Shattered Coast Echoes

The salt stings your eyes. Not from the ocean spray, though that's certainly present, but from the biting wind whipping across the desolate expanse of the Shattered Coast. They call it shattered for a reason, you see. This land was once vibrant, fertile, brimming with life. Now? Scarred earth, skeletal trees clawing at the sky, and the echoing whispers of forgotten gods. You are… well, you *were* a scholar. Or perhaps a merchant. Maybe even a simple farmer, toiling under the sun. Doesn't really matter anymore, does it? The Calamity cared little for titles or aspirations. It swept through like a rabid beast, leaving only devastation in its wake. It stripped the land bare, stole the sky's warmth, and twisted the very fabric of reality. What remains is… you. And the gnawing emptiness within. You woke up three days ago, buried under a mound of rubble, with no memory of the events leading up to the Calamity. Just an overwhelming sense of loss and a primal urge to *survive*. You clutch the tattered remains of your clothing, searching for anything of value. A dented silver locket, the image within blurred beyond recognition. A chipped obsidian dagger, its edges surprisingly sharp. A burning ember of hope flickering within your chest, defying the encroaching despair. The air crackles with an unnatural energy. You can *feel* it, a low thrumming that vibrates in your bones. Something is changing. The creatures of this land are warped, twisted by the lingering magic of the Calamity. And they are *hungry*. The sun bleeds across the horizon, painting the ravaged landscape in hues of blood orange and bruised purple. You can hear the guttural growls in the distance, the rustling of unseen things in the skeletal trees. Your journey begins now. Your path is shrouded in shadow, your purpose unknown. Will you succumb to the darkness, becoming another hollow echo in this shattered world? Or will you claw your way back from the brink, uncover the secrets of the Calamity, and perhaps, just perhaps, find a glimmer of hope in the ruins? Take a deep breath. The Shattered Coast awaits. And it's not exactly known for its hospitality. Your first decision could be your last. Choose wisely.