In the early spring of In Solis 477, a couple years after the Second Fire Bringer War, Hikusaak, holy leader of the great nation Harmonia, emerged from a centuries-long disappearance. In a short time, Harmonia's ruler rebuilds his crumbling kingdom, making it the most powerful nation on the continent once again. Faith in their returned leader and fear of his wrath cause the factions to work with each other, and the country is returned to its former glory.

It the summer of IS 479, Hikusaak decided that his nation was once again the strongest in the world. Knowing where to find several of the True Runes, he decided it was time to take them by force by any means necessary. Planning to move first against the Grasslands and Zexen, then move down to Dunan and Toran, the ruthless bearer of the Circle Rune split his massive army in two to take the True Fire and True Water Runes at the same time. However, agents among his own people work against his success. Word reached to the Zexen knights and the Chief of Karaya of Harmonia's plans, which the Zexen counsel ignored.

In a very short time, Hikusaak invaded Zexen, and the counsel refused to let the Zexen armies stand against him. It was discovered that the members of the Zexen counsel knew of Harmonia's plans and had made a secret agreement to hand over Zexen without a fight in exchange for second class citizenship for the counsel and their families. Lady Chris and her knights, as well as any Zexens that would follow her, fled as renegades to join up with Chief Hugo against Harmonia.

With Zexen under his control, Hikusaak began his advancement on the Grasslands, with multiple goals. With his army, he planned to take control of the Grassland tribes and force the bearers of the True Water and True Fire Runes to come out in the open so that he could take the runes from them. Meanwhile, the bearer of the Circle Rune would search out the ruins where Luc was last seen, hoping to find the True Wind Rune, as well as hunt down a mercenary who had defected against him, the bearer of the True Lightning Rune.

Geddoe and his team were thought to be among the first to secretly leave Harmonia and pass news of Hikusaak's plans, and it is possible they were the ones who had informed Chief Hugo of the Karaya of Harmonia's coming attack. While the Grasslanders and renegade Zexens engaged Hikusaak's army, Apple went to seek help in the nations of Dunan and Toran. Seeing that the Grasslands did not have a chance against Harmonia and that Hikusaak would attack their countries next -- with at least four of the True Runes, should Hikusaak succeed in claiming Chris' and Hugo's -- Dunan and Toran agreed to help. With the help of another spy who knew his way around the nations, the bearers of the Moon, Black Sword, and Bright Shield Runes were tracked down, and persuaded to aid in the war against Harmonia.