1 Prologue: City of Silvery Shadows
It is the year 886 of the Fourth Age and the lands within the Silver Dominion appear to bask in a fragile peace. Life stirs like the ripples on the grand Gylder River that snakes through the realm, but for the common folk of Calgard, it is a muted existence. They drift through the days, caught in the labyrinthine alleys of a city where shadows cling to every corner, and the weight of their station hangs heavy like an oppressive cloud.
Calgard, a name that evokes both awe and despair, is a paradox. It stands as a vibrant and bustling center of trade and politics in a world tainted by darkness. Perched upon the majestic Gylder River, this city is not just a confluence of waters but also of ambitions, a crossroads where the fortunes of nations shift like silt beneath the surface.
Strategically positioned between the southern land of Rivermond and the southern region of the Silver Dominion, Calgard is a siren's call to nobles and wealthy merchants. They come, not merely to admire its grandeur but to indulge in the age-old dance of power and wealth, to juggle alliances and schemes like jugglers of a deadly circus. The city's very existence hinges on the whims of these highborn puppeteers, each thread of manipulation pulled with calculated precision.
Here, where stone meets water and ambition mingles with treachery, the people of Calgard navigate their existence. They awaken with the sun's uncertain promise, donning masks of compliance as they plunge headfirst into their daily routines. The rhythm of life in Calgard is a monotonous symphony of survival, each note a toil, each verse a sigh concealed.
The marketplace, an earthly bazaar of worldly delights, pulses at the heart of the city. Within this chaotic haven, the lives of countless individuals intertwine and unravel in a whirlwind of commerce. Goods and commodities, their origins as diverse as the very souls who traverse these cobblestone streets, exchange hands in rapid succession.
Merchants, both cunning and desperate, converge upon this haven, peddling their wares from the corners of the Silver Dominion to the distant realms abroad. Here, luxurious fabrics from the far west caress the rugged relics of the west. Rare spices fill the air with their exotic aroma, mingling with the scent of freshly baked bread and smoldering hearth fires. Craftsmen and artisans hawk their finest creations, their fingers bearing the calluses of devotion to their crafts.
Amidst this chaotic mosaic of desire and desperation, House Cal reigns supreme. They, the architects of this grand city of silver and soot, have constructed a facade of prosperity and opulence, casting a seductive spell over the commoners and the elite alike. For House Cal excels not in the martial prowess that some of their peers do but in the delicate dance of international trade and intrigue. It is they who ensure the continuous flow of wealth into the city, forging profitable alliances and paving the way for prosperity.
The commoners, the lifeblood of Calgard, owe a debt, albeit begrudgingly, to House Cal. Their coin purses may grow heavy, but so do their burdens. The nobles' prosperity rarely trickles down to the streets where the lowborn toil, a fact not lost on those who yearn for more than just the crumbs from the banquet tables of the elite.
Yet, in the shadows of this thriving metropolis, discontent simmers. Whispers of rebellion, born of frustration and dashed hopes, echo through the twisted alleyways. The streets bear witness to silent struggles, to a populace torn between the desire for freedom and the reality of oppression.
