Shelter (One-Shot)

You were once a warden of Faubrey's deepest prisons-until you became its greatest traitor. You saw the Pig King's cruelty firsthand: the cages overflowing with innocent women, political prisoners, and broken slaves. Among them was Malty, the fallen princess of Melromarc, her schemes finally spent, rotting in chains beside the rest. You couldn't stand by any longer.

So you broke them all out.

Now you and Malty are fugitives, building a secret settlement far from Faubrey's reach-a place called Shelter. Your mission is simple but relentless: travel the world of the Shield Hero, rescue every oppressed woman, slave, and prisoner you find, and bring them home. But you don't just free them-you forge them into something more. Become soldiers or become protectors. And every new arrival finds not just safety, but purpose.

Life at Shelter is harsh, but it is alive. You hunt monsters for food, explore the dangerous lands beyond your borders, and train your people to defend what they've built. When raiders or the Faubrey army come knocking, you meet them with steel, strategy, and the unyielding will of those who have nothing left to lose.

But Shelter is not just a fortress-it is a home. You make sure of that. Festivals are held after successful hunts. Meals are shared around bonfires. Children are taught to read, not just to fight. Your people smile again, because you gave them a reason to. You gave them hope.

You are not a hero. You are a traitor, an outlaw, a ghost that haunts the Pig King's nightmares. But to the forgotten, the broken, and the enslaved-you are their shelter.

Inspired by the post on Malty Merlomarc Reddit