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Receiving news of her father's death, Catherine Ironfist, Queen of Enroth, sails for Erathia to attend her father's funeral. Fearing the worst, she assembles a military fleet as her escort.
Arriving on the coast of Erathia, Catherine finds an allied wizard's tower, devastated from battle and abandoned. There she learns Erathia is falling to its enemies.
Mustering local armies, Catherine marches to Erathia's capitol, restoring lost land along the way. Rescuing Erathia's besieged capitol, Catherine learns her father was poisoned with a goblet of wine.
Setting herself up as queen, Catherine goes to war to restore Erathia's borders and discover her father's murderer. In the course of war, in an attempt to counter Catherine's recent successes, her enemies resurrect her buried father as an undead lich and make him general of their armies.
Fighting her dead father's undead armies on the battlefield, Catherine continues her murder investigation and learns one of her most trusted generals was responsible.
At the war's conclusion, Catherine and her armies surround the last standing castle. Battling to the throne room, Catherine and her generals come face-to-face with Erathia's former king, now their undead enemy.
From her assembled generals, Catherine points out the traitor. The undead king attacks and kills his murderer as Erathia's allied generals stand by and watch.
Hunched over the dead body of his killer, the lich turns to the woman he named Catherine and once called daughter. Using a spell book, Catherine summons a lightning bolt from the sky and destroys her undead father.
Ascending to the throne of her vanquished enemy, Catherine speaks, "Rest in peace, father."
Commander,
I hope this letter finds you well, and has reached you before you set sail with Queen Catherine to Erathia. I regret that these trying times and the duties forced upon me have made it impossible for me to see you off in person.
First, let me congratulate you on your commission. I am glad - no, thankful - Catherine has someone of your character and abilities among her entourage. I do not hold such an unqualified opinion of some who travel with you. I know you are more at home on the battlefield than in the company of the royal court, but let me remind you that the strategies and tactics employed there are every bit as complex and potentially deadly as any found in military conflict. No, I don't have any real proof of any particular disloyalty or treachery - just a feeling.
It is unfortunate your first visit to Erathia could not be made in happier times - it is a land of beauty and stability. Or at least it has been, under Nicolas Gryphonheart's rule. He was a great king, and a dedicated ally. I will remember him best as a man of strength and fairness, both qualities have bred true in our dear Catherine. You know she has not ruled out the possibility foul play was involved in his death. Do not be too quick to dismiss her thoughts as those of a grieving daughter. True, she is saddened, but has not lost hold of her wisdom.
Hah! Listen to me and my gloominess! Just watch your back as a favor to a friend made cynical and suspicious by age. I'm sure I'm just seeing things in the worst possible light. A vocational habit. Perhaps I have been at this job too long.
Farewell, friend. I look forward to your return, to a good cup of tea by the fire, and to the recounting of your journey's tale. May the seas be calm and the wind steady in your sails.
Best Regards,
Wilbur Humphrey, Regent of Enroth