PROLOGUE

Once more the world is on the verge of falling into chaos. Unseen forces move, yet the world knows nothing of their agendas. It has been like this time after time, but as one enemy falls another take its place. Heroes of old pass on their knowledge and eventually fade into legend or myth, and old evils become nothing more than stories to frighten children. It isn't until these evils return and pose a threat to the world once more that heroes will again rise to defend the masses, and new legends will be written once again.

It has been over a century since the Last War and the tragedy the resulted in the Mourland. Much has happened in the aftermath of it all, but most of it has been for the better. Cities are thriving and economies are booming, and the generations that saw the end of the war are finally moving on to more peaceful days. For now the world is at rest, and yet there are those that say there is more yet to come. The Draconic Prophecy, ever fluid and changing with each passing day, has been causing many that study its secrets concern. Great scholars of man and elf and dwarf alike have been fretting over the peculiarities they have discovered. Even some of the dragons of Argonnessan have made their concerns heard amongst those in the know. Something is about to happen in the world, something that could potentially have more impact than The Last War. Is it the coming of a great warrior? Perhaps it will be the rise of a new government in the land? Or is it something older, and far more sinister than the minds of men and dragons are capable of envisioning? Only the Prophecy knows, and those clever enough to decipher it.

The Shores of Lake Brey, Northwest of Starilaskur

Month 8: Barrakus, Late Summer

Day 5: Zor

It was just after sundown when the man dismounted. He was not human, but a shifter with rather wolfish features. One could easily mistake him for a lycanthrope, were it not for the clearly prominent horns that extended from his brow to back of his head. He wore white-ish plate armor that seemed to give off its own light without the aid of the sun or moon or stars, an enchanting glow that was brilliant but not blinding. From his shoulders hung a regal looking cape dark blue in color with a fine silvery trim on the fringes. Underneath it a shield was barely visible, the points of its strange 'Y' shape poking up past his shoulders. From his waist hung a few pouches, and on his left hip there was a sword, its polished scabbard adorned with runes and a deep blue sapphire set into the sword's pommel. He hitched his horse, a beautiful palomino, to a nearby tree with a feed bag and waited for the sun to finish setting. He had arrived early to the meeting point, so he had made sure to bring something to eat while he waited. The sun had set almost an hour before the shifter finally stirred from where he had been sitting. It was faint at first, but soon the sound of an airship could be heard from above. He stood and waited for it to land, then briskly walked towards where it landed. A single figure leapt from the deck and began to walk towards the shifter. Though it was rapidly growing darker, he could easily make out the figure walking his direction thanks to the faint moonlight shining down. It was a female dragonborn clad in plate armor, a sword at her side. She was dressed rather simply compared to the shifter, but neither seemed to notice. She stopped a short distance from the ship, making him finish the walk to her.

"Nice to see your attitude hasn't changed since we last met" he said with a hint of humor. His voice was clear, with a slight hint of formality behind it. The dragonborn didn't smile, or even register that he had spoken to her in any way. She simply stood there, her arms folded.

"You said you had urgent news, yes?" she said roughly. Her voice was rather gravely for a female dragonborn, yet it carried a sense of self-importance in it. She was clearly not in the mood to waste her time exchanging pleasantries.

"I do. We've discovered one of the Covenant's strongholds in the south. We think they might have one of the books there for some experiments. At least that's what our inside man says. I'm going to dispatch one of mine to try and recover it. Reya and Owlbear have already sent their own as well, and we're going to send them out in three days. Do you want to help us with this or no?" He waits for her response, and is met with a sly grin.

"Of course I do." She turns and whistles a long tone out towards the airship, then turns back to face him. "I need to make sure you lot aren't slacking on the job. This is too important to screw up."

A large male dragonborn had made his way off the ship and was headed over to the two. He jogged over to them and when he stopped he saluted. The shifter noticed that he was already packed for travel. He had expected as much from his friend. She was always prepared for things like this.

"General." The female nodded and he dropped his arm back to his side. "Baramet, at your service sir."

"Baramet, you will be accompanying my friend here back to Starilaskur. He has a sensitive assignment that needs doing and I want a firsthand account. You'll be working with non-dragonborn, but don't underestimate them. They are just as skilled as you are in their respective talents. Be swift and show the enemy no mercy, for they will not show you any either. Am I understood?" Baramet snaps to attention and salutes.

"Yes General!"

"Good." She cocks her head to the side while still grinning slyly at the shifter. "Anything else you need old friend?"

"I think that will do. Thank you for your help, General."

With that, they gave each other a curt nod and made their way back to their respective modes of transportation. Once Baramet and the shifter reached the place where the horse had been hitched, they stopped and waited for the airship to depart. The shifter pulled out a small watch from one of his pouches and glanced at it. It was just after the 22nd hour.

"It's 40 miles to Starilaskur. Load your gear onto the back of my horse to help with the run." Baramet took a few minutes to fix his pack to the horse, and then once he was done took a moment to limber up for the long run ahead of him.

"Do you mind if I ask what it is that I'm to be doing, sir?" With a smug grin that was easily visible in the pale light, the shifter chuckled.

"I'll go over the details more in depth once we get to the city, but for now, let's just say there is a very overdue library book that needs recovering. Any other questions?" Baramet chuckled while shaking his head. "Then let's be off!"