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Lio watched as the messenger rode into the distance. ‘The capital, huh?’ he though to himself ‘Wonder what they want’

“No matter” he said loudly to himself, breaking the silence “Its time for lunch, and I am famished”

Lio shot a passing pheasant with his bow. Preparing the bird was a foul job, but in the end, it was food and it was worth it. Within minutes he had a fire crackling away cheerily and Lio sat plucking the bird whilst staring into the flames.
The Fiends. Where did they come from? What are they? Why are they here? These questions raced through Lio’s mind as he roasted the bird. There was no doubt that the fiends were the subject of the meeting at the capital, and that there would be a group of champions, one from each legion there to discuss that problem, and to then go forth and solve the problem. Lio knew he wasn’t good enough. He had failed to save even one woman, so how was he supposed to save all of Gaia.
The other question was how to stop them. What could they possibly do? Nothing perhaps. Maybe this was fate’s course that man should be overcome by fiend, and a new dominant species would rule in favour of the old.

Lio put out the fire, the black smoke changing to white steam in an instant. He turned east, towards the resting place of Solaria, Sun of that world. This way would lead him to the capital, but he had to pass through Shap’nir to get to the city of Yggdrasil, centre of Gaia.
Shap’nir was renowned for its reputation as a den of thieves, lair of all things despicable, besides the fiends. Crime was that town’s lord, justice had no place there.

He gathered his pack and unstrung his bow. He headed towards Shap’nir, making haste as the sky began to grow dark. In this world where fiends drove terror into the heart of man, city gates closed at nightfall, forsaking all until Solaria rose from her bed. Lio didn’t want to risk the night, not after today’s failure.

“Why couldn’t I save her?” he whispered to himself as he marched, looking towards the ground “Am I not strong enough? Am I not worthy of the title, Champion of the Oaken Leaf?”

The disheartened man looked towards Solaria. She was ready to sleep, and Lio knew he had run out of time. He gathered wood and lit a fire, dim in the choking darkness. He’d be sleeping under the stars tonight. He strung his bow, just in case, and lay a snare.

Solaria awoke and Lio headed for the snare. Lio found a rabbit, and he procceded to prepare the meagre meal. He left the campsite, and unstrung his bow.
It was noon by the time he reached Shap’nir. It was protected by a shoddy wooden palisade wall. The gates were open, and two guards, no more than thugs stood on either side of the gate.

“Stop” said the thug on the right, a tall man “This ‘ere is Shap’nir, owned by Lor’ Hancock”

“Who are ye and why are ye here?” said the other, a rather short man

“I am Lio, one of the Champions of the Oaken Leaf” replied Lio “I am just passing through, may I pass?”

“No can do” replied the tall thug “You ain’t paid the toll”

“Toll? Who set up this toll? There was no such poll when I last passed through here”

“We set up the poll, hand over yer cash” spoke the shorter one

Lio leapt back and strung his bow and drawing an arrow. His thoughts turned to yesterday, and he immediately unstrung the bow.

“Here, take this then” he spoke loudly, throwing a small bag to them, which clinked delicately as it hit the floor.

“Nice doin’ business with yer” spoke the taller one retrieving the bag “You may pass”

Lio walked through the town, immediately grimacing as the smell of raw sewage and rotting flesh hit him. He was here, in Shap’nir now.