ash

'Lord, I hope you're enjoying Ursus.'

'I've arrived in Columbia. It's an interesting place - the only word I have to describe it.'

'I've been thinking about a question that we've all heard of or thought about. We might just trace the value and raison d'être of a good many things back to it.'

'Is the history that we're familiar with just a roll of the dice, or is there a degree of inevitability?'

'What would the world look like if we turned back the clock ten thousand years and allowed things to play out one more time?'

I think they've left.

How can you tell?

Footsteps.

I always heard at least one set of footsteps at the mouth of the cave, but now it's all quiet. Something must have happened.

How many days have we been in here?

I think this is day three.

That puddle reflects a little bit of sunlight at dusk.

Maybe most of the group left. What are we waiting for?

I've had enough. I'm heading out now.

We can cut the rope behind me. Let's get out of here.

There's at least a dozen of them, all of them armed. We don't even know why they kidnapped us.

At least they didn't kill us on the spot. This is our chance.

Maybe we should wait. If we get on the wrong side of them...

You can stay here and wait for death if you want.

Me, I'm going. Columbia is so close. If I'm gonna die, I would rather not die here.

Need a hand?

'It's been some time since we arrived in this strange world. I can't say I'm used to life here yet, and I'm sure the same is true for you.'

'But if you ignore the unfamiliar creatures for a minute, you will find this world more familiar than you might think.'

'It may sound strange, but this is where my mind is.'

'We should do what we can to understand it.'

From the tracks here, it looks like the main group left three days ago. Unfortunately, my car broke down the day before I ran into you.

It doesn't look like we'll be able to catch them.

Oh no! I knew they wouldn't wait for us.

Who would stop to wait when the wealth of Columbia awaits?

But we paid them. They didn't even try to find us...

The barrens are a dangerous place. They didn't want to linger, even for a day...

Life is about looking out for number one. We just have to live with it. Never, I say, never count on someone else!

I agree, and complaining won't do any good. We're on our own here.

According to the map, the closest village is about a hundred clicks to the south. We'll need to resupply there.

South? But we're going west!

An ancient eastern philosopher once said: need to save food for three months for a thousand-mile journey.

Food? Not money?

Never mind... anyway, we'll need to prepare, if we want to make it where we're going.

There's no time to complain. Put yourselves together; we're leaving.

Alright, one more time.

Your name is Erwin. You're a Caprinae, and you hail from Leithanien.

You're ruled by the Twin Empresses, and you have a lot of people who are skilled in the... Originium Arts.

Don't forget our proud musical tradition.

Your name's Nikola. You're from Ursus, and your race is Ursus too.

Yes. The name Ursus is feared by many nations, and by many of its own people.

Your name is Alicja. You're from Kazimierz, home to the famous knight sports.

That's right!

I have some questions about these knight sports.

These are corporate-sponsored fights to the death by hired warriors, forming an important part of the Kazimierzian economy.

The 'knights' competing in these competitions are considered stars, even heroes, and human life is a commodity.

That's what people who have been to the big cities say.

Strange, but not incomprehensible.

May I ask a frank question? You're clearly a skilled warrior, seeing how you saved us from those bandits.

But your knowledge about our lands seems to be rather lacking.

Where exactly are you from?

Pardon me. I come from a place that is, shall I say, pretty far away.

That doesn't really matter. She saved our lives; we should trust her.

We're in this together, at least for now, since we're going to the same place.

You said you were traveling as a group, heading for Columbia?

Victoria, Gaul... now Columbia.

Nikola, Erwin and I set out from a village in western Kazimierz, as part of a pioneer group.

You've heard of the Great Expansion, haven't you?

Great Expansion... yes, I've heard the word.

Of course you have! Even someone who hasn't heard of the Kazimierz Major must have heard of the Great Expansion! Who could hear the name and not feel their heart race?

Just imagine! Massive nomadic cities roaming the wilds, delivering supplies to farms and mines, showering you with money in exchange for goods!

Yeah! I heard that Columbia has endless expanses of land waiting to be cultivated. No one will take your lands from you, and everything you grow belongs to you.

You can have an entire farm, if you're willing to work hard!

Wait a second, brother. Where's your ambition?

A farm? Mines are where the real money is!

Excuse me. By 'mines', do you mean Originium mines?

Of course! What else?

But aren't they a source of infection?

And Catastrophes - nomadic cities can avoid Catastrophes, but not mines and farms. Won't that threaten your dreams?

Sounds like Columbia is telling you there's a chance to get rich here.

People from around the world risk their lives to help Columbia expand its borders, without the government putting any skin in the game.

You say such strange things...

Of course mining is dangerous - even a burdenbeast knows that. So what? Look at this thing on my neck. What do I care about danger?

I meant no offense. I'm not making any accusations. I'm in no position to do that.

Catastrophes are pretty low on the list of things that can lose you your farm.

You never know when a Catastrophe might take your farm in the barrenlands, but you know for sure that your lord will take your farm in Ursus.

You're right - we all have to try to survive.

And I hear you can have a good life in Columbia as long as you have money, whether you're Infected or normal, Caprinae or Sarkaz. Now THAT's what I call fair.

I never thought you Leithanians were concerned about these things.

The Infected are pests anywhere, it's just that Leithanien isn't so diligent about pest control.

But none of this matters once we arrive in Columbia.

You're right. Everything will be fine once we get to Columbia.

Have any of you ever been to Columbia?

No.

Never.

Don't worry, we've all heard the stories.

I saw a movie about a poor Sargon kid who made his fortune in Columbia!

The Columbians have no taste in music, but that movie thing is pretty interesting.

Yeah, interesting. I think I've seen that movie before.

My father went to Columbia...

I got a letter from him a month ago, saying he's settled down there, and inviting me to join him.

Your father's in Columbia? You never told us!

I-I still can't believe it... he left home so many years ago. Who knows how long it took for the letter to reach me from Columbia...

Ah, now I get it!

Someone knew your dad got rich in Columbia and hired people to kidnap you for ransom! Everything makes sense now!

Ah, so we two poor sods got dragged into the mess of a rich man's daughter?