Desilim

Prologue

The tree outline is a few hundred yards away, old gnarly branches swaying in the gentle breeze, the trees tower high into the sky like ancient giants who have become part of the landscape, huddled so close together all who pass through here would barely be able to see the trail that they traveled to get here, away from the other towns and cities of this world.

As travelling folk would draw closer to the edge of the woods they would be able to see an old stone tavern, the dim flickering of candlelight would be seen and the muffled voices of drunken men would be heard.

Just behind and to the left of the tavern, the city of Selu'vein will be seen, the whole reason most travel from their hometowns, to make a more prosperous and fulfilling life in a city full of opportunity for all who seek it. Adventure awaits every man, woman and child who will open their arms for it here.

The dancing light of candles and log fires can be seen in the distance, blending in with the burnt orange sunset, dusk is approaching, the Citadel can be seen as just an outline, its grand towers, open windows and the banners flying high on the spires of the family who occupy it.

Selu'vein is a grand city with many twists and turns within the streets bringing you to many lost and forgotten places, old abandoned shops, and the run down and ruined homes of old and forgotten lives.

Many market stalls and shops line the main streets inviting all in to buy armour, weapons, food, clothing, jewelry, potions, spell books and much much more, anything you wish you could possibly get your hands on, within the trading port hub of the world nothing is out of sorts for one to get their hands on and purchase here.

Large ships are docked at the port, west of the city, carrying masses of cargo; people, animals and other items of interest for the citizens and visitors of Selu'vein, nothing is out of sorts for purchase.

With eyes the colour of his enemies blood, Rune Ardugon peers through his hair, it's as white as the snow that carpets his home in the frozen north, seeing stables and farms nestled together neatly on the very edge of the city, growing crops and feedings animals to ready for slaughter are to be sold on to feed the hundreds of thousands of city folk that live across Desilim.

With his animal like hearing Rune can hear the faint sound of horse's hooves on the filthy cobblestone streets that connects the city together, but knowing that around every corner, hiding amongst the shadows will be someone more than willing to mutilate a stranger for the few possible coins or valuables that they may be carrying on their person.

Selu'vein is a deadly city if you don't know how to act and how to keep yourself away from trouble. Rune smiles at this thought knowing that he is more dangerous than anything anyone could hope to find in the expanding land.

He shrugs away the thought of bloodied bodies littering the streets, hunches his broad shoulders, adjusts the worn leather satchel that drapes over his aching shoulders and starts forwards once more wrapping the black leather coat with red fur lining around his pale body towards the tavern before him.

"I wonder if it has a bed..?" He asks out loud, knowing that no one will be able to hear him from out here, the wind picking up speed and rain starting to fall, drenching everything within minutes.

He looks up at the now pitch black sky far above the trees to see the clouds, he sniffs the air "Gonna storm soon I reckon, can smell it" another comment he knows will never receive a reply this evening. As he approaches the building he notices the door is falling off of its hinges, evidently having been broken recently and a quick repair having had taken place to keep out the sharp bite of the approaching winter.

Having been born and raised on his family's farm for twenty years in the unforgiving and frozen north of Anion, Rune is used to the cold, this weather is warm for him but that doesn't remove the uncomfort it brings. Teeth chattering out of habit, he carefully pushes the ancient door open, hesitant in case it were to fall off.