In the vast expanse of the Xia Empire, military power flowed differently than in the Kingdom of Avaloria. While the kingdom dispersed its might among the ten great families, each guarding their appointed borders, the empire concentrated its strength in just four extraordinary individuals - the legendary generals who commanded entire armies by themselves.
These four pillars of imperial might were more than mere military leaders; they were forces of nature given human form, each as mighty as an entire noble house. Their names and titles spoke of their dominion over the seasons themselves: General Summer, the "Blazing Sun General," whose fierce presence protected the southern reaches; General Winter, the "Frost Empress," whose cold calculation secured the northern frontier; General Spring, the "Verdant Dawn," whose vigilance watched over the eastern lands; and General Autumn, the "Harvest Lord," who stood guard over the treacherous western border.[1]
