PROLOGUE
Athan's Duty
At this point, the characters do not know each other. I will be giving each one an introductory space, before starting on the campaign.
The morning began as any other. Athan split wood for an hour, milked goats, checked for frost on the vines, then settled in for breakfast with his family. Everyone laughed a little more than usual, and the effort was plain, but morning, at least, would be normal.
Not that military duty was unusual. Everyone older than Athan in the family had done it, and this year was unlikely to even be particularly dangerous. But Athan had informed his mother and father last night of his intent to go career, and his mother had strongly, loudly, passionately disapproved.
So now there was some tension.
Athan's mother was a big-boned, muscular woman, a wolver and servant of Atmos. She did not approve of too much society or too much militant order, and "too much" wasn't much, in her opinion.
After breakfast cleared, Athan began to pack while the other kids worked on house chores, and winced as he felt his mother's presence behind him.
"It's always your choice, Athan..." she began, an impatient buzz to her voice.
He interrupted, somewhat angrily, "But my choice is the wrong one, right? I know what I'm good at, Mom, and I know what I want to do!"
Louder, she yelled, "I just don't think you should commit to such a drastic choice at your age! Give it some time! Could you even try to..."
The argument went on, while everyone else in the house politely ignored it. Athan's younger brother (of three boys, Athan being the middle) silently resolved to never, ever, ever tell their mother his plans until they were already in motion. Athan had always been too honest, too forward, for his own good.
Quickly enough, however, morning ended, and Athan had finished fighting, packing and saying goodbye to his family. He stepped out into a brisk noon day, and hiked down the road from his family's Little Lake farm to the local military outpost.
Shortly thereafter, he was registered, and he and the four other fifteen year olds were sent north, to Theralis. Athan smiled as his feet hit the first few yards of road... he was off to meet his destiny!