Despite where he ended up in life, Elric Morgenstern was born into every possible privilege known to Cardainia. The eldest son of Gerfried Morgenstern, Elric had the blood of one of the oldest and most noble families in all provinces. The Morgensterns had ruled the small but proud town of Wealdstone since before the first King of Cardainia sat on the throne. They had faithfully and dutifully carried out their duties, and as such enjoyed a sterling reputation and full coffers in this modern age. Had he wished it, Elric could have pursued any course that he wanted. He could have joined his father at court, and learned the ways of the royal bureaucracy. He could have joined the clergy, and risen high into the upper echelons of one of the many churches. Or he could have followed the path of coin, and expanded his family's holdings in the capital or the new cities that were growing every day. Or he could have done nothing at all, and lived fat and happy in endless hedonism as only a spoiled noble can.

But Elric chose to serve the Kingdom instead. Long had the young lad grown up hearing tales of his great grandfather, who had been the Grandmaster of the Cerulean Lancers. For as long as he could remember, he had been lulled into sleep with visions of old Bernward's deeds, and dreamed of the glories that he would have some day. Despite resistance from his father, Elric eventually got his mother, Aldona, to convince his father to let him pursue his young dream. Gerfried had wanted to groom his son for his personal machinations, but saw the benefit of having another member of the family winning honor and prestige for them after so many years. So at the age of twelve, Elric moved into the Cerulean Lancers chapterhouse in the capital city of Cardainia. The Order dictated that he would serve as Squire to Rembert Schulberg.

Some Knights treat their Squires as little more than glorified servants. But not Rembert. He was a true Cerulean Lancer, through-and-through. For near a full decade, Elric's life was a grueling and unending quest for martial and spiritual perfection. Every tool of the knightly arts was made known to him, and he eventually became as comfortable in the saddle as he was on his own two feet. And while Rembert may not have been a kind or forgiving master, he was a fair and honorable one. There was a trust and respect between the two that even death has not severed. For Rembert's last act in this world was to promote him to full Knight status within the Order, before he succumbed to consumption of the lungs. For his part, Elric took these lessons to heart, and promised himself that he would never break his vows, or dishonor the memory of his teacher.

During his time as a Cerulean Lancer, Elric served honorably, and with distinction. Among his finest deeds were the slaying of the great black Bugbear that had been terrorizing the Larton-Dawsbury Road, and placing third in the Montfort Tourney despite his youth and inexperience. But Elric's real tests began when the Doranado Empire descended upon the Kingdom of Cardainia. Like most of his Order, he was dispatched to fight the dread invasion. Elric saw terrible battle at Narthwich, Castle Lenkster, and Frostford. And it was in the haggard Cardainia counter-offensive that Elric Morgenstern fell in battle. Struck in the helm strong enough to render him unconscious, and unable to wake.

The surviving Cerulean Lancers secretly deposited Elric with an herb woman in the town of Eastwarden, in the hope that he might survive. They were unable to remain however. Weeks later, by the time Elric was able to stand unassisted, the world had greatly changed. The Kingdom of Cardainia had fallen. The King was dead, fallen to the Lady of Masks from the Doranado Empire. The Empire has installed a puppet monarchy to rule the land. The fate of his Order was unknown. And to make matters worse, the Vampire Baroness Rowena, has been given the town and the surrounding lands to rule in behalf of the Doranado Empire. Things appear most dire. Not just in the abstract, but Elric himself could be in great danger if he brings attention to himself. As he is a sworn Knight of the fallen Kingdom of Cardainia, he is still an enemy combatant of the current regime. But he cannot right the wrongs of the land on his own.

He will need to seek other like-minded individuals to fight back against the darkness...