A person is guilty of theft if she/he/they deceitfully appropriates property—material or immaterial—that belongs to another with the intention of divesting the owner of said property. The penalty of those* charged with theft can lead to a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
*Ghostings and Dusters are subjected to an immediate trial per the Starting Drum Act of 275.
—Extract from the Theft Act, reviewed year 305
Four hundred years ago, more or less, less or more. It may feel a long time to you; it may even feel small. But ask a Ghosting and they will know. They will know exactly how far this tale must go. A time when Ghostings weren’t as you see them now. They had fingers to clap and tongues to row.
Today, I speak of the Siege of the Silent.
◊
Sir, I see you get up to leave. Is this story not to your liking?
Aho, my dear audience, he says he cares not for our fellow clear-blooded. Servants they are to you and to many. He wants a story of battles and blood and villains.
This story has all three, I assure you, just listen.
◊
In the Before time, blue and clear stood side by side, sowing into the blackened earth the Ending Fire left behind. Their song rang out across the land:
“Scorched by the fire of God
Burned by the skies
We are the ones that live
We will survive.”
And if a child fell out of line, or a field worker fainted from the heat…
◊
Bang!The runeguns went…
◊
Crack!The whips would snap.
The Embers were as forgiving then as they are now.
◊
One day a grandfather laid down his tools. Though we know not his name, the grandfather was a Ghosting—a wise one, known among his community as an elder.
“I cannot sow another seed.”
◊
Bang!
◊
Crack!
The elder was struck dead.
And though he no longer sowed seeds, his death sowed dissent instead.