‘THE BALANCE WARS’ ‘DEVIANCE’ On the remote world of Tarvuli, the Graaven Empire has fallen into ruin, destroyed by an alien invader it is powerless to resist. Menkh ab Dur, deposed Emperor, last and greatest Zaltec (Supreme Commander) flees the capital by command of his sister Pershiva the ‘Pohlan Kar’ (Empress) with the Imperial Guard and those citizens who join with him. Through Menkh’s cunning, but at great cost in lives, the Graaven’s stay ahead of the relentless pursuers they call the ‘Dorath Mar’ (Black Devils). Crossing the ‘Plains of Clarist’, a feat no Graaven has achieved before, the survivors reach the banks of the immense river Caxaphalc which they are unable to cross.