You open your eyes and find yourself lying on your back, surrounded by trees with a fire in the center of camp. The sun has set behind the trees and the only illumination is still an orange hue, though this time it’s only a small fire. You breathe slowly with the cold air filling your lungs. It’s relaxing, though your adrenaline is spiked as you wake up: what happened and how did you end up out of the quarry and where were you before that?

You roll over onto your stomach and place the palms of your hands on the cold ground. You feel grass in between your fingers, something you haven’t felt since you were a child. It’s cold and somewhat wet with a frost starting to form on it, but it’s a much different sensation. You open your eyes and look at it, seeing the vibrant green underneath your face. You smirk, confused at what you’re seeing.

“Never seen grass?” asks a red-haired man sitting at the fire. His red beard is scraggly and his white shirt is dirty and slightly bigger than his broad frame. He appears muscular and rugged. You raise up to your knees, resting on them while looking around the rest of the camp. The men and women with you in the cavern are all coming to, groggy from being unconscious. The red-haired man stands up from in front of the fire and walks over to you, extending his hand to help you up to your feet. “Barddaz,” he says while shaking your hand and hoisting you up. “Zilara and I managed to get you and your companions out of that hell hole before your bones were turned into armor.”

You look at Barddaz shocked as you hear a rustling coming from the woods. You turn your head to see an old man in a brown robe with a gold sash around his waist emerge. “Good, they’re awake,” he announces while walking toward the fire. The old man is bald with a grey beard that starts just below his ears. His skin is tanned, potentially from years of walking in the bright sun of Dun-I. He holds his hands over the fire to warm them up before turning to look at you with almost a sense of disbelief. “How long have they been awake?”

“Not too long,” answers Barddaz as he folds his arms in front of you. “This one was surprised by the grass though.”

“None of these unfortunate souls have probably seen grass for the better part of their life, Barddaz. Show some compassion,” retorts Zilara.

“My apologies, Zilara,” Barddaz replies before stepping away from you.

Zilara, the old man in front of the fire, shakes his head while keeping his hands out in front of him. He exhales slowly while trying to keep himself composed, almost looking as if he is lost in thought. He closes his eyes while dropping his hands slightly. “We need to outfit them,” announces Zilara while keeping his torso facing the fire. “We need them to be prepared for any combat they may find.”

“What?” asks Barddaz. “These people are slaves. What do they know about combat?”

Zilara turns away from the fire and faces Barddaz. “They all look very strong, almost like they’ve toiled away for years. I wouldn’t judge them as unworthy just yet. They may already be more physically powerful than you are.”

Barddaz scoffs at the thought while turning away from you. “I don’t think this lot is stronger.”

Zilara walks over and examines you closely, looking over your body while smirking. “I think they are stronger than you,” continues Zilara. “Mentally especially.” Barddaz looks confused. “This lot has a resilience about them that I’ve never seen before. Not only have the survived a life of hard labor in a quarry, they also survived entering the realm of Loccaris. Vesya has rained fortune down on this lot.”

“Fortune?” asks Barddaz. “Was it fortune for the two of us to carry them out of that quarry?”

Zilara smiles. “Absolutely.”  Barddaz shakes his head and steps away from you while walking toward the fire. “Grab the chest. Let’s give this lot some gear and send them to Aertis. I imagine this lot would be quite useful to the Soldiers of Derrien.”

Barddaz looks confused. “You’re going to send these slaves to General Aertis?”

“I am,” Zilara replies while reaching into his pocket to pull out several small stones of various sizes and colors. “Take one. You will most definitely need this.”

“You’re not seriously giving them a shard!?” screams Barddaz in protest. “You’ve never even given me one…”

“You haven’t earned one,” replies Zilara as you grab one of the glowing shards in Zilara’s hand. “When you can show that you can truly wield the power of one of these, then I will happily give you one of these, but so long as you are craving power, I will not give it to you.” Zilara pauses for a moment and turns back toward Barddaz. “I will not give in to the tantrums of a child.” Barddaz fumes while opening his eyes widely. He drops a large chest in front of you and steps away silently. “Take a walk, Barddaz. What was the first lesson we spent months on?”

Barddaz looks down at the ground. “Controlling my emotions,” answers Barddaz.

“And how are you at that?” asks Zilara.

“I’m still learning how,” Barddaz replies again. “I’ve yet to master it.”

“And that is why these slaves are mentally stronger than you are.” Zilara states plainly, scolding Barddaz with a serious demeanor. “They’ve been yelled at, beaten, and degraded, yet they still get up and get the job done. They perform, no matter what obstacle is placed in front of them and they will always succeed. That is why I am giving them these shards, even though I have just met them. I know they are powerful enough to wield them and they will use them for good. They will use them to right the injustices of Dun-I and I’m hopeful that they will be strong enough to help repel the forces of Loccaris.”

Barddaz breathes slowly. He moves away from you and Zilara to stand at the other end of the camp. You grab a weapon and some armor, equipping yourself before equipping the shard in the weapon you’re holding. It fits perfectly and you sense an odd feeling come over you, almost as if you have gained knowledge of something that you cannot yet place your hands on. “The knowledge of the old Gods flow through the Ul’maan Shards. They will help you on your journey,” explains Zilara. “A lot has happened over the past few hours but you’ve survived, and that is a testament to your good fortune.” Zilara turns and points to an opening in the woods. “The moons will light your path tonight, but take that trail and it will lead you straight to the encampment of the Soldiers of Derrien. Their leader is a man named Aertis, and he will not be excited to see you, but he will be lucky to have you.”

Zilara steps away from you. “I will let him know you’ll be coming, but don’t keep him waiting. He’s going to need all of the bodies he can get.” Zilara smirks as a flash of lightning comes down from the sky, striking Zilara and causing him to disappear in front of you.

You look on in awe as Zilara disappears. “He’ll be back,” says Barddaz from the other side of the camp. He crosses his arms and breathes slowly as he shakes his head at you. “Slaves, I wish you nothing but the best. Good luck tonight. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

Barddaz steps over to the fire and has a seat, leaving you to walk away into the woods.

Story Continues on the Scenario: The Moonlit Trail