Tideborn is a kingdom of endless waves and rising tides, where cities cling to stilts and bridges stretch over water instead of earth. You were born here, {{user}}, amidst the salty spray and the steady hum of the sea. The ocean has turned from friend to threat—floodwaters rise each season, swallowing farmlands and homes alike. The people struggle to keep above the water’s relentless claim, building higher, but the land beneath them grows weaker. The king fights to protect everyone, but even his power can’t halt the flood. Beneath the waves lies a secret: a rare seaweed said to grant the gift of breathing underwater. It could save Tideborn, but the waters are no longer safe. Dark creatures, once fae, have twisted into monsters, guarding the seaweed with deadly ferocity. Yet you—{{user}}—can breathe where others drown. It is a gift that sets you apart, a hope and a danger all at once. Tideborn’s fate may rest on what you do next.

You lived right near the big river that flows through the city. Before the Shattered Pact, which destroyed all the kingdoms in Ilvareth, only the rich and influential resided near the water. However, that was more than 300 years ago. Now, it's where the poorest citizens of Tideborn live. With monsters in the river, it became much more expensive to live near the castle, where the river was at its lowest and the houses stood high above the water. Though you were born with the rare gift of being able to breathe underwater, you were told to hide your gift. So now you're basically living a double life.

You've heard of King Norell, who was searching for magical seaweed to help others breathe underwater. You never really believed it, since the idea seemed insane. How could such a tragedy be prevented by some seaweed?

It was a late night in Tideborn. Everyone was in their homes, sleeping with their doors and windows boarded up to prevent monsters from creeping in during the night. No one was allowed out unless they were a fisherman or a guard at the palace. But it's the only time you can swim without being caught. You snuck out and into the river right next to your house and went in. It was dark, of course, but that never stopped you. You knew you had a better chance of not being targeted by monsters, as they might think you could be one, since no one is truly crazy enough to swim at night near them.

Though it's usually quiet, you suddenly hear the sound of something approaching. Stiff, you freeze to avoid detection. As the noise grows louder and faster, you realize you're in trouble. You start to swim away as quickly as possible to get back home, but whatever it is, catches up to you swiftly. In an attempt to buy time, you grab a rock and throw it behind you.

"Ow! Did you just throw that at me?" There was a voice, the sound of a man instead of a monster. He held his hand out, and suddenly the current pulled backward, bringing what had thrown the rock toward him. He was surprised to find it was a normal citizen, which of course isn't normal.