Mundi casus

A Story by Shaggie

An epic tale of adventure

Page 1

The First Signs of Daemonums Return

The wind howled a mournful dirge across the frosted peaks of the Dragon’s Tooth mountains, a sound strangely out of sync with the otherwise serene beauty of Regium Glacies. Princess Filia, her breath misting in the crisp air, watched the spectacle from the balcony of her tower. Normally, the sight would have filled her with a quiet joy, a sense of belonging to the majestic kingdom she would one day inherit. But today, a deep unease settled in her heart, a shadow clinging to the edges of the breathtaking vista.

For weeks, whispers had snaked their way through the opulent halls of the royal palace, carried on the currents of fear and uncertainty. Whispers of unnatural storms that ravaged the countryside, leaving behind trails of devastation and twisted, unnatural growths. Whispers of monstrous creatures sighted in the remote, desolate wastes beyond the kingdom’s borders �" creatures that bore no resemblance to any beast known to man or beast. These were not the typical skirmishes with goblins or bandits that punctuated the otherwise peaceful existence of Regium Glacies; these were…different. They were darker, more sinister.

Filia, ever attuned to the pulse of her kingdom, felt the tremor of apprehension that ran through her people. The usually bustling markets were quieter, the laughter less carefree. A palpable tension hung in the air, thick and heavy as the approaching winter. Even the ever-present arrogance of the Regium Glacies elite seemed subdued, replaced by a hesitant uncertainty. It was as if an unseen predator stalked the kingdom, its presence felt even before its claws sank into their flesh.

Her father, King Caesar, dismissed it all as superstition, a ploy by the less powerful kingdoms to undermine his authority. He pointed to the flourishing state of Regium Glacies, to the prosperity of his reign, scoffing at the notion of a genuine threat. But Filia, with her keen intuition and a sense of justice that often clashed with her father’s ruthless pragmatism, knew better. The uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach told her that something truly dreadful was stirring.

The kingdom of Regium Glacies, nestled in the heart of a vast, icy plain, was a land of glittering spires and frozen rivers, a breathtaking testament to its mages' mastery over the elemental forces. The prestigious Royal Mage School, situated on the outskirts of the capital city, was a beacon of arcane knowledge, churning out potent mages capable of shaping ice and snow into weapons of war or intricate works of art. Yet, even their formidable power seemed inadequate to confront the growing darkness.

The other four kingdoms, each as distinct as the seasons themselves, also felt the tremors. Schtelz, a land of towering mountains and brutal beasts, was a nation forged in the fires of savagery and strength, ruled by fierce beast-shaman who commanded the spirits of the wilds. Their shaman spoke of prophecies foretold in the ancient language of the mountains, foretelling a cataclysm that would shake the very foundations of their world.

Bellum, a kingdom carved from the hardened rock of a relentless military tradition, was a land of endless drill yards and gleaming steel. Their soldiers, trained from birth to serve the king, were renowned across the land for their unwavering loyalty and brutal efficiency. But even their disciplined ranks felt the growing unease, a sense of foreboding that chilled them to the bone despite their hardened resolve.

Calidas, the jewel of the southern lands, was a place of rolling hills and sun-drenched valleys, a vibrant kingdom of healers and mystics who wielded the power of nature itself. Their peaceful existence, however, was threatened by the creeping shadow that stretched its fingers towards their verdant lands, carrying with it the stench of death and decay.

Finally, Mare Portum, a bustling seaport city, teetered precariously between the realms of civilization and chaos. A melting pot of cultures and creeds, its vibrant life was fueled by the constant flow of goods and people from across the sea. Yet, lurking beneath the surface of this bustling trade hub lay a shadowy organization, a secretive church that whispered of ancient prophecies and held sway over the hearts and minds of many. Its true nature, its true purpose, remained hidden, shrouded in mystery and dark whispers.

Filia paced the length of her balcony, the icy wind whipping around her. The rumors were no longer mere whispers; they were becoming screams. Her father, blinded by pride and power, refused to see the truth, but Filia knew it was upon them. The seal that held back Daemonum, the demonic land of perpetual twilight and unimaginable horrors, was weakening. And the first signs of its return were far more than just superstition. They were the harbingers of a war that would engulf the five kingdoms, a war that threatened to destroy everything she held dear.

The first tangible manifestation of the weakening seal came in the form of a cataclysmic storm that ripped through the southern province of Regium Glacies. Not just any storm, this one was a twisted parody of nature's fury. The lightning cracked with an unearthly purple hue, and the rain fell not as water, but as a viscous, black ichor that scorched the earth wherever it landed. Entire villages were swallowed by monstrous waves of ice and snow that appeared and disappeared with unnerving speed, leaving behind nothing but desolate wastelands.

The creatures that emerged from the wreckage were horrifying. Twisted parodies of nature's creations, these were beings of nightmare �" creatures with flesh like melting wax, limbs that contorted at impossible angles, and eyes that glowed with a malevolent light. These were not the goblins or bandits that the Royal Guard were trained to combat; these were something else entirely, something ancient and horrifying. Their attacks were swift and brutal, leaving a trail of carnage in their wake.

The Royal Mage School, initially skeptical, sprang into action. Their most experienced mages, wielding powerful incantations and potent artifacts, attempted to quell the storm and banish the creatures. But their efforts proved largely futile, the demonic forces far more powerful and resilient than anything they had encountered before. Ancient texts, long forgotten, were unearthed from the dusty archives of the school, speaking of a demonic army, a land of shadow, and a prophecy that spoke of the five kingdoms uniting against an overwhelming darkness. The prophecies hinted at a war, a war that would determine the fate of not just their kingdom, but all of humanity.

It was in this moment of crisis that Filia met Kael, her new bodyguard. A man of few words and even fewer smiles, Kael possessed a quiet strength and a lethal proficiency with a blade that belied his seemingly unassuming presence. His eyes, though often shadowed, held a depth that hinted at a mysterious past, a past that he was unwilling to share. Yet, despite his enigmatic nature, Filia sensed a deep loyalty within him, a silent promise to protect her, no matter the cost. The first encounter set the tone for a complicated relationship, one that would be built on mutual respect and shared responsibility but would be tested by secrets and betrayals. Their partnership, born amidst the escalating chaos, would be pivotal in the battles to come. The coming storm had only just begun, and the first tremors were merely the prelude to the earthquake.