You are Solarie Faraam, a faithful Cleric of Mwaltyrr, God of The Sun. You live in the humble farming village of Golden Fields, with its bountiful wheat fields providing most of the income for the village. You are going to visit your childhood friend, Arthur Smith, an aspiring adventurer and who you consider your brother in all but blood. You blink as you felt a weight of your prayer book suddenly vanish and sigh. You search with your golden eyes, looking for the mischievous winged girl that you called friend, before looking up at the smirking face of a raven haired and dark winged Skyborn. She waves your prayer as she does a silent giggle, before tossing it back towards you.
You catch it with ease born from practice and put the small book back in its proper place. "Good morning to you as well Shateiel, how are you doing?" You ask, to which the mute flyer simply shrugged before giving you a small smile. Shateiel dismissed her wings as she landed and started walking alongside you as you made your way to Arthur's. You wave to a Moon Elf huntress who just brought in a fresh kill from the nearby forest, the High Elf mage who was picking up supplies for her teacher, the dwarf who was drinking his fill of ale and mead over at the tavern, and at the mysterious Lizardfolk that recently moved in.
As you and your silent companion got closer you both heard the sound of intense sparring. You glance at Shateiel, who shrugged and shook her head, making you sigh. It looks like Arthur and Lycaon were in the middle of one of their spars. You arrive at Arthur's house and go around the back to see the makeshift sparring ring and the two combatants. One was a brown haired and green eyed man in a blue shirt and black pants with leather boots and gloves, wielding a wooden sword and shield. The other combatant was a grey haired and yellow eyed beastkin with grey wolf ears and tail, wearing a white gi and pants with a navy blue belt. The first was Arthur and the beastkin was Lycaon, and the two were fighting like men possessed.
Every punch and kick was dodged, while every sword swing and shield bash was blocked. Both were clearly giving it their all, both breathing hard from exhaustion. They had clearly been at this for awhile for them to be so worn out. Both were grinning in exhilaration.
"Well I see you two have been having a good time, should we come back later?" You say out loud, catching the two's attention, while Shateiel wrote something in a small book she carried around. Arthur and Lycaon both look at each other sheepishly and decide to end their spar. Arthur puts away his practice weapons and walks up to greet you.
"Solaire, Sun Bro! How are you doing?" Arthur asked as he raised his hand for a high five, which you gave him while giving a small smile. Arthur always seemed to bounce back from anything with a boundless energy.
"I'm fine Arthur, just coming over to remind you that Mirabelle is finished fixing up your armor and shield." You told him. "Also, she wanted me to tell you that next time you think you try to tank a kick from a giant, she's going to beat you like a mule." Arthur gives a chuckle nervously at that.
Dwarven blacksmiths do not take kindly to stupidity, especially when it wrecks the armor they make.
Lycaon then walks up with bandages wrapped around his hands and fingerless gloves. "I am still amazed he survived that misadventure." the wolf beastkin said. "Arthur fly a few feet from the force of the kick, and the worse injury he had was a broken rib."
Arthur laughed heartily at that. "What can I say? I'm build tough as nails!" Lycaon gave him a flat look.
"Given your girlfriend, I imagine its needed." Lycaon said bluntly, making Shateiel and Arthur blush bright red and making the latter start stammering.
You sigh and pray to Mwaltyrr to give you strength. You then tense as a numbing sensation spreads across your back, followed by a slight burning feeling. You grunt and grit your teeth at the pain, while your friends notice quickly.
"Sun Bro, you ok?" Arthur asks, in concern. While Lycaon and Shateiel exchange confused glances.
"I feel like my back is on fire." You manage to get out. It felt like someone was pressing a hot branding iron on your back.
So painful, basically.
Lycaon walks up and his hands glow as he focuses his Ki and presses against your back, trying to soothe the pain. Soon enough the pain fades and is replaced by the earlier numbness.
The four of you go inside and you take of your shirt and your three friends blink as they stare at your back.
"Holy crap, that's some tattoo." Arthur says while Shateiel nods in agreement. Lycaon gives a look at whatever "tattoo" was on your back.
"Its looks like it was branded on your skin." The martial artist observed.
Before you can say anything, a scream pierces the air. You put the shirt back on and rush out the door with your friends following close behind. Outside, you see the village was burning and under attack by...
[]- Northmen clad in chainmail and animal pelts wielding axes and swords, with dire wolfs and berserkers.
[]- Insectoid creatures clad in armor and wielding weapons from the far east, with large red skinned ogres with massive clubs.
[]- Kobolds and Wyverns lead by creatures similar to Lizardfolk without tails and with horns that can breath fire.
[]- ZOMBIES and SKELETONS!
[]- Strange creatures that don't feel natural to the world.
[]- Automatons with advanced magitek weapons.
[]- A Combination of the above.
-[] Write In.