In a quiet street of a remote planet, Zion duchy:
A cloaked figure moved about the lifeless crowd, passing by men and women trying their best to earn today's fill.
No one knew who broke the news but rumors of the Duke's treasury mortaging all the critical assets spread.
The Zions who could flee fled to other duchies. Many of them had no such opportunity. They swallowed their pride and sought refugee in provinces they usually looked down upon.
But it was still just a fraction of the whole. Most of the population was stuck inside the duchy where life grew increasingly difficult to survive.
The situation wasn't as bad as they thought. It'd take a whole generation but things could get back on track.
But someone was fanning the flames, creating chaos and pushing the possibility of Zion recovering closer and closer to zero.
The cloaked figure turned at the fruit stalls that were now selling half-rotten stuff at ten times the usual price.