"What's the problem?" Amnur, a dwarf seemingly aflame asked his friend. His beard and hair like flowing lava. Causing the surrounding air to often catch aflame. His friend, Athtar, the Emperor of the High Elven empire.
"We have a new candidate," Athtar replied, causing Amnur to nearly lose focus and set everything in the room aflame. When he was not in his forge, then he needed to constantly keep the heat he generated contained.
"You're joking, right?" Amnur asked, the news too shocking to accept. Generally, invasions were the time when candidates would spring up like wildflowers, but that is after a few years. When most kingdoms below Tier 2 have been lost.
Those holding out by then had a reason they could, and generally, that was thanks to a candidate. Most of who would die, but still each candidate was extremely important.