The country of Valeria. A small northern country, governed by a council of priests, led by Archbishop Saul. The climate is cool, and the winters can be harsh, but the country prospers mining its rich mineral deposits. To the south lies the country of Carcina, ruled by King Paen. The two countries have held an unsteady truce for years, sustained by trade between the two countries: Carcina relies on Valeria for its metal, while Valeria is forced to import large shipments of food during the long winters. Still, the tension between the two countries is fierce, and several times small skirmishes along the border have threatened to erupt into full-blown war.

You are a farmer, from the small Valerian village of Hearthside. Today is a special day; not only is today your birthday, but you have finally managed to save up enough money to buy a real weapon. You are preparing to ride into the nearby town of Trine, a small merchant town near the Carcina border. Trine has prospered as a trading post between Carcina and Valeria. It also serves as the regional garrison for the Valerian Holy Knights, the protectors of the weak and champions of Naga.

Before you set off, though, tell me: are you a boy, or a girl? And how did you spend your time on the farm?

(1) Boy
(2) Girl

(A) I worked the fields, harvesting crops (sword, +spd)
(B) I tended the animals, hauling hay and mucking stalls (lance, +def)
(C) I chopped and carried wood (axe, +str)
(D) I spent my time deep in the woods, hunting game (bow, +skill)

June
Class: Villager
Weapons: Axe
Skills: Hidden Potential (currently does nothing, will change depending on choices throughout the story), Prevail (become more dangerous when wounded)
HP: **
Str: **
Mag: *
Skill: *
Spd: *
Luck: **
Def: *
Res: *

Prologue: Just another Day

You say goodbye to your mother, and head out to the barn. As you saddle up your family's trusty horse, you hear someone sneaking up on you. You whirl around in time to catch a figure slipping into the shadows... trying, at least. His large frame gives him away, even when he ducks behind a pile of hay.

"Bud. I can see you. You managed to sneak up on me once, when we were 7. You're a bit too large, now."

The figure rises. "I'll surprise you, sooner or later. Anyway, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday before you ran off to town, joined the holy knights, and took down ol' King Paen. Here," he says, tossing you a satchel. "I made you a vulnerary. Just in case." He shoots you a wink.

You roll your eyes. "I'm not joining the holy knights, I just think it's prudent for a village to have a few people trained with weapons. Can't rely on the knights making it in time if bandits were to attack. And thanks for the present, but Trine's only a three hour ride away. What's the worst that could happen?" Bud chuckles, and wishes you well on your trip.

The sun is just beginning to rise as you trot out. The early autumn air is crisp and dry, and the leaves rustle with the occasional gust of wind. You wave at your father, already leading the cattle out to the pasture, as you ride past. He smiles and waves back. "Come back safe, y'hear!" he calls out.

An hour passes. Nothing eventful has happened, other than a few hares running across the road. As you come upon a grove of trees, four figures burst out, running toward you, screaming. Your horse rears, and rather than risk being thrown, you allow yourself to slide off; your landing is less than graceful, but you manage to keep your feet. For half a second, you panic, but three of the men run past, glancing over their shoulders as they run. The fourth trips and lands in front of you. Time seems to slow as you notice the axe in his belt, the gash on his leg, and the markings on his face and arms. In this moment of prescience, you:

(A) Mount your horse and ride as quick as you can
(B) Stop and help him
(C) Kill him

You're fairly certain this man is a bandit, but you can't just leave a wounded man laying in the middle of the road. Sighing, you pull out the vulnerary Bud gave you. The man begins crawling and whimpering as you approach. He flings a rock at you, but his hands are shaking and it goes far wide. "Calm down," you say reassuringly. "I'm going to heal your leg." The bandit keeps whimpering, but at least he stops moving. You open the vulnerary, and apply a bit of healing salve to his wound. As you do, you hear him muttering.

"C... C-coming... He's coming... Killed... K-Killed him, but... He's coming... Still coming..."

You patch his wound, and this seems to calm him down a little. He stands, looks you up and down, and starts reaching for his axe. You recoil, reaching for your horse. He hesitates, sighs, then turns and starts to walk, then run, away. You decide not to linger any longer than necessary, and jump back on your horse.

You feel shaken, and keep glancing over your shoulder as you ride. The sight of Trine growing larger on the horizon, however, is enough to calm your nerves. Even in the early morning chill, the bustle of the market can be heard even on the outskirts of the town. Carts come and go, loaded with boxes and sacks. You consider going to browse the stalls, but you know you have no gold to spare. After years of saving your allowance, pocket change earned for helping the neighbors with their crops, picking up coins on the ground, you are not waiting another day.

You leave your horse in the fields just outside of town, knowing he won't roam too far. You make a beeline for a smith, one you have visited several times before with your father. You were always buying tools, but you noticed he also stocks weapons and armor. You've even seen a few knights coming and going in the times you've visited, and heard a few commenting on the quality of his work.

As you stroll into the shop, a booming voice calls out. "What can I fix you wi- oh. I know you. Rowan's kid, June, right?"

"Yes, sir," you reply with a smile. You approach the smith, noticing the only other customer in the shop, a young lady with shoulder-length green hair, picking up spears and testing their balance.

"Yer father send you to pick up some new tools, eh? What're ya lookin' for?"

"An axe. Ah, not a wood axe. A... um... fighting axe," you say. The smith raises an eyebrow, looks you up and down, and shrugs.

"If you've got the coin, I've got the stock." He walks over to a rack of weapons, and tosses you small axe. "This here's a good, simple axe for a beginner." You feel test the balance, only to realize you have no idea how the balance is supposed to feel. It seems comfortable, however, and you can feel the power behind your practice swing.

"I'll take it." You place your pouch of gold on the counter, and the smith hastily counts it.

"...Yer short 50 gold." Your heart sinks. You know you've got the right amount. You open your mouth, but the smith cuts you off. "Had to raise prices. Bandits have been attackin' more and more miners lately, and it's gettin' harder to get the ores I need. Them Holy Knights are doin' their best, but they're just spread too thin."

(A) Offer to trade your vulnerary
(B) Ask if there's a cheaper axe
(C) Give up, save more, and come back next year

You hesitate. "Do you... have anything cheaper?" you ask.

"Aye," the smith replies. "But those axes are for splittin' wood, not heads. I'm sorry, lass. Your father's been shoppin' here for years, but I can't afford to go any lower on the price." With a defeated sigh, you look down at your... his axe, then offer it back to him.

A voice over your shoulder startles you, and you almost drop the axe. "50 gold, was it? Well... Just tack it onto my bill. The Holy Knights won't miss it."

Your heart skips a beat. You turn, and look the speaker in the eye. You realize she's taller than you, probably a fair bit older than you thought at first glance. She glances down and winks at you, a mischievous grin on her face. The smith shrugs, tosses your coin pouch into the air, and nods. "Go on, then. That axe is all yours."

"Mine..." you hear yourself whispering, staring down at the axe. You snap out of your trance as the lady walks past you and places three lances on the counter. "Miss..." you begin, but she cuts you off.

"I am Lady Rain, commander of the 6th pegasus wing," she says as she calmly counts out her payment to the smith. "And you can consider that a birthday present from the entire country."

"How... How did you know it was my birthday?"

She pauses. "It's actually your birthday? Well. I was just thinking of an excuse in case the commander asks me about the missing gold." She giggles. As you thank her, she merely nods and, with a wave of her hand, tells you to run along.

Outside the town, you whistle for your horse, who comes running. "I did it, boy," you say, tucking your axe in your belt as you mount up. "Let's head home."

It is still morning, though getting near noon, as you come upon the grove from the morning, where you helped a bandit. You feel a quick sting of guilt, worrying you may be indirectly responsible for the murder of some innocent villager, but the feeling passes as the grove fades from view behind you. As you near the village, you notice a figure lurking in the trees. Just as quickly, you realize it to be Bud, though he seems panicked. "Bud... What are you-"

He cuts you off. "Bandits," he whispers. They attacked the village. Your dad tried to fight them, but he was the only one, it happened so fast, I couldn't get my hands on a weapon, and he told me to run, and-" Bud continues droning on, his voice becoming louder and more panicked as he speaks. You would be worried he would pass out, if you weren't too busy worrying about your father.

"My father, is he...?"

"They tied him up and tossed him in the barn, with a bunch of other villagers," Bud begins. He opens his mouth to continue, but you hold up a hand.

"Go to Trine. Find the Holy Knights. Get help." You dismount your horse, and offer Bud the reins. "Hurry," You add. Bud looks like he has more he wants to say, but when he sees your glare, he jumps on and rides off.

(A) Try to sneak to the barn
(B) Try to sneak to the village center
(C) Charge in, depending on the element of surprise

You look up at the sky. The sun's position tells you it's a bit past noon, and even if Bud pushes his horse as hard as possible, even if he immediately gets an audience with the Holy Knight commander, and even if a team is immediately dispatched, they won't be here until dusk. Remembering what the smith told you about the Knights being spread thin, you wonder if they will come at all. You know you have to act.

You don't want to fight alone, and you need to make sure the other villagers are safe. You decide your first priority is to check out the village's barn. Sneaking along the forest's edge, you make your way to the pasture and hop over the fence. Doubled over, you hug the fence as you approach the barn at a brisk trot. You hear a voice, and realize it's coming from inside the barn. A quick glance around tells you there aren't any bandits standing around the outside of the barn, so you sneak over to the open door and peak inside.

Several of the villagers are sitting in the center of the room, though you notice a few are missing, a fearful look in their eyes. A brigand circles them, occasionally swinging his axe toward a villager, and laughing as they recoil in fear. You scan the rest of the room and see your father lying in a heap in front of another brigand. You start to scream, but catch yourself. He's moving, you realize, but barely.

"This is what happens to heroes!" one brigand yells. "Anyone else want to be a hero today?"

"I think not," the circling brigand says, grabbing a young boy by the head. The boy screams in fear, and the brigand lifts him up, as his mother looks on in horror. "Not a spine among them." He throws the boy to the ground. Your father lets out a growl and begins to struggle to his knees, only to be kicked back down. The brigand raises his axe...

(A) Charge in
(B) Watch
(C) Look at the other entrances

You release a guttural roar as you fling open the door, rip your axe from your belt, and charge head on at the brigand holding an axe over your father. The pair are completely stunned, but the one you charge snaps out of it as you approach. He readies his axe to strike you. He clearly expected you to slow down and attack with your axe, so he's caught completely off-guard when you instead break into a full-on sprint and plow into him with your shoulder. You send him falling backwards, but before he even hits the ground, you throw all your momentum into a vicious downward arc. Your axe embeds itself in his chest, all the way up to the handle. You stomp down on his corpse and jerk your axe free as you turn to face the brigand's partner.

The second brigand had started to move, but after seeing what you did to his partner, he hesitates, then begins to move toward the little boy. You feel like you have all the time in the world to pick up your axe, take aim, and hurl it spinning towards his face. He jerks at the last minute, but only enough to cause the axe to catch his neck.

You find yourself panting, a snarl of hatred on your face. The room is silent, except for the sound of your breathing. All eyes are on you, as you attempt to catch your breath. The sound of running grabs your attention, and you realize your axe is halfway across the barn. Another brigand appears in the doorway, a look of confusion slowly giving way to a look of realization, and then rage. "You..." he snarls, as he slowly begins to approach you. You look at him, to your axe, and back. You think you can beat him to it, if you just-

Your thoughts are interrupted as your father sprints past you, carrying a pitchfork. He charges at the brigand, only to have his lunge parried. Before the brigand can counter, your father catches him in the side of the head with the far end of the shaft. The brigand takes a step back, stunned, as your father drives the pitchfork through his gut.

"Pa!" you call, as he collapses.

"I'm fine, Junebug, just... need a moment t' rest. Heck, if they hadn't... snuck up on me before, I'd've... taken the lot of 'em down m'self."

You smile for a moment, before realizing... "Pa...? Where's Ma?"

Your father tries to struggle to his feet, but collapses, holding his chest. "She's fine... her and some of the others managed to barricade themselves up in the old windmill... Heard these bandits talkin' bout how they couldn't get in... Ah, consarnit, there were four of 'em... We've got t'... Hrk..." As he falls back to his knees, you pick up your axe.

"Don't worry, Pa. I'll take care of it." You dash off before he can object.

(A) Go directly to the windmill
(B) Detour through the town square

If the bandits haven't gotten into the windmill yet, a few more minutes won't matter. Pa said there were only 4, but you want to sweep the village and make sure there aren't any hiding out.

The village seems normal, except for the complete lack of movement. As you peek out around a corner, a crash behind you makes you jump.

A chicken struggles its way out of a fallen pile of firewood. You calm yourself, and continue on. You notice a few doors are kicked in, but you don't see any signs of movement inside. As you pass the general store, you glance inside and see a figure huddled over the counter. You run inside, only to realize it's too late. "Ol' Lady Hanna... You were always so nice to everyone, you didn't deserve this..." You say a quick prayer, and decide to hasten to the windmill. On the way out the door, you catch a glimpse of an elixer - when you pick it up, you find it is almost empty. You slip it into your pouch, and dash off toward the windmill.

As you near the windmill, you grip your axe. You gasp as you notice the door smashed open, and break into a full sprint. You dash up the short staircase, just in time to see a brigand bringing his axe down. You hear a dull thud, and blood splatters onto the wall. You scream, recognizing the limp form of your mother, surrounded by the corpses of several other villagers. The brigand freezes, then slowly turns, blood covering his face, a twisted smile on his face, an insane look in his eye. And then... he laughs. "The look... On your face... Ha... It's delicious!"

You feel nothing. As the brigand approaches, lazily raising his axe to kill you, your arm seems to move of its own accord. You slash deep into his arm, and he drops his axe.

He falls to his knees, seeming to hardly notice the pain in his arm. And then... he laughs at you again. "Silly girl... I'm already dead... We're all already dead! Finish it!" You pause, caught completely off-guard. For a second, you consider sparing his life... until you notice his leg. A deep gash, obviously fresh, but showing some signs of healing, as if someone had treated it with a vulnerary...

Realization washes over you. You bring your axe around, completely severing his head.

You feel numb, completely numb. You manage to stumble out of the windmill, tripping down the stairs. You vomit, but manage to reclaim your feet. All you want is to escape the carnage. You stumble, half-aware, back to the village. As you approach, the surviving villagers come forward to meet you, two of your father's friends propping him up.

"...Junebug? What... What's happened?"

You feel your consciousness slip away.

End of Prolouge

New character!

Rowan
Class: Soldier
Weapons: Lance
Skills: Underdog
Items: Iron pitchfork
HP: **
Str: *
Mag: *
Skill: **
Spd: **
Def: **
Res: *
Luck: *
Currently wounded