Lore: every old book, treasure note and tip

In the beginning, all that existed was Darkness.

For a long, long time, Darkness lived in solitude, growing ever so lonely. Out of sorrow and despair, Darkness shed a tear.

From the tear were born two brothers: Sword and Shield.

Sword claimed it could cut through all that exists. Shield claimed itself impenetrable.

Thus, the conflict was born—a truly vicious conflict, lasting seven days and seven nights.

In the end, Sword breached Shield, and Shield shattered Sword. Pieces of Sword rained down to make the sky. Pieces of Shield rained down to make the ground. Stars were created from the sparks of that battle.

The 27 gems adorning Sword and Shield transformed into the 27 True Runes. And thus began the world as we know it.

Some are good at attacking, some are good at defending, and some are good at supporting. There are various fighting styles based on various characteristics. These characteristics can be broadly divided into four roles.

(Attacker)
Possessing high attack power, they are the offensive stalwarts. They focus on hitting enemies with their WEAK attributes.

(Protector)
With excellent defensive power, they are the key to defending allies from enemy attacks.

(Healer)
Heals allies. They can maintain the front line even against powerful enemies.

(Supporter)
Supports the party in all sorts of ways. They turn the tide of battle by strengthening allies and impeding enemies.

Each role has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to combine them so that they complement each other. Below are two recommended formations.

(Protector + Attacker x2 + Healer + Supporter x2)
The best balance of offense and defense, able to adapt to an array of battle situations.

(Attacker x3 + Supporter x3)
A combination focused on offense. Although this setup is extreme, its lightning-fast attacks may be able to overwhelm enemies with low durability.

In Solar Year 446, civil strife erupted within the Scarlet Moon Empire over the right to the imperial throne. It would later be known as the War of Succession.

This conflict began when Barbarossa Rugner, the rightful heir to the throne, was absent, allowing his uncle, Geil Rugner, to initiate a trial to disinherit him. The trial concluded with a verdict in only half an hour, stripping Barbarossa of his imperial succession rights.

Barbarossa refused to yield, immediately raising the banner of war. Initially, Geil's faction held the advantage, as he had installed relatives in key positions within the military command. However, Barbarossa also commanded capable subordinates, making the outcome of the conflict far from certain.

The valiant efforts of the Six Great Generals, the strategic brilliance of military strategist Leon Silverberg, and the fact that Geil's tyranny had alienated the people's support all contributed to a reversal of fortune. The conflict concluded with Barbarossa's victory, and he ascended to the throne as the 17th Emperor.

Runes are the source of all power. The brilliance of the sun, the radiance of the stars, the incandescence of fire, the fluidity of water, the pulse of life, the arrival of death... Every existence and phenomenon in this world is born from its symbolic Rune.

In the beginning, only 27 Runes existed. These are called the 27 True Runes. Each possesses power great enough to move the world. Eventually, the 27 True Runes gave birth to numerous descendants.

Nowadays, the term "Rune" simply refers to these descendants. Their power falls far short of the True Runes', but this makes them easier to wield, and you may encounter several of them in everyday life.

Their abilities include enabling one to cast magic and enhancing physical prowess, though countless varieties exist, and their full scope remains unknown.

Bearing a Rune requires innate aptitude—not everyone can wield such power. This is important to keep in mind.

Solar Year 230 saw the founding of the Scarlet Moon Empire—the first year of the Imperial Era, centered on the capital city of Gregminster.

At the time, the area around Lake Toran was the territory of the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. Taking advantage of civil strife, Kranach Rugner, a warlord nobleman, declared independence, and the history of the Empire thus began.

Kranach ascended the throne as the first Emperor, and thereafter, the imperial throne has been passed down through the Rugner family line.

The current Emperor is the 17th, Barbarossa Rugner, one of the most capable rulers in imperial history.

Under him serve a group known as the Six Great Generals.

Ever-Victorious Teo McDohl.
Kasim Hazil of the Blue Moon.
Milich Oppenheimer, the Flower General.
Deathblow Georg Prime.
Navy Chief Kilauea Shulen.
Iron Wall Kwanda Rosman.

They saved the Empire in the recent War of Succession with their lionhearted efforts. Since then, Georg Prime has regrettably retired from his post, and Kilauea Shulen was tragically killed in an accident. Kilauea's position has been taken over by her daughter, Sonya, whose exploits have earned her a place among the Empire's Five Great Generals.

A special mention should also be made of the Silverbergs, who have been one of the most notable families in the Empire for generations. This started with Julian Silverberg, who gave military advice to Kranach as he fought for independence from the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. Julian eventually became the chief military strategist of the Scarlet Moon Empire, and many other Silverbergs have gone on to serve in a similar capacity.

Barbarossa is known as the Golden Emperor, reflecting the high esteem in which he is held in by the people. It is expected that the period ahead will likewise become known as a Golden Era.

Issued in Year 219 of the Scarlet Moon Imperial Era

At the trading post, you can get various items from other towns.

A key feature here is that transactions use special Trade Points instead of potch. A good use of unwanted materials or ingredients is to exchange them at the trading post to get Trade Points.

Furthermore, increasing your Town Favor will increase the number of tradable items available for sale and improve their quality.

You can raise your Town Favor not only through trading at the trading post, but also by helping people through Helping Hand, giving you extra incentive to do so.

Also, remember that some materials can only be obtained at the trading post, and some dishes can only be made using town-specific ingredients.

We highly recommend paying the trading post a visit and making the most of these features.

Herein we will explain the military administration system of the Scarlet Moon Empire. It is an exceptionally well-designed system, headed by the emperor, with the Imperial Army overseeing both administration and military affairs.

The empire's vast territory is divided into sections, each governed by a top general. The general appoints a military governor for each settlement within their domain, delegating administrative duties. Military governors collect taxes for the empire in exchange for the protection of the Imperial Army, thus ensuring the safety of the towns and villages.

It should also be noted that the Imperial Army itself is broadly divided into four distinct organizations, each with different roles.

(Imperial Central Army)
The core of military operations. Its primary mission is actual combat against other nations. The First Army is a unit directly subordinate to the emperor. The Second through Sixth Armies are commanded by five top generals, each permitted to take independent action based on their own judgment, commanding troops as their personal force. This structure grants the Imperial Army exceptional mobility to respond to various disputes.

(Imperial Guard)
Their primary duty is protecting the emperor's immediate vicinity. They are stationed at Gregminster Castle.

(Imperial Capital Guard)
Their primary duty is defending the imperial capital, Gregminster. They are stationed at surrounding forts and within Gregminster itself.

(Imperial Regional Army)
These are permanent units under the command of regional military governors. They function largely as local militia, protecting towns and villages.

(Rarby)
A race said to inhabit the distant island of Usarabi. Though rabbit-like in appearance, they are believed to possess intelligence equal to or surpassing that of humans. Due to their fundamentally cautious nature, sightings of them outside the island are extremely rare, and their detailed ecology remains largely unclear.

(Demonfolk)
A minority race forming settlements in mountainous regions. Their most distinctive feature is the horn that grows on their forehead sometime around the age of 20. This horn has the property of falling out from the root and regrowing once it reaches its maximum size. They value physical strength above all else, and particularly among women, there seems to be a strong tendency to seek a mate stronger than themselves. Their average lifespan exceeds 200 years, longer even than the long-lived elves.

(Kobolds and Nay-Kobolds)
Kobolds are humanoid creatures with dog-like heads. They are the second-greatest power in the land after humans, with settlements scattered all over. Their culture and lifestyle are similar to humans, making it easy for both to establish friendly relations. They have produced many outstanding individuals who serve in key military roles. On the other hand, Nay-Kobolds have cat-like heads and are said to have been named after Nay Island where they live. Recently, some seem to have left the island to live among humans.

(Elves)
A noble race living in harmony with nature, renowned as master archers. They closely resemble humans, and can only be clearly distinguished by their pointed ears. Having preserved their unique culture over ages, they tend to be insular, prone to despising humans and dwarves as barbaric.

(Dwarves & Cave Dwarves)
A race smaller than humans but possessing exceptionally sturdy physiques. Many possess an artisanal spirit, excelling in industrial skills like blacksmithing.
Dwarves dwelling on the northern continent tend to be unfriendly towards humans and elves. Dwarves dwelling in the underground caverns of the Queendom of Falena are called cave dwarves—they are a subspecies of dwarf devoted to tunneling with extraordinary passion. Unlike their northern counterparts and elves, cave dwarves maintain friendly relations with both humans and elves.

Nether Gate, an assassination organization directly under the queen, was dissolved by the wise decision of Her Majesty Arshtat and Commander Ferid in the previous year.

Nether Gate had long served as the shadowy arm of the Queendom of Falena, but its inhumanity had drawn significant criticism, which is among the main reasons for its dissolution.

Nether Gate refused to comply with the decision, with the exception of Shinatsu of the intelligence division. Hinoyagi, the head of the subversive activities division, resisted the order fiercely. However, he was subdued by the Queen's Knights and committed suicide just before being captured.

Kayanu, who oversaw the assassin training division, and Takefute, the commander-in-chief of Nether Gate and also head of the assassin division, are believed to have fled to Nagarea.

Furthermore, Tsuranami, head of the drug development division responsible for creating numerous unethical substances, has vanished without a trace. No information regarding her subsequent whereabouts have been obtained. Thus, the five major leaders of Nether Gate have disappeared from the world stage.

While vigilance is required regarding the movements of these missing leaders and the assassins who act alongside them, they are nothing to fear.

The military organization of the Queendom of Falena has been reformed into a sound structure composed solely of regular forces.

From now on, we shall not rely on dark forces. Take pride in our homeland—ever more illuminated by the sun.

The Feitas Dragon Cavalry is a military organization within the Queendom of Falena.

Its most notable characteristic is its coexistence with and deployment of dragon horses.

Dragon horses are rare creatures inhabiting the southwestern regions of Falena. They are characterized by their sturdy frames, hard horns, and feathered forelimbs. Despite their formidable appearances, they possess a gentle nature and are highly intelligent.

The people of the region naturally came to live alongside dragon horses and integrate them into their communities, thus creating foundations for the formation of the cavalry.

The Feitas River was vital for the survival of the dragon horses, and so its name was taken when the cavalry was made official by the queen.

Starting as apprentices, members of the cavalry train relentlessly alongside the dragon horses destined to be their partners, gaining their trust all while becoming expert swordsmen and riders.

Only upon becoming fully trained do they step onto the battlefield, highly skilled and instilled with noble spirit, ready to stand as guardians of Falena.

However, throughout the cavalry's history, they have often found themselves unable to act according to their convictions. Regrettably, they have been drawn into domestic intrigues and political strife, repeatedly used as private armies for powerful nobles.

This, of course, betrayed their creed of loyalty to the Queendom. Concerned by the situation, the Dragon Cavalry later declared a resolve that would become their code: "That which we must protect is the rivers and lands of Falena. Therefore, we shall never intervene in internal conflicts within Falena."

The Sun Palace, troubled by the conduct of powerful nobles, welcomed this and officially approved it. Henceforth, the Dragon Cavalry devoted themselves solely to repelling foreign invasions and came to earn the deep respect and affection of the people. Given this history, they adhered strictly to their proclaimed code, sometimes to the point of stubbornness, though changes have been seen in recent years.

One such change is the lifting of the ban on women joining their ranks. In the settlement that preceded the Dragon Cavalry, women traditionally did not ride dragon horses, and following the gender restrictions of the pre-existing Queen's Knights, women were barred from joining. However, after the resolution of the civil war in the past year, this rule was revised by Cavalry Corps Commander Rahal.

The first female Dragon Cavalry member is Lun, hailing from Raftfleet. History moves moment by moment. Yet, as long as the Dragon Cavalry exists in this land, I believe the peace of Falena and our bonds with dragon horses shall endure eternally.

The Queendom of Falena is a queen-ruled nation situated south of the Island Nations. Since ancient times, it has flourished as a great nation, blessed by the Sun Rune and the bountiful Feitas River. Before its rise, a people known as the Sindar dwelled in the region.

The Sindar are a mysterious race known of from legends. They possessed exceptional technology and are said to have boasted a highly advanced civilization.

For example, the ruins found in the Deep Twilight Forest were constructed in a manner surpassing modern standards, shocking the world. Experts consider it beyond doubt that the Sindar were the architects.

However, there are no records of anyone encountering them there—no one knows where they went, but it seems that they abandoned what they built.

Similar uninhabited ruins have been found in various regions beyond Falena. Though the reason for the Sindar's departure remains unclear, one theory suggests the curse of a True Rune, the Rune of Change, prevented their entire race from settling anywhere permanently.

There is no evidence that they remain anywhere in the world, and they are widely believed to have perished, although debate continues among experts.

According to one dissenting researcher, the very first queen of the Queendom of Falena, who is said to have descended upon Lunas bearing the Sun Rune, was a Sindar. While this theory is outlandish, some say that the land of Falena itself is the "legacy" of the Sindar, in a sense.

There are also some who claim that a tiny number of Sindar are still alive, and others who theorize that they ultimately traveled to the Eternal City.

The one thing not in doubt is that discussions and research on the Sindar will long continue, as they are the great enigma of our time.