The Second Empire — Paul Kearney

A lust for power
The Five Kingdoms of Normannia remain divided in their religious loyalties. There is also no unity in the face of their common enemy--the savage Merduk hordes. The' High Pontiff Himerius of the western lands is willing to set aside differences and work together--provided the regents swear allegiance to him and turn their hacks on the old Pontiff Macrobius...

A land under siege
Torunnan's king was slain in battle. The new reigning monarch is the Queen Dowager, who has entrusted Corfe Cear-Inaf--a mere commoner--with command of the remnants of the king's army. Although Corfe's campaigns against their relentless foe have been successful, the royal officers look upon him with disdain and plot his removal...

An encroaching evil
Aboard the Gabrian Osprey, mariner Richard Hawkwood and his ravaged crew flee the Western Continent after their near-slaughter at the hands of a vicious legion of shapeshifters. Led by the immortal weremage Aruan, the lycanthropes are following Hawkwood to Normannia to begin their own invasion...