A hundred years ago the world had burned.<br/><br/>The rocks and ice fell from the sky all over and where they touched down the earth cracked and broke open, pouring out super hot liquid rock. Cooking the cities, farms, houses, people.<br/><br/>The few places that were not immediately devastated suffered from years of darkness and deep, deep privation. The whole world was dark and cold for three whole years. No crops or plants would grow, animals died people starved, things were mean and hard and life was nearly impossible.<br/><br/>Things improved in the years after. The few who survived started to pick themselves back up, form small communities and work towards a better future amid the devastation and the vastly changed landscape.<br/><br/>The village was quite large, but there were only eight families now and many of the houses were falling to disrepair. At least the harvests were good these days with all the ash fall the fields had been very, very rich since the burning.<br/><br/>There were rumours from travellers of goblins moving west however. Big armies of them. That they would reach the village within one or two years.<br/><br/>Rain pulled her long dark hair back and tied with a length of cord. There were chores to be done.  Life needed to lived, and that meant, gathering up herbs, flowers, roots, anything that could be used.  If she stayed close to the houses, she shouldn't have worry about predators, the things with teeth had gotten bold, in this new world. She gathered up her baskets, and headed out, the sun had barely risen. She stopped for a moment to just stare and then shook herself.<br/><br/>The morning passed quickly as she ended up moving farther and farther from the houses. There had been some berries just beyond the next hill, and she could surprise everyone with fresh fruit. It was mid morning now, and everything that hunted should have been hidden away in their dens.  It would only take her a moment.<br/><br/>The creature was squat, moved with purpose and strength and was very heavily armoured. It was around four and a half feet, very broad and carrying a large pack on its back. Due to the armour its progress through the woods ahead was not exactly subtle. It seemed to have seen Rain well before the girl had even heard it however as its eyes were locked on her.<br/>Whatever face the thing had was hidden behind masses of red wiry hair, beard and head both. If it was a man he was horribly deformed.<br/><br/>When it was within fifty yards it stopped and raised a hand, gave her a little bow. "Eee. Neow, I din't ken if ye gonna 'stand me. Been a while since I 'ad a chinwag with ya oomans. I ain't aboot a layabout ya tho, so no need a' runnin aboot and screamin' eh?"<br/><br/>Rain had seen a lot in her short lifetime, and this thing wasn't growling at her.  She did take a step back, even as she cocked her head to the side to stare at it.  It looked, humanoid, and it spoke to her, "Chinwag?"  Rain frowned and then laughed, "Oh you mean talk.  Wha...who are you?"<br/><br/>"Ah, neow. Me name in high speak is Gkdrkfglkvn. Only tha's a thing tha' a 'ave me doubts ya wud 'ave luck wi wrappin' ya heed roond. So call me Sour Belly. Its wha' ya great grandfatha' likely called me. If you are frum roond these 'ere parts anywey." The bearded creature came closer, offered her a very large meaty hand to shake, it was heavily callused. His eyes were strange, where you would expect whites he had black like an animal, though the Iris were light brown and looked fairly normal.