Upon entering the cave I was immediately ambushed by a nasty Burrowcrawler. Lacking a torch, there was an intense struggle in the dark, one where I finally prevailed over the Burrowcrawler. Stumbling out of the cave the sunlight nearly blinded me, and the extent of the damage done by the Burrowcrawler became evident. In the dark battle I did manage to pull a small pouch out of the Burrowcrawler's mouth. The pouch contained some gold and a small dagger. Pocketing both the journey to warn the king continued onward.
As the forest thinned out I was able to make out a procession of refuges fleeing with their possessions in carts. I approached the procession hoping to learn any news from the tired and hungry looking lot.
Just as I was approaching the refuges there came to cry of "Kraan, Kraan!" I was about to seek shelter back in the forest with the refuges when I noticed a cart filled with children was stuck and unable to reach safety in time. Chaos ensured, refuges running for cover, Kraan butchering people and children calling for help. After a very bloody battle where I took significant damage I managed to best the Kraan that had attempted to attack the children. After the battle I choose to seek shelter in a nearby farmhouse.
Running into the house for shelter I happened to see a Kraan flying overhead with a screaming refuge in its claws, I wasn't able to save everybody after all. The farmhouse offered safety and I was able to pickup a warhammer that had been abandoned there. Further investigation of the farmhouse only yield a single meal, into the pack it went as it was better than nothing.
I emerged from the farmhouse as the surviving refuges made their way out of the forest and began to pickup the remains of their shattered possessions. Sounds of thundering hooves marked the approach of the King's Guard.
Calling to the guard I shared the news of the monastery's destruction, which saddened them greatly. They asked if I would accompany them
to Prince Pelathar, the King's son. Seeing the wisdom of safety in numbers I joined and rode off with the Guard. The search for the Prince was short indeed as he was found in a pitched battle with a large grey Gourgaz. In the midst of the battle a black arrow struck the Prince in his side, as he fell the Gourgaz moved in for the kill. I charged in and tried to save the fallen Prince. Picking up the sword the Prince had dropped I managed to defeat the enraged Gourgaz, after being injured gravely. My injuries were nothing compared to the mortal wound the Prince had suffered from the black arrows. His dying words were to "Tell the King he must seek that which is in Durenor or all is lost." Mounting the Prince's horse I left the battle raging on the bridge grimly determined to pass on the dead Prince's message.
After eating a rushed meal on horseback I came to a fork in the road. The sign post had been hacked down and with no sense of tracking I choose the left path, in hopes it would lead me to the King. The path was filled with Giaks mounted on Doomwolves. Throwing caution to the wind I choose to fight versus seeking shelter in the woods, a choice I would barely live though. After killing the lead Giak, and recovering a scroll from his body, I was near death and ran for the safety of the forest before remaining Doomwolves could arrive.
Thanks to the Prince's fine horse I was able to escape the Doomwolves. After pressing on through the forest I came to a shack where a cloaked man offered to row me across the lake for a few gold coins. My Sixth Sense made me question why, with so much fighting in the area, would someone be rowing people across the lake. I choose to press on ahead on my own.
With the outline of Holmgard on the horizon I was faced with one last, albeit difficult, choice. How was I to make my way into the city itself, as it lay under siege by a large army? The choices were; via the highway, the river or through an ancient graveyard. Thinking it to be the lesser of many evils I choose to make my way into the graveyard, a choice which my horse refused to make with me. Was the beast the smarter of the two of us?
Upon making my way into the graveyard I found my horse's hesitation to be warranted as the ground collapsed dropping me into a subterranean tomb of some long forgotten noblemen. Before my curiousness could lead me into opening the sarcophagus my Sixth Sense warned me of an intense evil in the area. Finally finding my way to what I took to be the exit to this tomb I was confronted by a locked door, a very intricate lock indeed. Having no other way to try and open the lock I choose to pull the pin. When the pin was withdrawn a large block collapsed, nearly squashing me flat. I was able to climb up and make my way out of the tomb thanks to the block.
After making my way into the city I was assisted by the town's guard into a meeting with the King. After telling the King about the Prince's fate as well as that of the other Kai Lords I was offered a chance to help the kingdom by going to Durenor and returning with the Sommerswerd, the sword of the sun. Wanting to do all that I can I choose to accept this mission.
