Set in between "Sulahn'nehn's Rise" and "Sulahn'nehn's Judgement," this story describes how Sulahn'nehn came to power as Empress. After Leliana becomes the ruthless Divine Victoria, she sets about a series of upheavals that benefit the powerful Inquisitor as well as the elven people while aggravating many nobles and clerics. She closes the Circles, rededicates the Chantry to charity work and allies with the Inquisition... before giving the Exalted Plains along with the City of Halamshiral to Sulahn'nehn for the elven people. Their machinations continue, culminating in the assassination of Queen Anora, and the (salaciously!) arranged marriage between King Alistair and Empress Celene to create a new Empire of Orlais...