Once upon a time, in the world of Tearvine. A world that had been scorned, all water had dried up and the oceans withered. Where rivers had been found in crooked ravines ruptured like cooked clay in the earth, and all life had migrated into the canyon-like cracks, leaving the surface now known as the plates.

In the continent of Elgicin. A wide land full of kingdoms that had just settled onto their new feet after surviving the scorning and were now wondering what had happened.

In the country of Halvala. A nation led by the heroes who were pioneers in the founding of the Cracks and where more heroes would still be born.

In the City of Gonthin’s Wheel. A 5-tiered city of lights powered by a giant water wheel towering almost as tall as a small mountain. Where recently the lights have been overheating and the nobles have been trying to hide the city’s poorer underbelly from the world.

In the Jumping Jester, a merry tavern on the third most poor tier of the city. A wooden mug of ale lightly hit the counter.

Lilika Dorrali was a local woodcutter with long blonde hair sweeping to one side and a simple red wool tunic with dark pants. She was known locally as a friendly face that you could always get a smile and comfort from if you vented your worries. At this moment she was listening to a drifter who had come to play in the bar. 

He was a burly half-orc, a bit uncommon in these parts but not rare. more unusual than that was how he carried himself. Flirting here and there with all who were pleasant-looking regardless of gender. Wearing colorful lime clothes with brown studded leather, he sang his playful notes with a lime ball of light poofing above him into specs as he cast his spells. Once the song had ended he spotted one of the two empty seats next to Lilika and came over to try his wiles on her.

“Well, what a strong presence for someone so elegant, mind if I take part at your table.” his deep voice purred.

“Please.” Lilika smiled sweetly at him and gestured for him to sit on the stool next to her.

Sliding onto it he raised his hand for the barkeep and asked for some wine. Then turning back to her he continued to converse.

“I go by Drinial, Drinial Basil. I couldn’t help but notice you were alone at this table with nay a lover to keep your side, ms uh?”

“Lilika, or Lilly if you’re a friend, and I’m afraid I’m not in the courting business recently” she replied politely.

“Ah a shame such a nice face would have been fun to share a drink with,” Drinial replied.

“Well I am still in the friendship business and I’m a professional at sharing a drink,” She smiled.

“Good point my new friend” Drinial laughed, his wine arriving. He and Lilika raised their glasses to one another. As he took another drink, the patrons of the tavern started cheering for another song to bless their night, Drinial sighed.

“Well, that’s my cue. Come again if you want to share another drink or stay and listen to my song, perhaps this next one will be about the beauty of meeting a new friend.” Drinial teased as he left.

Lilika stayed and listened to Drinial sing a more hearty song than his first. A song about sippin’ ale with all his friends. Some buds in the bar put their arm around one another as they drunkenly swayed to the music. Lilika smiled as she forgot all her stress from the day.

A black-cloaked figure fell onto the stool next to her panting hard as though they had just climbed a mountain. They looked at the door they had just entered the tavern through as though expecting something.

“Sir, are you ok?” Lilika asked worriedly, and also slightly annoyed at having most likely lost her evening, but she pushed that feeling down until it was locked.

The person jumped as though they hadn’t noticed her before and turned to face her. He had gray skin, almost dove, short hair that was shock white, dark blue eyes surrounded by blacks instead of whites, and long pointed ears she could see pricking the back of his hood. He was a dark elf. If half-orcs were uncommon, dark elves were unheard of. Most of them loathed the human societies that came down from the plates, falling from the cracks that to the underdwellers were fractures in the Deep-under’s ceiling. Human societies colonized the tunnels of the Deep-under that had cracked open pushing out the dwellers that had already lived there to the few caverns that hadn’t collapsed during the scorning. Even now some are still hunted by prejudiced people. To see one here was shocking and suspicious. Still, Lilika didn’t let that notion drive her.

“Ah I’m sorry I didn’t see you there, I just came in here to avoid…” The dark elf trailed off as he spotted something in the window.

“Shoot he’s still there, I– say would you help me, I need to sneak out of here and if we pretended to be friends he might not notice me, just for a few blocks?” He looked up at her pleadingly.

“Yeah sure I’m Lilika, but first who is this ‘he’?” She asked cautiously.

“Hmm? Ah, I’m Navien, and he’s no one important, just an Asshole obsessed with me” Navien joked.

They smiled at one another and got up. Lilika placed her pay on the table and hailed the bar-keep. They walked out as Lilika began chatting amicably with Navien about nothing in particular, about the weather, favorite drinks, and foods. Lilika tried to get a glimpse of whoever was chasing Navien but she didn’t see anyone suspicious. 

“I’m afraid I’m new to town so you’ll have to guide me” Navien stated as they walked down the cobble street. Lilika nodded and led him to a less public area in an alley between an old windmill creaking from the wind carried down the canyons.

“This area isn’t well used at this time of day, with most of the workers gone home to supper.” Lilika said, patting his shoulders, smiling at him.

Navien was about to say something when a voice yelled out from the road they had just walked off.

“You thought thee could escape me you filthy Shadowkin!? Well, you shalt not harm anyone anymore!”