Two highly antagonistic factions, the Cassius Foundation and the Biogenics Corporation, competed with each other achieve power and dominance in society. Both sought to exploit a new species of humans, H. transformans, by misusing and abusing them in breeding and genetic engineering programs to advance their own interests. Hence, H. transformans were hunted and captured for their abilities to transform or were killed for their genes. Genetic experimentation and engineering resulted in the creation of genetic hybrids – both animal and human – with striking abilities and deformities. Of the genetic hybrids that survived, some of the creatures were quite violent and were used for guard duty or attack purposes. Other nonviolent survivors were forced into hard labor and lived in poverty. The three Houses of H’Aleth, Erwina, and Gregor tried to protect and defend the new species. These establishments instituted covenants to prevent the misuse and abuse of genetic engineering while supporting its beneficial uses. Sadly, the House of H’Aleth fell when it was attacked by a Great Gray dragon enlisted by Rafe Cassius, then head of the Cassius Foundation. Two of its members, an old woman and a child, both H. transformans, escaped and hid in Cassius’s territory until they fled to the House of Erwina. The child, whose heritage was unknown, was sheltered there and given the name Ruwena. At Erwina, both sympathetic H. sapiens and H. transformans lived and worked together and their children grew up and attended school together. Erwina was under constant threat by the Cassius Foundation. Over time, an increasing number of violent animal hybrids and human-animal hybrids entered Erwina’s territory. Most of them were genetically engineered by the Cassius Foundation with the intent of terrorizing anyone not under Cassius's control. Ultimately, the House of Erwina and Cassius meet on the battlefield with the balance of power and the preservation of H. transformans at stake. The battle was joined as Erwina’s forces faced Cassius's army in a fight they knew they could not win. The strength and number of Cassius's forces would overwhelm them – especially when confronted by his ultimate creation, the lyvulseroptera.