Editing Return of the King

{{campaign navigational box|ab=expanded|armageddonsblade=expanded}}
{{scenario
| scenario       = {{PAGENAME}}
| description    = Roland must defeat the demonic armies camped on the other side of the Great Lake.  Without Roland, the men will go their separate ways.  Roland will be allowed to attain 24th Level.  All of his experience, skills, and spells will carry over to his next scenario.
| underground    = disabled
| num_play       = 2/1
| size           = M
| source         = ab
| victory        = def_all
| loss           = hero
| loss_hint      = {{Hn|Roland|noname=}}
| allies         = {{blue}}
| enemies        = {{red}}
| difficulty     = Expert
| bonus          = {{BonusCr|Zealot|5}}{{BonusArt|Torso of Legion}}{{BonusB|Castle|Upg. Monastery}}
| carry          = {{Hn|Roland|noname=}}
| max_lvl        = 24
| Cmap           = [[File:Cmap ab ab 5.png|400px|King Roland and General Morgan Kendal are on the western shores of the Great Lake and must take a mixed Erathian-Conflux army deep into Kreegan territory.  They must cross the lake and go through the mountains and prepare to make a push towards Catherine's army in the north, thus trapping the devils between the two forces.]]
}}

== Prologue ==
{{cvid|AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABab5-smk-H3ABab5|thumbtime=0:00|float=left}}
{{h|Roland|0=}}: Heroes from the [[Conflux]]es tell us the [[Elemental Lords|elemental gods]] have sent them to us, so together, we might destroy [[Lucifer Kreegan]] and his quest to set the world on fire.  [[Catherine]] trusts these new allies.  I am not as giving.  However, we do not have a choice as support for the war wanes and our forces dwindle.  If these elemental heroes are to be our allies, they will prove themselves in this forthcoming battle... under my command.

{{clear|both}}
== Scenario ==
=== Timed events ===
{{TEheader}}
{{TErow| 1 | Opening|Standing on the edge of the [[Great Lake (Erathia)|Great Lake]], you, the King of [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]], contemplate the situation.  Your army stands on the western shores looking out over the smoldering fields of the [[Eeofol]] controlled regions to the east.  Yours and [[General Kendal]]'s forces have arrived recently on a mission of great import.<p>Here you have met with your new allies from the [[Elemental Conflux]] to cut off the [[Kreegan]] supply routes and push the [[Eeofol]] army back from the [[Erathia]]/[[Eeofol]] border right into [[Catherine]] and [[Gelu]]'s troops.  If successful, the [[Kreegan]]s from [[Eeofol]] will be forced to wage a defensive war.</p>You must keep this alliance together, for [[Erathia]]n support is growing increasingly difficult to maintain.  Even [[Catherine]] herself is facing increasing pressure to end the conflict quickly.  It is obvious those fools truly have no idea of the gravity of consequences of failure.  Should you be ineffective in stopping [[King Lucifer]] in his mad campaign of terror and destruction, not just [[Erathia]] will suffer his wrath, but all of [[Antagarich]].  Perhaps even your beloved [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]] may fall under the flames of this accursed demon king.<p>Shuddering at that dark thought, you compose yourself, straighten your tunic, and stride back to your officers.  Mounting your powerful [[Erathia]]n-bred stallion, you shout the order to move out.  There is a war to be waged and a world to be won.</p>}}
{{TErow| 5 | Letter from [[Catherine]]|A letter arrived in your encampment last night from [[Catherine]].  You lit up like a child at Solstice time.  The note smelled of many things, the most important being her special perfume, the one you loved so much for her to wear.<p>"My dearest [[Roland]], I write you to bring you bad news.  My spies have reported the [[Kreegan]] hero called [[Xeron]] has achieved the unthinkable, he has built [[Armageddon's Blade (artifact)|Armageddon's Blade]].  Be warned, for I hear he is sending a great force to your position.  Come back safe to me and give my best to [[General Kendal]].  I know you will succeed, for I have faith in you both." -- [[Catherine]].</p>}}
{{TErow| 11 | Spies Find Gold|A message came in late last night that some scouts located an island east of [[Faler-on-Sea]] that was unapproachable.  The glitter of gold could be seen on its shores.  Perhaps this is where the dreaded [[Regna]]n Pirates' treasure troves are kept.  The trouble is how does one get to the island?  There must be some way, either a tunnel or monolith.}}
{{TErow| 13 | The Farmer|As [[General Kendal]] prepares to address his troops for the morning, a timid farmer is brought before him.  This farmer tells the noble General of the encroachment by these wicked devilkin and how he feels they are the ones responsible for stealing his cattle.<p>[[General Kendal]], being the diplomat that he is, made the farmer feel that he personally was going to see that this man's cattle was returned or avenged. The farmer leaves, contented and assured, as he knows that [[Morgan Kendal]] is a man of his word.</p>}}
{{TErow| 22 | [[Centaur]] Messenger|A young [[centaur]] messenger arrives this morning just after breakfast was being cleared up, presenting you a message from [[Gelu]].  You thank the young scout and the centaur trots off to return to his master.  You open the letter and read it's contents.<p>"My lord and husband of my Queen, I have sent [[Hrisleagh]] here with this message to report on our status.  Our guerilla actions are proceeding well and the enemy is feeling the sting of loss due to our attacks.  He has been pulling back steadily, but I have lost a great many men doing it.  I have begun integrating the troops from our new allies and have found them to be very effective.  They fight hard and well.  You would do well to trust them, for they are loyal and fierce.  Good fortune be with you my lord.  May the Light always shine upon thee." -- [[Gelu]], Captain of the [[Forest Guard]].</p>}}
{{TErow| 33 | [[Roland]]'s Nightmare|Images and sounds swirl through your mind as you sleep; terrible images brought forth from your damaged soul which cries out for peace of mind.  You had been held captive for nearly seven years and the torture inflicted upon you was unimaginable.  Now you suffer the ill effects of those seven years.<p>The dream is the same every time.  You are locked in a cell; the walls made of some dank, cool gray stone, with a single door the only egress.  You are chained to a bed, your flesh crawling with bugs of some sort, and forced to listen to the screams of the tortured souls that accompany you on your road to hell.  The sickening sounds of a whip cracking on flesh tear at your very being with each snap and wail from the lash's victims.  You struggle to be free of this terrible nightmare, but are instead dragged down even further.</p>As the sounds of suffering continue, your door is opened and several grotesque figures enter the cell, unchain you, and drag your near useless body out into a courtyard.  There you are placed in the stocks and have your skin slowly peeled away.  You try desperately not to cry out, but can only hold out for so long.  While you are being flayed alive, you catch a glimpse of the demons' lords, all of who are laughing at the helpless king.  You grit your teeth at the pain and hold back the tears that want to flow heavily.<p>After finishing their fun, they throw you back in your cell, healed of the wounds, but not relieved of the pain.  Unable to move from the sheer agony of your injuries, you simply lie there, writhing in a near fetal position.  Lifting your head from the cold stone floor, you peer through eyes swollen shut from fists and see the spectral face of your twisted brother laughing at you.  [[Archibald]]'s dreamghost points at you and laughs a chilling laugh, one that angers you beyond your knowing.  You have never been so helpless as then.  Not since your banishment during the [[Succession Wars]] have you felt so alone.</p>You want to die, to simply cease to exist, but the devils come again and whisk you away to be beaten once more.  As they reach for your arms your eyes shoot open and you curl deeper into your bedding.  This is not the first night that this nightmare has visited you, but is the first time in many weeks.  You must find a way to quiet these inner demons, something to chase away the nightmares once and for all.}}
{{TErow| 40 | [[Nicolai]]'s Birthday|You stand atop a small rise and look out over the [[Great Lake (Erathia)|Great Lake]], eyes filled with tears, for today is the 16th anniversary of your son [[Nicolai]]'s birth and here you are, far away fighting a war.  The pang of loss and the grief of missing your son fuels your depression even more, what with the nightmares returning and now this.  Life did not seem very fair.<p>In a far off land your son is becoming a man while you stay here to battle these accursed demons once more.  You hope this time will be the last.  You have had enough of war.</p>}}
|}

=== Rumors ===
{{Rheader}}
{{Rrow| Black Market|Hidden away on an island in the middle of the [[Great Lake (Erathia)|Great Lake]] is a thieves haven for stolen goods of a magical variety.}}
{{Rrow| Gold Mine|The near inexhaustible treasure of some [[Regna]]n pirates can be found on an island east of [[Faler-on-Sea]].}}
{{Rrow| [[Regna]]n Pirates 1|The [[Great Lake (Erathia)|Great Lake]] was once a hiding place for [[Regna]]n pirates escaping the [[Erathia]]n Navy.  Many a ship may yet still be there, awaiting plunder.}}
{{Rrow| [[Regna]]n Pirates 2|[[Erathia]]n [[Admiral Magnus Bonn]] cornered the dread female pirate [[Pirouette]] in this lake.  Here she was defeated in battle and thus the [[Regna]]ns ceased using this lake as a hiding place.}}
{{Rrow| [[Halfling]]s 1|I recently saw some [[Halflings]] and they looked mean, like they were getting ready for a fight or something.}}
{{Rrow| [[Halfling]]s 2|[[Eeofol]] used to be the homeland of the [[Halfling]]s.  That is, until the [[Night of Shooting Stars]] when the [[devil]]s came.}}
{{Rrow| [[Halfling]]s 3|A [[Kreegan]] supply wagon was destroyed inexplicably last week and the only indication of who did it was a note carved in the wood that read "[[Tavin's Guerillas]] were here."}}
{{Rrow| [[Xeron]]'s Helper|[[Sleen|Someone of great knowledge]] is helping the [[Kreegan]] general [[Xeron]].  I hear that he was once in contention for some arbiter post somewhere.}}
|}

=== Objects ===
==== Events ====
{| class="sortable wikitable" cellpadding=5px
! Location
! Message
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 17, 56, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | This small tidal pool is in fact the resting place of a powerful Aquamancer.  Upon disturbing his final resting place, the guardians he ensorcelled into protecting his body commence their brutal attack.<p><center>'''Guardians:''' {{Cn|Magic Elemental|name=20 Magic Elementals}}, {{Cn|Storm Elemental|name=50 Storm Elementals}}, {{Cn|Ice Elemental|name=50 Ice Elementals}}</center></p>
|}

==== Towns ====
{{Town header}}
{{Town row|3, 7, 0|blue|Castle|[[Highcastle (Forestdale)|Highcastle]]}}
{{Town row|5, 68, 0|blue|Castle|[[Faler-on-Sea]]}}
{{Town row|8, 33, 0|blue|Castle|[[Keventry]]}}
{{Town row|18, 44, 0|blue|Conflux|[[Shaynda]]}}
{{Town row|22, 4, 0|blue|Conflux|[[Gelliston]]}}
{{Town row|34, 44, 0|red|Inferno|[[Chillwater]]}}
{{Town row|37, 4, 0|red|Inferno|[[Bane Bridge]]}}
{{Town row|54, 53, 0|red|Inferno|[[Reaver Cove]]}}
{{Town row|58, 29, 0|red|Inferno|[[Death's Gate]]}}
{{Town row|65, 7, 0|red|Inferno|[[Doom's Crest]]}}
{{Town row|66, 67, 0|red|Inferno|[[Sorrow Glen]]}}
|}

==== Heroes ====
{{hero header}}
{{hero row|1, 67, 0|blue|Roland|Knight}}
{{hero row|4, 8, 0|blue|General Kendal|name=Gen. Kendal|Knight}}
{{hero row|35, 46, 0|red|Ash|Heretic}}
{{hero row|60, 30, 0|red|Fiona|Demoniac}}
|}

{{user commentary|
The cutscene appears to have been intended for the original [[Armageddon's Blade]] plot. The structures across the lake and metal pipes going into the water resemble [[Forge (NWC)|Forge]] more than [[Inferno]].
}}{{end of user commentary}}

[[Category: Campaign scenarios]]