War lies ahead

The midnight sun rises on the Dark Empire, as the black butterfly flaps her wings to announce the start of the days of vengeance. Its folk would have preferred to not see her for the longest time, but things went differently.

Peace in the last decade seemed that had to last forever, but it disappeared in a more discouraging turn of events. No one could ever imagine that a commander like him, so dear to the people he once defended, would have become their biggest enemy. It was the most unmerciful occurrence in all of the realm's history.

Its inhabitants are arming to go against the invader with all of their desperation, fury and disillusionment. And a vast dose of deception too. The ghost of their ancient power is still alive and already in the blade of their swords and daggers. It will guide them in this new and unforeseen war for life.

The Ancients will perish due to their thirst for power, even if they gained a new member whose wit served them to defeat their old enemies not so many years ago. Their disbelief will be the fuel to lit the flames of their revenge.

"Teach me the art of war" is their battle cry while the Monks arrived from a far land to test them to prove their worth. They are lucky to have those Monks to train them, as the legend says Monks never die and it is quite convenient to have wise and immortal allies to face the enemies.

These men of the cloth, who came from a very far county, different from those who asked their advice, are usually against conflict, but seeing how tremendous the situation was, they accepted to train these people who always traded exceptional merch with them and endlessly appreciated their majestic culture.

They answered with no problem to the call for help of the wise and fierce Emperor of the Darkray people. He was like a myth to them as they read his heroic deeds in their books and they took his example to show how their kids should behave in case of a war. He was esteemed in all of the other kingdoms as a right, smart and not somebody who could easily be fooled.

They're not the only allies that he has recruited for the final battle. Many Masters of the Five Swords are training as well, day and night, night and day in the Obsidian Castle's Dungeon, hidden in the darkness, and history knows how strong and imperishable they are. They are so invincible that they participated in battles only in very restricted cases when they were the only hope of survival.

Something even more ferocious is breathing the fire of justice and if you're attentive enough you can hear its mighty roar in the deepest cave lake of the realm. It makes the earth above tremble, the air is hot from his breath and its voice can be heed from the drains of the city and under the arches of the Temple of Victory.

Everybody witnesses a strange presence in their homeland, but nobody understands what it is. They feel like a monster is hiding in the cracks of the dark spots of the streets and the countryside, or on the underground, while they move unconsciously above it.

What kind of beast is creeping in the shadows, waiting to do nobody knows what. Is it a defender, something that can be trusted, or another enemy that can make collapse all of their beloved society? "Don't worry my people. It's here to protect us and to fight among the most ferocious of our soldiers" They just have to trust their ruler and his choice. Would a Hydra be sufficient to defend the Imperial Walls from tumbling down?

Inspired by the Black Butterfly mix on Pandora Journey channel, by the composer Adrien Sepulchre.