Early Morning,

The Southern Cathari Coast,

The Town of Cathari,

71BCE,

The morning dew coated the trees of the winter plains, a shining light reflecting against the water droplets. Abararban, sat outside of his native home, he was resting on his spear and shield as the sun had just barely risen on Cathari. Water-vapour came from his breath, testament to the cold, he unsuccessfully tried to rub his hands together for warmth before walking back to where the brazier sat. On returning back to his post, with hands much warmer, he looked into the distance, his night-vision previously ruined by looking into the brazier. Abararban swore he could see something far away, he looked even closer, he still couldn't see what it was but he could hear a thundering noise. In his morning haze, he paused, questioning what possibly could be making such a noise? Wait, he thought, Horses? Not just any horses, cavalry!. Abararban turned and begun to run to the guard-tower merely 5 minutes away, his breath was heavy as he ran, his spear and shield jingling, his helmet bouncing up and town. Suddenly, WHOOSH, an arrow flew past his head, slamming into the tree in front of him. He begun sprinting even quicker, arrows begun to land all around him. "RING THE BELL! RING THE BELL! RAIDERS!" he begun to scream as he ran towards his guard-tower. Another Cathari guard peaked his head over the tower and looked down to see Abararban running at full pelt, but before he could ask why he was running, an arrow hit him in the throat.

Two Days Later,

The Ruins of Cathari,

71BCE,

Cathari was no more, an ashy haze laid on top of the ruins. The blackened ground and crumbling buildings were only added by the mass amount of bodies that laid among the streets. Men, women, children, none were spared by the destruction. Still, fires burnt in the town, dogs ran around the streets picking at carcasses or loyally waiting for their deceased masters to return to them. Two men entered the city, dressed in the robes of the Ir'brak, two Zaldun, one named Phanius and one named Nadd, both barely out of their apprenticeships. As soon as they saw the destruction, they dismounted from their horses and fell to their knees. Not once had they seen such a disgusting display of power and savagery.

"Na... Nadd... What have they done? Who could do this?"

"They killed everyone, even the children. In what world is this acceptable? These were INNOCENT PEOPLE!"

Nadd stood up aggressively, angrily crying at the destruction and cruelty that had befallen Cathari. He looked around, trying to make sense of it, before seeing a banner in the distance, adorned upon a cross. He marched towards it with Phanius in tow, however, this was not just a wooden cross and a banner, upon that cross was a child, barely one year old. The two men stood there quietly for a second, shocked and disgusted by what they could see. Phanius turned away, disgusted, "I'm going to be sick." Nadd however, ignored Phanius and looked closer at the banner, one eerily similar to the one found on the exiled Ir'brak Master, Drallig.

"Phanius, come here."

"I don't want to look at her again."

"No, not that, look at this banner. Does it look familiar to you?"

"Should it?"

"You must pay more attention in our Temple meetings, this is the banner of the fallen Zaldun. This banner is from people who fight for the Ro-Kwa, for the dark side. We must tell the High Council at once."

Both the men quickly mounted their horses, with the banner in their kit, ran as quick as they could be carried back to Zabrak, to where the Ir'brak Temple sat.

One Day Later,

Council Chambers of the Ir'brak Temple,

71BCE,

The Council Chambers of the Temple were open and airy, great large windows were opened and the flowing banners of the Ir'brak floated in the wind. The Chambers were organised in a circle, with all the seats of the High Council surrounding the centre of the Council, where petitioners would meet to discuss with the Ir'brak Masters. Both Phanius and Nadd stood in the centre, while the High Council arrived and seated themselves. Once everyone had become seated, the Grand Master of the Order, a venerable old man known as Gon Jynn, announced the beginning of the meeting.

"In the name of God and with respects to the Itzal Apas who reigns in Guamoria, we offer praises to all the faithful. In front of us are the two Zaldun, Phanus and Nadd, they have come from Cathari with news of a raid. I will be..."

He was interrupted by an angry Nadd.

"It was no raid! It was an act of destruction and cruelty, it was pure evil, malice, corruption. It was no raid Masters."

Gon Jynn nodded sagely, "Do not let your emotions take over yourself Nadd, we must rely on the facts first and foremost, it was a raid against the town of Cathari. What news do you bring from the southern reaches?"

"The entire town was burnt to the ground, the inhabitants killed, every man, woman, and child was murdered without care. There was nothing left, apart from a banner adorned upon a crucified child, no older than a year old."

He turned and pulled out the banner they found earlier and opened it so the entire High Council could see it. Small gasps of shock came from certain members of the Council. Gon Jynn spoke first.

"You have brought to us a curse, this banner has been adorned in multiple raids and executions against the Order. Already, over one hundred Zaldun and their apprentices have been found killed, with that symbol cut onto their arms, their legs, and in the worst cases, their faces. We still do not know who is causing this, but they have grown brazen by your report."

"Grand Master Jynn, we must not sit idly by while the people of the Cathari Coast are under siege! Innocents are being murdered! Please, Masters, let me lead a force into the Coast to try and find out where these Ro-Kwa are!"

The Masters looked at each other, with Master Thinn speaking.

"Nadd, you are a man just out of your apprenticeship, you have not lived the lives we have, trust us in saying that this is a terrible idea that would do nothing but unbalance the Kwa."

Nadd struck back immediately, "Maybe we should unbalance the Kwa!"

There was a shocked silence. The Masters looked at Nadd confused, then concerned. Meanwhile Nadd and Phanius stood proud about their choices. Jynn spoke next.

"The Kwa is not meant to be unbalanced, what you say is not only heretical but directly antithetical to the Order, our goal is to keep the Kwa in balance."

"Maybe we should strive to push the Kwa in our favour? To the Ko-Kwa, the Light Force, should we not strive to the Light like the Issarists in the North and in the East?"

"What you say is heresy. You should meditate on this, we can discuss tomorrow."

"This is cowardice and fear. You fear the Ro-Kwa, it is clear to me that the Order is falling into obscurity and irrelevance, we have abandoned our goal of helping innocents!"

"It never was in our directive to help people unless it was needed to balance the Kwa, something you seem to have forgotten about."

"I will not sit idle while people are being murdered for their faith in God and their support of the Order. Neither will Phanius, we will help these people with or without your authorisation."

With that, both Phanius and Nadd stormed out of the High Council, leaving the Masters to deliberate on what had just occurred.