Echoes of the Undying

In the smogchoked underbelly of the city of Draymour, music is a crime punishable by death. The authoritarian regime known as the Harmonium has outlawed all forms of artistic expression, replacing them with a hollow monotony of propaganda and silence. Yet, beneath the surface, in the forgotten labyrinth of catacombs winding under the city, a clandestine group of underground musicians has emerged. Known only as The Resonance, they wield instruments crafted from salvaged scraps, their music an ethereal blend of sorrow and defiance.

The Resonance’s haunting performances summon spectral apparitions — ancient spirits of rebellion and resilience long dormant. As the spectral allies grow in number, their presence stirs the oppressed masses above to reclaim their stolen humanity. But every note played risks detection by the Harmonium’s enforcers, who wield sounddampening weapons designed to silence any dissent.

Chapter 1: The First Note

The air was thick with ash and fear in Draymour’s shadowed alleys. Etta, the Resonance’s leader, crouched in a narrow passage, listening to the rhythmic stomp of Harmonium boots. Beside her, a wiry figure named Saul adjusted the strings on his makeshift violin — a haunting creation of bone and wire.

“Ready?” Etta whispered, her voice barely audible above the oppressive hum of the city’s machinery.

Saul nodded, his face pale but resolute. “They need to hear it.”