A Mysterious Leader arises in the West...

[Jens Namtrah]

The monster hordes were relentless, driving the Western Realms into the sea, or into conflict with those in the East. War sweeps the Islands, bringing destruction and deprivation.

But in the tales of battles and cities destroyed, a single thread keeps weaving in and out...rumors from the West. A peasant, they say. No, a noble in disguise, claim others. They say he fights alone, or with a small, trusted band, or with an army of hundreds. He is in the Stronghold of Darfix; no, he is assaulting the Volcano itself.

Only one thing is consistently told - where once there was nothing but small pockets of humanity desperately clinging to the lands, now there is a leader fighting back against the hordes...

[Jens Namtrah]

Walking back to the center of Gaston one evening, he came across a small, weed-infested building of stone. A farmer used it to house his goats now, and the roof was bespattered with the white leavings of the local fowl. Indeed, the decrepit place would not have caught his attention were it not for the three bright red stars over the entryway.

"What is this place?" he asked a passing boy he saw laden with a bundle of twigs.

"That? Dunno...think it were a temple of sorts. Ask the old 'uns" he answered, and marched on with his load.

A temple of sorts. He passed a few more moments staring at the building curiously, then seeing nothing else of interest about it, followed the boy down the road to town.

[Jens Namtrah]

The boy chased after him down the desolate road.

"Are...are you The One?" he asked breathlessly. He held a letter in one hand.

Aarn looked at him curiously. Not quite knowing why, he nodded yes.

The youth handed over the letter, then stood and waited. It was obviously very rich parchment, but tattered and stained, as if from a long journey. He opened it and read:

You are brave to travel these desolate lands. Would you be able and willing to scout for western hordes?

    Machiavel Chénier
    Royal of D'Hara
    Count of Thar Gortauth
    Priest of Sanguis Astroism

Aarn considered for a moment, but then turned without answering and continued on his journey.