The world turned and with it life was forced to adapt.

Seasons went

Spring and Summer and a Winter that stayed for longer than any has ever done before.

It made people worry and farmers pay.

Those without stockpiles became gaunt or died frozen in their homes.

An unspoken balance was beginning to unravel.

Life forms once weak become strong.

Roads once safe became perilous.

The sky, once dark, became filled with lights.

Each star being a journey coming to an end,

Or so the mystics who stared into opaque orbs observed through misty frosted eyes.

A crow flew overhead.

As a caravan holding more than any one caravan should, crossed into territories governed by no one.

The caravan, run by a team much too greedy, much too eager, and much too green, stopped at a fork in the road.

In all of my short experiences I knew stopping and ruminating on decisions is never done in areas filled with such ominous winds.

With such powerful energy in the air.

Getting out, two men who rode the stage coaches, one big and plump and red like a cherry, the other long and lean and lascivious in nature began to concur with each.

They were the Baldwin Twins.

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A pair of former adventures, formerly in a high guild, now become opportunists.

Seeing the land scared.

They left the front lines for the spoils that come with fear.

From a land that ached for help, they squeezed for more.

A horse whinnied and my eyes darted to the shadows that inhabited the forest around us.

This was to be a simple quest.

A transporting of magical goods from the magical city of Regalis, to the Northern Front- where the main events were taking place.

Supplies were in dire need.

And with dire need came higher costs.

Seeing this quest as my only safe opportunity to venture North towards the front lines...I took it.

With my satchel of literature and history textbooks and my short sword, I joined their party.

Their reputation, that of the twins, brought worry.

Their smiles, the gold that twinkled, the cockiness that oozed, brought fear.

They had battled the front lines.

I even heard the taller, leaner one had even been on a raid or two.

Probably never anything more than a backup damage dealer, but still.

That impressed people the farther away you traveled from the main zone.

Hell...

It impressed me.

I had hoped to find time I'm which I could ask him more about the intricacies of raiding, but the time never presented itself.

As they continued their talking.

A map was produced, and shouts, and pointing.

A breeze whipped the air.

Horses once calm now entered a frenzy.

Shadows once far, now seemed near.

Rubbing my eyes I thought it was from the lack of sleep

But it appeared like the shadows were approaching from the darks of the forests, they made their way into the road.

Then, appearing from darkness.

A shout and a cry broke the calm

Arrows whizzed.

Men began chanting spells.

Then, the other men alongside me bellowed.

"Bandits!"

We were under siege.