Just North of Altdorf, not far from the village of Frederheim, the cult of Shallya maintains a Hospice. Behind its imposing walls, troubled souls are given succour, and a lucky few find respite.

Not so for one of its denizens, however, who is tireless in her mission to compile a record to outlive the world — her Archives of the Empire.

The End Times are coming, and her quill is ceaseless in a frantic race against time. Her letters find their way to every corner of the Empire. Each missive begs its recipient to reply with thoughts on some specific matter. She claims to be Princess Isabella von Holswig-Schleistein, sister to Emperor Karl-Franz I. Stranger still, some who reply seem to share in this delusion.