The sun dawns on Three Tombs Court. The Shining Tomb catches the first rays of light, scattering them and shining like a prism, the first glyphs of the story darkened to legibility by the miraculous construction of ages past. The Shifting Tomb's shadows obscure the small motions of the walls of the pyramidal tomb, unbetrayed by any noise. The Still Tomb's rich purple bricks look almost black in the sunlight.<br/><br/>In normal times, the miners would be long risen, going to work digging in the cavernous systems below the tombs, carving out the regrowing rocks, finding precious minerals scattered in the common rock. The tenders of the grand trees would pluck the day's ration of fruits, giving them to the youngest and the oldest in the Court. The militia would mount the walls or their mounts, keeping out the lesser winter folk seeking entrance to feast on the souls of mortals. Those times are long past.<br/><br/>For almost fully three seasons the legions of the demon Nitinat have lain siege to Three Tombs Court, intentionally letting just enough food flow in that the refugees and prisoners don't starve outright. The demon will not accept surrender in small trickles, slaying those that try to escape or join.<br/><br/>In Old Realm, thousands upon thousands of demons chant, singing dark songs about the fate of those within the siege ring. The few initial attempts to break out of the siege came back with the concerning information that magic allowed people in without ever meeting the demons. And as is apparent to everyone unlucky enough to have been trapped in the city, either by living there, being chased there, or having wandered in, the demons are a quite dangerous ring around the city when trying to exit.<br/><br/>Occasional gangs of Blood Apes are sent in to cause damage, breaking buildings, upturning street stones, and  eating people. Shapeshifting Neomah work to poison food and water. From what little is known, the demon desires the absolute surrender of everyone and everything, unconditionally.<br/><br/>But hope comes from the silent tombs themselves. Told in the pictures and glyphs of the Shining Tomb are the details of the banishment of Nitinat ages ago by the three heroes buried in the tombs. A sword of ice, capable of making ice, calling up gigantic blizzards, and striking spirits by its own nature. Some interpretations of the stories say that the demon and the blade call to each other, and when the demon escapes into Creation, the blade will follow.<br/><br/>The elders have read the stars, and believe that they know where the blade lies. The miners despair of the accuracy of these readings and hope to hide or run. The militia is split, some following the heroes, some hoping to break through and escape with the citizens.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Feel free to just go and interact for a bit, and I'll have responses. If you need to do anything that requires a roll, we can do that too, though. Oh, and have a link (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=128774.0) to the OOC thread</div></div>