There was a time, long ago, that the kingdoms of humankind to the east, and the monstergirl tribes to the west, lived in harmony.  While small skirmishes between various groups weren't unheard of, both sides were often too busy dealing with internal matters to worry about what the others were doing.<br/><br/>That all changed some fifty years ago or so.  It's not clear when everything began, but eventually the human King Reginald VII managed to unite all of the humankind kingdoms in an alliance against the monstergirls.  The attacks came without warning, quickly fighting their way through monster tribes, taking away well over two thirds of the land the monstergirls once called home.  The campaign would have been a success, ending with the continent totally cleansed of monsterkind, were it not for sudden infighting between the kingdoms.  Soon, the king was assassinated, the alliance dissolved, and the elves, humans, dwarves, and other more "civilized" races began to build up their new homes.<br/><br/>While there haven't been any more large-scale invasions since the alliance dissolved, relations between the two are far more tense.  Most of the humankind settlements are helped by monster slaves, either as laborers or... "entertainment" for the men.  Some of the monsters are descended from slaves captured during the wars, never even knowing what freedom is like, but many are captured new as monstergirls wander too far from their homes.  While the kingdoms make it illegal to attack and enslave monsters that visit the towns, all too often the town officials turn a blind eye to those that decide to break those rules.<br/><br/>But the worst news was yet to come.  Rumors began to spread through the human towns of a new alliance, stronger than the old, that would wipe the free monsters from the continent for good.  Eventually, those rumors reached the High Council, the alliance formed by the monster tribes when it was clear that working together was the only possible way to survive.  Deciding that remaining passive would only doom them, the Council sent out messengers, searching for any able-bodied adventurers willing to venture into the humankind lands and learn more of this new alliance.<br/><br/>Today, the Council has prepared to meet with the newest adventurers and assign them to the task.  They have been ordered to come to the council's seat, one of the most ornate buildings in the monster lands, though it pales in comparison to the castles and keeps in human lands.  Currently, only Lady Cilen, a wyvern, sits in the council's assembly hall, the other members having urgent errands to run before the adventurers leave.