The Roman Empire is the world's first superpower, but it has grown so large that its size is more of a weakness than an advantage. Furthermore, the high cost of keeping barbarians under control, both in gold and in human resources, weakens the once powerful Army. Rome is divided into two empires with two emperors: that of the East and that of the West, and when the leaders of both sides attack each other, the Goths are again caught in the crossfire. Alaric leads his own to the gates of Rome and delivers the first in a series of deadly blows to imperial power. The Huns emerge in the east and bring chaos to the world: Attila seizes power and begins a reign of bewilderment and destruction, as wave after wave of barbaric avengers attack a Roman Empire fighting on too many fronts. In the midst of confusion, the last great barbarian leader, Generic "cunning and calculating king of the vandals" becomes the architect of the destruction of Rome.