The Protectors of the Sword

Gelu still refused to see that just uncovering the Sword of Frost could bring the prophecy to life, so Tarnum had no choice but to beat him to the forgotten City of Volee where the ancient weapon had been lost.

Scenario

Timed events

Day 1 - Day 1 - computer (every 7 days)
For Computer - DO NOT TRANSLATE Resources: +20 Wood, +20 Mercury, +20 Ore, +20 Sulfur, +20 Crystals, +20 Gems, +10000 Gold
Day 1 - day 1
For several days, Gelu and I have been passing messages back and forth through aerial messengers. I have attempted to convince him to give up this search for the Sword of Frost, but Gelu holds stubbornly to the belief that it is his fate to destroy the ancient artefact - thus, assuring the safety of the world forever. Fool! Today, I received Gelu's last letter. "Tarnum, I have agreed to hold my advance on the City of Volee while we settled this matter, but I believe we have come to an impasse. My people called you Dragonfriend once, so I beg you to stay out of my way if you refuse to join me. I will not stop until I have destroyed the Sword of Frost. I will also not hesitate to kill you and the evil creatures you associate with these days. Ride from this place so I will not be forced to kill you. You know that I have never failed in anything I have set out to do - whether that is killing an evil Overlord or destroying a dangerous artefact. I will not stop. Gelu of AvLee and the Forest Guard" So that was it. All my attempts to avoid this conflict have been foiled. I regret the day that I will meet Gelu in combat, but first I must capture the Sword of Frost.
Day 3 - day 3
There is a Magi living nearby who has offered to give me a vision of the City of Volee and other key areas in this region if only I can find him.
Day 8 - day 8
The entrances into the lush, green lands around the City of Volee are blocked by impenetrable gates. The only way to pass through them is to speak the passwords known only by the Keymasters. During their many trips to deliver messages to Gelu's forces, my Harpies spotted a Blue Keymaster's Tent near Gelu's town. Unfortunately, that's the only Keymaster's Tent that has been spotted by my scouts. It looks like I'm going to have to face Gelu after all. I can't let him get to Volee before me. That would mean disaster.
Day 14 - day 14
"What is it?" I ask my Minotaur bodyguard, Trongar. He usually rides next to me at the front of the line, but I've noticed in the last few minutes that he has distanced himself by falling back slightly. "I was trying to get a good look at the trees over there," Trongar says, pointing. "I think I saw something." "That's too far away, even for an Elven archer," I say. "Yeah, but could be a spy. You know these Elves. They love to ambush you whenever they get the chance," Trongar says. I know the Elves better than anyone, and the Minotaur was right. I should've been paying more attention. Attack-and-run tactics are taught to ever member of the Forest Guard, and Gelu is one of the best to have ever come out of AvLee.
Day 20 - day 20
Unfortunately, the Vori Elves who live in the City of Volee will not respond to my numerous requests for a meeting. They have attacked every one of my messengers without asking a single question. The only good news is reports that they treat Gelu's messengers in the same way. Apparently, Volee sees both of us as an enemy.
Day 23 - day 23
A strange Harpy flew into camp today and was almost torn to pieces by my Harpy troops. "Wait!" I shouted, stepping in to protect the exhausted Harpy. You give the creature some water and let it catch its breath before you order it to explain why it has come here. "My sisters want to help you," she said. "These Elves have been hunting us for centuries. Finally, someone has come to help." "Where are your sisters?" "That's just it! We captured the tower protecting the White Keymaster's Tent! Now, your enemy can't reach Volee, thanks to us!" she said. This was great news! I still had to risk battle with Gelu to reach the Blue Keymaster's Tent, but I no longer had to worry about Gelu getting the Sword of Frost first.
Day 27 - day 27
A messenger arrived this morning to inform me that the Barbarian King's wife, Kija, escaped from her Dungeon prison. She's alone. Her army is either dead or disbanded. It doesn't really matter if she got away. Kija will probably make her way home to her husband and lick her wounds. Even if she convinces Kilgor himself to search for the Sword of Frost, it will be too late. Either I will have the Sword, or Gelu will have destroyed the world. Then it won't matter.
Day 33 - day 33
Last night before I went to sleep, I begged for the Ancestors to speak to me. They don't usually respond, but this time they appeared. "I thank you for talking to me," I said. "We sensed you needed us," one of them said. "I should reach Volee soon, but you never told me what to do with the Sword of Frost. Certainly, I can't keep it! So, do I destroy it?" I asked. "No. The Sword of Frost can't be destroyed except by Armageddon's Blade. We fear Gelu will realize this and mistakenly bring the two blades together. That's why you must retrieve the Sword of Frost." "And then what?" "Bring it to us. We will cast it into a place where it will never be found," the Ancestors answered. Before the Ancestors vanished, I summoned the courage to say something that has been bothering me for months. "I am sorry," I said. "For what?" I lowered my head in shame and said, "For the things I have done while searching for the Sword of Frost. I thought they were necessary." "And we agree. Tarnum, doing what is best for all - even if that deed is disgusting to you - that is true honour! We cannot fault you for that," the Ancestors said. "It still feels wrong," I insisted. "As it should." The Ancestors disappeared.

Objects

Events

Location	Message
5, 58, 0	The snow suddenly explodes all around you as a band of Gelu's Sharpshooters spring from hiding and attack! Guardians: 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters
10, 2, 0	The snow suddenly explodes all around you as a band of Gelu's Sharpshooters spring from hiding and attack! Guardians: 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters
13, 33, 0	The snow suddenly explodes all around you as a band of Gelu's Sharpshooters spring from hiding and attack! Guardians: 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters
62, 35, 0	The snow suddenly explodes all around you as a band of Gelu's Sharpshooters spring from hiding and attack! Guardians: 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters
64, 70, 0	Your scouts return with news that the City of Volee is guarded by two powerful Garrisons. On top of that, the city itself is well fortified, so before attacking you better make sure you have the strongest army possible. Guardians: 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters
67, 67, 0	Out of their hiding places in the snow and rocks step more of Gelu's soldiers. They stand in your way, refusing to allow you to pass. There is no choice but to fight. Guardians: 10 Sharpshooters, 50 Centaur Captains, 35 Pegasi, 10 Sharpshooters, 50 Centaur Captains, 10 Sharpshooters, 10 Sharpshooters

Towns

Location	Type	Name
6, 8, 0	Rampart
10, 33, 0	Rampart
20, 43, 0	Rampart
46, 24, 0	Dungeon
48, 61, 0	Rampart	Volee
56, 42, 0	Rampart
68, 5, 0	Dungeon

Heroes

Location	Color	Hero
3, 12, 0		Numas the Battle Mage
6, 10, 0		Gelu the Ranger
10, 10, 0		Jinara the Battle Mage
45, 62, 0		Larn the Barbarian
48, 63, 0		Vol the Ranger
63, 6, 0		Your most powerful hero from The Barbarian's Wife.
66, 9, 0		Your most powerful hero from The Barbarian's Wife.
70, 7, 0		TarnumTarnum Tarnum the Overlord

Monsters

Location	Type	Message
65, 68, 0	Harpy	The Harpies abandon the tower they have protected and beg to join your fight against the Elves.

Seer's Huts

Seer's Hut (3, 41, 0)
Proposal Message
You talk with the broad-shouldered man chopping wood outside this odd-looking home for several hours. He brags endlessly about his many adventures and even challenges you to a wrestling match. "To the winner goes 8,950 Gold," he says. "And what if I lose?" "Nothing," says the smiling hero, "except you have to live with the shame of losing." You agree to the match but are quickly pinned. Your opponent laughs at you, explaining that you never had a chance. "You just don't have enough experience. Come back when you've at least matched my skills." Quest: Achieve Experience level 36
Progress Message
You challenge the large hero who dwells here to another wrestling match, but once again you're not 36th level and you lose quickly.
Completion Message
You wrestle for more than an hour with the huge hero, finally winning the match by a close margin. He stands and shakes his head, laughing heartily. "It's been a long time since I've lost," he says. The wrestler steps into his home momentarily and returns with several sacks of Gold. "Your reward," he says, handing you the sacks, "you deserve it!" Reward: 8950 Gold

Seer's Hut (50, 20, 0)
Proposal Message
The serious old man who lives in this hut tells you to return when you have achieved 34th level and he will give you a reward of 7,890 Gold. Quest: Achieve Experience level 34
Progress Message
It takes the old man only a few minutes to determine that you're too inexperienced for the reward he offers. You'll have to come back later.
Completion Message
"You seldom see young people these days willing to take the time and effort to gain the experience that you have achieved," says the old man. He opens a chest at the foot of his bed, revealing several sacks of Gold inside. "I like to reward commitment and hope that in the future when you've reached my age you will do the same with some young Hero. Here's the Gold I promised you." Reward: 7890 Golds

Quest Guards

Quest Guard (66, 68, 0)
Proposal Message
As you approach, some of the Harpies swarming around this tower pitch stones in your direction. They warn you that they will only talk to their leader, Overlord Tarnum. Quest: Be TarnumTarnum Tarnum the Overlord
Progress Message
Ignoring the threats of the Harpies, you approach the tower. But rocks and other refuse rain down from above in such a volume that you're forced to turn back.
Completion Message
A rock bounces off your armour, and then the Harpies suddenly stop throwing things at you and your army. One of them flies down and lands in front of you, wisely out of your reach. "You're Overlord Tarnum, aren't you?" the Harpy asks. "Yes," you say, rubbing at the dent in your armour. "Pass through immediately! Please!"

Epilogue

File:H3ABab7.png

Tarnum's hard-fought victory over the City of Volee was for naught. When he reached the resting place of the Sword of Frost he found that someone had already chipped it from its icy sheath. Among the broken ice was a discarded Barbarian Axe. Tarnum closed his fist around its hilt and screamed the name of the thief.
"Kija!"
Why didn't he kill her when he held her captive?
Then he prayed, "Ancestors, please don't let my compassion destroy the world!"