The Run

There is magic in the world, and gods, both being as incredible as they are dangerous.   The land and people of the Trowa are known for their longevity and magical prowess, and were once thought to be gods by such people as the neighboring Aska, though for centuries now they have instead been at an uneasy, squabbling peace.   Aska, far less magical but making up for it in determination and physical prowess, have never quite forgiven the Trowa for letting them beleive the Trowa were divine, and while they use magic, they do so with greater difificulty and usually a more violent bent.   In spite of these hard feelings there has been an uneasy peace for generations, barring the odd border skirmish...   Until a mysterious artifiact appears, literally out of thin air, and kills the standing King of Aska, and most of his guard, save for one man, Torshavn, who escapes the slaughter, but missing his hand.   The only survivor, Shavn finds himself accused and jailed for the murders and missing artifact, until he's broken out on the eve of his execution by two mysterious strangers with unknown motives, and they begin their Run for freedom and the truth behind the powerful missing artifact, the death of the King, and the changes that begin to manifest in Shavn himself.