Valencia was a vast city that covered the entire continent of Dulgratta. Endless miles of buildings and roads spanned as far as the eye could see, and no one could remember it being any different. It was said that there used to be life beyond the great sea, but when a wizard foresaw the end of everything, he saved the continent by means of a device that kept the land from crumbling into oblivion with the rest of the world. He was considered the first tinkerer, a being that mixed magical skill with modern industry. No one knows what lies beyond the shores of Dulgratta, if anything at all, and those brave enough to venture out into its waters, never returned, lost to the great storm that surrounded the continent.
As the years past, the city just continued to grow and grow to a point where little wilderness was left anymore. All that remained was the mysterious Black Peak Forest to the West and the Sun Flow Desert to the North, each ruled by a single dragon that no one dared to challenge. There were five main sections to the vast city: the Citadel at the city center where those that governed the city and the wealthy resided, the Temple of Whispers where magic and religion reigned, the Merchants Treasure Box where all manner of goods were sold and traded, the Guild Offices where skill leaders of every variety could be found, and finally the Colosseum of Rage where fighters like Ruthrrien battled for glory and riches.
Despite her growing popularity as a fighter in the Colosseum, the ever present restlessness continued to grow in her spirit. Jealousy had also taken root after hearing countless stories from other barbarians who would brag about their adventures outside the arena’s walls. And after five years of no answers, no clues to her past, and no relief from her unremembered nightmares, she was desperate for change.
Having lost that day’s battle in the arena due to another sleepless night, she sat moodily in a dark corner of the pub, glaring at a badly scarred barbarian who was loudly recounting his battle with a giant brown bear. Chest puffed out and red in the face, he held the bear claw necklace high so any who was listening could see. She never cared for the finer things unless it was an expertly made weapon, but there was something about that necklace that made her heart race. Confused by the emotion, she found herself staring as the barbarian held it up in the torchlight, tracing every detail of its fine craftsmanship with her keen eyes.
Unexplainable rage began to well up inside her. As she stood to reach for her ax, ready to gut the man and take the necklace, a rather seedy looking courier stepped into her path. Her murderous glare met his dark eyes and she blinked, seeming to come back to herself as the rage dissipated as quickly as it had come. Annoyed nonetheless, she folded her arms and growled down at him, “what?”
He held out a small letter, unaffected by her gaze or gruffness. Snatching it from him, she sat back down and read over it, a fierce grin slowly forming on her lips. This was just the change she had been looking for. Glancing up, she saw the man still standing there, waiting. “I’ll be there,” she said flatly, casting another glare at the barbarian across the room. He nodded curtly and left without a word.
The Whitney Scott 