Dearest friends of the Golden Hart...

Welcome to Aldis, the heart of the continent of

Aldea. Also known as the Land of the Blue Rose, Aldis is a society of devoted to justice and peace
for its peoples. Its governing nobles are not determined by right of birth or by the will of those
higher up the heirarchy, but by magical tests to determine whether the subject is truly worthy
and well-intentioned. The sovereign of the nation, similarly, is not chosen by line of succession or
by petty, squabbling factions, but by the embodiment of the collective will and wisdom of the
people; the Golden Hart of Aldea, a powerful magical spirit resembling a deer. While there are
instances where such people fall from grace after being chosen, they are mercifully rare, and for
three hundred years, Aldea has been known as a land of fairness, tolerance, and mercy... though
its neigbors may call it other things. To the west, for example, the horse-lords of Rezea, a wild
and untamed people, often call Aldeans "soft, but decent" while the Theocracy of Jarzon, to the
east, use words such as "decadent" "tainted" and even less polite things. The kingdom of Kern,
also known as the Land Under Shadow, says little to its shining neighbor, unless the darkness
within plans to conquer it, while the Matriarchy of Lar'tya, far in the ocean, maintains their
status as Aldis' most valuable and loyal trading partner. Despite some clearly less-than-friendly
neighbors, now is a time of relative peace for the blue rose, with trade between nations
flourishing and Kern licking its wounds following their last disastrous invasion which resulted in
death of its leader, Jarek the Lich King, at the hands of Queen Jaellin three years ago.

However, all of this is a bit over your heads, and most of you have come to know Aldis in
smaller ways... as a place where the streets are clean and the people healthy thanks to wise
healers, where education is not only easily found, but mandated for children; a place where the
wondrous Shas crystals can power devices that provide light and heat to civilized areas and help
purify water for aquifers and plumbing. A place where loving who you love and being yourself
are embraced parts of the culture where they are sometimes not in other lands. A place where
those who aren't accepted in other countries, for one reason or another, can find peace and
happiness in Aldis, since it's a country that values diversity, free expression and everyone being
as true to themselves as possible. You might even be someone who enjoys the peace of mind
the lands of the Blue Rose bring.

Aldis is also land that values, preserves and lives peacefully alongside the natural world,
and it's especially apparent this time of year, for it is the 1st of Braneth, in the 320th year of the
blue rose, and a Sun day. The snows of winter have long since melted after spring arrived over a
month ago, and the world is once again blooming brightly with vibrant colors, whether those be
the bountiful but muted colors of agriculture, the wilder, joyful colors of blooming flowers or the
life-filled colors of the forest not far north of the town of Tinvir, where our story begins, and
where this 1st of Braneth will prove of unusual provedence, as a handful of wandering destinies
slowly begin to intertwine with each other... a handful of destinies that will soon hold the fate of
the kingdom of the blue rose in their hands.

Our story begins in this small town of Tinvir, just southwest of the Minor city of Ennevan. It's a
pleasant town, primarily devoted to agriculture, though it's also a natural trading hub because of
its beautiful position at the crux of three rivers. Right at the crux of those three rivers is also the
town's most notable feature, rising out of the small lake where the three rivers meet... a huge,
beautifully carved statue of an adept of arcana, carved from the purest white marble, holding
two shas crystals in its hands and one on the sole of its foot. With its leg stretched out behind it
and its arms in front of it, the statue is striking a pose that almost makes it look like its dancing.
Tinvir's Spirit Dancer, as the statue is called, provides the standard benefits of shas crystals to the
town, light, heat, running water and water purification, a remarkable amount of luxury for a
relatively small settlement. In addition, it has a unique function... the Dancer is capable of raising
and lowering the bridges across the rivers, to allow riverboats to pass freely. Normally, the
townspeople would be busywith whatever work they do for a living, children would be taking
part in stifling but valuable public schools, (Play tavern celebration playlist) and life would be
going on as life often does.

However, as I said, it's the 1st of Braneth... and that means it's the Spring Equinox, the Feast of
Braniel, a holy day! Around the banks of the lake, many great feasting tables are set up for
communial feasting, with freshly baked bread and delicious wine, delicious roasted meats and
decadently rich cakes and pies, with wild dancing taking place around nearby maypoles and Tall,
elaborately sculpted hedges shaped like Braniel himself, given form by magic. Minstrels who
hunkered down in this town during the winter prepare to start their travels, spending one last
day performing in the town that hosted them. The town's ampitheater, hosting a troupe of
players, is showing an adaptation of one of the most famous tales of Aldis, "Rose and Thorn" to
an enraptured crowd, and all throughout the town's center, games of skill and chance, strength
and speed, all manner of fun, exciting diversions are set up. I'm going to point to each of your
characters, and I'd like you to describe yourself and tell us what you're doing on this exciting,
joyous day.

"Start with the person who looks the most bored, and cycle as needed. End with will, since he
will be the only Rhydan unless we have six players."

The players will all be approached by Saros, Rhy-ven and bonded companion of Elriya Valten,
nba blind knight, who is on the road to slay a darkfiend with a powerful gaze.