The Imperium stands tall as the world's greatest nation. Its armies are legion, and they march onwards on the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Greatest among the Imperium's vast symphony is the Emperor, an enigmatic figure whose mere presence can move the darkest of souls into tears. However, there is a great darkness that festers below the Imperium's velvet visage—corruption runs rampant, banditry whisk away countless futures from the poor, and a myriad of strange foes beset the Imperium on all sides, ready to feast upon its rotten corpse. Yet, the Imperium endures—for now.

The Emperor is dead.

Someone had killed him; his corpse was found on the base of a flight of stairs. Heirless, the Imperium risks total collapse—unless somepony intervenes. Empowered by the cries of support from his subjects, River Swirl, a young noble from the House of Swirl, enters the fray, seeking to purge the Imperium of its infestation; but at what cost?