You are in the valley of the six storms. The noble family Perell rules this part of the kingdom for more than five generations. It was a gift from the former king because a member of the Perells saved his live in a battle many years ago. Actually the head of the Perell family is your father. You are Pike Perell. Second son of count Perell. As the second son of a noble you normally would have no heritage. So you gave your best to be on your older brothers good side.

You learned reading and writing by a few scholars working in your families castle they also teached you a little bit of medicine. And trained every day with the soldiers and spies of your father to one day serve your brother as a loyal captain of the guard. Maybe even as a consultant. To be honest, your brother would need a good one. While you trained every day and got a strong and respected man he spent his days drinking wine and flirting with the female servants. Not that he would be very good in it. He often leaves a rather disgusting impression. A few people asked you if you two are really relatives. He also used to gamble and walking careless through the dangerous parts of the city. More than one time you must intervene to keep your brother out of trouble. But as long as he is the future count he sees no need to change his behavior.

Today is a sunny day after a longer rain. You are happy for the peasants who suffered under the dry weather this summer. It could be a good harvest this year. Sadly there are much worse things to worry. A old enemy of the kingdom is back from the exile. Keylara the dark, evil witch and empress of darkness made deals with orcs and other evil non human creatures to build an army to conquer the kingdom. A month ago lots of refugees passed through your families lands. Their homes were destroyed by the dark horde. And there are terrifying stories about the people who weren't able to flee.

And so it comes that at this sunny day your father calls you to his private chamber. This is rather uncommon because normally it is your brother he wants to speak in private. But he is the count and you are a loyal member of his army. You will follow his lead.