In the Republic of Shadgor, in the winter of the seventh year of the Qweg adminstration, a very odd thing happened. Nothing too stupendous or earthshaking, it seemed at first. Nothing that would attract the attention of kings or dukes or generals or even systems analysists, nothing big, in other words. And due to its smallness, it was overlooked by all but a simple farmboy, who recognized it for what it was and tried to warn all that came his way that the downfall of the country would be rapid, oh yes, terribly quick, and that it would come soon.