More and more each year you're also starting to feel old too. The aches and pains of battles long past (and not too long past) are starting to catch up with you.
  
  You never tried to think about getting "old" too much, except during the years of when the Emperor was "sick." Recently you've begun thinking about what his plans were again. How he was going to defeat death by transferring his essence or spirit or mind or whatever into your own body. Well at least that's what Semra and Jacob told you and what ultimately lead to the situation you're in now.
  
  Unfortunately, you haven't really the means to go about such a thing. Your knowledge of magic is better than most, but the Emperor never showed you that trick let alone how to get to the Isle of Mortos. You wouldn't even know about how to go about "creating" another one of your kind either which was also required...again so Semra and Jacob told you.
  
  Makes you wonder what happened to the "eternals" Marik created. You wonder if they survived the initial cataclysm and if so, what became of them? Did they plan any major role during or after it? It's apparent that the technique to create an eternal like you or Marik's tank babies was lost too.
  
  Well it doesn't matter much now anyway, you can assume they're all certainly dead now, along with crazy ol' Marik. Still, you wonder about his factory, as it was located in Arat.
  
  In fact there have been a lot of events going on in Arat lately according to your spies.
  
  The major thing being that there have been sightings of the Xi Hive in Arat, not many and certainly no major attacks, but the insectoid creatures have been attacking anyone they see as usual. It won't be long before they become a major threat in this area. Right now it isn't your problem at all, but you imagine they will be eventually.
  
  From what you've heard the Xi have been really putting the Redcap Kingdom on the defensive, but the gnomes are still holding out and not even losing any ground. You certainly can admire that, and you'd even try to send an emissary to go speak with them if only to get a better feel of the Xi threat, but you've also heard the gnomes have also ordered a kill on sight to well...anyone.
  
  Your best shot at learning more about the Xi would probably be Eldolith, but she's also been her usual antagonistic self, especially ever since you officially annexed Regnik into the Empire. Pointing to you and the Xi as a threat she managed to unify the other city-states of Zo, Valizza and Atnil into something called the Arat Confederacy. In reality it's a new nation with four cities rather than a true alliance where everyone is supposedly still autonomous.
  
  The only other city-state that doesn't belong to Eldy's little alliance is Telis, which as usual, nobody seems to know anything about. Still, it seems like it's probably in the most danger of the Xi considering its proximity to where Xi territory is starting to expand. You never really gave it much thought until now, but according to the maps and if your memory isn't completely off, Telis isn't too far away from where Marik's factory was located. Now you're starting to wonder if its "mysterious" nature isn't due to that factor.
  
  In a perfect world Arat would be your next and only priority, but there have been concerns about the Delerg islands as well. There has nearly been no reports about the Island League's activities for years, it's almost as if they all just disappeared, but more concerning is the fact that strange humanoid creatures have been sighted off the coasts of Quala at night. While Quala is still mostly home to your orc population and the place is still the poorest of your territories, you still don't want a potential invasion to occur. It might be time to start exploring and possibly conquering the islands at last.
  
  Seeing as the orcs will have the most familiarity with this potential coastal threat, you decide to go speak with Trog about it. You might as well anyway if only to see who his potential successor is going to be seeing as you know Trog is supposed to be dying.
  
  When you arrive to meet with him, you see just how true that is. The old orc is lying prone on fur skin bedding with two younger female orcs attending to him. It's very strange to see orcs behave in this manner. Orcs don't tend to have a long life span to begin with due to all their fighting, but to see one being actually cared for rather than taken to the wilderness and left to die (at best) is unusual. Then again Trog was a very respected leader. He's obviously weak, but when he notices you he tries to sit up and waves away his attendants.
  
  "Ah...the Eternal... dreams told Trog that we would see each other one last time before the end. Now that you're here Trog now know death coming soon for me. Sad that Trog could not die as a warrior, but still a good life with many children to carry on name." Trog says.
  "And who would be that successor Trog?" you ask.
  "Trog believe that Sprog take over next. Already killed several of his siblings, others too scared to oppose. Was a great contest, only well enough to see some of it, but very good. Very bloody."
  "Sorry I missed it."
  "Trog warn you though, Sprog not quite as accepting of our current situation as Trog. Believes orcs should be independent. Might be right, might be wrong, not care. Trog too tired to care anymore."
  "Am I going to have to kill him?"
  "Do not know. Perhaps, perhaps not. Do as you wish. You always have. As Trog has said, too tired to care anymore."
  "So I take it that I probably should ask this Sprog about the reports of the humanoid interlopers off Quala's coast?"
  "Hrm. That. Trog can still help a little... Yes, there have been sightings, but nothing human about them. Fellow orcs tell me they look more like fish than anything else. Appear on land sometimes, but never for very long. Not sure if they are able or if they are just scouting. Orcs ready for a fight as always if they do decide to invade. Kobolds too. Was not sure about the little scalies living here at first, but enjoy their antics. Respect our strength too..."
  
  Trog begins to drift off to sleep, but you aren't done with him yet.
  
  "While I hate to interrupt your journey to the afterlife, you have any last visions for me?"
  "Hrm...yes...Trog did actually. War is coming."
  "That's a given Trog, war is always coming."
  "True, but this one will be against an enemy that you've never faced the likes of before. They will be relentless, they will not stop and even as strong as the Empire is, I fear that it will not be enough. Worse is the fact that you are approaching your own twilight years as this terrible threat comes. You will no longer be able to just march in like the great warrior you once were..."
  "Trog, I might be getting old, but I'm not ready for the damn grave yet."
  "True, but you acknowledge that you ARE getting old. Still...perhaps that is a good sign. Knowing your limitations. Trog knew his..."
  
  At this point Trog falls unconscious and despite your prodding and nudging him, he isn't waking from it. From his breathing patterns, you know he'll be dead soon.
  
  "Damn it Trog, you could've at least told me who this relentless enemy was going to be. Guess that was your last little joke on me. Good one Trog." You remark and exit Trog's tent. You tell the group standing outside that he'll be soon passing on, if anyone wants to see the final moments. Several female orcs go in, but the male orcs just give a solemn look downward save for the very large one standing nearby with an equally huge battle axe. When he approaches you, your entourage of guards stands ready to defend you, but judging by his appearance he'd give them a good fight all by himself.
  
  "So is the old man dead?" the orc asks gruffly.
  "Well if he isn't yet, he soon will be...I'm guessing you're Sprog."
  "Right. Guess you da Emp. Huh. Thought you'd be bigger. Old man say you powerful though. Guess cause of magic abilities like old man. Feh."
  "I take it, you don't like magic?"
  "Magic give unfair advantage even more than shooty weapons. Orcs have no more magic types now. Least none Sprog know of. No chance to rebel now."
  "You're telling me you'd rebel?"
  "Yes, I'd lead a rebellion if we had magic to even up odds. Told old man that he should challenge you long time ago, but said you were too powerful for him. Scared to die like proper warrior, now he die like old man that he is and we still have to serve the Empire."
  "Who says? You could still rebel. You're standing right here in front of me surrounded by your fellow orcs, I've only got five men with me. I'd say right now is the best chance you got of killing me and making your people free again."
  
  Sprog grips his axe a bit and gives you a suspicious look pondering if you're being serious or not. You are of course, but even though Sprog eventually senses that, he's not taking you up on that offer.
  
  "Bah, want to be free, but still stand no chance of killing you. At best might get lucky and wound you before you set Sprog on fire or somethin'. Dying in battle one thing, but Sprog not suicidal. Most orcs too comfortable now with livin' under the Empire anyway. Half would probably attack me, the idjits."
  "Always did appreciate you orcs and your honesty. Now that I know I don't need to kill you anytime soon, what can you tell me about these sightings off the coasts of Quala?"
  
  Sprog tells you much of the same things you've already heard. Fishmen sighted skulking around the coasts and then disappearing. He says he's already got patrols marching up and down the coasts, but no sign of them again.
  
  For all you know these fish people are this relentless force that's going to be coming at you, of course it also could be the Xi Hive which is the only other force you could think of, at worst it could be both. Could even be the usksha or someone you haven't even met yet.
  
  In any case, you still need to do something about this potential aquatic threat. This has really been a long time coming. Whatever the hell is living out on those islands, be they human or otherwise is going to feel the full might of the Empire.
  
  Thanks to having all the extra resources in Rask now your task of getting a proper fleet up and running isn't a drain on the Empire and gets done a lot quicker. Training sailors takes a little longer, but fortunately your people aren't completely ignorant of seafaring ways.
  
  Within months you have a sizable armada that should do the job. The only thing you're unsure of is whether or not you should go along on this conquest.
  
  Maybe because you're older and beginning to realize you aren't as fast or as strong as you once were, or maybe because you have uneasiness about being on the open water and possibly even an slight fear of it (A fear you weren't even aware of), or maybe it's a combination of the two, you don't know.
  
  What was it that Trog said before he died? Knowing your limitations?
  
  > lead from the back
  While you may still have many years ahead of you, the days of your prime are starting to fade. Perhaps you need to start accepting the fact that your days of charging first into battle are gone and probably should be. Your mind is more important for running the Empire than your sword arm or even your battle magic at this point.
  
  There's also the fact that it's true, you don't relish the idea of being on a boat. You decide to that you're going to sit this one out.
  
  A week goes by and business in the Empire continues as usual, but you hear nothing from the large fleet that you sent out. One of the faster messenger ships should've at least come back to give a report by now.
  
  Another week goes by and you know something is terribly wrong. There has been no word back from your fleet. Naturally the families of the soldiers and sailors that left on this mission are very upset. True, that their lives are always in potential danger, but everyone labored under the impression that it would be a quick mix up with the Island League and then heading back home. Even if there were losses it would be acceptable, but as it stands nobody knows exactly what happened. They're just gone, all of them.
  
  Like the waters just swallowed them all up, and for all anyone knows, maybe it has.
  
  Such mystery is frightening especially when you're getting more sightings of fish people now off the coasts of Nalin. These fish people have also started outright attacking orcish settlements near the shores in Quala. It'll only be a matter of time before they start attacking Nalin as well.
  
  Doesn't take long before you've not only got on going raids from the coast, but also rabble rousing from the orcs. Warlord Sprog has been actively condemning you for failing to eliminate this threat like you were supposed to and begins claiming that the orcs have been taking the brunt of the attacks. He also openly says to any and all who will listen that they would be better off on their own. Naturally when you hear about this treason talk you have several Eyes sent to go bring him in.
  
  He succeeds in slaying five of them before escaping into the Arat wilderness with several followers. With your inability to fend off the fish people properly, the loss of your entire fleet, a panicked population and now an orc rebellion in the making, you know you have dark days ahead.
  
  Year 552
  
  Being a tyrant is one thing, but being one who can't protect his territory and is inefficient is even worse so when the troubles started piling up, you decided you couldn't afford to just sit back and command anymore. You had to take direct action and lead from the front like you did before.
  
  Getting the population back in line took a bit of doing from the Eyes, but it was done.
  
  The orcs were a bigger problem and a costly one. Warlord Sprog continued to incite your orc population to the point where Quala and parts of Rask were hostile territory. It about a year before you personally slew Sprog in combat. The damage was done however, they razed several towns, even Regnik in Arat was destroyed. Though you suspect that Eldolith might've had something to do with that. Probably secretly funding or helping Sprog somehow or got spies into the city to lower the gates.
  
  You also had no more orc population to use as soldiers anymore and those that lived took to the wilderness and continue to be a nuisance. It was a waste of resources and manpower that quite frankly you couldn't afford to lose.
  
  During the whole time this was happening you couldn't really effectively combat the fish people threat who continued to raid the coasts and in much greater force. Some have been so bold to even create camps along the shores of Quala. Most of Nalin's port towns were still fairly well defended in the beginning, but then the sea beast arrived and completely destroyed most of them. The leviathan has two heads and countless tentacles. You believe it is the "god" of the fish people, or at least leading them.
  
  Unfortunately the beast never stays near the coast and retreats back to the deeper water when it's done rampaging. There's nothing for it except to go out there and kill it.
  
  You have another fleet built in the southern most port town in Nalin since the fish people haven't attacked that far yet. Building the fleet take awhile though due to the decreased labor force and having to practically restart from scratch again. The whole time you're building the fleet you're anticipating an attack from the fish people, you half expect the usksha to attack you with claims that you're planning to invade them. Thankfully that doesn't happen.
  
  When it's all said and done, you've got a new fleet, though much smaller than before, but you can't afford to wait too much longer. The quick you kill the monster the better. You have to win back your considerable losses. You've been made to look foolish and sometimes weak these past couple of years. Time to put an end to that once and for all.
  
  And after you kill this thing, your next order of business will be to invade Arat.
  
  No more than a day has passed and your fleet is already attacked by fish people. They were never the best fighters, but they aren't worst either and being on their territory as well as being outnumbered certainly gives them an advantage as some don't even bother to scale your ships and just bore holes in the ships with whatever tools they're using for such a task. You've lost half of your fleet by the time the sea monster makes its presence known and now having seen it first hand with your own eyes, you feel incredibly small in comparison. Stories about how it "blotted out the sun" weren't exaggerations. It is just that huge and you're surrounded by water with no where to run.
  
  You try to cast a lightning storm, but the ship is being so overrun with the aquatic invaders that you can't possibly concentrate on such a spell. Your crew fights bravely, but they're just so outnumbered that they can't defeat the numbers or keep from completely panicking that they're going to die on the water this day.
  
  A large tentacle smashes the deck of the ship and also succeeds in smashing three of your increasingly dwindling crew. You run your sword through another fishman and dodge the other tentacle coming from the other side.
  
  Even if you do survive this, you're not sure if you'll even be able to get back to land within a reasonable amount of time. You've lost every ship and your own is now in danger of becoming driftwood if it takes any more punishment, which it most certainly will.
  
  You blast a group of the fishmen with lightning which gives you a breather, but only so you're just in time to see another tentacle come sweeping towards you. Unfortunately you don't quite get out of the way in time and the hefty blow shatters your legs. This also has enough force to knock you off the boat and into the water.
  
  You struggle a bit in the water desperately trying to keep above it, but soon the claws of several fish men grab at your broken legs and torso. Your struggling is put to a complete end when one of them rises up out the water to sink his teeth into your throat.