Dun Valley Saga
In the year 250 AF, the druids Istavan and Cev discover the Aalen Forest in flames and its Tsol'aa inhabitants dead or missing. Guards are hung from the rafters of their own tree houses, Queen Celaabi is the victim of a brutal rape, King La'ramhis has been vivisected by Kroul, and Prince Tu'eras is nowhere to be found. Following this shocking discovery, Kazin quickly gathers a force of druids and magi that manage to extinguish the fires and rejuvenate the Aalen.
When Celaabi learns of the death of her husband, La'ramhis, she becomes distressed that she refuses to leave the Aalen, even to keep herself safe. Cynne, the daughter of Selaana, offers her own grove to Celaabi as a refuge, an offer which Celaabi tearfully accepts.
Vexlore, an Infernal, admits publicly that, for the sum of a of half a million sovereigns, he was hired to kill Tu'eras. Before he could carry out this assassination, however, Kroul proved to be a disloyal employer and turned on Vexlore. This incited Vexlore to announce Kroul's plan to harm the Church and the Tsol'aa. Vexlore is slain for revealing Kroul's secret.
On behalf of the Iron Citadel, Raajin offers sanctuary to any surviving Tsol'aa. Shallam makes the same offer, and the Shadow Council pledges its resources against the unknown enemy.
Celaabi is murdered, and it is found that she was pregnant. Rumors arise that she carried the twins spoken of in Fetzer's vision.
Orc scouts are seen roaming the cities, inquiring about the locations of the Master Crystals. Though they claim to be on a tour of Sapience (a tour which wouldn't be complete without seeing the Master Crystals), their integrity is lacking as they constantly contradict themselves. Finally, the scouts meet Dalamar, who leads them to the Warlock's Master Crystal.
Bambi stumbles across an orc soldier setting the Black and Aureliana forests ablaze. The fires spread into the Savannah and threaten the lives of the Tomacula. Once the flames are doused, Darktalon questions the soldier on the Prelatorian Highway, but Tarlin intrudes and attacks the soldier, who flees in fear.
Orc assassins, ogre knights, and ogre huntresses pursue the Tsol'aa refugees, but they are held off by Scavenger, Sunrise, Rejlii, Orina, Fuu, Santos, SIlverwisp, Oswald, and Fuu. All of the offending orcs are defeated, save for one assassin who slipped by and slew Thaa'lis and Stlerin; Silverwisp avenges their deaths and disposes of the assassin.
More strike teams of orcs simultaneously invade the cities of Sapience to kidnap their rat buyers: Shallam's Hakhim, Ashtan's Ratman, and Hashan's Liirup. Hashan made an admirable effort to save Liirup, but were ultimately too slow. Ashtan and Shallam utterly failed to repel the invasion.
As the royal family's chosen hiding place has proven unsafe, Tu'eras accepts the offer of sanctuary within the Shallamese palace. At about the same time, Myrkul finds where Kroul has hidden the rat buyers and mobilizes a squadron to rescue them. Though assaulted by a force of orcs and ogres, Myrkul's adventurers are victorious.
Kroul sends his own team into Ashtan to steal the Warlock's Master Crystal (which Dalamar conveniently located for them earlier). As the majority of Sapience is distracted by the kidnapping and subsequent rescue of the ratmen, Kroul's force removes the Master Crystal with ease. In the growing chaos, they proceed to take the remaining two Master Crystals from the guildhalls of the Sorcerers and Magi.
Amid the chaos, Sartan withdrew his patronage of the Infernals due to Raajin's sympathy toward the Tsol'aa. Raajin flees to the protection of the Paladins from the harassment of his former allies in Ashtan (notably Khalid and Lakissa, who slew him).
A mysterious being, calling himself Zh'risia, the Dark Lord, laid enchanted vibrations at North of Thera, slaying many as a result. Following this, Rivalyn and Yesua convince the Great Mhunna to sell silver to Rurin again, to aid the fight against Kroul and Zh'risia.
Through the combined efforts of diligent Achaeans, Kroul was defeated and his identity revealed. It is now known that Kroul was a pawn of Zh'risia, who planned to become a Tsol'teth Master by defeating the Church and the Tsol'aa. The scheme of Zh'risia was ultimately for naught.