From our viewpoint, the fall of the Seleucarian Empire happened impossibly long ago, and its Wars of Succession are more like an ancient myth than a real event. In these fast-moving times, memories rarely last longer than a few decades, and history is written haphazardly, and seldom preserved. In all honesty, it's a bad time to be a librarian. But this account that I have assembled of the Second War of Succession is, I believe, the best and most complete that you will find anywhere on Sapience. I hope it proves both useful and educational.
I did not include a summary of the events of the Catarine Dominion, on the flawed assumption that all readers would be familiar with this period of history. Allow me to briefly redress my error. Catarin eventually married Prince Evander Christin, of the royal line of Shallam, and bore two sons and a daughter. Catarin was, indeed, remembered by history as a "Queen," even though her son became the next Emperor. Catarin used Three Moons as her scepter of office, and after her death it was enshrined at the entrance to King's Tomb, to guard her eternal soul. The Catarine Dominion, which is the common name for her period of rule, was considered a golden age, during which the Seleucarian Empire reached a new level of peace, prosperity, and cooperation. Some of Catarin's policies held the seeds of decay, but these seeds did not reach fruition until hundreds of years later. And, finally, there is the famed disappearance of Castomira's son Parni; although if you know anything at all about the Seleucarian Empire, you quite likely know of that, and his spectacular later reappearance.
Long ago, longer than the memories of most now living, I received a divine commission to gather these histories. My commission is not fully discharged, for the final fate of the Seleucarian Empire remains untold. My nephews have sworn to take up this work; I trust that they will perform admirably. For myself, my days grow short. Soon I will Transcend for the last time. Wish me well.
It is incumbent upon me to offer thanks to those who have assisted in the gathering and editing of these sources. My heartfelt thanks go to Sarapis the Logos, without whom nothing is possible; Vail Mayonet; Saracen, Krizzik, Xander, and Etakk; Morlana ni'Choya; my nephews, Orson and Josiah; Alain; all deLeons, but particularly Ariel; Averroes the Prophet; Eregast; Steel Heaven; Daine of Michael; Hermit; Blade; Ander Kurtzweil; and especially, more than anyone, my beloved Lucrecia. Rest in peace, Lucrecia. And I'll see you soon.
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