In the wake of a saboteur’s strike and an assassin's poisoning of Duchess Aurora Adalbern, the long-serving Matriarch of the seemingly docile and peaceful Clan Adalbern. Events that herald the long-anticipated invasion by their blood foes in the Northern Icekin alliance against the Kingdom of Fecundity and their allies, the Elven forest Kingdom Ashvale and Three Rivers. Theria, the young Scion of the Clan of Adalbern, is thrust into the forefront of events becoming the new Duchess acting now as Maw of her Clan. She is assisted from the shadows by her supposedly deceased brother, now using the clandestine identity of Sideswipe and her Clan’s martial prowess by her favourite Cousin, Warband leader, Ur’sid. Theria must build on the preparations that were started by her great-grandfather when his diplomatic skills first led their human-appearing Bear shifter clan to settle their Town of Big Bear near their secret Dwarven allies, then the site on the ashen desolate land south of the human Capital City situated in the shadow of the Volcano. Influenced by The Iliad, The Kalevala, JRR Tolkien, The Pilgrim's Progress, The Well at the World's End, George MacDonald, and Beowulf. Please read Theria's saga of management of the building of Big Bear into a Fortified City and then her strategy steering her Clan through events and intrigue, which she is determined will ultimately cause both the ascendancy of her Clan and the thwarting of the plans of the Ice Elf King Gorthaur Iceberg, and the shadow curse corruption that turned him to evil.  Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge 2023. All rights reserved; please do not repost on other sites without the author's permission.