Prologue:

The land of Tyria is vast, lushes, beautiful and full of such wonders I myself have not seen them all. There are about six main races of humans that live within this gigantic land. The Knights, Monks, Necromancers, Mesmers, Elementalists, and people like me, Rangers.

Knights run the kingdom near me, Ascalon. They are brave, noble, and live for tradition. I have never met one in person, but I've watched from afar my whole life and I dare say the men are very handsome.

Monks live within the city walls, running the temple and Monk Academy where young boys and girls go to learn that way of life. My best friend is a Monk, Alcan. I used to see him all the time when I was a young girl, but I haven't seen him in four years now – he was sent to the Academy to live. Monks are sacred, holy and rumor has it powers given by the Gods.

The shadiest race of all is the Necromancers, serving their underworld god, Munne. They can control the dead, raise corpses, and study black magic. I've yet to be to Ascalon, but I've heard that they perform magic tricks in the streets, while their cohorts rob those watching.

Now Mesmer seem very interesting – to me at least. They use illusion against their enemies and are known to be very antisocial for some reason. I know very little about them, and I wish to learn more, but for a Ranger, life is in the forest.

Elementalists are like Rangers but city breed and are so in tune with the elements that they are able to control and use them to their own personal use. I personally think if I was anything else I'd want to be an Elementalist.

I, myself, am a Ranger. The 'forest folk' many call us. We live within the trees, are one with the animals and prefer the soft sound of the wind to the loud city music – well most of us. I do love the way of the Rangers, but I long to learn about others, to see their way of life and to maybe learn their 'magic'.

Magic is forbidden where I live – Lakeside Country. We're just outside of Ascalon, houses hidden down in a valley on a small piece of land ducked behind the Northern Wall.

Tyria used to be a beautiful land – used to be. But an unruly force has come and we are now at war with most anything we are unsure about. Just last week the Rangers killed a creature I have never seen. They brought the hide back for us to give thanks to the Goddess, just in case we had killed a child of hers without knowing.

Animals around here are getting more and more violent towards us, when we used to live in peace. Raids are coming frequently; guards of Ascalon are no longer unusual around here. Tyria has come into the dark days, and I fear we will lose the war we did not start.