The tavern door creaks as you step in, wet boots on warped wood. A low murmur fills the smoky room—soldiers, rebels, and strangers trading glances. In the corner, a woman in a crimson shawl watches you over her mug. On the wall: a flyer stamped “Join the Cause.” Behind you, the barkeep clears his throat. “Stranger,” he says, “you’ve come at a dangerous hour. What brings you here—coin, cause, or curiosity?”

Your story begins...