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Refuge of Embers is a highly interactive visual novel that takes place in a unique fantasy setting.  The story follows the renameable main character Biorn as the world he knows gives way to change that causes him to discover a deeper purpose.  Biorn lives a simple life with his friends in a remote frontier town at the edge of the known world, an impassable ring of dense forest filled with deadly beasts.  Events eventually take place that cause him to journey to the enormous capital city of Faruwine, where he will inevitably encounter many interesting characters and situations.  How will Biorn and his friends react to the strange new world they find themselves in?

Biorn, the renameable player character of the story, is an orphan who never knew his parents. In spite of his situation, he has managed to thrive through his own hard work and the help of his friends. Biorn shares a small, slightly run-down dwelling on the outskirts of town with his closest friend Eryn. Biorn has very little but makes a modest living with Eryn by working together to gather food, trap small game, catch fish, and run errands for their friends in town. Lately he has begun to experience a strange recurring dream. What fate awaits Biorn as the world he knows begins to change?

Eryn is Biorn's longest held and closest friend. Although she never knew her father, Eryn lived happily with her mother until she suddenly passed away several years ago. Although the loss of her mother was difficult, Eryn eventually grew very close with Biorn as they worked together to scrape out a living. In this partnership, Eryn has even managed to find happiness again. Naturally dexterous and multi-talented, Eryn is skilled in the practical art of creating and mending clothing which she sells in town whenever possible. She also finds spending time in the local creek relaxing as she catches fish to preserve and trade in the local marketplace. Due to her easy-going attitude she manages to get along with just about everyone in town, but lately it seems some guarded feelings are beginning to stir beneath the surface. Is Eryn and Biorn's relationship purely platonic, or is there a chance that there is something more to explore?

Lena is Biorn's long-time friend and next door neighbor. She comes from an influential and somewhat wealthy family that grew a modest fortune by trading precious metals and finely crafted jewelry. While Lena much prefers escaping into literature over the clamor of the family business, she still dutifully helps with book keeping and tends to errands in town when the rest of her family is traveling for work.  Distinctively quiet, reserved, and unimposing, Lena often has difficulty asserting herself and voicing her desires.  Her deferential and accommodating personality stands in stark contrast to her best friend Raisa.  Will Lena step up to discover and claim what her heart truly desires?

Raisa is the bold, self-assured, and domineering daughter of the local blacksmith. Accustomed to always getting things her way, Raisa has absolutely no hang-ups about doing whatever it takes to gain complete control over her own life and get what exactly she wants, even if it means manipulating the people around her. This disquieting truth often remains veiled beneath the charm of her sharp wit and keen social perception. Fully aware of her own physical allure and how to wield it to her advantage, at any given time she seems to have no difficulty finding hapless men willing to be wrapped tightly around her finger. Will Raisa eventually learn to put the needs of her friends ahead of her own and forge a stronger sense of trust among the people closest to her?

Lucine is a good hearted if somewhat aloof farm girl whose hard work and care for her animals ensures that she always has a steady supply of milk, butter, and various cheeses to sell from her stall in the town marketplace. She routinely trades her dairy products with Biorn and Eryn, and is a long time friend of both of them. Humble and gentle, Lucine's loyalty to those who she considers her friends is second to none. Will Lucine be able to continue her simple life, or will she have to adapt to new challenges as they rapidly unfold before her?

Remi is a distinguished Sentinel of Vera who has been stationed in Biorn's village for as far back as he can remember. Although the presence of a Sentinel is extremely unusual in a rural frontier town, he dutifully keeps order when needed and is a respected and beloved member of their tight-knit community.