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Another long night spent in the town of Harthorn, you suddenly sit up in bed, your head spinning, and sweat pouring down the sides of your temple. The dreams that had haunted your every waking moment, broken by the first rays of sunlight that shower in through the glass pane windows. The red-headed dwarf that lay in bed beside you, letting out a soft murmur at your sudden movement, before drawing the coverlets over her slim pale form. Your hands moving to caress the stray hairs from her high cheekbones to frame her beautiful face in the golden rays of sunlight. The skin on her slender arms prickled by the cool summer breeze. The time you spent with her, a blurry haze of mixed-up memories that made it's way back to you in fits and starts.

In the past you would have tried to recall how you had gotten there, but after a certain point in your life, you had come to realize most of your memories were far too dark and were best left alone. It was a lesson engraved into you from your time in the Redling Battleguard, warriors on a crusade to cleanse their Kingdom of the evils that plagued their world, only to become the very evil they fought with innocent and guilty alike caught in their wanton path of destruction. Bottles of Heart-Knocker the only respite from the butchery you had dealt out with your own hands.

Slipping bare-skinned out from beneath the quilts, you pull the blankets up around the dwarf’s still sleeping form, and walk out barefoot across the soft feathered griffon rug towards the windowsill. The warm sunlight splashing across your skin to take away the chill you always seemed to feel in your bones.

You had not meant to stay in Harthorn for this long, but after spending so much time on the road, you couldn’t help but stay a little while longer and help Glumdel out with a few more jobs. This, of course, meant having to deal with more of the ogress’ sour looks and the occasional fistfight with scoundrels that thought to rob you of your hardwon gold, which you then promptly spent at the bordello.

You had tried spending some time exploring the newer parts of town, but with Caroline’s eyes and ears everywhere, it was usually best to watch your step, lest you cross her again. Still from what you’d seen of the town, the place was coming along fairly nicely. It was something you had long expected would happen here, what with this being the only land route between Borathas and the immense treasure troves that lay hidden beneath the mountains. Hundreds if not thousands of adventurers poured through this place, willing to risk their lives to reach the deepest underground vaults of the dwarves, where their ancient empire had once thrived before the curse had sundered their realm.

It was also one of the many reasons, you had decided to stay as long as you had, a journey like this requires you to be at your full strength.

Equipment laid out on the desk by the window, you set about the task of quietly dressing yourself, before pulling open a secret compartment in the wall, and retrieving your pouch of gold, the protective enchantments that Glumdel had installed into the bedroom, one of the many reasons it was worth its price. The spells imbued into the safe able to recognize the true owner, and disable any would-be thieves who would be summarily dealt with by the ogress permanently.

Ready to set out once more, you bid a silent farewell to your nameless sleeping companion, and head towards the door. The handle letting out a soft sigh as you turn the knob, and leave the room with one last backward glance at the dwarf’s scarlet hair splayed out across the pillows, the golden light that bathed her, enough for you to pause and capture the moment.

Backpack saddled across your shoulders, you slump past the bedrooms along the corridor and head back downstairs, Glumdel as usual, stood behind the counter, wiping mugs, while Drusel lurked about the Inn’s entrance. The common area as he had come to expect packed to the brim with fresh life as tired warriors told their tales, knocked mugs together, and listened to the sweet melodies that spoke of glory and death. The elven harpist that strummed at the back of the room, a fine looking woman with golden braids that were pulled back behind her head to give her a crown of gold. The magical balls of colorful light that flew around her, dancing to the tune of her music. The sound alone almost making you wonder if you should stay here a little longer, before tossing your head back with a shake.

No, your time here was done, the call of the road beckoned you forth, and yet by the time you weave your way to the counter, you couldn’t help but want to stay. This was home, and being away from it almost made you feel maudlin, but then that was just you being that young naive fool who couldn’t see the world’s dangers hanging all around you. Eventually, trouble would come to find you, but you couldn’t be around to wait for it.

Dressed in another extravagantly bright red doublet, Glumdel noted the backpack on your shoulders, brushed his fingers through his greying beard and grunted, “I suppose ye’ll be headin back out there again is it?”

Head nodded in reply, you lean across the counter, and take a look around the room, a part of yourself unable to help but keep a careful watch on your surroundings, and note a trio of Wingdarts sitting at a table. The small group casually casting glances in your direction when two Ironclad werewolves entered the dwarf’s establishment to leer at them as they passed by. The snide remarks that were exchanged between the two opposing companies, watched over by Drusel, who licked her lips hungrily.

“Ahh well, then I suppose ye’ll be wantin the rest of yer payment for the last contract, an that map yers that ye be wantin. As I said ‘efore the tunnel shouldn’t be taa ‘ard ta find, but it should help ye get to Borathas quick enuf. That said, lad, ye could always stay on ‘ere. I could always use another good sword. And there’s always plenty of work to still be had ‘round ‘ere.”

Shaking your head, you reply. “No, I’d best be off. Fortune awaits no man that stays still.”

Glumdel rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Bah! Then more fool u, lad. A quick death is all ye’ll get out t’ere.” The dwarf then hands you a crumpled up piece of paper, and a small pouch filled with gold. “Best of luck, lad, and may those suns of yers be watchin out fer yah.” (Acquired a local Map of the Area. + 50 Gold Pieces.)

Half grinning at the odd farewell, you bow your head in thanks to him and make your way towards the doorway, where Drusel having overheard the conversation, shoots you a savage predatory smile. “I shall feast upon your bones one day, Gregor.”

Without pause, you retort, “I look forward to it.” The ogress’ blue eyes lighting up with delight as you march past her and leave the Inn behind.

***

(Hope to include a map here one day.)

Not long after that you were back out on the road with the town long since behind you, the smoke that flew up into the air, bidding you a final fond farewell. The rutted road you travel upon, a cratered ruin of puddles and mud that seeped into your boots. The sopping wet mess, squelching underneath your feet as you head north towards the mountains, before stopping short at a crossroads that split east and west. The sign which had faded long ago did not indicate as to which way you should go next. Hoping the dwarf hadn’t cheated you, you unfurl the crumpled up piece of paper in your hand and see a thin blue line run east towards a forest, and behind it an underground cavern which should take you to Borathas.

Shoulders already aching from the heavy backpack you lugged on your back, you continue heading east, passing through rolling hills dotted with purple wildflowers. The soggy wet ground gradually becoming much firmer, the further north you travel, with life blooming all around you, the elderberry bushes you pass by filled with baby hobs that peer up at you with pudgy round faces and beady red eyes.

Your hand quick to tap the blade at your side to show the little balls of flesh that you would not be easy prey to them, while bloated bellow-hearts with sagging dark skin and black feathers winged their way through the trees to stare down at you from the branches. The blighted buggers, no doubt hoping you would drop dead in the middle of the road so they could feast upon your flesh. Fortunately, their much larger brethren the stalkers were not in evidence, those pukelings didn’t even wait for you to die before tearing you apart.

Careful to show no hesitation or fear, you continue oblivious to them all, until the filthy black-hearted devils, tired of their game, finally fly away in search of much easier prey.

Of course, by that point, you were no longer alone on the road and as you glance back, you see the same trio of wingdarts from the Inn trailing after you. This time however they were kitted out in full heavy battle raiment, along with longswords and round shields.

And while it could have been a coincidence them showing up here and using the same path as you, you somehow doubted it. Having worked with them long enough, you knew that most monster contracts were given to parties of five, whereas a dozen were assigned to caravan guard duties, and for headhunting bounties, the number was usually three. And judging by those three behind you, those were not rookies, but fully-fledged veterans who wouldn’t move for any less than 1,000 Gold Pieces, which meant it had to be a bounty.

Head lowered to show your unconcern at the potential threat, you think you could probably take on all three out if you were smart about it, but fighting against such experienced warriors would not be so easy, especially with two vampires and an orc among their number. Still judging by the map Glumdel had given you, there was a chance you could lose them in the forest which was not too far ahead of you.

(Click here to make a break for the forest.)

Spoiler: Spoiler

Teeth clenched together again in preparation, you gallop ahead along the dirt road, feeling the weight of the backpack thump against you, and see the wingdarts hurry to give chase. Their heavy armor slowing them down to giving you a significant lead as the path curves off into the forest. The forest floor covered by a thin layer of white mist that swirls up around your feet.

Dodging your way past mangled trees that hadn’t seen sunlight in decades, you dash through the heavy foliage, ducking and swerving aside to avoid branches as the thick canopy above blocks out most of the light and fills you with the kind of dread you usually feel when entering the lair of some beast you’d been sent out hunt. However this time, you had no idea what was awaiting you further ahead.

Breathe coming out harsh as you gasp for air, you shove your through the tree branches that block path, before finally slowing down to look behind. The three mercs that had been trailing you, nowhere to be seen.(- 80 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Releasing a heavy sigh of relief, you press on through the darkened forest when you briefly pause at the faint echoes of voices crying out for help. The trees around you taunting you with their ever so slight movements as their branches whipped across your path. The chill cold that runs down your spine, causing a tingle to creep through you at the thought you were being watched again. (- 45 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Heart quickened, you try to move faster and refocus your mind on the goal at hand, however the path you had been following becomes much fainter, until it is barely disguisable from the fog itself. The only thing that could possibly guide you out now was your own sense of direction which was notoriously bad.

In the growing silence that seems to close in all around you, you begin to worry that this might have been all some elaborate trap, setup by the dwarf to get you out of town, and alone out in the forest where the ogress and her friends could hunt you down, but you did not think Glumdel was that ruthless or at least hoped he was not. (- 50 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Still, you draw your steel dagger and try to quieten your own breathing as you listen for the telltale pitter patter of footsteps, your eyes darting to the trees around you, a part of yourself imagining at any moment that someone was going to pounce out and attack when your path is obstructed by a thick bush that cuts across the forest. (- 55 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Nerves shredded to ribbons, you hack, cut and slash your way through the overgrown weeds, before at last seeing pure undiluted sunlight breaking out through the forest tree tops. (- 60 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Heart lurching at the most glorious sight, you practically run out of the forest and feel a flood of relief at being free at last. The foggy smoke that swirls around your feet, giving you one last lingering caress that almost feels like a woman’s touch.

(Click here to turn and wait for them.)

Spoiler: Spoiler

Rarely one to run from a fight, you spin around, and call out to them, “Welcome brothers! What brings you on the road?! Have you come to bring me back into the fold?! I cannot say that I would not be tempted by such an offer!”

Steel drawn, the orc lets out loud guffaw as he confronts you with his two allies. “You don’t remember me, do you, you?! You left me wounded in a cave, then scurried off like a sniveling rat to save your own miserable hide!”

Eyes squinting to better see him, you laugh aloud in disbelief as you recognize the tall, sturdy orc. “Kelmar?! Is that you?! I was certain the ferals would have eaten you alive by now, but then I guess they knew better than to chew on that wrinkled, old hide of yours! Have you come for some payback then?!”

Kelmar, a big beefy warrior, armored in a double layer of chainmail, shook his head from side to side. His two companions splitting apart to flank you. “Nothing like that. In truth, I would have done the same if I were in the same position, but the Captain wants your head.”

Half grinning at the always practical orc, you knew you would be sad when you killed the big ugly oaf, but there was no point weeping over lost friends.

Dagger drawn with a soft hiss, you drop the backpack into the dust, and before any of them could react, you tuck yourself into a roll and come up in front of the vampire on your left, who tries to swing his sword, but with the much closer reach of the dagger, you burrow the blade into his throat, before dragging the steel sword out from the dead warrior’s clutches.

The orc almost upon you seconds in a blistering cascade of strikes, which force you back, when with a flick of your heel, you kick the backpack you’d left on the road into Kelmar’s thighs tangling up his legs to bring him down, and plant the sword in his chest with a heavy thrust.

Blood spurting out, you try to twist the weapon free from the orc’s rib cage when the second vancloren is upon you in a flash of steel. It’s fangs and claws, as much a weapon as the sword in its hands as the wingdart spins through each of the forms perfectly, dancing forward across the dust with light footsteps.

Unarmed and beating a swift retreat, you search for something else to defend yourself with, when Kelmar still alive grabs hold of you by the leg. The miserable bastard dragging you down with him as blood pours out from his chest, the vampire seeing the opening, dashing forward, when with a hard elbow to the mouth, you smash in one of Kelmar’s tusks, breaking it apart. Grab the bloody tooth in hand, and with a deft roll back up to your feet, you plant the tusk into the vampire’s now vulnerable neck. The vancloren unable to stop his momentum, and unintentionally, helping to impale himself.

All of it over in a matter of heartbeats, you feel your heart still pumping furiously from the rush of it all, before looking down to see a still wriggling Kelmar, the old warrior trying desperately to get to his feet while you lick the blood on your lips, and bend down to grab the fallen steel sword. “I wish you hadn’t come for me, Kel.”

Too weak to stand up, the orc chuckled and lay back down on the ground. “I told Caroline, it’d take more than us three to take you down, but then she always did have a soft spot for you.”

Blade stabbing out to end your friend’s life, you stare down at his still body for a while, before picking up your backpack and walking away. The die had been cast and you had survived again. (- 100 Health Points. Acquired x 3 Broadsword - 5 Weapon Damage. Acquired x 3 Round Shield + 2 Resilience. Acquired x 2 Chainmail + 3 Resilience. Acquired 1 Damaged Chainmail + 1 Resilience. One of each item can only be equipped at a time.)

***

With still plenty of sunlight left in the sky, you continue traveling along the dusty road, the path curving off into a forest, where you see trees surrounded by a faint white mist that swirls up around your feet. Dark, and full of mangled trees, the place fills you with the kind of dread you usually feel when entering the lair of some beast you had been sent out to hunt. However this time, you had no idea what was inside waiting for you at this very moment. (- 40 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Fog, swayed by a breeze that comes and leaves at certain times, you think you can hear the faint echoes of cries calling out for help, the trees taunting you with their every so slight movement as they whip their branches across your path. The chill cold that runs down your spine, causing a tingle to creep through you at the thought you were being watched again. (- 45 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Heart quickened, you try to move faster and refocus your mind on the goal at hand, however the path you had been following becomes much fainter until it is barely disguisable from the fog itself. The only thing that could possibly guide you out now was your own sense of direction which was notoriously bad.

In the growing silence that seems to close in all around you, you begin to worry that this might have been all some elaborate trap, set up by the dwarf to get you out of town, and alone out in the forest where the ogress and her friends could hunt you down, but you did not think Glumdel was that ruthless or at least hoped he was not. (- 50 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Still, you draw your steel dagger and try to quieten your own breathing as you listen for the telltale pitter-patter of footsteps, your eyes darting to the trees around you, a part of yourself imagining at any moment that someone was going to pounce out and attack when your path is obstructed by a thick bush that cuts across the forest. (- 55 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Nerves shredded to ribbons, you hack, cut and slash your way through the overgrown weeds, before at last seeing pure undiluted sunlight breaking out through the forest treetops. (- 60 Health Points. Magical Damage.)

Heart lurching at the most glorious sight, you practically run out of the forest and feel a flood of relief at being free at last. The foggy smoke that swirls around your feet, giving you one last lingering caress that almost feels like a woman’s touch.

Beyond grateful that you were still alive and in one piece, you stand there for a moment drinking in the deep blue sky, basking in the light of the four suns, and let the warmth take away all the tension that had run rampant through your body.

Feeling much calmer now that you were out and away from the forest’s webs, you realized that the cave entrance the dwarf had mentioned to you was not too far from where you were. However, what the dwarf had failed to mention was the elf camped outside its entrance.

Equipped with a sword, bow and wearing a well-designed leather jerkin. The male elf appeared to be relaxing by the side of the cave entrance with no intention of going anywhere anytime soon when he looked up at you and smiled.

“Oh thank! The Lightbearer and all his divine servants! You’ve finally come! I’ve been stuck here for days now. Waiting and hoping someone would travel this way. I am, Doren, master bard, and troubadour of the world. I travel these vast lands, collecting tales to record in my Adventurers' Guide to the World of Coroleya. I have need of your assistance, oh great warrior.”

Letting out a dry chuckle at the elf’s fanciful introduction, you reply, “That depends. What needs killing? And why haven’t you killed it yourself?”

Startled by the blunt-spoken question, the elf’s wide blue eyes shoot open in surprise, his long dark brown hair thrown back as he shook his head. “Oh my! I have nothing of the sort in mind. I only wished to be escorted through this here passageway and into the fortress of Stonefold. I heard tell from my fellow scholars that this was by far the fastest route to travel and that it offered an excellent opportunity to study the ancient dwarves who once resided here.”

“Now as to why I haven’t gone in alone...” the elf waved a slender arm up in the air, “I tried to, but I heard strange sounds that did not bode well for me. And since the guards who were meant to escort me through were killed by that dastardly forest spirit I have been stranded here for some time now. I did warn those idiots that it would do no good to start a fire in those woods, but the imbeciles insisted that they needed to roast that foul meat of theirs,” he said with a final exasperated sigh. “I will pay you handsomely if that’s what concerns you. I am not without gold and a certain amount of influence that allows for luxury.”

Choice 1. Do you say yes and allow him to join you on your journey?

Choice 2. Do you say no and continue without him?

Choice 3. Do you draw your weapon and tell him to give you all his gold and valuables?

Choice 4. Do you draw your weapon and kill the young fae'lon?

Choice 5. Do you ignore the elf and walk on without saying a single word?