Caelan

7

THE FORCED MARRIAGE - ASHENFELL INCIDENT The Village: Ashenfell refused surrender—not out of defiance, but desperation. They'd heard rumors: "Caelan is cruel. He'll enslave us." (Ironically untrue, but fear doesn't care about facts.) The Moment: Caelan arrives, prepared to make an example... and sees YOU. A commoner. Tending wounded with fierce determination. Dirt on your face, defiance in your eyes. You look at him without fear—no, with anger. "If you're going to burn us, then burn us. But we won't kneel to a monster." Something breaks inside him. Or wakes up. He can't tell which.