Years after the wars, the armies of the gods were quiet, and the world knew a brief period of peace.  It was during this time of peace that the people of what was now known as Discordia began to live their lives again.  Families were started, and a period of happiness began.

    Among these families was a young Lacerti couple named Barik and Gadvin.  Victims of Wire's hordes, they had lost all they had and had barely escaped being captured and imprisoned in Absalom, Wire's prison labyrinth.  They lived together in hiding, scrounging throughout Kenbrolith Forest for meagre scraps of food and finding only scant shelter from the storms.

    Although they didn't have much, Barik and Gadvin did have each other, and for a time, that's all they wanted.  But soon, they longed for a child.  The world had been a cruel place for too long, and they wished for a life to share the peaceful time with.

    One day, Barik came to Gadvin and told him the news. . .she was with child.  Gadvin's heart burst with joy, this final piece of their lives had made them complete, and started a new family.  However, Gadvin also knew that if they were to raise their child, they would have to leave the protection of Kenbrolith Forest and venture out into the world.  A child needed a real home, and a covering of leaves would not serve as a bed.  If he was to provide for his child, money was a neccessity.

    Gadvin left the forest and went to the cities of Brek'Tyr in search of work.  For months, every shop he went to, he was greeted with the same.  No work.  Exhausted and downtrodden, Gadvin finally made his way into a tavern in the city of Haldim, his last chance for work.  He made his way through the crowd towards the bar and waited.  The bartender darted about serving drinks as Gadvin looked around the room.  Another Lacerti staggered up to the bar and nudged Gadvin.

    "Not too bad, is she, brother?", the drunk asked.  Gadvin looked in the direction the drunk indicated and saw why he was so enthralled.  A beautiful Haitorin girl was dancing up on the stage.  Gadvin smiled at his companion and turned back towards the bar.  From behind him, he heard a deep voice.
The dancing girl.

    "You find something interesting, lizard?".  Gadvin turned and looked up into the face of a massive Haitorin.

    "Uhhh, no sir.", he stammered.  "I'm only looking for work."  The Haitorin growled at him.

    "You don't think Miska is interesting?", he asked.  Gadvin gulped.  The Haitorin was obviously enjoying intimidating him.

    "No. . .er. . .yes, she's very beautiful.", Gadvin replied.  The Haitorin's eyes burned.  The drunken Lacerti chuckled.

    "Damn right!", he bellowed.  The Haitorin turned to him.

    "Don't you DARE look at her!", he bellowed, and smashed his mug of mead into the Lacerti's face.  The drunk grunted in pain and doubled over, blood streaming down his face.  Gadvin pushed the Haitorin aside and looked over his fellow Lacerti, then realized what he had done.  He turned in time to see a huge paw bearing down on him.  The Haitorin's fist made contact, splitting Gadvin's cheek open.  Growling, Gadvin struck back with full force, his fist connecting with the Haitorin's jaw.  The massive cat barely moved.

    "That'll cost you.", he growled.  Roaring, the Haitorin kicked Gadvin's small frame across the room.  The drunk Lacerti, protecting his own kind,  attacked him.  The Haitorin whirled around and seized the drunk by the throat.  Suddenly, a burly sailor grabbed the cat by the shoulder.
The General attacks Gadvin.

    "Let him go, cat!", the sailor shouted.  Growling, the Haitorin picked up the drunk by the throat and swung him around, smashing the Lacerti's body against the sailor's huge frame, and sending him sprawling across the bar.  He squeezed harder, crushing the Lacerti's throat.  Gadvin ran back up to them, trying desperately to free the drunk.

    "Let him go!  Please!  It was just an innocent comment!"  The Haitorin threw the drunk across the bar and grabbed Gadvin by the face.  He screamed as the Haitorin's claws dug deep into his tough, scaly skin.

    "She's mine!", he growled.  "Any of you who even so much as look at her will answer to me!  Now keep your filthy scaly hands to yourself!"  He picked up Gadvin and threw him into a corner.  The Lacerti's head cracked against the stone wall, sending the room spinning.  As Gadvin's world grayed out, he saw the Haitorin sit back down at the bar, the dancer winding around his body.  He lay motionless and stared across the floor.  He saw a mangy dog staring at the huge cat without fear, almost studying it.  Then, Gadvin's world swam, and he blacked out.

 The Aftermath