"So, tell me," your father says, looking at the heavy winter rain outside his window. A bolt of lightning strikes. His house looks completely abandoned, like he stopped caring about it long ago. Old, broken furniture echoes a "ghost" of a better place. He closes the curtains. "How did you get here?" he asks.
After countless weeks of traveling and life-endangering risks, you finally arrive at the house of your father, Saul, in Merriwyn. The man who dropped you in the living hell that was the island you were on before all of this began.
It all began when you got a letter during the summer from your mother, Lilian, saying she found the mysterious village of Ravaluna, where a peaceful community supposedly lives, far away from the war.
The two of you had no choice but to go after her. **Lucas**, the 15 year-old boy who seeks adventures and loves creatures, no matter who they are. Also **Samantha**, the 21 year old sister who is a painter and looks for independence, while being protective about her brother, and cautious about creatures.
[["It all started when I was playing with my friend Azun," says Lucas.]]
[["I found mom's letter in a bottle a troll brought to us," says Samantha.]]You grab the letter before she can say anything, and read through it. It does look like her handwriting. It's been years since you've seen that. It had to be true.
"She says she found Ravaluna," you whisper back. "Also that we should go to Elfton to pick something up, and then Delledge."
"Don't be stupid," Azun laughs. "Ravaluna doesn't exist."
"What is he doing here?" your sister asks. "I told you not to play alone with... Stop! Don't come any closer!"
"Mom?" Azun cries, going past Samantha, towards the unconscious troll. "Mom, please answer me!"
"What's going on here?" shouts Boris, the island's caretaker. "You two! I said //no crossing the fence//! Get back to work!" he orders.
He then looks at Azun. "I knew you'd be a problem. You're going to the cage!"
He shocks Azun before you can say anything, leaving him unconscious as well.
"Guards," he yells. You look at Samantha, who returns the look with an expression that told you to stay quiet. "Bah, I have to do everything here... When I get back, you two better not be here," he threatens, before leaving.
Before you can say anything, Samantha grabs your hand and drags you to the boat. "No, stop!" you protest. "Boris will kill him!"
"//We. Have. No. Choice!//" she counters. "We have to go now!"
[[<You two take the boat.>]]"Don't be ridiculous," you mock her. "How many years since we heard from her? That can't be from her..."
"Well, see for yourself then," she replies, convinced, giving you the letter.
"She says she found Ravaluna," you whisper, as you read through it. "Also that we should go to Elfton to pick something up, and then Delledge... This is her handwriting. It's gotta be her!"
"Don't be stupid," Azun laughs. "Ravaluna doesn't exist."
"What is he doing here?" your sister asks. "I told you not to play alone with... Stop! Don't come any closer!"
"Mom?" Azun cries, going past Samantha, towards the unconscious troll. "Mom, please answer me!"
"What's going on here?" shouts Boris, the island's caretaker. "You two! I said //no crossing the fence//! Get back to work!" he orders.
He then looks at Azun. "I knew you'd be a problem. You're going to the cage!"
He shocks Azun before you can say anything, leaving him unconscious as well.
"Guards," he yells. You look at Samantha, who returns the look with an expression that told you to stay quiet. "Bah, I have to do everything here... When I get back, you two better not be here," he threatens, before leaving.
Before you can say anything, Samantha grabs your hand and drags you to the boat. "No, stop!" you protest. "Boris will kill him!"
"//We. Have. No. Choice!//" she counters. "We have to go now!"
[[<You two take the boat.>]]You live on the island Ensora. It's the summer. Your only family there is your sister. Living there since your parents left to the war-torn country of Odrana, just a few miles away. The country where you were born. Now, filled with humans and creatures who hate each other, and want to win the war at any cost.
In fact, your best friend was Azun, a 10 years old troll who was obviously already way taller than you. Not something your sister Samantha was particularly fond of.
This is how your story begins. Playing with Azun, you hear your sister calling. "Lucas!" she yells. "Come here!"
"Come on, Azun," you sigh. "Let's see what she wants this time."
You find her close to an unconscious troll. They have a bottle, and you can see a scroll inside. Your sister picks it up, and reads the letter.
"Wait... Lucas," she whispers. "This is from Mom."
[[Let me see it!]]
[[Don't be ridiculous.]]You live on the island Ensora. It's the summer. Your only family there is your sister. Living there since your parents left to the war-torn country of Odrana, just a few miles away. The country where you were born. Now, filled with humans and creatures who hate each other, and want to win the war at any cost.
You were doing your job, as usual. Just fishing, at the area you are restricted to. Then, you hear a splash over the fence.
This is how your story begins. You go and investigate, finding an unconscious troll next to a boat holding a bottle, with a scroll inside. "This is bad," you whisper to yourself. You never liked creatures, and you have no idea what this one could be doing.
"Lucas!" you yell to your brother. "Come here!"
After some time, you see him coming with his... friend. Another troll. 10 years old, but much taller than the both of you. You already told him not to play with such a dangerous creature. You sigh.
[[I got this.]]
[[Lucas, what is he doing here?]]"Wait," your father interrupts. "What were your mother's words again?"
"Don't worry, you two," Lucas quotes the letter. "If anyone can do this, it’s you."
"She wants us to join her in Ravaluna," Samantha adds. "We only have this Music Box and its key, but we can't figure out how to use them."
"Where is Boris?" your father adds while sitting in his old chair, ignoring Samantha's words.
"Boris treated us awfully, Dad," Lucas explains. "We have to find Mom."
"I see," your father replies, turning the chair to face the opposite side. "Tell me about this Music Box," he says.
[["I convinced a family of trolls to give it to us. They were super cool," says Lucas.]]
[["This family of trolls had something from Mom. We had no other choice," says Samantha.]]It's already fall. After going through Elfton, you arrive at Delledge. As this is the end of the war, most of the friendly creatures – including goblins, gnomes, orcs, and trolls – flocked to the west side of the country, where you are.
Delledge is one of the most popular towns. Close to the central trading hub of Odrana, Waymill, commerce and goods always flowed through here. However, the townsfolk are clearly going through a rough time, since not much is coming these days.
"Come on, Sam," you tell her. "Let's keep going."
"Wait, Lucas," she replies, sitting down.
"What's wrong?" you ask, walking towards her. "Did something happen?"
"I just don't... I'm tired" she sighs. "If we could just eat this thing..."
"No," you say. "Mom said to give this to the troll family!"
"Stop being so nice," she counters. "We don't know them!"
"So what?" you ask. "We should just give up?"
"Well, I don't know!" she snaps. "Let's just think about... //You there!// Back off! Show yourself!"
A female troll shows up. "Get the hell away from us" your sister orders. "We don't have anything for you to eat!"
"Are you... Lillian's children?" she asks, in a gently voice.
[[See, Sam? I told you there were nice!]]
[[Yes! Do you know her?]]It's already fall. After going through Elfton, you arrive at Delledge. As this is the end of the war, most of the friendly creatures – including goblins, gnomes, orcs, and trolls – flocked to the west side of the country, where you are.
Delledge is one of the most popular towns. Close to the central trading hub of Odrana, Waymill, commerce and goods always flowed through here. However, the townsfolk are clearly going through a rough time, since not much is coming these days.
"Come on, Sam," Lucas tells you. "Let's keep going."
"Wait, Lucas," you reply, sitting down.
"What's wrong?" he asks, walking towards you. "Did something happen?"
"I just don't... I'm tired," you sigh. "If we could just eat this thing..."
"No," he says. "Mom said to give this to the troll family!"
"Stop being so nice," you counter. "We don't know them!"
"So what?" he asks. "We should just give up?"
"Well, I don't know!" you snap. "Let's just think about... //You there!// Back off! Show yourself!" as you see a giant female troll coming from behind a tree.
"Get the hell away from us" you order. "We don't have anything for you to eat!"
"Are you... Lillian's children?" she asks, in a gently voice.
[[You better tell us what you want!]]
[[Just leave us be!]]"I told you," you say in a mocking tone. "You gotta give them a chance."
Your sister gives you a furious look, but doesn't say anything.
"Come in, quick," the female troll points to what's supposedly her cabin. "Not everyone is friendly around here." To which your sister gives you an 'I told you' look.
"You have to be more careful," the female troll urges as soon as Samantha enters, closing the door behind you, ignoring her protests. The whole cabin seems like a place they both moved into and never tidied up beyond the bare minimum, with travelling kits spread all around the floor. "If Vesperus sees your faces out there–"
"Vesperus?" you ask, confused.
"The... Garrison Commander," the male troll adds, by the fireplace, getting a warm drink and serving you and Samantha. You drink instantly – it tastes so good! Samantha eyes her drink suspiciously. "Want one, Polria?" he asks the female troll.
"No, thank you, Koyir," she replies, then looking back at you. "Vesperus and his General..." Polria says, adding a sigh. "Look, just be careful."
"Your mother saved us when we about to die at the Grasslands," Koyir explains. "Hungry, no food. She shared what she had, and we all walked together for a while."
"Eventually she just left," adds Polria, as you and her sat at the table. "We woke up and she was... gone."
"A few months after, we got this Music Box," Koyir says, giving you the mysterious cubic box with a keyhole at the top and weird drawings all around. "No key, before you ask. We only knew it was for you."
You hear loud footsteps coming towards the cabin. "Quick," warns Polria, as you put the Music Box in your backpack. "Through the backdoor! You'll have to go through Waymill and the Grasslands–"
Samantha grabs your arm. "Come on, Lucas! We have to go!"
"Wait," you say, before throwing some food to the troll couple. "Mom said to give this to you. It's from Elfton."
"Come on!" Samantha urges.
"Lillian..." the troll family observes the food in their hands, as you leave the cabin.
[[<You go to Waymill.>]]"That's our mom," you reply enthusiastically. "Did you know her? Where is she?"
"Nevermind, come in, quick," the female troll urges, pushing you to what's supposedly her cabin.
"Lucas!" you hear Samantha calling behind you. "Wait, what are you doing to him?"
"You have to be more careful," the female troll urges as soon as Samantha enters, closing the door behind you, ignoring her protests. The whole cabin seems like a place they both moved into and never tidied up beyond the bare minimum, with travelling kits spread all around the floor. "If Vesperus sees your faces out there–"
"Vesperus?" you ask, confused.
"The... Garrison Commander," the male troll adds, by the fireplace, getting a warm drink and serving you and Samantha. You drink instantly – it tastes so good! Samantha eyes her drink suspiciously. "Want one, Polria?" he asks the female troll.
"No, thank you, Koyir," she replies, then looking back at you. "Vesperus and his General..." Polria says, adding a sigh. "Look, just be careful."
"Your mother saved us when we about to die at the Grasslands," Koyir explains. "Hungry, no food. She shared what she had, and we all walked together for a while."
"Eventually she just left," adds Polria, as you and her sat at the table. "We woke up and she was... gone."
"A few months after, we got this Music Box," Koyir says, giving you the mysterious cubic box with a keyhole at the top and weird drawings all around. "No key, before you ask. We only knew it was for you."
You hear loud footsteps coming towards the cabin. "Quick," warns Polria, as you put the Music Box in your backpack. "Through the backdoor! You'll have to go through Waymill and the Grasslands–"
Samantha grabs your arm. "Come on, Lucas! We have to go!"
"Wait," you say, before throwing some food to the troll couple. "Mom said to give this to you. It's from Elfton."
"Come on!" Samantha urges.
"Lillian..." the troll family observes the food in their hands, as you leave the cabin.
[[<You go to Waymill.>]]"//Goddammit//, Lillian!" your father shouts to himself. "This is so like you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Samantha asks, coldly.
"Sam..." Lucas whispers.
"Boris was taking care of you," your father rants. "Yes, he can be //difficult// sometimes, but you were safe!"
"Boris was keeping us //safe//?" Samantha hisses. She goes to the window and opens the curtains. Another lightning strikes, this time followed by a loud thunder. "Just like 'the General' in bringing peace to Odrana?"
"I never asked for that name!" your father fumes.
[["You destroyed villages!" Samantha yells. "You killed people!"]]
[["Dad, please..." Lucas begs.]]"No, Lucas!" Samantha interrupts. "He has no idea what we went through! How I almost died going through the freezing river and the Orc villages alone to get to you, locked up in that //place//..."
"Just–" Lucas tries to say.
"You should've stayed in the island!" your father shouts, ignoring Lucas.
"While you get to play God here?" accuses Samantha, walking towards your father. "All my life I was afraid of the creatures in this world. But now I know it's //you// we should be afraid of."
"I had my reasons to do this!" he counters, throwing the Music Box on the ground with a thump.
"Leaving your family? Creating all this hatred and fear in the world?" she asks. "I can't believe Vesperus was right about you!"
[["STOP," shouts Lucas.]]Lucas runs towards your father and hugs him unexpectedly. But this is not a heartwarming hug – it's an aggressive one. //There's a flashback of all the moments since Waymill. How the devastation there forced you to help destroy a bridge the military used. A knight on a horse looked at you over the distance before leaving... "The General" – your father.
How the Garrison Commander, Vesperus, found both of you and forced you to do chores for him. One of them the town Samantha loved since her childhood and a big inspiration for her paintings – now destroyed by the military, and burned.
How Lucas was in prison, captured by Vesperus. To escape, he had to get the help of the other creatures after releasing them, on;y to be betrayed by them and chased just because they all knew Lucas' face, until finally escaping and meeting Samantha again.
How your father hugged a much younger Lucas many years ago in a similar fashion, just before leaving you both on the island.//
"We would have //died// back in Ensora," cries Lucas. "Boris would've given us to slavery! We had no choice!" he says while his voice starts to fail him.
"Lucas..." Samantha whispers.
"I almost died in that prison," Lucas sobs in anger. "//Your// prison! Because of what //you// did to them!"
Saul looks defeated. Samantha approaches both of them.
Your father pauses for a bit.
"I'm sorry," he mumbles.
He then pays close attention to the Music Box and notices the drawings. He finds an old painting, buried under dirt after dirt.
"Is that...?" Samantha asks.
He ignores her, turning it around, and opening the back part. You can quickly read your mother's handwriting: "//Don't forget us.//" He grabs a key, and goes back to the Music Box. He puts the key – first, clockwise; then counterclockwise; then, clockwise again.
You hear a song by an unknown voice.
"//Once he abdicates his command
You can get to the so called land
Where all gather around to see
What's under the tall oak tree.//"
He pauses, and finds an old, dusty scroll. "Tall oak tree, that's it!" he says, after looking at it for a while. He begins to draw a map.
"You'll have to go through Aldden," he explains, while drawing the map. "I'm sorry, I know there's a Tundra there, but I have a friend who can help you get there. A... troll... friend."
[["Wait, you're not coming?" asks Samantha.]]
[["What are you saying?" asks Lucas.]]"I'm sorry, Sam," he says. "I can't... Not yet. You know why I can't."
You look at him for a few seconds, realizing he needs to fix his part of the mess by himself.
Saul looks at both you of you, and for the first time in years, he seems relieved. "Don't worry, you two," he says. "If anyone can do this, it’s you."
"See you soon, then," Samantha says, before leaving through the door.
"Dad..." Lucas begins.
"I know, Lucas. You two take care of each other, okay?"
Lucas nods at him, and leaves.
As the door closes, Saul finds a picture family. Him, Lillian, Samantha, and Lucas. All happy and together.
He looks through the window again. It's now a bright, sunny morning."I'm sorry, Lucas," he says. "I can't go with you. Not yet. I have... unfinished business to take care of."
"But..." Lucas insists.
Saul looks at both you of you, and for the first time in years, he seems relieved. "Don't worry, you two," he says. "If anyone can do this, it’s you."
Lucas hugs Saul one last time, and leaves through the door.
"He misses you," Samantha says, before leaving. "We both do."
As the door closes, Saul finds a picture family. Him, Lillian, Samantha, and Lucas. All happy and together.
He looks through the window again. It's now a bright, sunny morning."Don't worry," you reassure, mostly to yourself, as you pick up the bottle. "Keep your distance."
You reluctantly pick up the bottle, and open to read the scroll. It's a familiar handwriting.
"Wait... Lucas," you whisper. "This is from Mom."
He grabs the letter. "She says she found Ravaluna," he says, reading through it. "Also that we should go to Elfton to pick something up, and then Delledge."
"Don't be stupid," his friend laughs. "Ravaluna doesn't exist."
"What is he doing here?" you ask Lucas. "I told you not to play alone with... Stop! Don't come any closer!"
"Mom?" he cries, going past you, towards the unconscious troll. "Mom, please answer me!"
"What's going on here?" shouts Boris, the island's caretaker. "You two! I said //no crossing the fence//! Get back to work!" he orders.
He then looks at Lucas' friend. "I knew you'd be a problem. You're going to the cage!"
He shocks the young troll, leaving him unconscious as well.
"Guards," he yells. You look at Lucas, who's already looking at you, and gestures him to stay quiet. "Bah, I have to do everything here... When I get back, you two better not be here," he threatens, before leaving.
Before he can say anything, you grab Lucas' hand and drags him to the boat. "No, stop!" he protests. "Boris will kill him!"
"//We. Have. No. Choice!//" you counter. "We have to go now!"
[[<You two take the boat.>]]"Are you playing with him again?" you ask. "I told you not to– Stop! Don't come any closer!"
"Mom?" he cries, going past you, towards the unconscious troll. "Mom, please answer me!"
You reluctantly pick up the bottle next to the crying troll, and open to read the scroll. It's a familiar handwriting.
"Wait... Lucas," you whisper. "This is from Mom."
He grabs the letter. "She says she found Ravaluna," he says, reading through it. "But that's impossible! It doesn't exist!"
"She also says that we should go to Elfton to pick something up, and then Delledge," you add.
"What's going on here?" shouts Boris, the island's caretaker. "You two! I said //no crossing the fence//! Get back to work!" he orders.
He then looks at Lucas' friend. "I knew you'd be a problem. You're going to the cage!"
He shocks the young troll, leaving him unconscious as well.
"Guards," he yells. You look at Lucas, who's already looking at you, and gestures him to stay quiet. "Bah, I have to do everything here... When I get back, you two better not be here," he threatens, before leaving.
Before he can say anything, you grab Lucas' hand and drags him to the boat. "No, stop!" he protests. "Boris will kill him!"
"//We. Have. No. Choice!//" you counter. "We have to go now!"
[[<You two take the boat.>]]"Just tell us what you want and go away!" you say.
"Please," the female troll whispers. "We're nice people. Come inside now."
"I told you," Lucas says in a mocking tone, walking towards the cabin. "You gotta give them a chance."
You give him a furious look.
"Come in, quick," the female troll points to what's supposedly her cabin. "Not everyone is friendly around here." To which you give him an 'I told you' look.
"You have to be more careful," the female troll urges as soon as you enters, closing the door behind you, ignoring your protests. The ceiling and the walls of the cabin looked beautiful and stylish, with paintings all around. But the floor was just a mess. "If Vesperus sees your faces out there–"
"Vesperus?" Lucas asks, confused.
"The... Garrison Commander," the male troll adds, by the fireplace, getting a warm drink and serving you and Lucas. You eye it suspiciously, but before you can say anything, Lucas is already drinking his. He seems to like it. "Want one, Polria?" he asks the female troll.
"No, thank you, Koyir," she replies, then looking back at Lucas. "Vesperus and his General..." Polria says, adding a sigh. "Look, just be careful."
"Your mother saved us when we about to die at the Grasslands," Koyir explains. "Hungry, no food. She shared what she had, and we all walked together for a while."
You hear something happening outside the cabin. "Um... did you hear that?" you ask, but nobody seemed to even listen to you.
"Eventually she just left," adds Polria, as Lucas and her sat at the table. "We woke up and she was... gone."
"A few months after, we got this Music Box," Koyir says, giving Lucas the mysterious cubic box with a keyhole at the top and weird drawings all around. "No key, before you ask. We only knew it was for you."
The footsteps become louder, and they finally hear them. "Quick," warns Polria, as Lucas puts the Music Box in his backpack. "Through the backdoor! You'll have to go through Waymill and the Grasslands–"
You grab Lucas' arm. "Come on, Lucas! We have to go!"
"Wait," he says, before throwing some food to the troll couple. "Mom said to give this to you. It's from Elfton."
"Come on!" you urge.
"Lillian..." the troll family observes the food in their hands, as you leave the cabin.
[[<You go to Waymill.>]]"Back off!" you warn. "We don't have anything."
"Please," the female troll whispers. "We're nice people. Come inside now."
"I told you," Lucas says in a mocking tone, walking towards the cabin. "You gotta give them a chance."
You give him a furious look.
"Come in, quick," the female troll points to what's supposedly her cabin. "Not everyone is friendly around here." To which you give him an 'I told you' look.
"You have to be more careful," the female troll urges as soon as you enters, closing the door behind you, ignoring your protests. The ceiling and the walls of the cabin looked beautiful and stylish, with paintings all around. But the floor was just a mess. "If Vesperus sees your faces out there–"
"Vesperus?" Lucas asks, confused.
"The... Garrison Commander," the male troll adds, by the fireplace, getting a warm drink and serving you and Lucas. You eye it suspiciously, but before you can say anything, Lucas is already drinking his. He seems to like it. "Want one, Polria?" he asks the female troll.
"No, thank you, Koyir," she replies, then looking back at Lucas. "Vesperus and his General..." Polria says, adding a sigh. "Look, just be careful."
"Your mother saved us when we about to die at the Grasslands," Koyir explains. "Hungry, no food. She shared what she had, and we all walked together for a while."
You hear something happening outside the cabin. "Um... did you hear that?" you ask, but nobody seemed to even listen to you.
"Eventually she just left," adds Polria, as Lucas and her sat at the table. "We woke up and she was... gone."
"A few months after, we got this Music Box," Koyir says, giving Lucas the mysterious cubic box with a keyhole at the top and weird drawings all around. "No key, before you ask. We only knew it was for you."
The footsteps become louder, and they finally hear them. "Quick," warns Polria, as Lucas puts the Music Box in his backpack. "Through the backdoor! You'll have to go through Waymill and the Grasslands–"
You grab Lucas' arm. "Come on, Lucas! We have to go!"
"Wait," he says, before throwing some food to the troll couple. "Mom said to give this to you. It's from Elfton."
"Come on!" you urge.
"Lillian..." the troll family observes the food in their hands, as you leave the cabin.
[[<You go to Waymill.>]]"You did nothing to stop your Garrison Commander!" Samantha says. "He almost killed me. If I didn't escape before... And Lucas! They lock–"
"You should've stayed in the island!" your father shouts.
"While you get to play God here?" accuses Samantha, walking towards your father. "All my life I was afraid of the creatures in this world. But now I know it's //you// we should be afraid of."
"I had my reasons to do this!" he counters, throwing the Music Box on the ground with a thump.
"Leaving your family? Creating all this hatred and fear in the world?" she asks. "I can't believe Vesperus was right about you!"
[["STOP," shouts Lucas.]]