Prologue

Six Months Ago

The palace was situated within the epicentre of the seven circular districts that made up the grand city of Rindal, the single towering spire of shimmering gold overshadowing the glittering white buildings that expanded for four miles in either direction. With every circular division a road separated each district, while the city at large possessed a singular dividing road that split the city into two equal halves, thus connecting each and every pathway.

The design of the city was for defensive purposes; with its outer monolithic walls fashioned to withstand weeks of constant siege. However, much like any other city on Taura, it has thus far not felt a single scratch of war against its walls for thousands of years.

This was a golden age of peace and prosperity for the blue and green skinned Taurii under the benevolent and wise rule of Vishnuka, their God.

For it was he that rid this continent of its diseases and it was he that imparted his knowledge unto them to create these vast complex cities; to impart practical medical knowledge to cure all known diseases that once plagued their kin, and to help them purge the land of their enemies with the blessing of gunpowder and steam.

But in such an age, complacency was rife. Despite the wealth of those that lived within the inner districts, those that lived upon the outer were subjected to cramped conditions and a poor quality of life like any other city or town within Taura.

Social status meant everything and where you lived within these seven city districts depicted such. Other than stating a full name, the Taurii were also obliged as basic etiquette to state the district to which they were born, so that others may treat them appropriately.

Yet somehow, despite this rather communistic and fascist way of thinking, there was peace.

And what of the man that lived within its centre"

He had complete control of all within his sights and there was nothing he could not do.

Standing before a mosaic window of the great, multi-faced god Vishnuka himself located at the back of his office at the peak of the palace tower, Paleckt adjusted his fine robes as he marvelled at the craftsmanship of the very inspiring piece before him, appreciating the intricate detail to which was laboured upon for weeks to his exact specification.

The bulbous, green skinned Taurii male blinked large black eyes as he felt his pride well up inside of him, so moved was he by the mosaic visage of himself procrastinating before his God, whom looked down upon him with a kind and loving expression upon all four of his faces.

"Such beauty, is it not?" The heavy man possessed an equally bass-like voice that boomed within the nearly empty office, for it contained no other furniture but a simple oaken desk and a large brown leather armchair to which he could park his rather immense rear upon. "Notice how I have my arms wide," he pointed out with a long fat finger, "and the offerings of gold, fruit and wine I offer to Him. Doesn't he look rather pleased" I like to think so."

"It is indeed a wondrous sight, my Lord." Came the timid replies of the entourage of maids adorned in what could only be described as a thin, transparent black sheet that was draped over their naked bodies.

Each of the maids had their long hair tied back into tight ponytails, each bearing matching makeup and intricate body art of gold and silver vines painted across their naked flesh, each holding a platter of something or another ranging from mounds of fruits and meat, from pitchers of wine to rows of silver and gold goblets from which to drink from.

There was even a maid holding an entire silver platter of a baby Yahgla, a breed of wild boar native to the land.

"Why are you wenches just standing there like Rakars?" Paleckt asked indignantly, turning about to clamp a large hand on the back of his armchair, his black eyes glowering monstrously towards the beautiful Taurii women, "hurry up and get out!"

The women looked between each other confusedly, before a brightly red headed, blue skinned Taurii woman was the first to speak amongst them.

"But' what about the dinner you request-"

Seating himself into the armchair with an exasperated sigh, he waved a hand towards the women as he returned to the array of papers strewn across the surface of his desk that required his utmost attention. "After seeing your miserable faces I am no longer hungry. Away! All of you. I shall call for you when I am hungry again."

"W-what should we do with the-" Asked another maid, but she only shrank back much like the rest of them when he stood up in a flurry and slammed his palms down onto the oaken desk.

"I don't care! Just' just throw it away for the hounds!" He growled. "Now get out! I need total concentration and I don't need you lower circle harlots fouling up the air with your presence."

Each maid bowed in unison, quickly shuffling their way towards the other end of the office and the open double doors that was occupied with two Taurri Royal Guards, adorned in traditional gleaming plate armor of gold, complete with a full helm depicting the four faces of Vishnuka on each side of the protective headgear.

As the maids were just about departed through the horizon of the door, Paleckt settled back down onto his chair in a huff, his fingers scrambling to pick up a sheet of paper from his desk which displayed the latest figures of the treasury and the predicted financial outcome for the rest of the year.

As he clapped his dry lips together, he then realized something.

"You! With the pitcher!" He peered over the paper at the last possible moment before the green skinned Taurii woman holding the pitcher disappeared around the corner

His command caused the woman to pause while the others scurried away to leave her fend for herself, thankful it was not them that would be forced to stay behind.

For they knew what would happen to her.

The woman flinched and slowly turned back to look back inside of the office, trying her best to smile and look pleased at the attention the governor was giving her.

"Yes, my lord?"

"I've changed my mind. Come here," his voice drew cautiously kind and mellow, as he beckoned with a motion of a fat finger for her to come hither, "I would not mind some of that wine, now that I think about it. Or your company?" He indicated to the floor besides his chair. "Kneel here, won't you?"

Timidly, the woman stepped back into the precipice of the room, only to flinch once again as the guards behind her closed the doors. Undeterred by her situation, she approached the large man's side as requested and placed the pitcher of wine down upon the desk as indicated.

When she finally knelt down beside him, she felt a large hand slide on top of her blonde head of hair, causing her to look up at him with frightened eyes.

"Don't look so frightened, my dear?" Paleckt soothed as he smoothed her head, as if he was comforting a frightened child. "What is your name" I don't think I recognize you. Are you new here?"

"Yes, my Lord" I started seven sunrises ago." The maid bowed her head low.

Paleckt simply grinned down at her as his eyes raked lustfully over her fine, rather athletically built body. "I see the lower districts have been kind to you. No scars" no blemishes" did you honestly think I would not notice such a beauty amongst the filth?"

It was naturally a rhetorical question. He continued.

"Your name?" He affirmed, much stronger this time as his fingers curled into her hair uncomfortably, his other hand lifting his fine silken robes up over his thighs. "I much would like to call out the name of such a fine specimen that is about to satisfy me."

Tilting her head just up, the woman smiled up gently to her superior, her eyes gleaming with a seductive and somewhat predatorial expression.

"Lexia" my name is Lexia.?