The world, Minthrilista as it is commonly referred to by its denizens is a world of Magic, and wonder. A world that was draped in history, and practically dripping with tales to spin from it. With many great, and mundane things inhabiting it, several great ancient kingdoms, and forgotten places. The story we are to tell is one that stands out from the rest, it may not be the best, it may not be the worst, it is simply what it is, an outlier amongst many. It begins in the Imperium of Tralum, which stands in the center of the Minthrilista, with the Dead Lands of Irisum to the East, the Wild Lands of Nerona to the West, the sea of Freedom to the North, and Mare Ferennis to the South. It is a land that has stood the test of time, having existed since the Second Age of Darkness, into the Third Age of Decline. Tralum Imperial capital Noxchester sat in the heart of the Rivershire, inhabited by many of the more ‘speedy’ races, such as Humans, Halflings, Gnomes, and Fairy Folk. The city was made of ten layers, from the front gate, to the Imperial Court at the top, set upon a lone mountain, surrounded by plains, and rivers on all sides.

In the Lower rings of the city, one can find many things ranging from simple, to outlandish. Though none of this would surpass the Science Quarter, in the Third Ring, surrounded on all sides by slums. The Science Quarter was a walled off section of the Third Ring of Noxchester, its walls were built up thirty feet high, and were reinforced with smaller towers on the outside. At first glance these walls would give off the impression they were built to guard some kind of dangerous prisoners, in a sense they were. Science was a new concept to this world, as it did not rely on magic, but rather on one's own ingenuity to come up with clever solutions to fix problems, rather than rely on the all powerful magical arts. Of course, it was also known to be very volatile, and only those deemed ‘insane’ by most people in this world would attempt the art of science. The walls were built to contain these madmen, to keep their experiments isolated, to prevent death, or injury of the normal citizen. To keep it out of sight of those who would rather use it’s chaotic elements, rather than its boundless application for good. Noxchester was no stranger to the arts of Science, as their great minds had developed the steam engine, and railways, creating an albeit small, but well crafted railroad transportation system inside of the country. Nor had the Imperial Army overlooked the applications of firearms enmasse in their armies, as the weapon had the capability to be quite deadly if used in large numbers, though they were incredibly inaccurate, and prone to explode in ones face.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Our story begins with a man by the name of Drakan, he has no Familial name, as he is but a simple commoner, no one of reputable note. In fact he is so simple, his means of work is a delivery man, nothing more. Of course, it is the fact that such an ordinary man, could leave such an impact on the world that astonishes historians to this day, and befuddles even our greatest of intellectuals. Drakan lived in the slums of the Third Ring, and would frequently travel up to the Fourth, or down to the Second ring to deliver supplies, many of his senior delivery men delivered to the Science Quarter, but they never did like to speak of it much, or so he claimed. His curiosity would be sated though, as finally, on the Eleventh Day, of the Sixth Month Jusan, year One Twenty Three, Third Age, he was tasked with delivering a cart of supplies to the Science Quarter.

Sitting in his cart before the great gates of the Science Quarter, Drakan sat, shaking in his boots due to his climbing anxiety, he looked to face the guard that stood off to the left of his cart, "What's your name? And I need your papers." Drakan reached into his waist satchel, fiddling with the contents rather embarrassingly, until finally he was able to pull from it a slip of paper, with the Delivery companies seal on it, "Ah, sorry about that. Haha." Drakan laughed nervously, reaching up with a hand he ruffled the scraggly brown hair that adorned the top of his head "Man, I need to get it cut, best not to worry about lice if I can avoid it." Drakan was ripped from his thoughts as the guard handed the paper back, "You're clear to enter, but make sure to keep your wits about you, lest you lose your life." The guard made a hand motion, and the gates began to open. "By the Nine, what could be in there that's so dangerous?" With a click of his tongue, and a snap of the reigns in his hands, Drakan had the horse pulling his cart move into the Quarter, slowly but steadily, muttering to himself, "Guess it's finally time to find out what's in here."