The Shield Legion
For
centuries,
citizens
of the
Immense Burgh
lived
a peaceful
and
balanced
life,
spending
time
together,
working
and
sleeping.
Idyll, joy
and
challenges
of everyday
life.
Life
flowed,
even
though the
flow
of time
was
imperceptible.
And such
a calm
rhythm
could have
continued
indefinitely,
but
something
unprecedented
and tragic
had
happened.
The ground
trembled
slightly
at first,
and then
began
to tremble
in a way
that
none of
the inhabitants
had ever
experienced
before.
The walls
of the houses
began
to crack,
and dishes
fell from
the shelves
and tables.
After
a dozen
or so
minutes,
the tremors
subsided,
leaving
behind
ruins,
dust
and despair.
No one knew
what
exactly was
the cause
of the
earthquake
and for
what sins
the Gods
punished
Immense
Burgh.
The effects of
the tremors
were
not only
material
losses.
Broken
walls
took away
the sense
of privacy
and security,
and with them
a sense
of trust.
And
it was just
an omen
of
following
tragedies.
The first
mysteries
and secrets
began
to come
to light
day by day.
The unveiling
of a few
secrets
of the
royal
family,
or spicy
stories
from the
lives
of
beautiful
noblewomen,
at first
aroused
laughter
and
curiosity
among the
crowd.
However,
over time,
everyday
stories
from the
lives of
ordinary
people,
which
they did
not want to
boast
about,
began
to be
publicly
discussed.
No one
was laughing
anymore.
It is worth
emphasizing
that it
was not
the truth
hidden
from
the world
that began
to be
uncovered,
but
the personal
right
to privacy,
which is
the basis
for human
dignity,
was
violated
on a
massive
scale.
Natural
origin
of the
tremors,
contested
by the few
from the
very
beginning,
turned out
to be
fiction.
A
mysterious
group
of
so-called
Void Knotters
officially
claimed
to have
caused
them.
They were
led by
Unveil
- a former
royal
counselor,
exiled
years
earlier
for
stealing
and
revealing
the King’s
secrets,
for many
years
presumed
dead.
Driven
by a lust
for power
and control
over
others,
Unveil
and his
Void Knotters
sewn chaos
and, using
violence,
deceit,
and black
magic,
robbed
people
of their
secrets,
leaving
them
humiliated,
feeling
robbed
of
everything.
Earthquake
- the physical
attack on
the walls
of
the houses
-
was
supposed
to make
things
easier
for
oppressors.
The trauma
caused by
the tragedy
was
supposed
to break
the will
and
resilience
of the city
inhabitants.
No secrets,
no privacy,
no dignity.
Weeks
passed.
The Void
Knotters
grew in
power,
and
criminals
and various
scum joined
their ranks
to form
the
armed arm
of
the group.
The once
peaceful
Immense
Burgh
was falling
with each
passing day,
and
there was
no indication
that rescue
for
the city
and its
inhabitants
would come.
Only that…
even such a
powerful
group
as Void
Knotter…
can also
make a
mistake
and accost
the wrong
ones...
Rune,
Narve,
Velia
and Lethe
left the
tavern.
Unveil’s
men
surrounded
them
tightly
and waited
for the
order.
The silence
that
reigned at
that moment
was
unbearable.
Every second
felt like
an eternity
and
heralded
death.
A shout
from the
commander’s
throat
broke
the wait
and started
the combat.
Velia
whispered
a short
spell
that
activated
shields
for all
four.
Rune kicked
a soldier
running
towards him
and slashed
at him
with his
sword.
Three thugs
rushed
at Narve,
who with
great
agility,
for his
size,
avoided
the hit
of the
first one,
smashing
his skull
with his fist.
The second one
was knocked
off
his feet
with a
strong
shield
thrust,
and
the third
one was
instantly
smashed
with two
shields
at once.
By the time
the second
fell to
the ground,
the third was dead.
Lethe threw
a poisoned
dart.
Missed.
She reached
for her
sword,
but
the enemy
was faster.
He cut.
Before the
blade of
the sword
touched
Lethe,
she heard a
dull
gurgling
sound.
- Lethe,
are you
okay?
- Thanks for
the rescue
Rune.
I could
handle it.
- I know
Lethe.
- Who were
they?
- Bunch of
cursed
thieves
from Void
Knotters.
They
certainly
won’t
forgive us
for this
carnage.
- And I
will not
forgive
them for
what
they have
done to my
city!
- Yes
Lethe,
we have a reason
to stay
here for
a bit
longer.
Even if you
left
Immense
Burgh
years ago,
you are
one of us
now.
We will
fight
back.
The
skirmish at
the tavern
became
the
beginning
of an
urban
legend
about
a brave
group
of warriors
armed
with
shields
that
defeated
the Void
Knotters
unit.
This story
became an
impulse
for the
inhabitants
to
mobilize.
It
gave them
hope that
they can
defeat
the
oppressor
and return
to normal
life.
A
resistance
movement
began
to
germinate,
the
hallmark of
which
became the
shield -
a symbol
of
protection,
courage
and trust,
which began
to appear
more and
more often
on city
walls.
Those who
joined the
movement,
and over
time it was
an
increasingly
numerous
group,
were ready
to fight
and
determined
to defend
the weak.
They wanted
one thing -
to
take back
the world
they knew
before,
stopping
Void
Knotters
from
robbing
their
secrets.
Tough times
make great
heroes.
The fight
is just
beginning.
Do
you want to
join
Lethe,
Rune,
Velia
and Narve
and their
Shield Legion?