[Stormhaven Royal Palace]
King Balder Stormhaven sat on his throne as his advisors and nobles squabbled among themselves over the news of Bloodaxe Isle getting attacked.
He knew of the rumors from the mainland, speaking of a crazy boy who is the guardian of the Avalon Empire.
However, Balder had been informed by the allied kings that the boy had disappeared due to a nefarious plot orchestrated by the Shadow Cult.
Still, he pondered privately, 'The cult had collaborated with the church and various other factions. How is it possible that the boy returned so quickly?'
As he thought to himself, thunder boomed overhead and made the people in the hall jump in fright.
Balder stood up and made his way over to the window to see what was going on. When he got there, he saw a storm forming overhead.
Then, in a spectacular display of nature's power, a massive thunderstorm unleashed its fury upon Stormhold.