From far in the East, the rising sun pierces through clouds of pale azure and illuminates the earthen cliffs of the Seline Mountains. Atop the rising spires of rock, stood vast fortresses of chiseled stone and fine craftsmanship. From the skies, massive ships of wood and steel floated to and fro, powered by steam and intricate clockwork. The Calatian Empire stood watch over the land, ushering peace and prosperity to the inhabitants of the clockwork cities. Beneath the shadow of the mountain, however, metal drones scoured the countryside and soldiers bearing the Calatian flag marched between the villages to keep the people in fear and force their respect.

Far from the base of the Seline mountains, just past the border of Calatia, a caravan of covered carts carried odd goods and rare items towards the outlying villages. Though they did not make the trek often, the wandering nomads known as the Sheika were well know as circus performers and traders. As the carts pressed onward, they didn't suspect that a recent change in the laws would ultimately change their course for the worse.

"Zelda!" The morning silence was broken by the sounds of voices nearly drowned out by the clanking of a wooden staff against metal pots. "Zelda! Wake up!" An old woman spoke loudly. She was the eldest of the living Sheika, and everyone knew her as Impa.

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Zelda had been tossing and turning all night. Her dreams filled with unpleasant visions. A Kingdom covered in darkness, a world lost to time...a great evil forcing its will upon the land...Upon hearing the Elder call her name the girl woke with a bit of a start. Her hair was a mess and as she rubbed her eyes and yawned she realized her tossing had jumbled a few of her things in her caravan. She heard the noise outside and grabbed her short sword and small wooden bow, slinging them on over her simple tunic. "Coming Impa!" She said running her fingers through her hair before jumping out of her caravan and looking around outside.

The sun was still low on the horizon, casting long shadows along the ground alongside the carts. Horses marched on, attached to the front of each wagon, as they slowly made their way down a trodden dirt path. Standing beside Zelda's cart, Impa rested her staff on the ground as she looked up at the young woman. Her face was old and wrinkled, but she always seemed to wear a smile. "Good, you are awake." Impa turned her gaze away from the girl and pointed her staff towards a line of trees just off the road. "There should be a river not too far from here. Would you fetch a bucket of water for the horses before we set up camp?"

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"Of course, Ma'am." Zelda said with a smile, readjusting her weapons and getting things comfortable before she gathered up a few pails and made her way toward the woods, waving at a fellow tribesman on her way. She was so grateful that these people took her in...Impa having found her as a baby, raising her as one of the tribe, even though her fair skin and pointed ears clearly marked her an outsider. She was a Sheika at heart, and would do anything for her tribe. She made it to the smooth flowing river and dipped the first pail into the cool water. After gathering up the buckets she hefted them and started making her way back. The clear air in the trees cleared her head as she walked. She had often wondered where she had come from originally, Impa having always told her that when she was 'ready' she would know. The girl trusted the Elder's judgement....but it didn't stop her from being curious.

Upon arriving back at the caravan, most of the Sheika were busy setting up a campsite just off the road. They had moved most of the carts to create a perimeter around the clearing, for both a sense of unity and safety. From one of the carts, a middle-aged man spotted the approaching Zelda and ran towards her. "Hoy! Zelda!" He shouted, "Torrin sneezed and spooked the horses again." He stopped to catch his breath once he reached her. "We got the others to come back, but yours just won't listen to any of us." He held his hands out to grab the buckets. "Can you see if she'll listen to you? She ran down the road ahead of the caravan."

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Zelda sighed softly, but smiled as she shook her head. "Silly Storm...I swear that horse..." She handed the buckets to her clanmate and rolled her shoulders, jogging up the hill toward where he said Storm had rushed off to. She searched in front of her, looking around for the white horse. Its color should be easy to see among the brown and green of the clearing. She listened around for her horse, calling its name and whistling for her.

(Listen rolled a 17, Spot rolled a 13.)

Zelda jogged for a few minutes with hardly a trace of her horse, but the occasional distant whinny assured she was heading in the right direction. The trees bordering the dirt path farther down the road stretched high above the ground, casting dense shadows beneath the canopy. Up ahead, with her reigns caught in low hanging branch, Storm stood still. She looked like she had been fighting against the tree for a short time, but something else seemed to attract her attention.

Zelda sighed as she finally saw her horse. "I swear girl, you need to come when I call you." She walked over to the horse calmly then noticed the mare was distracted. "What's got your attention girl?" She said unhooking the reign from the branch and looking off in the direction the horse had been.

(Spot= 16)

Farther down the road, the source of the horse's panic could be seen. Five men with chain mail and spears were approaching. One of them held his free hand out in a non-threatening, authoritative pose. "You there!" the man yelled, "by the order of Archduke Dragmire, we have some questions for you."

The Soldiers wore steel chain covered in a cloth tabard with what could be assumed as the Calatian Crest embroidered on the front. Closer inspection revealed them to be quite young, though they held the air of experience about them. They were not new recruits by any means.