[Center][U][B]Chapter 1: The Uprising[/U][/B][/Center]

The beautiful city of M'alo has long since been renowned for its wealth and natural resources. Creatures of all sorts have lived in harmony for half a millennia, and the city's fortified walls and military have made it an ideal residence for many. However, in the recent years other cities in the south and west have been raided with little effort. Even M'alo has become victim to these unknown attackers. While their defenses have been successful in deterring the bandits, the citizens of M'alo have begun to question their own safety. Even Belloc, the city's mayor of over sixty years has grown concerned over the welfare of his people. He had sent out spies to gather information about the sudden attacks, and had found something rather sinister lurking in the shadows, but kept the information known only to his small council. In an effort to quell the fear of his people, Mayor Belloc called for an assembly to discuss plans to prevent further attacks.
On the appointed day of the assembly at high noon, the citizens of M'alo gathered at the town square awaiting the mayor and his council. The crowd was bustling with talk over their own safety and some even spoke of traveling north to seek solace. Mayor Belloc arrived in a grand fashion, walking through the crowd with a confident grin spread across his face. He greeted each individual he passed on his way to the podium, shaking their hands and even embracing some he was more intimate with. He reached the podium and cleared his throat as if beckoning the crowd to give them his attention.

"People of M'alo," his voice resounded with great spirit and authority, "as all of you know, we have been under attack by bandits over the last few weeks. Our soldiers have been successful in keeping them from breaching our beautiful city, but these bandits do not seem to know the meaning of restraint. We have lost a few great men in these raids, and many proud citizens have worked tirelessly in repairing our city walls, but our people can only do so much. However, fear not as I have found a solution to our problem. I propose that we spread news over radio lines and messengers to seek aid in keeping our beautiful city safe!" Mayor Belloc gestured at his civil servants to hand out flyers to the crowd. The flyer read:
[Indent]
[i][B]For Hire.[/B]
The City of M'alo is seeking talented individuals with combat experience to aid us in defending our city.
Each month we are willing to offer you:
One Adranium Coin
Two Platinum Coins
Two Gold Coins
You shall also be granted free residence in our beautiful city.
Come to the Tavern in M'alo for an interview and a free pint of ale should you be hired.
[/i][/Indent]
Belloc waited until the civil servants finished handing out the flyers to continue his speech. "I shall also sent our most abled messengers to post these in taverns and guilds in every city." Some of the townspeople were visibly unsettled by the steep price the mayor was willing to pay, and Belloc had noticed their concerned faces. One citizen raised his voice, as if speaking for those sharing his concern, "but isn't 800 Krell a month quite a steep price? Even our soldiers only get paid half of this!" The citizen's argument roused the crowd.
"Answer this for me," Belloc retorted, "Is our way of life not worth a few coins? What is 800 Krell to our townspeople if there is no town for us to live in? How much longer can our soldiers and workers continue before we lose more of our loved ones? I assure you that I shall only hire the best of the best, and their abilities shall be tested."

The crowd's reaction turned to Mayor Belloc's favor once more. He had been mayor for sixty years not only because of his charisma, but also because of his great judgment and ability to keep his people safe. "My citizens, I have called upon this assembly to ask for your approval because you have elected me for over half a century to keep you safe, and I wish to return your respect. I can not stand to lose any more of our people against these attackers, and I fear that this may only be a prelude to a much greater danger. So, the great people of M'alo, I shall ask you again. Will you stand with me in my cause?"

The crowd grew silent as they gazed at their mayor. Another man in ragged clothing was the first to speak up. "Mayor Belloc, I have lived in the outskirts of the town for most of my life. I have livestock and make enough to support my wife and three children, but I would rather starve for a day than risk the chance of losing any of them. I stand with you in your decision." The crowd turned to the old man, and once again, the townspeople began to whisper to one another. "Sir, what is your name," Belloc inquired to the old man. 
"I am John Sheperd, Mayor Belloc," the man replied meekly.
"John Sheperd, I will not put your family in harms way, nor will I allow you to starve. I shall be paying for these mercenaries out of my own pocket. This city is mine, and the people are my family."
The crowd grew silent once more, until a woman in splendid clothing spoke up, "Oh, my dear Belloc. You will not have to hold the burden yourself. You have my respect, and I speak on behalf of many of us when I say that we shall support you."
An older, stout gentleman also spoke up, "I agree with Madam Belfry. Belloc, you have my support as well." 
The rest of the townspeople followed suit and shortly after, the crowd began to applaud in approval.
"It is settled, then," Mayor Belloc bellowed, "I shall send our most abled messengers to post these flyers in every city in this continent. I also ask our travelers to spread word of our cause. The city of M'alo will not bow down to these criminals, and I would rather fight in the front lines and die before I see another one of my people get hurt. I thank all of you who have shown your support." 

Within a few days, word had spread throughout the entire continent, and M'alo's call for help had become a great topic of discussion in every city. Not since the great war has a wealthy city asked for aid, and many were curious about what sort of threat Belloc feared that prompted him to summon outsiders for help. There were, of course, others who saw his action as cowardly due to their own ignorance, but Belloc knew quite well that something was astir.
Creatures who had never set foot outside of radiation zones started to travel far from their native lands, and an unknown force seemed to be pulling the strings behind the seemingly arbitrary migration. Travel had suddenly become more dangerous, and only those who were brave enough took to the city.