MALTHAWK
PROLOGUE
Once long ago, when the line of kings had not long ended, the survivors, those not corrupt, formed an alliance. Three cities were built, each facing outwards in a triangle of protection. In the centre was a valley, which was used for quick escape. Some of the original guild, the men and women who had witnessed the cities birth, had tunnelled outwards. It was the perfect escape plan.
Acmarth was the chief town, the busiest. It was at the very point of the isosceles triangle, with Nilya to it's left, and Malthawk to it's right. Acmarth was a business city, with lots of trade and jobs. Nilya was a rural area, mostly woodland and hills. This was home to the Samangrin, a race of savages best avoided. Malthawk was the most peaceful of the cities, and was often the peace bringer when the other two towns clashed.
Long roads linked the three cities. Each road had three lanes in each direction, and about a five metres away from each side of the road was a wall. It was short enough to let in light, but high enough to prevent attack. Archers patrolled the walls. Each was similar to the Great Wall of China, but paled in comparison. Anyway, they weren't there to look nice. They had a job. They protected the roads. The roads were important – if the roads were stopped or blocked in anyway, direct communication between two cities was lost.
In each city was a lord. This lord was not as powerful as the original king and queen, but governed everything on his land. He owned everything, and everyone. Only in Nilya was the lord forgotten as a leader. Nilya was not corrupt, but had long lost proper civilization. Still, the other lords had not given up, and still forced a lord upon the Samangrin.
There were many races in these cities. In Nilya there were the Samangrin and the Milstiers. Milstiers were ordinary people, but as each city had its slightly different language, each had a different name for its people. From Acmarth, Royaliers, upper class citizens, and Lowstiers, normal people. In Malthawk, everyone was considered equal, and so therefore they all had the same name – Ancinthians.
As mentioned before, Nilya and Acmarth often fought. Sometimes the Samangrin just got bored and cut off their roads. Sometimes there were disputes about money. But all the same, they often made up without any bloodshed.
Except for once. The Lord of Acmarth, Rowe Ferdinand, had exploited the people of Nilya for several years, and they had tired of it. They united as one race and challenged Acmarth. Acmarth, unfortunately, was too powerful to resist, and the war ended with Nilya being completely destroyed.
There had been several attempts to rebuild it over the century since it's demise, but none successful enough to lead to a new city. The road was derelict, with most of collapsed on top of it, forming a sort of tunnel. No one dared venture through it. Nilya was a city of the dead. It would stay that way forever.
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