Player intro #2

You are traveling with your two best friends: Dorbane, a grumpy, yet loyal Kutollum and Valda, a beautiful young Gypsy girl. You have been traveling for weeks towards the capital city of Andilain. It’s been a long walk, through the Tilliman Highlands, around the mountain of Idumea and through the fields of Ashbrook and Fallcreek. You’re in good company. You laugh, sing and talk about your plans for the future as decorated, respected members of the Kings Army.
The trip is nearly over. By sunset tomorrow, you will be enlisting in the greatest military force this world has ever seen.
The season is fading, so the nights are growing longer. As the sun starts to set upon the green hills of the land, you notice that travelers upon the roads quickly become scarce. Most refuse to travel in the night, and you three have heard rumors of evil things seen in the shadows of the forest. Some whisper of monsters, invaders and the awakening of darker magic.
“Can’t we rest?” complains Valda, “We’ve walked all day and my feet are killing me!”
Her raven black hair reflects the last rays of sunlight, shimmering over her tan shoulders. She gives you a pleading look that you always find hard to resist. When this fails to get the desired sympathy, she bats her eyes at you.
Dorbane chuckles, “Oh give the girl a break…it’s not going to hurt our progress and she’ll finally stop complaining!”
You laugh and shrug, “Alright. We take a break for a half-hour, but then we push on through the night. I want to be in Andilain by morning light, agreed?”
“Agreed!” she squeals and bounces over to Dorbane to kiss the Kutollum on the cheek.
The three of you have always been close. At least as long as you can remember, anyway. Ever since the raids on your village of Sangil. Both you and Valda were orphans to begin with, but when the Kutollum assisted in fighting off attacks from the Southern Shores, Dorbane found himself without a father. The battle was long and bloody. Few survived the assault as the enemy pushed inland. It was within the mountains that the battle was finally won—with the help of the citizens. Dorbane had lost his father. When the soldiers moved on, he decided to stay with a young human who had saved his life.
That human is you.
The Gypsy girl finds a log stump, sits down, pulls off her soft leather boots and shakes out the gravel. “I hate walking this far,” she mumbles with a huff. “And I told you we should have brought more bread! I’m starving.”
Dorbane chuckles, “I thought you Gypsies loved to wander—that it’s in your blood?”
“Wander…not march,” she corrects him. She looks up at you with a sweet expression on her face. “I’m sorry. You know I’d follow you anywhere.” She pauses and gives you a comical smirk, “Just wish I knew where anywhere was.”
You laugh together.

Go to "Your Arrival..."