Some stuff while I wait for our last two to post up character sheets/confirm they're in. Putting names on things and whatnot:<br/><br/>The presumed killer of the old guard of heroes is Tsar Valya, Master of Storms and Evil Emperor, who rules over (of course) the Clockwork Tsars location with an (of course) iron fist. Steampunk, but with more lightning. Totally not the Emperor from Final Fantasy 6. Under him are:<br/>-Archmage Malwyss Ilaleztice, Drow, who's widely believed to be slumming it on the surface after having gotten kicked out of the Underdark in a drow power struggle. He's got summoned things and other drow exiles! They are DIIIICKS.<br/>-Virisum, Lich Lord, Priest of Hel (Goddess of Winter and Undeath). Ruler of the Necropolis. Has undead minions.<br/>-Warmaster Julzeen, Kobold, a warrior of incredible skill. VERY persistent rumor that they're secretly a dragon. Rules Goblin Hordes.<br/>-The Council of Thirteen Minds, a martial artist who managed to split his body and mind thirteen ways, permanently, while retaining his power and intelligence. Has evil kung fu dudes.<br/><br/>Now, why do the lieutenants matter? Well the Tsar hasn't been seen much lately, so the job of following-up has fallen to his subordinates, Diadochi-style. I'm thinking Ravenholm was the result of a biological weapon released by the Warmaster, and that the Hill People are mostly overrun and the enemy is pushing far into the Fiefdoms.<br/><br/>The warring goddesses of Fate are Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos (because of course they are). They are the biggest divinities on the block on account of also being gods of creation, life and death. Their conflict isn't confined to any one nation and their massive three-way holy war is causing utter chaos and probably doing more damage than the actual villains are.<br/><br/>There are other gods that are technically subordinate to them who have similar portfolios (some have taken sides, most<em>really</em>don't want to), and those who rebelled against their rule. Hel is Atropos' enemy, for instance; she became so when she made the Undead in an effort to evade The Shearer's grasp. She failed.<br/><br/>Any notions of what locale we want to start in, by the way? Squabbling Fiefdoms is the "classic" start, but I'm open to other suggestions. (Could even start in the Tsardom's capital, but Raivo might have a problem with that. :P )