The story begins with The Realm in utter turmoil. To the south the DanSorroways and Dagon mass for civil war, and to the north lay the violent and chaotic Utryce who hamper and harry (in a hairy manner) any who dare threaten their borders. Further North lays New Adathen, home of civilized brutality, a powerful warring kingdom filled with political intrigue, mercantile chance, and the possibility of peace if it wasn't for it's own blasted, violent citizens.
The story technically begins when a cinammon-skinned, golden-eyed, silver-haired stranger stumbles into the mutant- and undead-infested ruins of the city once known as Silverin. From there, Zedd One, meets another golden-eyed, silver-haired stranger and the two form a strange enmity, and a kindly physician who slowly succumbs to the charm and power of the semi-demonic Maes (the second stranger).
From there it become a whirlwind of ambition - the two, in their own separate manner, mobilize and organize the remant, mutant, canine humanoids who still infest the ruins. Maes begins to form his cult while Zedd places his on a strange training regiment, bringing to them a kata never seen within the Realm before, one that slowly begins to shape their customs, lifestyle, and thoughts, elevating them beyond their monstrous nature to something closer to civilization.
The duo secure food from a magical inn for their people, but recognize that there is much to do. Enlisting martial law and training upon the people, they take a small coterie of their closest (including the children of the humanoids, all forming under the banner of the local gang known as "The Wascra," led by a bright young pupling by the name of Abigail, who throws in her lot with Zedd, the first human to show her kindness) and set out to explore the mountains to the East, then to tumultuous Dagon in the South after enlisting the help of one Kurwen McNebb, a fierce werewolf lord who pledges himself to Zedd's cause.
Coming across New Adathen patrols and various units, they eventually discover old, powerful alien materials and more. Leaving behind the genius Gears Fibonnaci to take care of the dig site, they then made their way to Dagon itself, finding the place embroiled in a powerful inner strife. Before they can enlist the merchant routes to deliver foodstuffs and more (using just a little deception, sowing the rumors of a fabulous merchant kingdom known as "Central," later renamed Centraal which is easier to say by the locals), they must first unify the two Bastions that control the rivermouth, hemming up the merchant boats as the two sides (Naril, DanSorroway, and Dacoit New Adathen agents thrown into the mix) fight for control of the river/seaward merchant routes.
Not having any of THAT guff, Zedd learns more about the Realm itself, it's various peoples, and what to expect. Finding a ki master and Dacoit agent, Zedd begins to make his first connections to New Adathen, whom he has chosen to approach for help. Revealing his mission (to locate the final Scion of the Baskervilles), he also comes across a scene of utter terror as Maes takes on Naril terrorists, summoning a massive demon known as "Chickenwing."
At first deciding to kill Maes, his witch concubine, and the physician (who has completely fallen under his spell), Zedd realizes his chance to assassinate Maes has passed as the moment is shattered by those who have also noticed the demonic, winged creature.
Eventually raising up a ragtag military force (and dealing with a few interpersonal issues between them, especially the werewolf Kena and the Riflewomen, a military unit she had fled upon becoming a werewolf accidentally), Zedd, Maes and their combined forces stormed the bastion, taking the North one before using a dried-out, underwater tunnel (narrowly drowning) before undergoing heavy action to take the Southern one as well.
At first willing to give it to the Naril (having thought to give them the same chance he gave the dog-like humanoids), Zedd's intentions were nevertheless betrayed by Maes, who knew better than he what the Naril were like. Killing the Naril captain with a misfired cannonshot, then escaping detection and appearing to arrive on his own, Zedd at first sought to once again kill Maes only to back off, too exhausted from the recent siege.
Giving the Northern and Southern Bastions to New Adathen agents, the Centraalians found themselves at the head of a new caravan, heading home to an upgraded, improved Centraal. Though there were still ruins, there was much improvement that had been made.
For the next week or so, Maes saw to his cult while Zedd saw to the training and establishment of Centraal as a true merchant kingdom and corporate franchise of Baskett, Ervall, and Ville - the first ever seen in these parts and an experiment of sorts for the Dolanese. During this time he took in the leader of the Darians, Sarr, who had proven himself a loyal, if stern, supporter of Zedd's cause and the cause of Centraal. A man with a past as shady as Kurwen's, he fit in quite well to the colorful cast of characters who were growing to control Centraal's main government. Along the way came a black market profiteer and master who had once controlled Silvenir, Messr. Veen, and with him the thriving marketplace Zedd had wanted came to fruition, as well as control of the shipping rights and more.
Through Maes efforts, a pirate company swore themselves to the cause of Centraal, providing an instant navy and control of shipwreck rights, protection for the sea routes, and more.
Once Centraal had been solidified, the Darians helping to rebuild with an amazing speed and efficiency, Zedd and company decided to achieve one more goal to help solidify and protect their borders - to go to the Highland Games and ask of the Utryce peaceful measures and prosperity between their people, to help provide the dog-like humanoids a fresh start as a civilized people, and to also approach a particularly known sorcerer whose estates lay nearby.
Also within the mansion, there would be the answers towards Maes infernal nature and history, unknown even to him.
What they found was a house of the undead, run by a semi-lunatic wizard of historical renown and timeless age. Kurwen's connection to the sorcerer was revealed, and more of the Realm's chaotic history (with the sorcery as a focal point) came to light. Much information regarding Maes' nature was gleaned, and a magical bed revealed the truth of Zedd's bloody history, being the survivor of the Slaughter of his people, and the proof that he was something beyond human, something that only his master, the third partner who led the House of Baskerville, had known of.
It had also cured Kena of her lycanthropy, and revealed Honey (a recently acquired lover of Zedd's and a suspect agent of the Dacoists/Rilfewomen/everyone else who has paid attention to Centraal's rising) as a double agent, something Zedd had practically known from the get-go but did give him comfort in knowing that at least she wasn't there to kill him outright.
But what a way to go!
Eventually the caravan made it's way, obstacles aside, to the HIghland Games. To the champions of the games would go the council of the Utryce, who would hear them out and give them their wish. Having won more than it's fair share of games, Centraal was proven a force to be reckoned with, eventually taking the Hurley as well, the combat sport that the Utryce loved above all, after teaming up with the Riflewomen of New Adathen.
It was then revealed that Kurwen McNebb was once the king of the Utryce, and with his help a treaty was formed between Centraal and the Utryce, with terms that were agreeable and even sanguine towards both groups. In his rough way, Kurwen took the throne of the Utryce and his rightful place amongst them, lycanthropy aside, and pledged his friendship and good tidings to the young General Zedd.
It was also during this time that Zedd developed stronger ties to New Adathen, clearing up misconceptions and drawing up paperwork that would prove friendly mercantile goals for both kingdoms. It was also during this time that the truth was revealed to him: that he was a creation, a flesh golem of sorts, of Davis Matthews, his master. It was also where he met, and fell in love with, the grand mistress of the Dacoit religious warriors, the woman known as Noy.
Having more than met his match with her, his determination and pathos nevertheless reached her, and the chance to spread the Will of Dacoi to Dolan proved too great of a temptation. Pledging herself (to her own means) to aid the Baskervilles in rebuilding, she also revealed even more of the nature of existence and Dacoi to Zedd, who accepted it easily.
Having become her student and pledged himself to her particular path of Dacoist training, he nevertheless heard of a conflict brewing in Centraal. Flying back with all due haste (leaving his horse, Bad Luck, back with the Utryce), Zedd and Maes joined the defense of Centraal against a strange coterie of Naril Darians, the dog-humanoids who still worshipped Chickenwing, and a beautiful woman who could only be described of as a goddess of death herself.
Joining the wicked melee, Zedd chased the woman into the bowels of the Scholarium, finding his uncle Megadeth (the man who helped him escape Dolan with Bad Luck and a renown, interdimensionally powerful wizard) with the woman. Megadeth challenged Zedd to defeat the new obstacle and the true goal of the Naril was revealed: the release of the student of a powerful god, who had been placed within the rotting wyvern carcass known as Chickenwing, normally shackled to the sewers beneath the Scholarium.
The fight that ensued lasted from the sewers, up through the ground, and into the air as the creature changed shape and attacked again and again. With he help of the Riflewomen, the combined Centraaalian forces, and the might of the Mordu "Monsineros," Zedd took on the massive, demonic dragon that the creature had become, using every trick and ability he had learned on his journey to the very last and final trump card: skewering the dragon not with his greatest, strongest technique but most violent, the Shok Paris, driving his enchanted rapier deep into the dragon's throat.
He then met the heroic leader of New Adathen, who had come to save Centraal himself: Lord Taran Denebar, whom Zedd had been chasing since he first arrived in The Realm. From there a quick flick of the wrist by his loyal magician, Mistress Quinn (secretly one of the wards who were the physical representation of the walls of reality itself), Zedd's other goal was then presented to him: the woman Madeline Baskerville, the Scion and last bearer of the bloodline of the Baskervilles. Once Zedd had acquired her, he was ready to lead her back to rebuild the House, part of a game played by the higher Houses of Dolan. So long as he returned the last of the bloodline to take the throne, the House would be given all dues, credits, secret merchant routes and more, not just of Baskerville but of Corvinus, who had failed to completely wipe out the Baskervilles.
It was then revealed that Zedd was more than a mere flesh golem or homonculi - it was true he was created by Matthews Davis, but he was made with the genes and blood of all three who ruled the Baskervilles: the Patriarch, the Matriarch, and Theodurga (Matthews) himself.
Madeline wasn't the true Scion of the Baskervilles, but she was the final goal, the one to tell him the truth and to help him rebuild the Baskervilles.
Zedd himself was the true Scion.
Amidst revelry and celebration at the victory for the combined forces, Zedd found himself awhirl in a series of drinking, planning a massive party with the boisterous warrior-king Denebar and his strange-humored Mordu friend, Morisinos, and amidst it all lament that in the carnage of the grand battle his own sleeping quarters in Under Colosseo had been destroyed.