Choice Results are at the bottom of the page. Goodluck!
(Restore 60 Health Points for each Companion. Add 200 gold pieces.)Word of your exploits in the fortress of Stonefold soon spread thick and fast throughout the dwarven encampment, especially when they learn that the demon residing within the fortress has mysteriously disappeared, and that you may have had something to do with it. Before you know it the dwarves in the camp are treating you like a proper lordling, showering you with gifts of food, gold and warm beds. However your victory in the fortress still remains bitter sweet for you. The demoness still lives and the mercenary captain, who had drugged you and chucked you in the dungeon has vanished from the camp. Both worrisome thoughts that keep you up most nights, instead of celebrating out with your new dwarven friends.
Not that Lorna and Gorrack are doing much celebrating either, since the events in the great dwarven fortress the pair of them have kept their distance from you. Which was is to be expected considering what happened in the fortress. As for Dywin...
All of which is fine with you, since they would have simply dampened your spirits anyway, with their constant glares and scowls of disgust. For the next couple of days, you spend your time moving about from campfire to campfire boasting of your skills as a warrior, drinking and getting into the occasion brawl with a drunken dwarf. All of which has been good for you, after all there had been moments in the stronghold when you were certain you wouldn't make it out of there alive, so this kind of celebration is definitely a welcome distraction. (Permanent increase of resilience by 1).
As your returning back to your tent to sleep off another night of heavy drinking, you bump into Lorna, who cringes her nose at you in revolt. "By the goddess! You smell worse than the pigs that roll about in the muck!" You smile tiredly in reply, "Good to see you too Lorna. I'd thought you and Gorrack woulda run off by now." Lorna's honey brown eyes light up angrily, her hands moving to her hips, and mouth becoming a thin red line. "Our work is not yet done, but that is not why I am here. Lord Darein has requested our presence at his tent." You raise your eyebrows up at that. "What does he want?" She smirks in reply, and brushes her hair back out of her eyes. "What do you think he wants, fool? He wants to see the so called demon slayer his warriors have been clamoring about. No doubt, he means to reward you for your efforts against the demon inside the fortress." Strangely enough this bit of news, brings down your light hearted mood, reminding you yet again of what occurred back at the stronghold.
In any case, this is as good a time as any to get your gold and get out of here. The demon's head stashed by your bedroll is beginning to stink up the place, and the news around camp was that the dwarves were preparing reclaim the mines of Torfiol and drive out the feral dwarves from the City once and for all. A battle you definitely do not want to be a part of. No thank you, you've done enough fighting.
You turn to walk away, when she places her hand on your shoulder to stop you and leans forward to whisper in your ear. "You, and I both know that you didn't slay the demon that caused all this havoc. Just remember that, Demon Slayer." With that she leaves you, standing there looking utterly perplexed. Was she trying to milk you for gold? And why mention it now? She couldn't still be pissed off about what happened back at the stronghold, could she? Meh, she will have to get over it sooner or later, and be damned if you were going to give her any of your hard won gold.
With that thought foremost in your mind, you continue heading back towards your tent to clean yourself up for your audience, and retrieve the demon's head as well. Assuming of course that Lord Darein requests that you provide proof of the demon's death. Given a tent made from a shimmering black material called sulk, usually meant for noble dwarves and dignitaries. You push your way past the tent flap and enter. The inside of the tent lit up by candles, while quite spacious is filled with all kinds of luxuries that can be found in camp, there's an antiquated mirror you stole from a piss drunk female dwarf named Lila (Can be sold for 50 gold pieces), a barrel of their finest brewed heart-knocker, a desk, a wooden chest and bedroll .
Seeing nothing amiss, you walk over to your bedroll in the corner of the room, and get changed into some freshly washed clothes that lie upon your chest. Feeling slightly more presentable, you equip your gear, collect your belongings, and pull out the decomposing skull of the demon. And not for the first time you shudder, when you notice the creature's yellow eyes still glowing as if it were still alive. Stifling your disgust, you stuff the head into a knapsack and head back out of the tent. Where you are greeted by a barrel chested dwarf in colorful copper and gold garments befitting a nobleman. The middle aged dwarf with round spectacles resting upon his long crooked noise, gives a grunt of surprise at your unexpected appearance, before stammering, "Apologies Demon Slayer, I was led to believe you were asleep." Unable to help yourself you look at the dwarf up and down, gazing at his odd clothing.
The dwarf feeling uncomfortable beneath your intense gaze, harrumphs loudly and speaks in a loud formal tone. "I Warsel of the Great House Torfoil, have been commanded by his Lordship Darein, Defender of the Dwarven Realms, and Guardian of the Dwarves to summon the Legendary Demon Slayer." Ignoring his formal tone, you reply dryly, "I was just heading over there right now."
"Excellent! Then if you will follow me, I will guide you to his lordship's side."Not really caring, one way or another how you get there, you shrug your shoulders and gesture ahead for him to lead the way. The strange looking dwarf swiftly bobs his head down in response and begins leading you through the bustling dwarven encampment as they settle themselves down for the night. A few of the dwarves recognising you, call out your name, and lift up their mugs to you in a show of respect as you pass them by. Eventually you are brought a large white tent atop a small hill with a clear vantage point on all directions, and guarded by four heavily armored dwarves in full obsidian plate armor, carrying war axes. The dwarven warriors seeing your new companion step aside to let you pass through into the tent where you find a massive long table covered in delicious looking food, with hundreds of dwarves dressed like your dwarven escort standing about the tent, drinking deeply from foaming mugs of beers and spiritedly bellowing at each other, while discussing the situation inside the castle.
At your sudden appearance, there is a brief silence in the room, before one of dwarves drunkenly roars out, "To the Demon Slayer!" Which is soon quickly drowned out by more toasts. Grinning from ear to ear at their revelry, you wind your way through the mass of dwarves, who slap you on the back and greet you like a brother come home. There you find Lord Darien sitting at the head of the table, speaking quietly with two fully armed dwarven warriors, each carrying a plethora of battle scars, and stiff postures, which you could only assume meant they were high ranking warriors. Maybe even dwarven elites. Darien a young dwarf, with barely a beard on his chin, wearing a beautifully crafted black leather armor, gestures for you to come closer. "Welcome Demon Slayer, I've heard a lot about you, but I must ask you where are your companions? I thought you'd bring them with you." You open your mouth to tell him, you have no idea where they are, when all of a sudden all hell breaks loose.
Screams, shouts and the clang of weapon on weapon echoes throughout the camp, followed by chilling screeches that freeze the blood. As spin on your heels to look back the way you've come. You see a dwarven warrior, bleeding from several neck wounds burst into the tent. "MY LORD! THE ANCIENTS ARE ATTACKING!" Lord Darein his face pale with shock, reels up from his seat, and hurries out of tent, followed by a host of dwarven nobles, who quickly begin snatching up weapons. Not sure what to make of your new situation, you stare off after them as the sounds of battle become louder and louder. That's when you notice the solidly built chest directly behind Lord Darien's seat.
Warsel the only remaining dwarf inside the tent, seeing the gleam of interest in your eyes, protectively steps in front of the chest.
4. Do you rush out to join the battle going on outside, alongside Lord Darein and collect your reward later?
Holding your hands up to show you don't want to fight, you turn to leave the tent, when you see the familiar figure of Lorna at the tent entrance, wearing tight fitting black enameled leather armor equipped with a elven bow (- 8 damage equipped, +2 Resilience added to her stats). With a grumpy looking Gorrack right behind her, who has managed to acquire a wicked battleaxe. (- 7 damage weapon, added to his stats)."Come on, we have to leave right now. It won't be long now, before the feral dwarves overrun this place."
Surprised that they hadn't left without you, you ask, "Why'd you come back?" Lorna's left eye twitches repeatedly, like she trying hard to not give you a tongue lashing, before replying softly. "For now, our goals are still aligned. We too wish to visit the Mountains of Caldasher." Which was as much of an explanation as she is willing to give you.
Glad for their company, you head out the tent followed by Gorrack and Lorna, and wince inwardly at the deafening din of battle that rages on outside, pummeling your senses. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you see an ocean of feral dwarves in rusted chainmail armor pouring out from the mountains to the north to assault the lines of the dwarven army, while thousands of feral dwarves erupt out of the ground beneath them to tear out their legs and shred apart their lines. Lord Darein his banner of an anvil being beaten by a hammer emblazoned on field of red, can be seen not too far from your position marshaling several blocks of elite dwarven heavy infantry, who immediately launch a counter attack to halt the advances of the encroaching enemy army. The powerful assault which at first succeeds in driving back the ferals dwarves, leaving behind a trail of broken corpses is eventually brought to a standstill as the bulk of the feral dwarves press up against them.
While further ahead of you the surviving remnants of the Wardemons, are gradually being surrounded on all sides and being brought down by swarms of feral dwarves. A tactic you'd never have thought possible for the likes of a feral dwarf. Which makes what you see next even more horrifying, feral dwarves like the kind you've seen in the stronghold, with grey flaking skin and big round black eyes. Are holding back from the battle, their hands raised to the sky and unleashing a storm of lightning bolts that slam down from the clear sky above to blast holes in the ranks of the dwarven army. Melting the flesh off their bones, and scarring the ground.
(There is still time however to save the dwarven army, but you must act now. Already you can see cracks appearing within the dwarven battle lines.)
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(The way this battlefield will work is fairly straightforward, you must fight every single battle and survive. In each mini scenario below, you will need to decide whether to fight or not. Critical battles, which can turn the tide of the war, must be fought in order to ensure your success. Other battles, which may include saving a dwarven battle unit are Optional. You may use potions between each mini scenario, scenario skills and one companion for each mini scenario. The battles must be fought in the exact manner they are given, you cannot skip over an Optional Battle and come back to it later. Lastly you may at any point, walk away from the fight. Goodluck.)
Aware of your heavy breathing, and rapidly beating heart. You look over towards your companions and see Gorrack smiling his flame orange flickering between flashes of red, and orange, hefting his battle axe easily. While Lorna her face strangely serene, silently quirks one eyebrow up at you, and unstraps the elven bow from her shoulders. Chest swelling with a flood of energy, you draw your weapon, and let loose a cry to the heavens.
Critical Battle
As your about to charge forward to join the dwarven battles lines, you see the far left flank of the dwarven army crumble beneath the weight of too many feral dwarves. Routed, the survivors of the dwarven division come streaming past you, heading in the complete opposite direction. With their flanks exposed to attack, you can see the dwarven center coming under heavy pressure.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Stiffening your shoulders, you bellow at the passing dwarves to reform up, before rushing forward to wade into the throng of feral dwarves, swinging your weapon with such precision and skill that it leaves many of creatures clutching mortal wounds. Gorrack his head bent down, bulldozes his way past you to blast the feral dwarves backwards to create an opening for you two to fight properly. Side by side, the two of you fight like nothing else matters. Blood splashing onto your face,neck and arms, the clang of metal on metal and the cuts of newly opened wounds.
Lorna her face focused with concentration, releases a stream of arrows that whistle over your shoulders to plant themselves in the eyes of surprised dwarves that gasp out their last breath, before toppling over. But you can't pay any attention to any of that, as unwashed feral dwarves that smell of death press in around, forcing you to fight harder, and harder. Their axes repeatedly slashing into your body, when at last a relieving force of dwarven heavy infantry slam into the sides of the enemy to give you and Gorrack a much needed breather. (-60 Health Points)
With the threat over for now, you pull back and gulp in deep breaths of fresh air, before looking out upon the battlefield once more. The dwarves having recovered and reformed their left flank are gradually able to rebuild their lines and push back.
Optional Battle
As your scan the horizon for more signs of weaknesses in the dwarven army, you see the slaves that the mercenaries had brought with them, surrounded from all sides being attacked by a large group of feral dwarves that have managed to slip past the embattled dwarven forces. Armed with nothing but their chains, the slaves valiantly attempt to defend themselves against the monstrous creatures, but are clearly no match for their teeth, claws and axes. The few mercenaries that had stood guard over the slaves, have fled, abandoning them to their fate.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Releasing a pent up roar of fury, you and Gorrack plow your way into the midst of the enemy, hacking your weapons into the backs of the creatures, ripping them apart with powerful blows from your weapons to spurt blood and guts up into the air. The creatures screaming out in agony and shock at the unexpected attack, swing around to face you. While more arrows fly past you to pluck the feral dwarves that have stopped to feast upon the flesh of the dead slaves. Adrenaline pumping, you furiously battle the blood crazed feral dwarves, their scrunched up faces filled with hate. Which soon transforms into gasps of horror, as Gorrack mows them down with wide sweeps from his battleaxe that split them clean in two.
When the dust finally settles at least forty feral dwarves lie dead upon the ground before you, their broken bleeding bodies cracked open to reveal their innards. Grateful for your timely rescue, the slaves thank you effusively, before hurrying away from the carnage. (-40 Health Points)
Optional Battle
As your returning to your position atop the hill, you see Lila, the female warrior you had robbed last night of her most prized possession, being chased by a dozen or so rabid feral dwarves that lunge after her.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Ordering Lorna to fire her arrows into the backs of the feral dwarves, you race forward alongside Gorrack to try and intercept them. Lila seeing you coming to her rescue, switches directions, and comes sprinting towards you. Then with you at her side, she swings around to face the feral dwarves. Laughing freely at the prospect of more battle, you crash head first into the chasing feral dwarves, cutting them down one by one with relative ease, with only a few minor scratches taken in return. Pleased with your assistance, Lila plants a kiss on your cheek, and rushes off to join a dwarven reserve unit that is preparing to enter the fray (-30 Health Points).
Critical Battle
Back atop the hill once more, your wondering what your next move should be, when a hear a thunderous crash that resounds all across the battlefield, followed by a brilliant flash of white light that streaks down from the heavens to smack directly into the heart of the dwarven army, scattering them for miles in all directions. Briefly blinded by the dazzling white light, it takes a moment for you to realise that Lord Darein's banner is no longer flying high in the sky.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Mouth dry with fear, you race down field to where the smoking corpses of dwarven warriors lay splayed about the ground, and find Lord Darein lying there upon the rocky surface. Parts of his armor melted into his flesh, and skin raw and bloody. Fearful he may be dead, you turn to Lorna, and ask her to take care of him, before stepping out in front of the pair. Gorrack his shoulders stiff with worry stands by your side, while you quietly watch the thousands upon thousands of stunned feral dwarves recover from the lighting strike.
This was it. Do or die. The feral dwarves surge forward towards your position,ready to finish off the leftovers of the grand dwarven army, when your suddenly joined by the still dazed remnants of the elite dwarven field units. Armoured in black obsidian plate armor, and equipped with sharp shields and blades that crackle with energy. The dwarven elite warriors form up around you to meet the enemy. And like a tidal wave that smashes its way over the the top of you the two forces meet with a almighty roar that cripples the senses.
The tidal wave is so strong, your swept back and forth completely at the whim of the fighting forces all around. All the while trying desperately to keep the feral dwarves that swarm all around you, baying for your blood, from tearing out your insides. Gorrack like a boulder in an ocean, breaks up the lines of the oncoming feral dwarves, and unleashes the berserker rage that he has held inside of him. Skin darkening, blood dripping from his eyes and white foam drooling out of his mouth. The huge Orc looms out over the mass of feral dwarves like a nightmarish creature and begins cleaving a path right through the enemy. With room and space to move again, the dwarven elites press forward all around you, taking you deeper into the thick battle.
Together with your dwarven allies, you hack, slash and chop your way forward at the relentless enemy that pushes against you. All the while Gorrack leads the way, with powerful sweeps of his battleaxe to carve a bloody swathe of death. Your energy focused entirely upon swinging your weapon, and keeping your footing on the blood soaked ground. You barely notice, when the feral dwarves turn tail and run. (- 70 Health Points)
Critical Battle
Arms aching, you stare off after the fleeing enemy, and see the ranks of Ancient dwarves appear ahead of you, swaying as they recite ancient words from an archaic language you've never heard before. All you can be certain of is that whatever their up to, it definitely won't be good for you.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Clutching your weapon tighter in your sweaty palms, you race forward along with a handful of dwarves that also see the threat these creatures pose. With a wave of their hands the Ancients hurl hundreds of fireballs that scorch through the air towards your tiny party. Screaming at the dwarves to get down, you drop to the ground as the fireballs roar past singeing your skin to burn alive the dwarves behind you too slow to react.
Legs sore, you leap back up to your feet and charge forward into their midst, stabbing your weapon like a maniac into their flaking grey skin, that is surprisingly tough. The creatures their eyes flaring red with malicious intent, shoot firebolt after firebolt at you, as you duck and weave your way in amongst them, cutting off their limbs and slashing open their throats. Receiving scorch marks on his back, chest and legs for your efforts. Fortunate for you though, more dwarves arrive on the scene to help you clean up the remaining Ancients, who without the protection of their feral dwarves are fairly easy to deal with. (- 80 Health Points. Elemental Resistance can be used.)
Optional Battle
Exhausted you look up from the battlefield to suck in air into your burning lungs, and see the familiar figure of Dywin off in the distance. Armed and armoured like the dwarven elites, he stands atop the hilltop gazing down at the bloody massacre with sad brown eyes.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Still fuming from his betrayal, you coax your wooden legs to start moving again and start running towards him. The dwarf seeing your approach, gives a regretful shake of his head, and walks away. You call out to him to stop, to come and face you like a proper warrior, but he disappears over the horizon. In his place six feral dwarves that had been feasting upon the dead, rise up to face you. Tired from your previous battles, you clumsily battle the ferocious beasts, that attack you. Only your hunger and desire for vengeance, keeps you from falling, and when at last all six lie dead upon the battlefield. You lie down upon the blood splattered ground to sleep(- 50 Health Points).
Battlefield Results
Depends on battlefield choices
Companion Reputation + 2 (Lorna and Gorrack are both pleased with your actions.)
Loot
(Click here if you've completed all Critical Battles.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Lord Darein, having survived his serious wounds, due in large part to your efforts. Rewards you with an additional 1,000 gold pieces, and the title of Champion!Congratulations warrior!
You are rewarded with 2,000 gold coins, a health poultice and silver helm (worth 500 gold pieces)