The Story So Far

## The Outside World

By the time the news has hit you, it's already too late.

The capitol of Avalon has fallen, and the Kingdoms outskirts are over run with an unknown, dangerous enemy. The Gautlonders formed the first Gautish Horde for over a thousand years.. and fell at the hands of the apocolyptic army. Aridia and Nakata have sealed their borders in an attempt to fight the enemy at their walls, but no news has arrived from either Nation since the news. The High-Kingdom is in tatters, and information from outside the borders isn't much better .

The Kurasian Trade Routes have stopped trading, and no merchants are leaving for the Golden Sands. Or returning. Even the Islands seem devoid of news, only tales of shipwrecks turning up on the shore.

The Sisterhood Chapters and Churches in towns and villages are ushering any survivors to the Sanctuaries. The closest one to you at this time is 'Arcadia', supposedly where the High Queen herself is hiding out. It's your best chance.

But the journey there will be perilous. You will have to abandon your life as you knew it. No ships for the Islanders, no honorable death defending your homeland for the Nakatans.

### The Calling

Unbeknown to you close by there is one of the Sisterhoods sanctuaries. However you are about to find out about this sanctuary, should you succumb to exhaustion and sleep in this dangerous territory. As you finally bed down for the night and close your eyes. You feel the soft familiar tug of sleep, pulling you into a deep slumber. You might often dream but rarely wake with memories of them, however, this night was different.

The dream starts with you surrounded by woodland, there's a slight metallic tang to the air that invades your nostrils and coats the inside of your mouth. The smell isn't as unpleasant as the taste; you look around your immediate area for the slightest hint of something to drink. The wind suddenly picks up it blows around you hard and you feel like it's pushing you forwards, a whisper can be heard on the wind. "Arcadia" it sounds like a female voice although it's barely audible over a sudden loud crashing and clattering sound that seems to be getting closer. "Acadia" you find it hard to think with the noise and the wind pushing you harder but something finally penetrates the deepest depths of your mind and you recall a tale from a bard. "Arcadia" the tale talked of an ancient place now just legend of unbelievable power, an invisible shield that stopped the enemy from entering and slaughtering all inside. "Arcadia" the noise is almost deafening now and your heart is pounding which is making it hard to breathe. The pounding of your heart drowns out the sound of the crashing as your ears begin to fill with the pulsing blood in your veins. You notice the smell has changed as your breathing increases, it smells of rotten meats which now tortures your nostrils and it makes you gag almost to the point of vomiting.

The floor underneath is shaking; you turn on the spot when your body allows you as all your senses are being assaulted and it takes great effort to move. You are faced with a tidal wave of darkness that seems to be rushing towards you at great speed. "Arcadia" you start to run but feel like you're not getting anywhere. It's a horrible state of restless sleep your arms and legs are flailing as your mind tries to escape the horror. "Arcadia" without warning you feel your spirit being pulled away from the darkness and you allow yourself to go, thinking anywhere other than here must be better. "Acadia" a blinding white light takes your vision for just a moment, once it returns you find yourself under a vivid blue sky and you're standing in a field surrounded by trees. You feel safe, warm and at ease. The nasty gagging smells have been replaced by a summer's breeze and the darkness is nowhere to be seen. "Arcadia" you have a strong feeling that this is where you need to be and will be safe from the darkness.

You awake the next morning feeling tired and stiff but there is a strong tug deep in your heart pulling you in a specific direction. You still feel the terror from the dream deep in the pit of your stomach.

## Within Arcadia

*(Note: if you are a new character you are unlikely to know the goings on within Arcadia. You should refer to the section above in particular "The Calling" as this is the likely reason your character will have ended up at Arcadia)*

The Battle was won, the Greater Demon was driven back and the barrier was raised just in time, protecting the inhabitants of Arcadia from the Demon menace - at least for a little while longer. The victory was cut short however, as intrigue worked it’s terrible way into the celebrations. A Kurasian Merchant and a wandering Orc Shaman were arrested, accused of capitalising on the chaos of the Demon Assault to murder a serving girl of an Elven Ambassador, shattering the peace of unity of the so-called ‘Sanctuary for all’. As the newly appointed Hands of the High Queen and King work to uncover the truth with a public trial, sinister forces and dangerous foes work behind the scenes to utilise the division of Arcadia and undo the good work of its brave heroes.