Vorr, the Insane

Unnamed male historian: Tarnum felt the other Ancestors were wrong. Vorr couldn't be saved. His heart had been eaten by violence and hatred, he had killed too many to be allowed to live. But was Tarnum really striking at Vorr, or was he attempting to destroy his own dark past?

Scenario

Timed events

Day	Title	Message
Day 1	Day 1	We had marched across the barren Fiery Moon to this remote place with Skizzik as our guide, ready to do battle with Vorr. Or so we thought. This time, Vorr came to us, and he threw everything he had at us. His magic was incredible! Fireballs and Chain Lightning decimated much of my troops in the opening minutes of the battle. I tried to climb over the bodies of my men to reach my enemy, but I paused when one of my hands fell across the dead face of the shaman, Wern. Grumba fell right before my eyes, consumed in a blaze hot enough to melt steel. Soon after, the fires reach me as well. We lost! When I woke, most of the clothes and armor had been burned from my body. I should be dead, like much of my army. I managed to find a few stragglers who fled the disastrous battle. We lost our friends, our brothers, everything, and still we had to stop Vorr. But now, I want Vorr dead!
Day 3	Day 3	At least my small group weren't the only survivors. A couple of my Captains have managed to pull together some stragglers as well, although they're scattered about. At least I have a town where I can rebuild my army. Unfortunately, Skizzik is among the missing, those believed to have been so badly burned by Vorr's magic that there wasn't enough left of them to identify. What a disaster! But this time, I will be ready for Vorr. I will not lose again!
Day 7	Day 7	I entered my tent last night to find a pair of glowing figures - the Ancestors. "What do you want?" I said sharply. It was about time they showed. "We've brought you more sap from the World Tree," said one of the Ancestors. I followed their eyes to the table where I ate - resting on it was a bottle of the glowing sap. "We miscalculated Vorr's power," they said in unison. Was that their apology? "Me too, but that won't happen again," I said. "Also, Tarnum, we've come to tell you to seek the Hut of the Magi. He will show you a place with several treasures that might help you in your battle with Vorr." After a few moments of silence and suspicious stares from the Ancestors, they vanished.
Day 12	Day 12	This morning, I woke to find one of the Ancestors standing over me with a concerned expression. Slowly, he reached out his hand and produced the bottle of sap from the World Tree. "Why did you leave this behind?" he asked. "Because I won't be needing it," I said. As long as I was awake, I might as well get a couple extra hours of sword practice. I reached for my blade. "No, Tarnum, you must not!" the Ancestor said. I belted the sword around my waist, not bothering to put on my tunic. It was hot at all hours of the day here on the Fiery Moon. "I tried it your way," I said firmly. "Now, Vorr must die before he turns my world into a copy of this cursed place!" I stormed from the tent.
Day 13	Day 13	The Ancestors visited me in a dream last night, bringing the sap from the World Tree again. "Throw that away! If you want to help me, join me. Show me your Barbarian blood and fight!" I begged them. "We realize Vorr's power is great, Tarnum, but we cannot use our powers against our brother! Nor can you kill him," they said. "Watch me!" I growled through clenched teeth. "No!" "But look at what he's done! He killed Grumba, and Wern, and my men! He's killed so many. He's tried to destroy the world. I didn't even try to do that!" "You must not kill Vorr," they insisted, but they refused to explain further. "Defeat him, Tarnum, and give him the sap from the World Tree. If you kill him, you will forever be cast into Oblivion! Your torment will be as legendary as your misdeeds." "What use is the sap? He's insane! Vorr lives only to destroy!" The Ancestors were silent for a long time. "At one time, Tarnum, you lived only to destroy," they said. The Ancestors vanished, and when I woke the sap from the World Tree was in my hands. But they still can't make me use it. Perhaps it's time for things to end. The violence never stops, and I'm beginning to wonder if it ever will as long as I still live.
Day 27	Day 27	Lately, I've been meeting with Skizzik each night after which pitch camp as if he were my second-in-command. I guess, in a way he is. The way the Familiar has been bossing everyone around, Skizzik sure thinks he's in command. Unfortunately, Skizzik hasn't been able to help me solve my dilemma over the World Tree's sap. "Just cut his head off!" Skizzik roared. "That's what we Barbarians do best!" Was it? Is that all we are, all we ever will be? Did my hatred and rage taint the Barbarian bloodline forever? I pick up the bottle of sap and shake my head. How is this vial going to change things one way or the other? Dead or alive, Vorr isn't going to change the Barbarian people.
Day 33	Day 33	Last night, I saw Vorr in my dreams. At first, I thought it was the Ancestors visiting me again, but then I saw Vorr's cruel eyes. He reached out and grabbed my by the throat, crushing my neck until I heard the bones crunching together. "Why do you fight me, Tarnum?" Vorr said. "Don't you remember what it felt like to have this kind of power? Don't you miss it? There was a time when a single gesture from you would take a man's life. Now, that's a power even the Ancestors don't have!" "And where did it get me?" I said. "I can give you that power again. Think about it! Join me and you will live forever. Nothing can stand in our way," Vorr said. "Just...one...thing." Vorr paused, softening his grip slightly. I could tell he was afraid he had missed something. So, he wasn't completely confident of his victory. That was a good sign at least. "What?" Vorr asked. "Me!" I snapped. "I'm going to kill you!" "Kill me and you'll be killing yourself!" But I woke up gasping for air. I had nearly choked to death in my sleep. Once I recovered, I came to my feet and whispered, "Yes, I know. I'll be killing myself."
Day 37	Day 37	As if they knew I wanted to speak to them, the Ancestors appeared in my tent this morning shortly after I woke. I still didn't feel much like talking, so I immediately asked them the question that was on my mind. "Will I die if I kill Vorr?" "Yes," the Ancestors said. It made sense now. Not too long ago, I began aging quickly as if my body was trying to make up for lost time. After I rescued the Ancestors from their prison, I returned to normal even though the Ancestors appeared weak from months of magical torture. Somehow, my immortality was linked with the Ancestors - all three of them. So, if Vorr were destroyed I would die as well. "Don't you see now? Not only that, but if Vorr dies so do we!" the Ancestors said. I nodded and said softly, "Maybe the time of the Barbarian has come and gone."
Day 44	At : Day 44	What luck! The people who used to live on this planet before it became the Fiery Moon are still fighting their war against the Demons. Today, while scouting the flanks for any signs of ambush, Skizzik discovered a concealed cave. Inside, he found sacks of dried food as well as other resources and Gold. This discovery couldn't have come at a better time. Effect: +15 Wood, +4 Mercury, +11 Ore, +7 Sulfur, +5 Crystals, +4 Gems, +6470 Gold

Objects

Events

Location	Message
1, 63, 0	This must be the valley Skizzik was talking about where more creatures might be willing to join you. You just hope it's still true.
42, 65, 0	To your surprise, the charred ground gives way to grass. So, the Demons haven't destroyed every bit of this world, but you wonder how long this tiny patch of life can survive.

Towns

Location	Type	Name
67, 45, 0	Stronghold	-
34, 32, 0	Inferno	-
59, 12, 0	Inferno	-
5, 42, 0	Conflux	-
9, 10, 0	Conflux	-
41, 58, 0	Stronghold	-

Town timed events

Day	Title	Message
Day 20	At Stronghold (67, 45, 0): Day 20	I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Skizzik at the head of a small force of troops. I had believed the Familiar dead, but he strolled up to me with his shiny hatchet over one shoulder. "I thought you was a bucket-kicker," Skizzik said. "We thought you were dead too," I said. "I was," Skizzik said. "That makes two time me a goner, but they can just keep killin' me - only makes me stronger!" I took the Familiar's small hand and shook it. It was good to see a friend again. "Where have you been?" "Chasin' Vorr, of course! With you dead, I was gonna go kill him meself, but I can't find him. I did find me an army though, and a whole green valley filled with troops. They hide there from the Demons, but if you show them you strong, they will join you," Skizzik claimed. "Where is this place?" I asked. I could always use extra troops. "Can only reach it through a green Monolith, but you better hurry - the enemy is close to finding it!" Skizzik joined me, and his forces returned to my Stronghold for training. Effect: 49 Goblins and Hobgoblins, 27 Wolf Riders and Wolf Raiders, 14 Orcs and Orc Chieftains, 5 Ogres and Ogre Magi

Heroes

Location	Player	Hero
5, 44, 0		Grindan the Elementalist
9, 12, 0		Erdamon the Planeswalker
34, 33, 0		Vorr the Demoniac
59, 14, 0		Rashka the Demoniac
61, 62, 0		Your most powerful hero from The Fiery Moon.
67, 46, 0		TarnumTarnum Tarnum the Barbarian
67, 55, 0		Your most powerful hero from The Fiery Moon.

Monsters

Location	Type	Message
26, 53, 0	Firebird	A pack of Firebirds soar over this area. Below are several wagons that have been abandoned whenever their drivers saw the creatures. You notice one of them is the Inexhaustible Cart of Lumber. As you approach, though, the Firebirds attack! Treasure: Inexhaustible Cart of Lumber

Pandora's Boxes

Location	Message
66, 29, 0	Contents: Chain Lightning

Seer's Huts

Location	Quest	Reward	Messages
63, 53, 0	Return with: Speculum	1 Phoenix	Proposal: "Hello, dear," the old Seer says. Although she's covered in tattered robes, you notice her hands and face are covered in pink scar tissue - evidence of disfiguring burns. "I happen to know that there is a tower to the south with a madman in it. He won't allow anyone to pass unless they bring him a tame Phoenix. I happen to have one, but if you want it you must return something of mine that I lost." "Gladly. What is it?" you say. "Ah, so quickly you agree. I like that! Just bring back my looking glass, my Speculum, and I'll give you the Phoenix," she says. Progress: "Trying to trick me, eh? Well, I won't give you the Phoenix unless you give me back my Speculum!" And the old woman slams the door in your face. Completion: "I see you hand my Speculum. If you give it to me, I will not only let you take the Phoenix, but I'll give you this here list of commands that will allow you to control it. Wouldn't want to get burned, now, would you? Remember, dear, without the Phoenix you can't get by the madman's tower in the south!"

Quest Guards

Location	Quest	Reward	Messages
57, 67, 0	Return with: 1 Phoenix	(remove)	Proposal: You knock on the door to the gate, but all you hear are the following words echoing from within. "Go away, or you'll gain my ire! If you wanna pass, you must bring me a bird of fire!" Progress: You knock on the door, but somehow the madman within must realize that you have no Phoenix. Completion: You send your Phoenix to perch at the top of the tower. Immediately, the door opens and a wild-looking, little man steps out with tears in his eyes. "Oh, please let me keep her! Can I?" he begs.
58, 37, 0	Be: TarnumTarnum Tarnum the Barbarian	(remove)	Proposal: Soon after you knock on the door to this tower you hear a voice from within. "Only Tarnum may pass!" Progress: There is no response to your repeated knocks on the gate. It's true, only Tarnum may pass. Completion: The doors open as Tarnum approaches. Do you want to pass now?

Epilogue

Unnamed male historian: As Vorr lay dying on the battlefield, Tarnum tipped the vial of sap from the World Tree to the Ancestor's lips. Slowly, a new life spread through Vorr. His wounds healed, and he stood. Tears streamed from Vorr's eyes as he embraced Tarnum. Not only had the World Tree cured his wounds, but the insane hatred that had tainted him. Tears flowed from Tarnum's eyes as well, because for the first time he believed that perhaps he really could change.