You’ve left the encampment of the Soldiers of Derrien with Mykel, the warrior who wields two axes, leading the way forward. Seven soldiers travel with you and Mykel, one of which being very important to him. Standing directly beside Mykel is the man who he was consoling earlier, his brother, Raylond. While Mykel is very well built, with thick, muscular arms, Raylond is considerably lanky with a slender torso and extremities. He carries a round shield on his back and a sword instead of the dual axes. Mykel appears confident as he leads the you and the soldiers while his brother appears less so. He doesn’t walk or stand with a sense of purpose, slouching forward instead of choosing to stand tall and proud.

As you’re moving along the trail, keeping your eyes forward while journeying toward the small city of Fierrak. While Werz, the port city to the East where the armies of Loccaris are marauding toward, is a bustling port city and the seat of coastal commerce on the continent, Fierrak was less regal. Fierrak was located to the west and, like the city of Sunshire, sat on the large Sariak River that led to the coast and Werz. However, just west of Fierrak, the Sariak Riiver forks north and west, with the western path leading to the large metropolis of Teardret. Fierrak is revered as the gateway to Teardret and the center of the continent, even though the city is not very immaculate or grandiose. Fierrak is surrounded by woods with the only bare spot coming from where the river flows to its south.

The path leading to Fierrak from north of Sunshire is filled with dense woods. You’re walking along a well worn path with thick brush on both sides of you. With Mykel leading the group and the soldiers with him scattered throughout your group, you march forward with a sense of dread about you. You took an arrow to your torso earlier and you’re still walking, by the grace of the Gods and the powers of a Shard. Though tender when you rub it, you’re amazed at how well you have healed, but you wonder if it can happen again.

“Stop,” says Mykel as he holds out his hand, motioning for everyone to stop moving. In the distance, you hear a light cackling followed by the rustling of a dense thicket. Mykel looks down at the ground, pointing his ear toward where he thinks the noise is coming from. The cackling continues, prompting Mykel to perk up and look over to his brother. He points at you while keeping his eyes trained on Raylond. “Take them along the river in case we flush something out,” Mykel instructs quietly. Raylond looks up at his brother with wide eyes and nods.

Raylond Joins the Party (NPCs act similar to enemies. Consult the rules for more information: Rules and Systems)

Raylond turns and looks at you before motioning toward the river to your left with his head. Mykel and the remaining soldiers turn and head through the thicket, leaving you with his younger brother to head to the river. Raylond inhales slowly before closing his eyes and trying to calm himself. “We’re going to be ok, I think,” he utters before motioning for you to follow him. You turn and walk down a small path as the sounds of the flowing river are getting louder. After moving a few feet, you see the river but find a startling sight. On the muddy bank, you see two bodies of Fierrak soldiers. Their faces are bloodied and their torsos are mangled. You examine them closer, seeing that their weapons are broken and their armor is shattered and into several pieces. However, on one of the soldiers, you see a small, glowing shard placed in a locket inside the armor. You lean down and pick it up, feeling the knowledge of the Gods coursing through your veins.

Obtain one of the following: Shard of Restoration, Shard of Focus, Shard of Sight, Shard of Valor, Shard of Energy, Shard of Cunning, Shard of Iron Will, Shard of Illusions, Shard of Deception, Shard of Blunt Fists, Shard of the Devout, Shard of the Harvest, Shard of Executions, Shard of the Arcane Guardian

You stand up and look down the river, seeing a path along the bank where you can walk unimpeded. As you look down the path though, you hear a soft cackling in the distance, the same that you heard when you were standing with Mykel. Raylond stands still, looking forward down the path while hearing the cackling. Appearing timid, he breathes slowly and steps forward. “Come on,” he says slowly, motioning for you to follow him down the river toward the noise.

You march forward with Raylond along the river, continuing to hear the subtle and soft cackling. You step on the brush beside the river as the large body of flowing water acts as a barrier, protecting your flank and allowing you to keep your eyes forward and to the side. Raylond leads the path, keeping his round shield on his arm as he walks along the bank. He remains somewhat timid, but continues to put on a brave face while squinting his eyes to try and see through the brush ahead. You try and remain quiet so that you can continue to hear the light cackling. As you make the next step forward, you can hear the sounds coming from in front of you. You crouch down slightly, preparing to see what’s cackling. As you look ahead, the cackling can be heard from behind you. You turn to see a small creature with sharp teeth standing on two legs. A green liquid is protruding from his lips as he stares at you with demonic eyes. The cackling continues on the other side, where you were looking originally, and two of the same creatures appear there. Surrounded, the three creatures attack.

Commence Battle with Lesser Imp x 3

The three imps fade away into dust after being defeated. Raylond holds his sword out and looks back at you with fear in his eyes. “That wasn’t of this world,” he mutters as he stares at you. You look forward down the path, seeing what appears to be a humanoid woman standing in the distance with her arms crossed. She appears to be wearing dark clothes that are tightly fitting and you believe you see a whip on her side. As you gaze down the path, she turns around and walks away from you, fading into the air with each step. Raylond looks down and shakes his head as she disappears. “This isn’t good at all.”

You walk ahead as Raylond stands still, afraid of what was going to be in front of you. “Wait,” he says abruptly. He looks down and rubs his foot against the soft ground. “We may want to go and get Mykel and the others before rushing off after some disappearing vixen.” He looks at you while you pause and contemplate what he was saying. As you’re contemplating, the scream of a large male can be heard at the other end of the trail, where the woman disappeared before your eyes. Without hesitation, you take off down the path with Raylond in tow. Your feet slam into the soft ground by the river bank as you sprint toward the loud scream.

You run into a large clearing with trees surrounding the circular area. In the center, Mykel, with both of his axes drawn, stands with the soldiers he brought with him standing around him their weapons drawn. “Thank the Gods,” shouts Mykel as he looks over his shoulder at the soldiers who are preparing to strike him down. At Mykel’s feet, one of the soldiers has already met the end of his axe. As you enter the area, three of the soldiers turn around to face you. Their eyes are glowing purple as they stare intently at you. “They’re enchanted by that foul creature!” screams Mykel as he grips his axes and turns to face the other three remaining soldiers. “They won’t respond to reason! You will have to put them down!”

You reach for your weapons and look into the lost eyes of the soldiers. Raylond grabs his sword and prepares himself. “I’m sorry,” he mutters while gripping the sword.

Commence Battle with Fallen Soldier x 3

The three soldiers drop to your feet and a purple glow leaves their eyes. You stand over their bodies while turning up to look at Mykel, who has been stunned by a purple mist that his surrounded him. He drops to his knees while the three remaining soldiers turn to attack you.

Commence Battle with Fallen Soldier x 3

The three remaining soldiers fall quickly and Raylond runs toward his brother. Mykel is down on one knee with a purple mist around him. His eyes begin to glow purple as Raylond wraps his arms around his brother. Mykel’s body begins to convulse as his hands drop to the ground. While now on all fours, Mykel starts cough loudly as Raylond releases the embrace on his brother. “Snap out of it,” Raylond states while patting his brother on the back. “Come on, You’re stronger than this!”

“No…” says Mykel in between the coughs. “You have to run. You have to run now. She’s almost here.”

“Who?” asks Raylond as he tries to comfort his brother. “That woman who disappears?”

Mykel continues to convulse as you stand back, looking at the entire field. To the far right, you turn and see a shadowy figure emerge from the woods, walking out with her arms crossed, just as you saw her earlier. Now that she is close though, you can see the pale pigment in her skin, along with the sharp definitions in her face. Her hair is blonde and bound behind her head and to her side, you can confirm that there is a whip.  She smirks at you while Mykel is still on the ground. She raises her hand, showing off her very well manicured fingers and snaps them, creating a loud crack. Mykel looks up, his eyes glowing a bright purple. “Mykel, shake it off,” says Raylond before Mykel stands up and tosses his brother to the side.

Mykel stands tall and turns toward you. He leans down and reaches for his axes, picking them up off of the ground and gripping them by their handles. “This is where your adventure ends,” he states while stepping forward toward you. The woman, still standing with her arms crossed, smirks as Mykel lurches toward you.

Raylond gets up off the ground and stumbles toward you with his brother raising his axes to strike. Mykel, clearly deranged and under the influence, swings his axe wildly at your head. Raylond dives forward with his shield out, blocking the downward swinging axe before you can draw your weapons. “You’re stronger than she is, brother!” shouts Raylond as Mykel’s axe embeds itself in the wooden shield. Raylond kicks Mykel in the stomach to push him backwards, giving you the opportunity to subdue him.

Commence Battle with Possessed Soldier

Raylond runs up and slams his wooden shield into Mykel’s face. Mykel’s face goes blank as he falls to the ground. The purple from his eyes disappears as he falls unconscious. Mykel is on his back with Raylond standing over his body, looking down at his older brother while you turn to see the woman still standing in the same spot you left her. Her arms are still crossed and the smirk is still on her face. “Perhaps Mirras underestimated the inhabitants of this realm,” she said while uncrossing her arms and placing her hands on her hips. “No matter. You won’t live to see another sunrise.” She reached into a small pouch on her side and pulled out a handful of fine, purple sand. With a soft flick of her wrist, she tossed the sand into the air. She waved her hand in front of her face and sent the sand across the area, turning it into a fine purple mist that finds its way to your nostrils. You breathe it in, smelling a sweet lavender before your eyes go blank and your body goes limp. You fall to the ground, unconscious.

All Players Gain 200 Shard Experience

Scenario Complete. Visit the Store? 

This Story Continues in Chapter 4: The General of Loccaris