Crossing the continental divide, and meeting up with new allies and foes alike, an ever-changing group of adventurers dive into an unfamiliar realm and deal with the cultural and faith changes they encounter in this, the realm of the Allfather's Will.
Welcome to Western Hibreo, domain of
the High Nations of Erideos.
BOOK ONE: A STRANGER'S JOURNEYChapter 1: The Traversal of Continents
The adventurers Sayu
Mogi and
Hirohito Sempai cross the border between the Empire of the Moon and
the High Nations for a small errand, intending to return to their idyllic life in the Empire. They are solicited in Felrun by the enterprising riflewoman Enid Sawyer to accompany her to a thieves' hideout, and Hirohito meets his end by the hand of a large goblin. Scrambling to reach the town of Moyenne after their loss, they are greeted by
Katsu Don, a street urchin from the Free City, and stay at a tavern, where
Gabriel McAllister and
Lorenz Mogi Faizarre join their quest to explore the Dragonsmouth Mines. It is there that they discover Fidelos Stratos, a renegade member of
the Black Church with plans to resurrect an ancient dragon. Having vanquished him, they are made enemies by
the Black Church, as announced by
Cyril Samhain. The Archbishop of Felrun, Rudolf Wander, asks them to come to
the High Nations' capital Altafidea, in order to receive honorary dues for their service.
Chapter 2: Divergent Points
After a hasty conversion to the Church of the Allfather and
Gabriel's acquisition of a warhorse, Sayu and her companions are about to board a skiff to the Free City of Erideos when they are greeted by Amarante Monteil, who had been hired by Enid to replace her upon receiving urgent news; and Roc Awne, a cleric from a faithless country. Airborne, the group runs into
Luc Bouchard, a swashbuckling junior member of
the Black Church, who boards their ship with an armed force and attempts to kill the crew. The group succeed in boarding
Luc's ship, and
Luc (the only surviving member of the boarding party) escapes with
Gabriel's warhorse. Taking command of the wheel, Sayu is unable to properly fly the vessel and it crashes. Miraculously they all survive, but
Gabriel is comatose.
Chapter 3: Tidings of Sorrow
Katsu, having travelled to the small town of
Insett (in the Lefinian) by horseback, meets up with the beleaguered group, tired and needing rest. In
Insett, they are joined by a wizard named Akkarin Tremmelin. Their hope for respite is short-lived, as a liquidation force from
the Black Church razes the town, killing all the occupants and managing to emasculate
Katsu, prior to Sayu running negotiations between her and
the Black Church (who want to capture her). Having fled
Insett, they flee for Copros, bordering the country of Aram Elbin and rest there.
Gabriel and Roc move to a garrison in order to seek
Gabriel's healing, and after a strange series of events Akkarin, Sayu and
Katsu are arrested for disturbing the peace on various degrees, and leave town abandoned by Amarante, searching for a supposed treasure in an ancient temple.
Chapter 4: In the Temple of the Hidden Kingdom
While Sayu continues on her descent into
evil, poisoning
Katsu secretly, the party attempt to traverse the first level of the Temple.
Katsu's life comes to an abrupt end when he succumbs to the effects of the poison on his bloodstream. As Akkarin and Sayu attempt to traverse the temple, they are trying to make sense of the clues presented by it to them - relating to an ancient kingdom and a prophecy of redemption. Having traversed the first level of the dungeon successfully, Sayu and Akkarin waste valuable time attempting to solve the puzzle blocking access to the rest of the floor. With the arrival of the mysterious warrior Akira Kenshin, the group traverse through the second floor without much issue, although both magic-users find Akira's power suspect. Venturing further into the Temple, Akkarin and Sayu realise that Akira is far more than they gave him credit for, as some portions of the lower levels react specifically to him.
Chapter 5: Unwelcome Truths
As Akira, Akkarin and Sayu travel to the bottom-most level of the temple, they come across Ururu Harada. Although they greet her, she gives them little attention and leaves, puzzling the trio. They then enter the Sheathe of Coronation, the room housing the legendary sword itself. It is here that they discover three truths - Sayu
Mogi is not an actual
Mogi, but seemingly a member of the venerable House Tenser; Akkarin discovers he is last of a line of retainers to the Kingdom of Terfini; and Akira is forced to confront the fact that he (as Erebus) is the cousin of the Queen of Terfini, Samantha d'Arle, and claimant to the sword himself. Aware of this, Akira decides to surrender the sword to his cousin and they are mysteriously transported to a beach. Upon getting their senses back, they discover a boat approaching them. A welcoming party brings the three adventurers to the city of Oressa in the Island-state of Terfini. The Queen, in her wisdom, had called her remaining retainers, their serfs and various mercenaries in order to bolster her troops against the invasion by
the High Nations to retain her territory for Aram Elbin. The Peddler, her arms supplier, calls on several mercenaries from Wedgetland and Verserad; Harada calls upon Shin-Ku, a loyal vassal from Shiroukoku. With the fortuitous arrival of Sayu, Akkarin, Akira (now Erebus) and the sword, the Queen feels that she is fully ready to repel the attack, and a main defense force is established by the Peddler and housed in the War Room. Erebus is separated from the group, and is not heard from during the night; however, assassins infiltrate the War Room, led by a mysterious character named Luna, intent on finding an "Erebus". When Bjorn, a barbarian from the wilds of Verserad, claims to be Erebus. a skirmish ensues - complete bloodshed is prevented when Sayu declares that Erebus is not with them, but is sequestered elsewhere. Luna bids them goodbye and phases through the wall, bewildering the group. After being resettled in the women's quarters, the group has a troubling rest, being woken up at dawn the following day to witness the arrival of
the High Nations fleet, and thus the beginning of the Battle for Terfini.
