Tales of Elysia Pt 1

Adan runs through the Forest of Grey, pursued by unknown assailants. His young, fit body glistens with a sheen of perspiration from fleeing for almost a quarter of an hour, and from fear of his predators.

Adan is the Crown Prince of Elysia. He recently turned 18 and his step-father, King Randak, commissioned him to undertake several tours to get to know firsthand the reaches of his future kingdom. The first two tours of the interior were uneventful, though highly valuable to his experience.

A week and a half past, Prince Adan set out from the palace with a small retinue, including his man-at-arms and warrior mentor Duncan, along with four seasoned soldiers/guards. Their destination was the northern reaches of Elysia, border towns along the Great Road, nestled between the Iron Mountains and the Forest of Grey.

Just before dawn Adan was startled awake as an ambush threw the camp into chaos. Duncan shook Adan awake and with a frantic growl ordered him to draw on his boots and flee south through the forest to reach Fort Silva, half a days journey from the camp site.

Prince Adan reacted well under pressure, though distracted by the harsh sounds of a brutal battle outside his tent. But time was not on his side. He was barely able to draw on his knee-high boots, made of the softest hide leather in a rich reddish brown with hard leather soles. Adan managed to grab a hunting knife just before Duncan sliced open the back of his tent and screamed for him to flee for his life!

Otherwise, Adan’s only attire is a skimpy silken thong. His royal greaves, cuirass, broadsword, short bow, quiver, and buckler all left abandoned in his tent.

While Adan pants from exertion, he is a model of health, with a lithe, athletic form capable of great endurance.

Suddenly Adan enters a small clearing and his feet are pulled out from under him, sending the Prince crashing to the forest floor.