Editing Tunnels of Ice

{{inhc}}
{{campaign navigational box|hc=expanded|theswordoffrost=expanded}}
{{scenario
| scenario       = {{PAGENAME}}
| description    = Tarnum must battle his way through the tunnels inside a giant glacier if he is ever going to catch up to Gelu.  Tarnum and his two best Captains will carry over to the next scenario along with all their skills, spells, and experience.  All Heroes are limited to level 30.
| underground    = disabled
| num_play       = 2/1
| size           = M
| source         = hc
| victory        = def_all
| loss           = hero
| loss_hint      = {{H|Tarnum|image=Tarnum (Overlord)|noname=}}
| allies         = {{teal}}
| enemies        = {{tan}}
| difficulty     = Normal
| bonus          = {{BonusR|Basic|10}}{{BonusR|Magic|3}}
| carry          = {{Hn|Tarnum (Overlord)|noname=}}<br>{{carry|2}}
| max_lvl        = 30
| Cmap           = [[File:Cmap hc tsof all.png|400px|{{PAGENAME}}]]
}}

== Prologue ==
{{cvid|RoE 1.0 CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3 VID-EVIL1B-smk-EVIL1B|src=HC-09|thumbtime=0:00|float=left}}
{{town|Neutral|noname=}} Unnamed male historian: When [[Ufretin]] looked at him, all he saw was a man who betrayed the [[Elves]] and joined their mortal enemy.  But [[Tarnum]] needed his prisoner to trust him and tell him the location of the [[Sword of Frost]].  The alternative - forcing him to talk - was too horrible for [[Tarnum]] to consider.

{{clear|both}}

== 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]]