Haven was a lush city, walled in and protected by the natural barriers of the eastern mountain range. The city was alive with commerce and bustle, safe within the walls of Haven. The city had a single palace at its center where the king of the Elven, King Ceres churned and puzzled over the looming threat of Bestia. The king was elderly, he had light hair that was once magenta but now faded into a dim white. His aged eyes glaring out at the city, seeing dark clouds rolling off in the distance beyond the wall. He scowled angrily. “Why” he said in a shrill elderly voice “Why must they behave so barbarically?! Gigas, he knows, he knows what this city stands on! The mad fool…” he said pacing back and forth. His advisor and his young son Xan stood there silently, feeling the unease that their king radiated.

“Sir, we have every reason to believe that our defenses will hold” his advisor affirmed

“And I have every reason to believe that this is an act of tyranny! Evil itself” he said pacing in front of his window. He stopped to glance west toward mt.Blyss, its peak reaching into the heavens. “He doesn’t care about Haven” he said “The Elven and our land mean nothing to him” he pointed at mt.Blyss “That is what he wants, the reason for this war!” he groans as he he returns to staring at the impending storm “that is why we must not submit”

“Father?” his twenty year old son asked

“Xan… I may not survive this war, but should I fall you must keep Gigas from seizing Blyss” he said clutching his sword on his belt

“Father, don’t speak like that” His son assured

“I am old Xan, my day draws nearer with each breath… what an awful time for a war” he said as he sat in his throne

“Yes father” he said

“Sire” a new voice rang as the general of the army; Cassius, burst into the room “Sorry to intrude, but the enemy is planning a second attack on Cascade” the general said with a bow. The general was a young, attractive, valiant Elven with years of experience despite his young age. His tactical genius had been pivotal in putting down the rebellion ten years prior. His black hair tied in a warrior’s wolf-tail, his cyan armor gleaming triumphantly, his glass greatsword strung over his back. Cassius looked up at the king with determination in his eyes

“I see, coordinate a counterattack immediately, I don’t want the enemy to so much as set foot on a blade of grass in our providence!” the king ordered

“Already underway sire, the Beastmen will not know what hit them” Cassius affirmed. Xan had great respect for Cassius but all the same was weary of him. Xan had always considered himself as indecisive, unready for the crown, while Cassius was anything but that. Cassius was strong, decisive, determined. There was even a group of Elven who wanted Cassius to inherit the crown in Xan’s place. If Xan wasn’t the king’s son he would have agreed with them. But then again, Cassius had no desire for kingship. “My scouts have also reported a bizarre caravan moving towards Cybal from Capita. I have reasons to believe that the caravan contains new recruits for the Bestia army; Death Mages” Cassius explained “Knowing of their exploits, I recommend we attack whilst they are unprepared and vulnerable” Cassius suggested

“Indeed, utilize as many men as you need, at the least route the enemy away from Cybal. You are dismissed Cassius”

“Your majesty” he bowed before leaving the room. The king glanced back at Xan, noticing the discord in his expression

“Something troubling you my child?” The king asked

“I wish to accompany the intercept party to Cybal” he said with a wavering tone

“Absolutely not, you are my sole heir, I will not allow it, you are to remain in Haven!” his father retorted

“I do not see myself as worthy of your legacy father!” he pleaded “Allow me this one pilgrimage, please, allow me to see this war for my own eyes! If I can share in the distress of my people then perhaps I will find the conviction I need… I will remain safely within Cybal I promise”  the king pondered his son’s request and spoke thus

“Very well my son, but you are to exercise extreme caution. I beseech you, waste not the life you have been gifted with”

“Thank you father” Xan hugged Ceres

“The Dawn smiles upon you” his father said with a smile

“And you to my lord”

 

 

The Elven nation of Aldera is split into three regions, also known as the “Three Sisters of Aldera”. There was the central mountainous capital of Haven, where the economy, military and government of Aldera is housed. The terrain is harsh and contorted, only suitable to the resourceful Elven who have cultivated lush terrace gardens and farms around the tall walls of Haven. Haven is said to be utterly impenetrable. Cybal is to the west of Haven, it is a city of agriculture, at the very edge of the mountain range housing flourishing farms and lush fields of grain and vegetables. The city is actually a cluster of large towns, roughly six kilometers apart each. Cybal is the most vulnerable of the three cities. The last is Cascade, east of Haven. Cascade is located on a steep cliff side next to the eastern ocean. The city is known for being extremely well fortified and for incredible fishing. Before the Elven war, fish from Cascade was sold and eaten all over Ebren, acting as one of the main exports of Aldera. Now however, Cybal has become incredibly militarized, and Cascade has become the centerfold for the Elven Navy, while Haven is kept locked tighter than ever before in Ebrenian history. This is the last stand for the Three Sisters of Aldera