As dawn broke over the small kingdom of Xakaito, Princess Sagira was escorted back to the Citadel by a small entourage after a long night of negotiations with a Brileberry swamp tribe that had long challenged her father. Despite the difficulties, she believed progress was being made with the new chieftain. However, she was worried about the intelligence reports indicating that an opposing faction within the tribe opposed the peace talks, which could create significant obstacles. The princess made a tired smile as she contemplated the challenges ahead. Knowing this issue would have to wait, she tried to rest, but the rough, snow-covered road made it difficult to sleep. Resigned to the situation, she opened the shutter of her carriage to watch the rising sun— a symbol of hope and potential victory for her people. However, she was careful not to fall into premature optimism.

As the shutter opened, her initial hope swiftly turned to dread as she saw a group of heavily armed bandits emerging from the surrounding swampland and thick fog, where they lay in wait. A flurry of deadly arrows flew through the early morning, each striking true and finding its mark in the neck or chest of guards and horses, swiftly incapacitating the entire force. On the edge of the ambush, Sagira heard her carriage door being pounded and a handmaiden’s urgent plea: “Please open the door quickly!” The princess complied, and as she did, she spotted Fendra, who was holding a bundle and urging her, “Quickly, this way.” Fendra then thrust the bundle into the princess’s grasp. They both dashed into the cold morning, hearing the chaos behind them, along with their pursuers.

They extended their lead over the pursuers as Sagira paused to check the bundle’s contents. It contained a survival kit, a warm camouflage cloak, a ring of warmth, an enchanted short sword, a survival knife, a healing potion that could cure nearly anything, and several basic items like food for a short wilderness stay. Just as Sagira was about to take a tactical break before crossing the swamp to the next village, the two survivors, widening their gap, emerged from behind a cluster of Hemlock trees. Suddenly, an arrow struck the tree just inches from

As dawn broke over the small kingdom of Xakaito, Princess Sagira was escorted back to the Citadel by a small entourage after a long night of negotiations with a Brileberry swamp tribe that had long challenged her father. Despite the difficulties, she believed progress was being made with the new chieftain. However, she was worried about the intelligence reports indicating that an opposing faction within the tribe opposed the peace talks, which could create significant obstacles. The princess made a tired smile as she contemplated the challenges ahead. Knowing this issue would have to wait, she tried to rest, but the rough, snow-covered road made it difficult to sleep. Resigned to the situation, she opened the shutter of her carriage to watch the rising sun— a symbol of hope and potential victory for her people. However, she was careful not to fall into premature optimism.

As the shutter opened, her initial hope swiftly turned to dread as she saw a group of heavily armed bandits emerging from the surrounding swampland and thick fog, where they lay in wait. A flurry of deadly arrows flew through the early morning, each striking true and finding its mark in the neck or chest of guards and horses, swiftly incapacitating the entire force. On the edge of the ambush, Sagira heard her carriage door being pounded and a handmaiden’s urgent plea: “Please open the door quickly!” The princess complied, and as she did, she spotted Fendra, who was holding a bundle and urging her, “Quickly, this way.” Fendra then thrust the bundle into the princess’s grasp. They both dashed into the cold morning, hearing the chaos behind them, along with their pursuers.

They extended their lead over the pursuers as Sagira paused to check the bundle’s contents. It contained a survival kit, a warm camouflage cloak, a ring of warmth, an enchanted short sword, a survival knife, a healing potion that could cure nearly anything, and several basic items like food for a short wilderness stay. Just as Sagira was about to take a tactical break before crossing the swamp to the next village, the two survivors, widening their gap, emerged from behind a cluster of Hemlock trees. Suddenly, an arrow struck the tree just inches from Sagira’s face, revealing two hidden scouts in ambush. Fendra screamed in panic, jerking the princess away from the shower of arrows that quickly followed. As they crashed through the underbrush to escape the deadly volley, they didn’t notice the steep incline or the third hidden bandit until he jumped out and grabbed Sagira; at that moment, an arrow struck Fendra in the back, causing her to scream in pain.

Fendra’s corpse fell against the third bandit, causing him to lose his footing just long enough for Sagira to wiggle free from her captor and drive the knife deep into his stomach. As they tangled and toppled over each other, they started rolling down the incline, eventually plunging into a deep gorge and disappearing. When they hit the near-freezing water, the impact caused Sagira to drop all the equipment, soak her clothing, and tear them as she surfaced from the murky water. Despite being cold, wet, and exhausted, Sagira found the energy to press on deeper into the swamp after discovering the healing potion that floated to the surface with her.