The win by Alvon was legendary, everyone was speaking about this untitled child's Shot Of God, as witnesses took to calling it. Despite differences stemming from conflicting ideologies, nothing pulled the human continent together as wine did. Prominent for being founded by a drunkard, the Vini family name is a play off the word vine, its influence comes from a monopoly on the wine trade in Varaxia. Seeing people drunk on their wine, as a reward, is something members of the Vini Family loved to say. Avlon was standing in a corner when a drunk Robson approached him, "That bitch Mariam, I f##ing hate her, ~belch~ She's so stuck up." ~burp~. Avlon, choosing to ignore his rant, supported him to a chair, "You be careful with this stuff" Barax said burping. "It's strong.". Slightly tipsy Alvon watched as the women danced away and as the men entangled themselves with the fairer sex. He contemplated joining the fray, as his eyes surveyed the inn that reeked of sweat and hormones, Mariam walked over. Alvon looked at her face and noticing its redness, questioned, "Are you alright?" Bringing his hand to her face, he realized it felt warm. Perplexingly, the colour of her face deepened, so he stepped in closer to discover the issue and unknowingly brought the girl to her breaking point. Failing to find anything wrong, he stepped back only for Mariam to suddenly kiss him. It may have been the wine or Avalon's good looks, but those thoughts were irrelevant. All that mattered now was Mariam.
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"F##kkk" Avlon woke up in bed with a headache, it was a peculiar matter to still dream of that day. Although it was that time three years ago that he first tasted a woman and wine. He hadn't seen Mariam, Barax, or Robson since then. Avlon helped his family by working alongside his father at the port and even got a little brother. Next week was his fiftheenth birthday and life was going fairly well. Avlon was sitting on one of Talvin's branches, as Axis, big as ever, slept curled under it. He carved wooden mini-figures depicting what he imagined cows, sheep, and other animals looked like. Gazing towards his home, he saw his younger brother Boris trotting over to him on his two little legs. He stretched towards the tree, crying out, Avlon smiled. Hanging by his feet, he picked up his three-year-old baby brother. "You see the horizon, Boris?" whispered Alvon, "It is vaster than you know."
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Avlon lugged crates from the docked Ivbry ship, believed to contain weapons crafted in the forges of Varaxia. This signaled the imminence of war. Today was payday, and having worked all week, Avlon planned to use his saved funds to refit Windbreaker and Bloodshed. His fifteenth birthday was three days away, after which he planned to voyage to Stal, a nearby city. The journey would be 2 sonen by cart and 5 by foot. Deciding that this would serve as his right of passage. Avlon was quite excited, for as soon as he completed it, he could call himself an adult. Having left the port, he arrived at his mother's inn. Drinking some beer, he thought back to the voice and the images he had seen. It baffled him, as he didn't have the slightest idea what it was.
THE BEAST CONTINENT(3 days later)
A large group of men with bestial features, were huddled around a fire. One of them spoke, "We need to raid the Human Continent, our crops are failing." a few were unaware and looked up in shock. Another expounded on the matter " slaves shall be taken as payment, for the women and children lost to them six years ago" The Beastmen present wore sour expressions at the mention. "How many warriors shall attack?" someone among them queried. "The Betpa Elders have decided to field, 10,000 men-at-arms". With the cooperation of tribes in the region, this amount of warriors can be easily supported.
HUMAN CONTINENT(same time,3 days).
Kingdom of Varaxia
"Thanks" Avlon collected the improved Windbreaker and Bloodshed, paying the vendor with 9(It). Trying his improved weapons at home, he found them satisfactory. His father handed him a pouch filled with 5(St), insisting on his acceptance, he said, "The world is a big place you need money to traverse it. Happy birthday son."
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~Gasp~ " You bastard, cough, cough." retched an old man. "Don't worry I will put the money to good use." a cheeky voice replied. The bandit looked over and scoffed, continuing to empty the money pouches. The shop owner begged as the bandit and his accomplice laughed at him. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!" a shrill voice echoed through the establishment, a girl about 13 years of age was shouting from the doorway. Looking over, the shopkeeper, mouthed "GO". ~squelch~ Blood began to flow from the shopkeeper's split head. " What should we do with this one?" questioned a bandit, "Isn't it obvious?" the other answered with a lecherous smile on his lips, "NO PLEASE!!!" "STOP IT!!" "MOTHER!!!!" "FATHER!!!" "HELP ME!!!!". Screams reverberated from the house as the girl was raped by the two men. Sadly, weakness became the downfall of the girl and her father. Being too weak themselves, the slummers surrounding them were unable to help, and could only listen to the screams of the girl.
Watching, from the distance, a hidden figure spoke cryptically, "Such is the fate of the weak."