On a cold night, rain fell mercilessly over a small town.
It was one of the towns of a recently raised settlement at the edge of the great forest, that immense band of giant trees that divided the lands of humans from those of the semi-humans.
It was a quiet place, home to simple folk who had never asked for more than to live in peace.
And yet…
That night, flames rose amid the rain, devouring houses and stables alike, dyeing the night sky orange as the smoke mingled with the downpour.
Through the streets, all that could be heard were screams and weeping in equal measure.
The few soldiers still standing did everything they could to hold back the invaders and buy the civilians some time to escape, but it was clear they wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.
After all, those attacking them weren't even human, but an enormous horde of semi-humans that had poured out of the forest.
