Whispers of Valkath, IC

A chill wind was blowing outside the village elders house, but its current occupants do not notice, for they are safely gathered by the warm fire. Adults of various species are milling about, their hard labors of the day having been completed and dinner recently eaten. The children sit, starry eyed near the fire, gazing up at the old matriarch, a human whose age had only taken her youthful beauty and replaced it with a more mature elegance. She is resting comfortably in her rocking chair, with an old blanket laying on her lap. As she takes a gentle look at all gathered before her, a warm smile graces her face. Though her eyesight has long gone past its prime, she can still distinctly make out the faces of all who are gathered. An old cat meanders through the crowd and laboriously clambers up into her lap where it curls up and promptly falls asleep. The matriarch idly begins scratching her beloved pet behind the ears, which causes the animal to purr loudly, a quiet signal for the room to become silent. All gathered know what is to happen next, and they all seem to be waiting in awe.

"I believe for tonight, I will tell you a tale of our beloved world, Valkath. It is a story of heroes, and villains, of love, betrayal, and intrigue. It is a HISTORY, of how our world came to be as it is. It may take me many nights to finish the telling, but I assure you, every word is a priceless gem," she declares in a clear voice that surprises no one. She already has the children's rapt attention, and many of the adults are already smiling. It is a tale they've heard many times, one which they themselves grew up listening to. The room quiets down till only the crackling of the fire can be heard over the matriarchs breathing. She glances around the room, a sly grin on her face before she launches into her tale, more animated than one would expect of a woman her age,

"It all started on a day not unlike today. A mild, pleasant day. A day which seemed like any other. While not auspicious or grandiose, it would forever be a day marked by destiny! For on this day several people would begin their own journeys, each one affecting the others in ways they could not begin to fathom....."

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