Well, you'll have to play the game to get the full answer to that question. Unlike other games, we are not giving you a back story, then abandoning it forever. Instead, our world has history... a full and rich history, but our history is still developing as you play. Since each day is new and time continues on, the world's history is developing every day.
When you play the game it will keep delivering new parts of the ongoing story, a story in which you will become a major part. The longer you continue to play in the game world, the more important your part in the enfolding history will become. If you play all the way through to Tier 7 and reach the Citadel, in the end, you will get to be a major part of the grand climax of the entire game.
However, you can read the Lore link on the Home Page of the web site to get some of the back history (though not all). I can also tell you a little about the where the story will be when you start the game.
The world of the Citadel has thousands of reflections. These reflections were created when the World Crystal was shattered. Each reflection is nearly identical, but not precisely so.
At the time you begin the game, the city that has grown up around the Citadel of Sorcery is ruled by a woman known as the Eyes of Darkness. She is a powerful evil sorceress. The seven Tiers leading up to the Citadel are each ruled by a sorcerer under her control. Each is an evil being of varying power.
At this time the sorcerers of the Citadel are at war with a being called Morphael, who has taken control of a large portion of each of the Reflected Worlds. He rules his domain from a fortress deep within his territory.
The world is divided into three zones, the lands once controlled by the Citadel (though now in various states of anarchy), the lands controlled by Morphael and the ever changing no-mans-land in between.
The lands controlled by the Citadel are not safe as roving bands of Morphael's marauders often penetrate into these lands. They are divided into many smaller kingdoms or other political entities, though technically their overlord is the Citadel. The only safe place is within the walls of the Citadel itself.
No Mans Land is an area that is in constant battle between Morphael and the Citadel forces. It is a very dangerous place where no villages or cities remain. Only ruins of previous civilization dot the war torn land.
Finally, there is Morphael's territory. This is an evil land completely under the thrall of Morphael's creatures. Entering these lands isn't suicide, but it is certainly a close cousin. Only those using high level abilities that offer stealth and concealment, or outright masquerades as one of the enemy will allow penetration into this dangerous place.
So, as you can see, two very evil forces control the world and these forces are at war. So... how do you exist in this terrible situation? You must join the forces of the Citadel, though secretly you will fight the sorcerers from within as part of a secret underground, while you actively oppose Morphael as one of the Citadel's Fallen Heroes.
You see, you were once a Hero of the Human vs. Demon war, hundreds of years ago. Back then you fought for a woman known as the Enchantress. She was thrown down by the sorcerers years later, but you were not around then, you had fallen long ago rescuing the Enchantress from the Darkhalls where demons dwell. Your mission was successful, but you were one of the Heroes that fell during the battle with the demons.
The demons killed your body, but kept your soul to torture all these years. However, now your soul has been rescued, and you are given a new body. You are one of the Fallen Heroes resurrected to bring the land back from the brink of destruction. You must help defeat both evils,that currently war for supreme control of the Reflected Worlds and restore the world to balance.
Your story continues, and much of what happened, and what will happen is still not known to you. Only through your adventures will you uncover the truth, the real full story. For this story unfolds as you play, and you are a major part of that grand climax.
If history is continuing to develop, won't I miss things if I can't log on for a few days?
You will never miss part of the Epic Story. Due to a unique 'lock' system of story delivery and progressing history, you will never miss any portion of the game's Epic story as it develops.
There is a difference between the delivery of the Epic story for each player, and the progression of each day and what happens on that day.
For example: If Morpheal's army attacks a specific town one day and burns it to the ground, when you return to play you will have missed the attack and find the town you used to visit is now a pile of ashes. On the other hand, the major events of the unfolding history are not affected by this loss.
This example attack on a town is a minor skirmish in the grand scheme of things. You will never miss the major plot developments. You will take part in some of the small acts, but not all of them.
No one will see everything, but our system makes sure you will see the most important parts of the Epic story, and that you will have a continuous story of your own that is created as you play. No other game does this for you in this fashion.
If there is a climax to the Epic story, does the game end at that point... for everyone?
The Epic story ends, not the game. And it only ends for the player that completed it. However, you don't have to stop playing the game. And, like all good stories, there is always the possibility of a sequel, and your character could continue in the sequel.
