Editing Clash of the Dragons (campaign scenario)

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{{TErow| 1 |day 1|Mutare made a mistake splitting her forces between AvLee and Erathia.  She tried to conquer too much, too fast.  Now, with the help of the Faerie Dragons I've been able to push her all the way back to the sea.  I'm certain that the Elf King and the King of Erathia are cleaning up the Nighon armies I left behind in my lightning attack.<p>But now the Dragon Queen has focused all her forces against me.  Not only do I have to cross the sea to get her, but a giant, fortified sandbar as well.  There is much to be done.}}

{{TErow| 4 |day 4|This morning, I received an unexpected letter from the Dragontalker.  She explained that a powerful combination artifact called the Power of the Dragonfather might help me defeat Mutare and her army.  All the pieces are located in this area.  Unfortunately, some of them are rumored to be in Mutare's land.  If I can build it, the Power of the Dragonfather would be a great equalizer.}}

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{{TErow| 10 |day 10|It's been almost a week since I last thought of Valita.  I think I am getting better at forgetting the things that make me happy.  Yet, I've been hearing reports of her efforts to protect AvLee from the raiding Dragons of Nighon.  I smile when I think about it.  So many Dragons have been killed that they must fear the mention of her name.<p>And despite myself I wish I was there by her side.}}

{{TErow| 13 |day 13|Another letter from the Dragontalker reads:<p>"Dragonfriend,<p>I have talked to the Seers who possess the pieces of the Power of the Dragonfather.  Seek them out.  Most will ask for some sort of compensation.  The good news is, they've agreed to see only you or someone who flies your banner.  At least Mutare won't be able to get the Power of the Dragonfather for herself.  Good luck!"}}

{{TErow| 18 |day 18|An Elven scout entered camp today, shivering with fever beneath his torn cloak.  He had been gone for weeks, searching for a passage to Mutare's land.<p>"She is a bright one, that Dragon Queen," the Elf said, pausing to sneeze a few times.  "The sandbar is a barrier to ships, and there is no land route to her region."<p>"Is there no way to get to her?" I said.<p>He nodded.<p>"I took a fisherman's boat out looking for a way around the sandbar and accidentally got sucked into a Whirlpool.  I thought I was dead, but I came out on the other side soaked to the bone but within sight of Mutare's shores!"<p>"A Whirlpool?  Dangerous, but if it's the only way...at least now we know how the Dragon Queen got across.  We thank you for you courage.  You're relieved of duty until you rid yourself of that nasty cough.  Now, go find a healer before you give it to me!"}}

{{TErow| 24 |day 24|An Elf was carried into camp today on a stretcher.  He was weak from his injuries but insisted on talking to me.  I noticed immediately that most of his body was badly burned.  How could he stand so much pain?<p>I knelt by the brave Elf and said, "You should be resting, brave soldier!  Quickly, what is it you want?"<p>"My commander was Captain...Valita," he began.<p>My heart froze, refusing to beat again until the injured Elf spoke.<p>"She's been captured!"<p>"How?" I asked.  It was the only word I could force through my constricted throat.<p>"We heard of a Dwarf leading some Red Dragons.  They were attacking the Elf King's supply lines.  Valita immediately went after them like a woman possessed!"<p>A Dwarf?  She must've thought she had a chance to catch Kurbon.  I was the only one who knew how much his betrayal had hurt her.  She would've gone after Kurbon, hoping to capture him, hoping to find out why.<p>"It was a trap!" the burned Elf said.  "Packs of Red Dragons came at us.  We fought off the first wave.  We killed all of the second wave too, but at the cost of the last of our Dragons.  The third wave took us!"<p>"And what about Valita?" I asked desperately.<p>"I saw her fall from her horse as she fought one of the beasts.  She drew her sword, sunk it in the creature's eye a moment before it struck her with its tail.  I do not think it killed her, but she did not climb to her feet again."<p>All this talking quickly tired out the Elf.  I ordered the stretcher-bearers to take the poor young soldier away.<p>"Give him anything he wants," I ordered, because I knew the Elf would soon die.  No one can survive such wounds for long.}}

{{TErow| 25 |day 25|I can't think!<p>During my strategy sessions, I hear reports of enemy troop movement and suspected numbers, but I don't care.  Mutare can have the world if she wants!  I just want to be with Valita!}}

{{TErow| 32 |Day 32|A message was delivered in the middle of the night by a single Harpy.  The horrid creature assaulted one of our patrols long enough to drop a rolled piece of parchment, and then she fled.  A scratched and bruised soldier brought me the note.<p>I glanced at the bottom of the letter to see who it was from, and nearly crushed it when I saw Kurbon's name.  I regained control and read.<p>"Tarnum,<p>I have Valita."<p>That was it.  So, I crumpled up the letter and threw it in the nearest campfire.<p>"I'm going to crush that Dwarf's throat with my bare hands!" I said so fiercely that several of my own men took a few steps away.<p>I don't blame them.  For a moment, they caught a glimpse of the Barbarian King who tried to murder an entire society.  Thankfully, by the time I returned to my tent I was able to suppress that evil part of my personality.  I sat in the dark, unable to sleep, staring at my quivering hands.}}

{{TErow| 39 |day 39|Kurbon waited a week to send another letter, allowing me to torment myself with thoughts about Valita in Mutare's hands.<p>Again, the message came in late at night in the hands of a Harpy.  I chose to read it in private this time.<p>"Tarnum,<p>Valita is alive.  I'm feeding her well, and nearly all her injuries have healed.  Let us meet.  We have things to discuss.  On the other side of this letter is a map.  Of course, you must come alone or Valita will suffer.<p>Kurbon"<p>It would take only a couple days to get to the location indicated on the map.<p>I buried my face in my hands, uncertain what to do.}}

{{TErow| 41 |day 41|In the darkest hours of the night, when most of the camp was asleep, I slipped from my tent and into the forest.  It didn't take me long to get to the place indicated on Kurbon's map.  I found a huge, moss-covered boulder shaped like a headless man.<p>And I found Kurbon perched on top of it dressed in black armor.  A battle axe was propped over one shoulder.}}

{{TErow| 41 |day 41|"Nice threat, Tarnum.  You really are working for the wrong side," Kurbon said, forcing a laugh.<p>"Why, Kurbon?  What did Mutare give you to make you betray your own people?"<p>"My life!" Kurbon said.  "You know, that pompous Elf, Aspen, was right about something.  You spend long enough in the hands of the enemy, and soon their side makes sense. You, too, would do anything to stop that kind of pain!"<p>I heard movement in the trees around me, but pretended not to notice it.  Instead, I brought one hand out and held it above my head.<p>"Speaking of Aspen, I have something for you," I said, and threw the small white statue up to Kurbon.<p>"What's this?"<p>"The bishop - the advisor.  You took Aspen, but I promise that will be the only piece you ever take!"<p>Kurbon chuckled, placing the piece in his belt.<p>"I'm sorry, Tarnum, but before the night is done I plan to take the king as well," he said, lowering his axe.<p>The shadows came alive as dozens of Minotaurs charged from the forest.<p>I would've been a fool not to realize this was a trap.  I sprinted toward the boulder, raising a wooden whistle to my lips.  I blew as hard as I could even as I dove into a recess between the rock and the ground.  It provided me just enough cover.<p>The Minotaurs stopped in the middle of the clearing as they heard a hissing sound cutting the night air.  They looked up.  Something blocked out the stars in the sky, and then hundreds of arrows rained down on them.  My archers had fired from extreme range.  We'd spent the last two days practicing this maneuver, so it worked.<p>No one survived that first attack, except Kurbon, thanks to his thick armor.  He was immediately swept into the air in the arms of a Black Dragon.  I watched him flee into the night.}}

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{{TErow| 49 |day 49|I've been a coward!  The battlefield, I have learned, is not the only place where one must have courage.  First, with Adrienne, and recently with Valita, I have folded beneath the weight of my fears.<p>I never should've denied my feelings for Valita.  Yes, one day I may have to leave her forever, or if I'm lucky she will grow old and die in my arms.  No matter!  I realize now, that I will never know happiness if I fear the loss of it.  I don't want to live that way!<p>I only hope I'm not too late.  Ancestors, please protect Valita!}}

{{TErow| 55 |day 55|We saw the smoke rising in the distance, black and thick.  Dragons, perhaps?<p>I split my forces in case it was a trap, leaving a third of them behind to protect the supply wagons.  I led the rest toward the smoke to discover Red and Black Dragons battling each other.  At the center of it all was a horde of Minotaurs fighting several Azure Dragons.<p>What is this?  Are Mutare's forces quarreling with each other now?  Could I be so lucky?<p>We watched the battle play out before us.  Both sides lost many lives.  The Minotaurs all perished, leaving a single wounded Azure Dragon.  It seemed to be searching for something, or someone.<p>That's when I noticed a prison wagon tipped on its side in a ditch beside the road.  There was someone still inside it, and a small, stocky figure trapped underneath.  The Azure Dragon finally focused its cold gaze on the wagon.<p>"Archers!" I shouted.  "Kill the Azure!"<p>The Dragon turned in time to witness its doom.<p>Quickly, I sprinted across the bloody and burnt battlefield to the wagon.  And there she was, Valita!  She looked well, although she was dirty and there was a fresh cut on her scalp.  There were tears on her cheeks.  She was trying to reach the hand of the Dwarf, Kurbon, who was trapped beneath the heavy wagon.<p>Kurbon saw me and coughed up some blood as he tried to speak.  I didn't move.<p>Kurbon struggled to pull something from his belt, and then he held up a small black statue.  A pawn.<p>"Checkmate!" he said.  He coughed up some more blood.  "Take care of her!"<p>By the time I smashed open the lock on the wagon, the Dwarf traitor was dead and Valita jumped into my arms, weeping.}}

{{TErow| 56 |day 56|I woke up this morning to find Valita sitting on the ground next to our bedroll.  She was looking at something held in her hands.  I sat up, put an arm around her shoulders.<p>"What do you have there?"<p>She showed me the tiny black pawn Kurbon had tried to give me.<p>"He took me from Mutare's prison, against her wishes.  That's why she attacked him," Valita said.<p>"You think he was trying to save you?" I asked.<p>"I don't know.  He wouldn't talk much, but he did say one thing."<p>"What?"<p>"He said he didn't want to live inside his fear anymore.  That it was no way to live."<p>I had practically said those same words to myself not long ago.<p>"He was trying to save you, Valita.  In the end, he was trying to do good," I said.<p>She looked at me and said, "You sound so sure."<p>"I am."<p>She smiled and that made me just want to kiss her, but Valita placed her head against my chest.<p>"Marry me," she said.<p>"There's something about me you should know first," I said.  "You might change your mind when you hear about my past."<p>"No, I won't.  Marry me!"}}