[center][b]Five Hundred Years Ago[/b][/center]
[center][b]Satrea, Ethean Empire[/b][/center]

The woman let out a long sigh as her eyes wandered lazily over the mural on the far wall depicting Magalis graciously changing her people from mere humans into what they now were. She knew she was making progress, but at times, such as currently, she felt like she would be more successful in scooping water out of a sinking ship with her bare hands. Even so she wouldn’t, couldn’t, give up so long as she drew breath. To give up, to fail, would be the death of her people and she would not be the one to doom them.

The sound of a door opening drew her gaze away from the mural. How odd. She had made it clear that she was not to be disturbed. The woman sat up slightly straighter in her seat, assuming a more regal appearance as she looked towards the door and the individual who slipped through it, almost like a shadow. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she caught sight of the individual’s outfit. So this would be the moment that the fate of many would be determined.

“I have been expecting you for some time” The woman said, doing her best to keep her voice steady. “I have longed to speak to you.”

“Hmph. I’m sure you have.” It was unclear whether the gruff voice was responding to a particular statement or both. “But you will find your honeyed words will fall on deaf ears this time, temptress.” The man placed a hand on the hilt of his sword as he approached. His clothes, fashioned from the pelt of a great bear, gave him the appearance of some primordial god.

“Surely you could spare a moment to speak with me Kendrick” The woman said. The man, Kendrick, seemed to hesitate as he approached the woman.

“Very well Empress Euphemia” He said as he came to a stop a few strides away from where she sat on her throne. “I shall bear witness to your final words.”

“I seek peace” The empress said after a moment. “There need be no more bloodshed.”

“You tempt us to put down our arms,” Kendrick looked at the empress with wary eyes, “so that you can enslave us once more.  You may fool some of my brothers, but I see you for what you are temptress.”

“My people have wronged yours, this I do not deny. You are angry and rightfully so, but do you really want our peoples to continue down their current path.” The empress paused. Even a blind man could see the anger in Kendrick’s eyes, but there was a hint of hesitation in them. “What occurs right here and now will have resounding consequences for a millennium. Our children and grandchildren and our grandchildrens’ grandchildren will have to bear with these consequences. Would it not be better that we give them the gift of peace instead of the curse of war?” The empress slowly rose from her throne. “You and I together can bring this conflict to an end.” She took a step towards Kendrick, reaching out to him. “Will you help me?” Kendrick eyed the empress in silence. For a moment she allowed herself to believe that her words might reach him.

“No” He replied at last. “I cannot risk trusting you for you are the lord of demons.” The empress allowed her arm to drop to her side, feeling as if someone had punched her in the gut.

“Why have you come to this place, alone, if not to seek peace.”

“Peace will be had, once you are gone.” Kendrick’s reply caused the empress to raise an eyebrow.

“Ending wars is the job of armies and diplomats.” The empress commented. “The one who ends the life of the enemy’s leader is little more than an assassin.”

“Be that as it may” Kendrick slowly drew his sword “I shall be heralded as the hero who brought an end to the demon king, thus saving my people.”

“Queen” The empress stated.

“Excuse me?” The tip of Kendrick’s sword wavered for a moment.

“I’m a woman, therefore a queen, not a king.” After a moment the empress assed “If anything I would be the Demon Empress.”

“Ah, but it doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as nicely as Demon Queen.” Kendrick stated.

“I suppose not.” The empress said with a sigh. “You do realize my Praetorian will not allow you to leave here alive, right?” The empress asked. She would not give this “hero” the satisfaction of seeing her shake in fear.”

“For some reason I knew you’d say that” Kendrick said as he approached the “demon queen.”



[center][b]At the southern border of the Ascainian Empire[/b][/center]

The Wanderer had traveled a long and hard journey. The journey had led the Wanderer over hills and plains. Terrible thunderstorms had been weathered with little more than blankets for cover. Wolves and large felines had been an ever present threat. And throughout the whole journey the only companion the Wanderer could rely on for protection was a dog.

From a distance the Wanderer looked like any resident of Ascain. A brown cloak certainly hinted towards being a local, but a closer inspection would reveal the cloak to be of much higher quality than one would expect. The cloak itself also made it difficult to distinguish exactly how large the Wanderer actually was.

“Soon we can rest” an impossibly small voice drifted from under the cloak’s hood. “We just have to go a bit further.” The Wanderer looked down at the dog and patted it on the head with a gloved hand. The dog, a breed of mastiff, looked like it was little more than a ball of fluff. A ball of fluff with teeth. A ball of fluff that wouldn’t hesitate to attack anything that threatened its master, whether that threat be a human, wolf, or tiger.

“Shall we look for a place to ford this river?” The Wanderer observed the massive river that marked the southern border of Ascain for a moment before walking along its bank towards the west. West was where the Wanderer would hopefully find the help the Ethean Empire so desperately needed.