The initial tutorial missions also introduce new players to a plague spreading over Cantha. In attempting to find its source, the players discover the mark of an ancient evil from Cantha's history, the disgraced imperial bodyguard Shiro Tagachi. Two hundred years before the events of the story, Shiro murdered the emperor he was sworn to protect, and was himself promptly slain for his evil act. Shiro's death wail triggered a calamitous event, the "Jade Wind", that swept across the continent of Cantha, turning the sea into solid jade and the "Echovald Forest" in southern Cantha to stone. (This back story was featured in a full-motion cinematic trailer for "Factions".) Togo recognizes the mark of Shiro and rushes to inform the emperor; the player characters, under his direction, head to the seat of the Canthan empire, the sprawling "Kaineng Center".