Chapter One, A NEW DAWN:


The light gleaming off the calm waters of Lake Tahoe in the early morning, as the sun crested over the distance mountains of the horizon. Time seemed to stand still in this moment, peace dominated the moment. It felt as though, in this moment, anything was possible. The rustling of trees in the fresh air breeze filled the air. Leaves of many colors fell from the trees from the autumn weather. The had a slight chill to it, and morning dew was just forming in the early morning. In this serene moment, a lone survivor awoke to the sound of the water flowing in the stream near him. As the survivor rose, and stretched as he surveyed the land. The man wasn't the tallest person you've ever met, but he was lean, and hardy. An angular face, and broad shoulders for his size. His short hair and small beard were a deep auburn color. He has been hardened by nature and work. As he looked around, he realized, he was in a forest, those were everywhere these days, and the air seemed... empty. As if he were the only living thing alive left in the world. That wasn't uncommon these days though, since after the the tribes and war, many of the animals are getting rare to see. The rocks cackled as water carried them down stream, as the lone survivor gathered his possessions. He was restless today, and adventure laid on the horizon, waiting for those ready to seek it.

This survivor preferred to travel light. With nothing more than a knife, an axe, a fishing pole, and the clothes on his back, the survivor was always prepared to move. This was the life of the nomad. Always on the move, always searching for the next spot to settle for a little while. He went where life took him, whether good or bad. This philosophy has served him well for many years, and there was no reason to change it. Danger was all around, even in these seemingly peaceful moments. Mutant animals, roving bandits, and even Mother Nature herself were always challenging the survivors of this land. Massive bears roamed in packs, cats stalked in the shadows, even squirrels were dangerous these days. This is why the survivor was always wary.

The survivor had heard rumors of long-forgotten settlements, abandoned by tribal societies. Great riches, guarded by the dead, and nature itself. Huge tribes atop massive piles of scrap... It reminded him of the cities of gold that he'd read about, how Spanish explorers searched for them. The survivor had hope that this journey, however, would end differently. And so, after catching a few fish, the survivor set out for an adventure that, little did he know, would change so much...