Welcome to the magical world of Arthenia. Arthenia is a world deeply divided by the ideologies of man and the forces of nature, clashing in an epic battle for dominion. It is your task as a warlord to unite these disparate forces in order to achieve conquest. The alliances you choose to form will determine the very nature of the army you enter battle with. Thus, the decision of who you will side with is not one to be taken lightly.

Ideologically, you must first decide whether you will ally with those who favor order and structure or those who herald chaos and freedom above all else. Having done so you must make an appeal to the followers of the natural world or the harbingers of industrial progress. Your allegiances amongst humankind will largely determine the types of mercenaries, locations, and equipment that you will have access to in battle.

Finally, you must choose one of the four elements of Arthenia you will specialize in. Mana, the essence of life, consists of the elements of air, earth, fire, and water. Each of these elements is capable of both giving and taking life - killing and healing. The element you choose to specialize in determines not so much what you can do, but the ways in which you will do it. The elements are the most potent sources of magical spells and creatures. Furthermore, each element consists of a race of highly adapted and evolved humans who will aid you as mercenaries.

Familiarizing yourself with the different forces at work in Arthenia is only the beginning of your journey. Becoming a master of war is no trivial task. The quickest way to learn the art of warfare is by finding experienced warlords and training under their guidance. In the absence of an experienced warlord's guidance, the Conquest starter game will provide you with comprehensive basic training. Beyond this start to your journey see the introduction to Conquest series for a training refresher.