Prologue of The four graves

Year 5239 A.M. The galaxy is divided; what was once a unified bloc has now separated into several independent systems, which have made a non-aggression pact to avoid a larger war among themselves.

The citizens of these planets have developed the use of technology differently. Some systems are more advanced and have greater potential, while others have fewer resources and follow a more traditional way of life.

This is the case with the small planet Vierstorp. They have developed fuel technology to move around the planet, and their way of life is based on blocks of buildings with a large number of inhabitants, creating cities, but they still lack the ability to explore other nearby planets or moons.

About fifty years ago, four enormous black ships of advanced technology from another system entered the atmosphere and hovered in the sky above the planet’s major cities, including its capital, Raisen.

These ships had large red lights and were of vast dimensions, occupying entire blocks of buildings in the most populated areas. The population was divided between those who believed they would leave quickly and those who feared for their lives. The latter decided to leave the large cities on their own.

However, everything seemed to indicate that their intention was nothing more than to check what inhabited the planet Vierstorp. While it was not unusual for trading ships to arrive, these ships were of a magnitude never before seen on the planet, and they all decided to leave after seeing that there were no great riches or much commerce. Unfortunately, for Vierstorp, this time was different.

And then came the night. The red neon lights began to illuminate, casting light on nearby buildings. A thick smoke emerged from the lower part of the ships, and they began to descend, sweeping away everything in their path. Screams were heard, and large crowds of inhabitants ran away from the ships, but for many of them, it was already too late.

As they landed on the surface, the ships caused a massive explosion and slowly started sinking underground. The ground cracked, and large fissures emerged from the hard asphalt, destroying everything in their path, lifting parked vehicles, and collapsing entire buildings.

Then, the noise ceased, and only a few screams from the population struggling to escape could be heard. It was a few seconds of relative tranquility, but it was just an illusion. What was about to happen would be worse and would be remembered by the entire planet.

The ships were practically buried underground, with only the top part protruding like an iceberg, hiding most of their structure and appearing harmless.

The top part of the ships resembled a large black gate made of a dark metal alloy, illuminated solely by an intense red light and adorned with arcane symbols. The night fog and the dust from the destruction made visibility difficult, and only the faint red illumination of the gate could be distinguished.

Suddenly, a deafening sound erupted from inside the ship. The drums abruptly ceased, giving way to a massive scream, as if it were a battle order, and then the gate opened.

Hundreds of silhouettes with white hair and black armor adorned with red motifs rushed out, screaming and hunting down the injured population and those who tried to help them escape. They had pale faces, terrifying red eyes, and sharp fangs. The cries of the aggressors mixed with those of the victims, and the dust began to turn red, as if it were wine. Some even claimed to have seen winged creatures wreaking havoc with great ferocity. Thus, the hours passed throughout the night, probably the worst night Vierstorp has ever experienced. It is now known as «The First Night.»

Just one day later, there was no time to devise a grand strategy. When Vierstorp’s small army arrived, it was already too late. They only found dismembered bodies and bones on the ground, along with claw marks leading towards the giant doors of the ships.

They tried to enter during the day, but it proved impossible. They threw all kinds of weapons, even powerful missiles, but it seemed they could only attack when the doors opened again.

With the arrival of dusk, Vierstorp’s modest army positioned themselves as best they could, covering the four doors. Time seemed to slow down, and the last minutes of the day were filled with nervousness, tension, and great fear, as no one had ever faced something like this. If they had any chance to seek help from other planets, they would have done so, but the communication signal had been disabled the previous day, completely ruling out that idea.

And then, night came again.

There was not much time to prepare. This time there were gunshots, and some vampires were injured, but the majority of the casualties were soldiers. The remaining population who had chosen to stay and defend their city was captured, while those who managed to escape hid in more remote areas outside the reach of the vampires and other creatures that had arrived.

Over the years, it became known that the majority of the planet’s population was captured and now under the invaders’ dominion. The rest, constituting a minority, try to live as best they can and resist, but so far, they have had little success. However, one should never lose hope…