Cassius awoke screaming in terror and drenched in sweat like never before.
"OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD"
Patting himself down he yelled aloud, his voice echoing through the wooden and stone room he found himself in.
"That was the single most terrifying moment of my life"
Having to take several moments to adjust and calm himself he finally saw the room he was in, noticing how for the first time that this was not his cottage or a medical facility run by the United Worlds that somehow pieced together his atomized corpse.
"Where... am I?" He asked no one in particular.
The sudden realization that he couldn't recognize his voice—once gruff and damaged from decades of conflict, yelling, smoking, drinking, and surviving explosions—was jarring. This new voice was high, almost grating but sharp and clear.
"Then—" Cassius quickly checked to make sure his parts were still present.
"Haa...." He sighed in relief, knowing he was still a man, fully equipped with all his personal gear, if not a little smaller than he recalled.
Cassius's thoughts were interrupted as he noticed how small and childlike his hands were. Soft and delicate and completely unlike the hands that he knew, which were more akin to an old bear's paw with more scar tissue and steel than flesh and bone. Luckily, none of his aches and pains followed him here.
His clothing and youthful body appeared to be covered in a grimy layer of sweat, his short hair greasy to the touch. It was either that he was previously ill, or this new world had no concept of hygiene. Either way, it looked like he was going to have to amend that further down the road.
"Well, at least there's that. Now, if only there was a mirror around here so I could tell what I'm working with" He could ask his system questions later, for now, the most pertinent thing to do was explore his newfound surroundings and figure out who he was, and where he is.
A single candlelight chandelier decorated the center of his ceiling, definitely some sort of Iron if looks are anything to go off of, providing a flickering dim, and dreary glow to the rest of the room.
The room featured finely crafted wooden furniture with soft fur seats and backs, likely made from some small alpine mammal.
Large double windows covered by a thick Amber-Red curtain with a single
beige-ish white line across the top, accentuating the room's theme.
Kicking off the sheets, he glanced down and realized he would have to crawl off this enormous bed. Noting his apparent youth and small stature, he began to investigate the room, feeling how tall it felt to him.
"I'm not going to get used to this" He laughed bitterly at his predicament
Approaching the door he opened it stealthily, wincing as he heard a quiet but audible creak. Peering into the hallway he noted how well-lit it was, nobody in sight, however. Returning to the room, he scanned his surroundings again and found a clothing stand with what was probably his uniform or clothing: a fine woolen shirt, a belt with a sheathed dagger, and across from his bed, a wardrobe with a set of doors likely leading to a walk-in closet.
"How rich." He mused.
What caught Cassius's eye, however, was a short coffee table lay opposite the only exit from the room. It was made of the same fine dark hardwood as the rest of the room and lacquered to a dull sheen. Cassius noticed with some interest an assortment of minor effects scattered across it. A quill and ink, parchment paper with fresh scribble on it of some... illegible across it, but most importantly, Cassius noticed a half-empty chalice with some ungodly dark liquid with a sickly sweet smell. Medicine, perhaps? Or had someone with ill intentions come to this young man?
Curious. I wonder if this young man had many enemies?" Cassius mused aloud, a habit from his youth to help process his thoughts.
Crossing his hands behind his back, he leaned over the table to examine the scribbled papers. His new body's reaction made it clear this was not his handwriting.
"I, Cassius James Stenfall, hereby renounce any claim to inherit the Margrave's position when and if it should come to pass for the House of Stenfall, effective immediately.
After careful consideration, I have decided to step down from this role due to my incompetence, and the weaknesses I have shown in front of our family, and our Kingdom.
I would like to express my regret to my father for failing your expectations to serve as your son, and I would apologize with my life.
Sincerely,
Cassius James Stenfall"
After reading the letter over once more, a sharp pain assaulted his head as foreign memories began to surface, Cassius Hekatate was now Cassius James Stenfall, third son of a Margrave, in the Westernmost Alpine Kingdom on this continent, known as the Ironforge Kingdom for its unique smithing practices.
His father had a grand total of four sons, and two daughters of which he was roughly the middle child being 11 years old. The Eldest being the official heir; Elric Julius Stenfall, a simple boy of 16 years whose thoughts were consumed with the martial path and improving his swordsmanship. Much to his father's chagrin, he completely ignored matters of statesmanship and preferred his advisors to take care of things. His youngest brother had just been born last year and was still hidden away in the regional capital of Irons End, so Cassius didn't bother learning his name. His immediate older brother of 13, was shaping up to be a hassal to deal with as he demonstrated a ruthless intelligence that was uncanny for someone so young to possess. Dustin Riley Stenfall, he'd need to remember this name.
Ironforge was a generally neutral, smaller country with natural defenses in the form of high young mountains and a craggy coastline with sharp cliffs that made it a disaster for conquerors throughout history it's short history.
The innermost portion of this foundling Kingdom was a series of wide flat valleys with numerous rivers and streams, which after the rainfall season, deposited a thick and healthy amount of minerals on their banks which afforded the Kingdom a rich and healthy crop almost every year without fail.
The biggest threat to this kingdom's breadbasket however was seasonal flooding, which was both an immense blessing and a curse. Flooding could be as minor as a few fields being washed out, to as major small towns being washed out; in its short history, the Ironforge Kingdom had even seen its capital city nearly perish under intense flooding the year after they pledged to separate from the Southern Kingdom.
Forged in the civil war of its larger, stronger cousin to the south, the peasants and nobles presiding in these lands took advantage of the chaos and natural geography and superior metal forging skills to break away and forge their nation and have been holding on to its tenuous grasp to it ever since.
Again, the boy's memories failed him as he could not recall the name of this "Great" Kingdom located to the south that encompassed the many plains and flatter terrain