The story is set in the same world that has been torn apart by a war for control. Guardians of the Light takes the position that good were victorious and now the stages of rebuilding have begun. Of course, as is the way with most believable characters, not even the good guys are completely good. The Empire is rife with conflict as three factions vie over the now empty throne. The religious right has made it into this story heavily with their inquisition and hot pokers and the like as well as the assassin army of the former intelligence minister. Meanwhile, the Mountain Clans are trying to recover from the catastrophe that rocked their world at the end of the first game while they also try to find a way to talk to their god Wotan. And of course, those bad boys that just won't stay dead are back to muck everything up along with their Damned friends. The story is told in the same style as before, dark, dirty, and brooding, minus the voice-overs, which is too bad because I enjoyed them in the first game. The story progresses through the use of in-game dialogue, missions, and briefings, all of which propel the fiction along in good form. Those that are new to Disciples II completely will find the original campaign very well done with voice-work where appropriate.