The continent of Esmeria had been enjoying relative peace for the last few centuries. Only being interrupted by a few internal scuffles here and there. Overall the continent have been living in piece ever since the darkness was defeated and sealed away… 

Close to the eastern border of Esmeria, in the land of Ainalar there was a small, modest village positioned only few miles of the coast. Just outside this small village there was a large oak tree. Beneath the oak tree there stood a tall elven girl with deep-blue eyes and long, chestnut brown hair. She was dressed in a white robe with green features, such as those usually worn by apothecaries. Beside her stood a human boy with hazel eyes and a head full of disheveled light hair. He wore a pair of leather pants and a simple, white tunic. In the tree there sat an half-elven boy. He had short dark brown hair, hiding his two gleaming-green eyes. He wore a pair of leather pants and an old, green tunic which seemed to have been worn-out by its considerable use. The young half-elf looked down at his friends. 

”Come down from there Aren! Mother said we had to be home in time for dinner!”  

”You say that Allerín, but we both know that they wouldn’t care if we stayed here just a little longer.”  

”They tell you that, just because they don’t want to make you feel bad! All because of your fragile emotions!” 

”So just because my real parents are dead they are supposed to be walking on eggshells around me!?” 

”Yes!” 

Aren opens his mouth to say something, but remains silent. 

”Come on Aren! Allerín and I are tired, let’s go back!”  

”You’re taking her side, huh Robb? Alright, just cause you ask so nicely.” 

Just on the outskirt of the village; Aren, Allerín and Robb were walking at a brisk pace through the underbrush to get back in time for dinner. 

”Take it easy Allerín, it’s not like we’re going to die if we don’t make it to dinner.” Allerín ups her pace and almost start to run.  

”Some of us actually want to have hot food Aren and I thought you were the one who always threw a fit if anybody was late for dinner.” Allerín says as she grins at Aren.  

”Come on! That was one time like a decade ago, besides, it was the first time I would get to taste meat after my parents died.”  

”So now you are against the fact that my parents are vegetarians! I’ll tell you wha–” 

”Shut up!” Robb firmly planted his foot on the ground, Aren and Allerín paused and looked back at him.  

”I get the sibling rivalry you two seem to have developed, but can’t we just get along?” Just as Robb finishes his sentence the ground trembles with an great roar.  

”What is happening!?” Robb screams as it seems that the whole world is quaking. Suddenly a great fissure opened up beside them and split the whole village in half, in what seemed like a cataclysm of universal proportions.  

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”We have to get home NOW!” Screamed Aren.  

”Your first good idea, let’s go!”  

As they reach the outskirt of the city they notice the frantic chaos enveloping the village as people try to keep themselves out of harms way. The fissure had cleaved the village in half and created a colossal ravine, piercing right through the village. It seemed to glow with an otherworldly sheen, swallowing some of the unfortunate houses situated in the affected area.  

”Have you ever seen something like this!?” Aren screamed as they ran toward Alleríns house.  

”This can’t be natural!” Allerín answered trying to be heard over the ear-deafening quake coming from the shaking ground.  

”Guys, what is that!?” Robb shakingly pointed at something dark crawling out of the rift. 

”I’m not staying to find out, there is the house, let’s go!” As the words leave Arens mouth suddenly they watch in dismay as in a flash their house burst into flames.  

”Nooo!!!” Allerín let out a scream of grief as she watched her family’s home erupt into a cacophony of sparks and flames. Aren stood petrified beside her, not knowing what to do, filled with a feeling of anguish and sorrow. Everyone was filled with melancholy mixed with shock.  

They barely had time to process their emotions before all of a sudden an about five meter long snake-like creature burst out from the canyon that was forming in the middle of the town. The snake immediately started slithering in and around the withering houses. It continued to do so until it spotted the petrified bunch of Aren, Alerínn, and Robb. The giant snake creature was clad in void black armor-like scales and it also possessed two large piercing crimson eyes. It opened its great maw and coiled back ready to strike. Before a shaggy-looking man in a dark green cloak swiftly grabbed a hold of the three friends. He then pulled them out of the fierce beasts sight.  

”We have to get you out of here, into the forest!” The man said with a raspy voice. He pulled and they started to robotically follow, not knowing what else to do. Leaving everything they have ever known behind and with a faraway stare running to safety. 

Eventually the group reached the forest and they stopped as they stopped in a small clearing. Allerín slumped down against a nearby tree and started sobbing. Aren standing with a blank stare and the only one who managed to register what was happening was Robb.  

”What is happening? Who are you? What was that?” The man who Robb now could see better wore an old green cloak. Under the hood he looked unshaven and it seemed like he had been living outside for some time. Robb also noticed that the man carried a knife in his belt and a long bow on his back. The man looked down at Robb in dismay. 

”Calm down there young man, I am Bo and that back there was a lindworm. One of the ancient creatures from the abyss, I’ve ever only heard about them in stories. Until today, and I’m afraid this isn’t the last time we’ll see creatures like that crawling out from the abyss. That crack was caused by something ancient that has awoken and now it has released the ancient horrors.” 

”How do you even know all of this?”  

”I once knew someone who had gone face to face with these horrors.” 

”So you know how to fight too? Then you can help me get to my parents, they are on the other side of rift.” 

”I wish I could, but from what I’ve seen, it is looking like it has probably already cracked all the way to the coast. The only way to get past it is to go west and go around it.” 

”But...” 

”If they made it they will probably head west as well and we’ll meet them there when we reach the capital.” 

”Okay…” The whole company stands in silence contemplating the days events. Mourning the dead until Robb breaks the silence. 

”Bo? Like the bow on your back?” Bo rolls his eyes and a faint smile can be seen on his face. 

”Yeah kid, like the bow on my back, let’s just sleep.”