The World Below The War in the Heavens

Peaceful he may have been, but the reign of King Dimon III had some of the most remarkable events in the history of the World Below the War in the Heavens, including the extraordinary Tumbling Mania and the first formal magical duel ever recorded.

Dimon II wasn't always pious. His conversion is one of the more remarkable stories in the World Below the War in the Heavens.

Dimon I brings the Nightmare Years to an end by restoring the rightful line to the throne of Anaquist. He was one of the greatest monarchs in a dynasty of extraordinary rulers.

With the resources of the richest, most powerful realm in the World Below the War in the Heavens at her disposal, Queen Keska embarks on a campaign to bring the whole continent under heel. A legendary warrior with magical armour, does she succeed?

In the vast wilderness, a Demon Temple arises devoted to worshipping the fanatical foes of the gods in the heavens above. The horror is unbounded.

What do you do when you have absolute power over a realm? Devote it to self-aggrandisement, of course! Learn about Queen Enna's program of monuments dedicated to herself!

The Nightmare Years continued when Yephen succeeded his brother Zalman. His cruelty was less severe, more whimsical but appalling nevertheless.

Son of Grippina the Cruel, King Zalman carried on the family tradition for bloodymindedness.

Usurper, dynasty disrupter, wrathful seeker of vengeance, Grippina was not to be trifled with and became queen thanks to the fury of her single-mindedness, the first monarch of the Nightmare Years.

What exactly is the War in the Heavens? A timely explainer.

What's coming up in Season 3? Here's a preview: more extraordinary tales of magic, mystery and misadventure, more sensational stories of secrets, quests and romances, more insights into cultures, history and magic!

Halden I earned his unflattering nickname because of the way he walked into disaster and steered Anaquist into a nightmare, if you can have a sleepwalking steersman/helmsman/at the wheel. One thing is clear, though – it’s the end of the Foundation Era of Anaquist, however you put it.

Queen Iona's ambitions were, paradoxically, both heavenly and firmly of the world, aiming to bridge the two. Misguided, but visionary, she was doomed to failure - and what a spectacular failure it was.

Absolute power does some people’s heads in, and when it goes hand in hand with brooding resentment and the harbouring of grudges, it’s a nasty combination, but that’s the way things unfold in this period of Anaquistian history, so get ready.

Definitely a youthful monarch, his reign was marred by the legendary Lessgar Affair - a sobering story of loyalty, mistrust and petty ambition gone badly, badly wrong.

With a cognomen like that, you can guess that we're in for a wild ride this episode. Short story: if she ever offered you a plate of snacks, it was best to decline politely.

Jallox is a large island separated from the mainland continent by a two hundred mile stretch of stormy waters. Jalloxians have always considered themselves apart from the rest of the World Below the War in the Heavens, separate and better – more hardy, more independent, more resourceful, more good looking and, pointedly, braver than mainlanders.

Cunning, manipulative, scheming and ambitious, Queen Ascot I was the epitome of the Anaquist dynamic, with a flair for the dramatic. She had to deal with a slew of Pretenders to the throne, too, and she did it in her own, inimitable way.

King Blemin lived fast, died young and was buried in a royal mausoleum. No regrets.

Queen Varphina I didn’t suffer fools gladly, and she suffered villains even less. She died wrestling a giant killer boar, which should tell you something about her.