[IC] Swords Beneath the Starlight

Prologue: A Dying Dream

The Ilyun League is dead.

Only a few smouldering ashes remain to be kicked over - a few kingdoms still struggling to maintain their land. Achaim has fallen. Orun has fallen. Tuathain has fallen. Cheswick, Ossory, Lyra, the Union of Cities - all have fallen. Only the mysterious Peasant Federation and the Kingdom of Renault hold strong, and it is not expected that their resistance will last forever.

You are a band of refugees, following the banner of Captain Brenden - he refuses to answer what he was captain of, but he's damn good with an axe, so you've followed him all the same. Those sorts of skills are useful in times like these. First came Mazelina, then Logan, then Casey, then Airitech. You're not sure who came first between Milo and Sunny, but you know the Captain is suspicious of both. Lyander and Baylee are the newest onboard, and they're the freshest overall. You walk across the plains and hills, day in and day out, hoping to find some sign of a Renaultian banner. For many of you, the journey has already been long, exhausting. The Captain insists that you're getting close. You'll reach safety soon.

Day is turning to dusk one day as the captain holds up a hand.

"ALRIGHT," he shouts, "I know this land. We're getting close. Damn close. This will be our last rest before we're marching non-stop to Renault."

He lowers the hand. "Get your things together. Get some sleep. Get what food you've got to get. It's all or nothing from here on out."