Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia

Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia is a turn-based strategy game and the third installment in the Heroes of Might and Magic series. Its story is first referenced in Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven and is set before Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor. Players can experience the narrative through six campaigns or jump into standalone scenarios against computer or human opponents.

The story is told mainly through seven playable campaigns set on the continent of Antagarich. Each campaign shifts perspectives, giving players the chance to play as the different town alignments. After King Roland Ironfist of Enroth disappears prior to Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven, Queen Catherine is left to rule. Soon after, her father—King Gryphonheart of Erathia—is assassinated. With their king gone, Erathia falls to the dark forces of Nighon and Eeofol. Catherine returns to Antagarich to rally her people and lead the fight against the evil ravaging her homeland. Erathia’s capital, Steadwick, is sacked by the dungeon lords of Nighon and the Kreegans of Eeofol. At the same time, Tatalia and Krewlod skirmish along the western border, taking the opportunity to expand. Catherine’s first objective is to gain a foothold by securing allies. The wizards of Bracada and the elves of AvLee answer her call, and together they advance on Steadwick and retake it, quickly ending the western border war. Not long after, Lucifer Kreegan, a commander in the Eeofol armies, sends an envoy claiming Roland Ironfist is being held captive in their lands. AvLee invades Eeofol but fails to rescue Roland, who is moved to their northern holdings. Catherine then invades Nighon, forcing the dungeon armies back to their island home. Meanwhile, the necromancers of Deyja—responsible for King Gryphonheart’s assassination—plot to raise his corpse as a lich and use his wisdom to command their undead armies. Even corrupted, Gryphonheart’s will overwhelms them and he becomes a rogue lich. With few alternatives, Queen Catherine allies with the necromancers to destroy the lich of King Gryphonheart before he grows too powerful. A final bonus campaign, unlocked after completing the main story, follows separatists in the Contested Lands—a war-torn border between Erathia and AvLee. Weary of constant skirmishes, they unite to fight for independence from both kingdoms. It is later implied this uprising was orchestrated by Archibald Ironfist, the antagonist of Heroes of Might and Magic II.