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== Scenario == === Timed events === {{TEheader}} {{TErow| 1 |day 1|[[Gelu]]'s forces disappeared into the tunnels beneath a giant glacier, so we followed. Even though these tunnels are bitter cold, this is the type of environment my [[Nighon]] troops are used to fighting in. Unfortunately, there is evidence that [[Kija]] and her [[Barbarian]]s have been in the area as well.<p>I wonder which one I will discover first.}} {{TErow| 2 |day 2|I visited my prisoner, [[Ufretin]], for the first time today. I have made the [[Dwarf]] wait for nearly a month to weaken his resolve and soften his anger. Along with low and sporadic rations and exposure to the cold, [[Ufretin]] should be ripe for interrogation.<p>When I approached [[Ufretin]]'s iron cage, I found the [[Dwarf]] half-naked, bruised, and thin, but he still managed to pull himself proudly to his feet.<p>"Make it easy on yourself and answer my questions," I said.<p>"Why don't you take off that helm and show me your real face? Or are you a coward?" [[Ufretin]] responded.<p>I had hoped to wear my helm at all times. If I showed him my face, I took a chance of [[Ufretin]] recognizing me as the same [[Tarnum]] who lived and fought alongside the [[Elves]] of [[AvLee]] for all those years. But I figured I owed [[Ufretin]] that much at least.<p>I took off my helm, and despite the black designs painted on my face he recognized me.<p>"[[Tarnum Dragonfriend]]!"<p>That was my Elven name.<p>"Yes."<p>"It can't be!" [[Ufretin]] said.<p>"It can, and it is," I said. I looked around to make sure no one was within earshot. I shudder to think what would happen if my [[Nighon]] troops learned that I used to fight for [[AvLee]].<p>"I am [[Tarnum]], so believe me when I say I don't wish to harm you. I beg for your help, [[Ufretin]]. Maybe I can avoid more deaths!"<p>[[Ufretin]] was quiet for a long time. I could tell by his expression that I was one of the last people he would've ever expected behind that helm. Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes burning with hatred.<p>"I have no words for you, traitor!"}} {{TErow| 5 |day 5|The commander of the [[Medusa]]s, [[Zallisa]], approached me today with news I had hoped not to hear.<p>"Those [[Barbarian]]s are everywhere in these ice tunnels!" [[Zallisa]] said.<p>Her [[Medusa]] scouts have been exploring the tunnels and in every occasion they spotted [[Barbarian]] troops. So, [[Kija]] found another way in. I've been wondering where she went. Now, at least, I know where she is.<p>"Good work," I said.}} {{TErow| 8 |day 8|"If he won't talk, let me use a more aggressive means of questioning," [[Kilkik]] suggested.<p>I mistakenly mentioned my frustration over my daily meetings with [[Ufretin]] in front of the [[Beholder]]. For almost a week now, I've been pleading with my prisoner but the [[Dwarf]] refuses to speak. I'm afraid if I don't learn the location of the [[Sword of Frost]] soon, I will never have the chance to stop [[Gelu]].<p>"No torture!" I said. "At least, not yet."<p>"I don't understand," [[Kilkik]] said.<p>He had a right to be confused. I have allowed torture before, but only because I wasn't part of it. I didn't know the people. I didn't have to listen to their screams. But with [[Ufretin]], a bold hero who deserves better, I couldn't bring myself to allow it.<p>And my reluctance was causing a stir among the troops. Although I have no proof, I'm certain [[Kilkik]] is at least partially behind the increasing disobedience of my army. Still, my success depends entirely on [[Ufretin]] - and he thinks I am his enemy.}} {{TErow| 14 |day 14|My [[Minotaur]] bodyguard escorted the Queen of the [[Medusa]]s, [[Zallisa]], into my tent.<p>"What have you learned?" I asked her.<p>"My scouts have found three [[Stronghold]]s blocking our way. There is another danger as well. All these tunnels intersect, which will give the enemy the opportunity to sneak up behind our front line troops," [[Zallisa]] said.<p>"What do you think, [[Trongar]]?" I asked the [[Minotaur]].<p>Shrugging, the big bodyguard said, "Hit them hard enough, and those tunnels won't matter."<p>"Right. If we take the [[Stronghold]]s, we win the battle," I said. But to be safe, maybe I should keep some troops behind to guard the small area I've conquered.}} {{TErow| 18 |day 18|It had been a while since I had talked to [[Ufretin]], so when I saw the pale [[Dwarf]] sprawled in the bottom of his cage I was shocked. He appeared to be near death already. Lack of food, exercise, and proper clothing has taken its toll. And here I had been trying to avoid torturing him.<p>I nudged him with my gauntleted fist, waking him.<p>"You fight for the wrong side, [[Ufretin]]. I know [[Gelu]] is your friend, but he's confused. He's being a fool looking for this [[Sword of Frost]]!" I said.<p>"He only wants to destroy it - not use it! Not like you!"<p>"I don't want to use it! I don't even want it to be found at all!"<p>But [[Ufretin]] didn't believe me. In his eyes, I was a traitor. I was one of the [[Nighon]]s now. How could I convince him otherwise? Was it possible to earn back his trust?}} {{TErow| 23 |day 23|"Do you honestly believe a little extra food and a warm cloak is going to get me to talk?" [[Ufretin]] asked as I approached.<p>Thanks to the extra rations I had ordered, he looked a lot healthier since I last saw him.<p>"No," I said. "I just didn't want you to die."<p>"Then why are you here? I'm not going to tell you anything."<p>"I came to explain myself - to really explain myself," I said.<p>It has come to this. I could think of no other reason why [[Ufretin]] would ever speak to me, short of torture, and I wasn't going to resort to that. Already, I feel I have allowed myself to be dragged too far down by my troops.<p>"What is that supposed to mean?" [[Ufretin]] asked.<p>I looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then slowly, I pulled my shirt apart to reveal my naked chest.<p>"I am immortal, [[Ufretin]]. I am not just long-lived like the [[Elves]] and [[Dragon]]s. I am immortal - I can't die!"<p>"You're a fool!"<p>"I was a fool once, a cruel one, and I've been paying for my brutality ever since. I will probably pay for it until the end of time. That's why I am here! That's why I must stop [[Gelu]]! [[Gelu]] is about to destroy the entire world, and no matter what disgusting things I have to do I will not let him do it!"<p>Before [[Ufretin]] could respond, I plunged my unseen dagger deep into my own heart.}} {{TErow| 24 |day 24|I gave [[Ufretin]] a full day to absorb what he had seen before I visited him.<p>"How do you feel today?" I asked.<p>"Let me see your chest," he said.<p>I opened my shirt. There wasn't even a scar where I had stabbed myself.<p>"You just stood back up," the Dwarf said. "I watched it go in, I saw the blood myself, and then you just stood back up. How?"<p>"Like I said, I am immortal."<p>"How? Why?" [[Ufretin]] asked. I no longer saw hatred in this man's eyes, but fear.<p>Over the next hour, I told him a shortened version of my story. I tried to explain my actions by describing the cruelty of the [[Wizard-Kings]] who enslaved my people, but when I described the hundreds of villages I burned to the ground and the thousands of people I slaughtered my excuse seemed weak. Finally, I told him how I died, and how the [[Ancestors]] refused to allow me to enter [[Paradise]].<p>"I do what they ask - I am their servant until I can redeem myself. But they have never asked me to fight against my friends before. I couldn't convince anyone else to fight [[Gelu]]!"<p>"I don't know, [[Tarnum]]," [[Ufretin]] said. "This is a lot to take in - a lot to believe at once."<p>"Search your heart, and ask yourself why I haven't allowed anyone to torture you. Maybe then you'll see I am telling you the truth," I said.}} {{TErow| 30 |day 30|My army was at the point of mutiny, and all over my treatment of the prisoner, [[Ufretin]]. I knew that [[Kilkik]] was instigating the commotion, but there wasn't much I could do about it. I had to remove the cause of my problem. I had to get rid of the [[Dwarf]].}} {{TErow| 32 |day 32|Most of the camp was asleep when a single figure hovered over the ice toward the black iron cage. The prisoner sleeping inside the cage didn't stir even when a long tentacle reached out and opened the lock. The cage door swung open, and still the bundle of furs didn't budge.<p>"Now, [[Dwarf]], you die!" [[Kilkik]] said.<p>Suddenly, one of the furs flew up and over the [[Beholder]]'s head, blinding him temporarily. Beneath them, [[Zallisa]], the [[Medusa Queen]], darted out with the quickness of a snake and plunged a crude dagger forged from a bone deep into [[Kilkik]]'s body.<p>"No! You die, [[Beholder]]!" [[Zallisa]] said. She removed the dagger, stabbed him again. "This is for my sisters!"}} {{TErow| 32 |day 32-2|Meanwhile, in one of the distant tunnels, [[Ufretin]] and I dismounted from my horse. I handed the [[Dwarf]] an axe and a bundle of food.<p>"That should be enough to get you back to your friends," I said.<p>"You could've released me up above on the surface. At least I wouldn't be able to warn [[Gelu]]," [[Ufretin]] said.<p>"I'm hoping that you will be able to convince [[Gelu]] to stop."<p>"What makes you think that I even want to?"<p>"Nothing. But I'm not going to torture the answers I want out of you, and I can't hold you. What you do now is up to you," I said.<p>I climbed back onto my horse.<p>"What happens if we meet again?" [[Ufretin]] asked.<p>"Then we'll probably still be enemies," I said.<p>I prepared to leave, but before I could get out of earshot, [[Ufretin]] stopped me.<p>"The City of [[Volee]] - that's where the [[Sword of Frost]] is. [[Gelu]] is looking for some ancient, lost city of the [[Vori Elves]]," [[Ufretin]] explained.<p>"Thanks," I said.}} |} === Objects === ==== Towns ==== {{Town header}} {{Town row|67, 5, 0|teal|Dungeon}} {{Town row|3, 4, 0|tan|Stronghold}} {{Town row|7, 62, 0|tan|Stronghold}} {{Town row|70, 63, 0|tan|Stronghold}} {{Town row|45, 23, 0||Dungeon}} |} ==== Heroes ==== {{hero header}} {{hero row|4, 5, 0|tan|Zubin|Battle Mage}} {{hero row|7, 64, 0|tan|Gretchin|Barbarian}} {{hero row|59, 5, 0|teal|mph={{mph|1|The Capture}}}} {{hero row|67, 7, 0|teal|Tarnum|image=Tarnum (Overlord)|Overlord}} {{hero row|69, 10, 0|teal|mph={{mph|2|The Capture}}}} {{hero row|69, 64, 0|tan|Crag Hack|Barbarian}} |} [[Category:Campaign scenarios]]
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