“Tharkon, come in. We’ve summoned you here for a very important raid.”
You have just entered the large office of Sir Talin III, President of the Lightraider
Academy and Guardian of the Light in the service of the Overlord of Many Names.
Seated at a massive table that serves as his desk, Sir Talin rises to welcome you. He is an
older gentleman of about fifty summers but still carries himself with strength and dignity.
Though weather-worn and scarred from many raids in the Dragon Lands in his youth, the
respected leader of the Liberated Lands hides his age well. To either side of the desk
stand Sir Ailyn Ironforge, combat trainer and armorer for the academy, garbed as always,
in full plate armor, and Brother Perethan, the academy’s Head Bishop, dressed in the
plain robes of the clergy. You also notice four of your friends from the academy already
arrived and seated.
Sir Talin invites you to have a seat near the others.
“As I was just explaining before you arrived, Tharkon, we would like to send the
four of you on another Raid. Having now completed your training here at the academy
and successfully completing your first mission, we are in need of your team’s particular
gifts and skills sooner than we had anticipated.”
Sir Talin reseats himself, the other two men following his lead. Then folding his
hands on his desk and leaning forward, he continues.
“As you know, Gareth Stoneshield was captured while attempting to return here to
the Liberated Lands with his companion, Darek Larkhaven after the two of them escaped
an orc ambush upon their Raid team.”
“How is Gareth, Sir?” you interupt, concerned about the young man you rescued
during your first raid. “He was barely alive last time any of us saw him.”
The image of Gareth’s ravaged body floods back to your mind as you remember
what was done to him by the minions of evil in the Dragonlands.
“He is recovering quite well, young one.” Brother Perethan steps in with an
answer. “The healing salves we have applied to his skin have drawn out the painful
poisons from his many cuts and scratches and served to soothe the stinging as well. He
should be up and about again within the week.”
“Gareth and Darek are the only two members of their Raid Team to have returned
from their mission.” Sir Talin continues. “It was a very important mission to get copies
of the Sacred Scrolls to Salt Warriors in the Western Peaks for the underground churches
meeting there. Unfortunately, Darek has reported that their Raid Objective was not
successful. They were discovered and attacked shortly after entering the mountains. Then
while trying to escape back to us, they were pursued and Gareth was captured as well,
leaving only Darek to bring us news. After Darek’s initial report, we believed that his
team-mates, Zekion Underhorn and Erland Gold-dagger, had been sent to the Everlasting
Kingdom.”
“But they haven’t, thank the OverLord!” interjects Brother Perethan again.
“No. Though the situation is grim for them if they do not receive intervention.” Sir Talin
unfolds his hands and unties a roll of loose parchments on the desk before him.
“Apparently, the others two members of the team were imprisoned and the Sacred Scrolls
burned or comfiscated by the enemy. This new information comes from Gareth. Before
you were able to rescue him, his captors took pleasure in taunting him with the probable
fate of his captured friends.”
Sir Talin shakes his head in sadness at the thought as he rises from his chair once
more and begins to unroll sheets of parchment from the bundle and push them across the
desk toward you.
“This is where you come in. We have narrowed the search for the missing
Lightraiders to an area known as the Heinous Heights region within the Western Peaks
shown on this map scroll here. We want the five of you to undertake a Raid to rescue our
missing Lightraiders and recover as many copies of the Sacred Scrolls as you can find.
We can only hope that there are some that have survived. It is essential that we regain the
scrolls before the enemy attempts to pervert them. Beware the deception of the enemy,
Lightraiders!”
There is a sudden clanking and scraping of metal as Sir Ailyn rises from his chair and addresses you. Though not as old as Sir Talin, the Knight's steel grey eyes show wisdom that bely his years and tell of many campaigns into the dark lands. Where Sir Talin's face is tempered with gentleness, the middle aged countenance of the armorer is the picture of stern control and unrelenting alertness.
“The region you are going to is under the direct rule of a Mature
Shadow Dragon. You all understand the danger this implies."
This is a statement, not a question, and the elder knight continues without pausing for an answer.
"Remember your training at the Academy and do not take lightly the
strength of the enemy. Keep your swords sharp and your breastplates tightly fastened in place! The days of testing are over for you. Now is the time to fulfill the calling for which you have been trained!”
Your heart sinks with the knight’s warning as you glance around at your friends.
Their faces match the nervousness you feel as you consider the possibility of actually
facing a dragon; wicked spirits in scaled flesh which rule the inhabitants of Talania by
deception and sorcerous power.
Noticing the exchanged looks of anxiety upon your faces, Brother Perethan is
quick to add a word of encouragement to you.
“Do not forget the matchless strength of the One you serve and remember
His promises. ‘Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.’ ‘Trust in the
Lord with all your strength and lean not to your own understanding.’ Keep your swords
sharp indeed, ‘For the word of God is living and active...’”
“Yes, do not fear,” Sir Talin concludes, “the power of the Overlord is not
diminished in the lands of shadow. It was His Spirit which moved us to choose your group for
this raid. After many hours of fasting and seeking his will on this matter, we were lead to
summon each of you. The only question which remains, is whether or not you will accept the
responsibility. We understand this is rather sudden but time is short for those who have
been imprisoned. We will give you some time to pray and meditate on this if you are
uncertain, but we encourage you to weigh your decision carefully. Much is at stake.”
