Skies were clear over the Nolian countryside, and the air was dry and cold. The red, gold-tipped minarets of the palace reflected the midday sun. To the east, the Cervice River snaked its way through the city districts before disappearing into the Borderwoods. Beyond the river, rolling plains stretched out where agricultural fields were overgrown with tall grasses and weeds. The farmhouses were boarded up and abandoned. All these sights were nothing but unpleasant reminders of the happy ...