Prologue
Far, far, away, across a vast landscape of monsters and innocents, incredible dangers and even more incredible truths, spread like a worn and wise map across a table, lies the land of Ehb. And, winding its way through this realm, like a bulging vein on an old man’s hand, is the Greatwater. A swollen, roaring path of water, the Greatwater is the source of life and death to thousands of souls, and, like all important things, it is hard to believe it could have ever been different. However, the Greatwater’s origins could scarcely be humbler.
The Greatwater’s source lies far back inland, as a small bubbling pool, which then trickles down a bed of sandy gravel. Little wider than a piece of rope, its insignificance is multiplied a thousandfold by the grandeur of its surroundings: Oaklore. Thick and deeply mysterious, Oaklore may be safe for the creatures that call it home, but for a stranger, it is a harsh and perilous place. Teeming with flesh-eating trees, bloodthirsty trogs, poison-breathing toads, and a slew of other strange tribes and groupings historians dare not mention, a person could easily meet their demise underneath Oaklore’s lofty canopy.
As the Greatwater broadens, the lush forests of Oaklore give way to the barren, cracked wasteland known as Cristwind. Swirling with ghosts, spirits, and nightmares, Cristwind is governed by a wicked entity known as the Crimson King. And while his intentions are not clear, they are most definitely foul.
As the Greatwater grows steadily larger, it breaks free of the cloud-swathed grip of Cristwind, and travels smoothly through the many towns and villages that dot the grassy countryside. Once it reaches its widest point, the Greatwater arrives upon the castle of Falconreach, where the King of Ehb resides. Despite the apparent air of regal benevolence, Falconreach is a seething cauldron of rivalries, plot and counterplot, and bitter faction-fighting.
The Greatwater, now a massive force of nature, is dwarfed in comparison to the setting in which it currently finds itself: The Ageless Mountains. Enormous masses of stone, the Ageless Mountains have existed since the creation of time, and will probably exist until the end of it.
After passing through the rough terrain of the mountains, the Greatwater abruptly hurls itself off the edge of a cliff, and down into the misty void below, therefore ending its long journey.
The Greatwater. Oaklore and Cristwind. Falconreach and the Ageless Mountains. All names on a map. But behind each name lies a thousand tales. Tales that have been passed down through the ages by hand and tongue, tales which are being told even now.
What follows is but one of those tales...
