[quote=@Thinslayer]
I still can't help feeling like I made a mess of things. The story is a jumbled mess, and I don't know what to do with all the player characters.
* How do I give Ravadon opportunities to actually be heroic, and possibly deconstruct that?
* How do I challenge powerful characters like Edward and Reaper?
* How do I convey days/years worth of training for Kiera?
* I NEED TO BRING GRACE IN HERE! A brief timeskip is needed for communication between nations to be plausible, but we're nowhere near that point.
* The king is too weak. Why should anyone do what he asks?
* Why should the characters rescue the princesses from a dragon who they know is on our side?
* How do I link everything to the problem of the Voids?

Help!
[/quote]

1-Create a fruit seller. With really big and juicy melons. Alternatively, make Ravadon choose between "looking cool" and "safety", as in, put him in a position where he cannot run away without losing face.
2-Infighting can also help. Or just strike them where they cannot do anything. Not all threats are dealt with swords, and not all solutions can be be magical. For example, human shields against Reaper. 
3-Stranded-in-a-island-scenario?
4-Maybe the mark of the Hero reacts to some kind of fast travel method. And whose ultimate culprit is either Reaper or Sykes.
5-Pity? Or maybe the prospects of fame and fortune. Also he has a country's worth of an army, plus magicians at his side. 
6-Sykes needs no reason to crack down on an a*****e who is wantomly destroying Empire property. Ravadon might be convinced with munneh. As for Edward we can probably question his courage and call him on a dare.
7-It's bloody obvious. Since a direct assault failed the first time, they're trying subversive methods instead of a direct fight. Maybe they have sleeper agents in the kingdoms already.