It is the final days of summer in Timiro. The valley known as the Northern Gate is suffocatingly humid. Lord Devanaht Lithandor sits at his desk writing his parting orders to his town council. He reads the scroll again, “The Rune Gauntlet of Glorfidel is the only remaining piece of the full plate rune armor worn by Emperor Glorfidel XVII who perished in the seven-hundredth year of the Elf/Dwarf War over fifteen thousand years ago. The Gauntlet symbolizes elven unity and its wearer is destined to reunite the elven peoples.” He slowly rolls up the scroll and contemplates the final message, “its wearer is destined to reunite the elven peoples.”
Devin meets with his fellow Lords of the Northern Gate. First is Krimp a wolfen of the Eastern Arm tribe who has been chosen to be a righteous champion by Kym-nark-mar, the ancient Dragon-god long believed to be dead. Nibell is a dark and mysterious human woman of Timiro that seems to be running from her past but her pair of handheld repeating crossbows makes her a formidable opponent for anyone that asks too many questions. Father Wronski is a kobold from the Algor mountain range who is a High Priest of Kormath, the Dragon-god of peace and law. Nestor is a wolfen of the January Magic tribe who revels in combat and dedicates his extraordinary intellect to the art of war. Also, at the meeting is Captain Soveliss, the elven ranger that is deeply devoted to Emperor Devin and his cause, Malachi the kobold mercenary that has become more of a friend to the Lords then their hired-hand, and Nib-nib, Lord Nestor’s psychopathic goblin that poses as a sophisticated assassin.
Devin tells them of his visit from three elven knights from Elohorn, a predominately elven city-state in the Eastern Territory. These knights told Devin if he can find and claim the Rune Gauntlet of Glorfidel that Elohorn would officially recognize his sovereignty as the emperor of the new elven empire and support him politically and militarily. He implores his fellow Lords of the Northern Gate to aid him in this quest.
After some deliberation it is agreed that Krimp, Nibell, Wronski and Malachi will travel to the dwarven city of Acoroc and obtain much needed equipment and arms. Devin, Soveliss, Nestor, and Nib-nib will travel to the port town, Providence, on the Inland sea where they will await the others on a ship named Calligraphy. The party leaves Gate Manor within days of one another.
It has been seven weeks since Devin, Soveliss, Nestor, and Nib-nib set out from Gate Manor. It is early Autumn and they have reached the Old Kingdom Prairie. Devin and Soveliss ride hearty horses of Timiro while Nib-nib, the three foot tall goblin, rides upon the back of his master Lord Nestor, the over eight foot tall wolfen. They are now in the midst of what was once the breadbasket of the Elven Empire thousands of years ago. Now the Old Kingdom Prairie is a lonesome place that gives way to a plethora of nomadic tribes of human barbarians, orcs, and ogres. Every now and again, they see the ruins of an elven castle or pyramid on the southern horizon. Despite the temptation of exploration, they continue their trek west towards Providence.
One evening, the two elves are on watch, Devin turns to Soveliss and tells him, “The Gauntlet of Glorfidel is the last hope of the elven people. If something happens to me on this quest you must continue. Retrieve the gauntlet and return it to the Northern Gate. Swear this to me.” Soveliss silently nods. Devin raises his troubled brow to stare at the stars alleviated.
Weeks pass since that night under the stars. Unbeknownst to Devin, Soveliss, Nestor, and Nib-nib they are skirting the boarder between the Old Kingdom and the Eastern Territory. In a lightly forested hallow, a company of thirty elven warriors on horse back approach from the northeast. These elves carry the banner of Elohorn and hail the group with warm salutations. Once the elves have closed in on the party they inform Devin he is under arrest and is to come with them to Elohorn. Devin does not understand why he is being arrested. He fears attacking these elves will destroy any chance he has of uniting the elven people. He makes a diplomatic decision to go peacefully and hopes that he can negotiate his release with the king of Elohorn.
He is fitted with anti-magic shackles, preventing him from calling on the elements for aid. Soveliss, Nestor, and Nib-nib stand almost paralyzed with indecision. When Devin is secured on a horse, the elven lieutenant addresses his sergeant nonchalantly and loud enough for all to hear, “Our Lord is only interested in the imposture emperor, slay the others.” At this Nestor relinquishes his self-control and gives into his primal fight or flight instincts. Three elven warriors fall as Nestor wades into their ranks with his massive axes. Nib-nib rains his arsenal of small but deadly shards of sharpened metal down on the elven warriors atop Nestor’s broad shoulders. Soveliss fires three arrows into the elves as they charge Nestor.
Devin cries out over the chaos “Remember your oath! Complete your mission! Remember your oath! Complete your mission!” the elven lieutenant renders Devin unconscious with a powerful blow from the pommel of his sword to the back of Devin’s head. As Soveliss sees this he remembers what has been asked of him and he fades back into the foliage to evade capture.
Nestor begins to fall back as the elves threaten to overwhelm him. He spits elven blood from he’s crimson soaked mussel as he roars, “I will come for you, Devin! They will pay for this transgression! The elves of Elohorn will learn to fear my wrath before I rip the throat out of their traitorous king! I swear! They will all pay!” He turns and bounds away on all fours, as Nib-nib showers their would-be pursuers with his shuriken.
Nestor’s dramatic retreat is enough of a distraction for Soveliss to properly hide himself and watch the Elohorn elves depart with his beloved emperor. Soveliss waits two days before moving from his hiding spot incase any of the elven soldiers were left behind to find him. Soveliss begins tracking Nestor in hopes of joining up with him again, advising him of Devin’s order, and continuing to Providence. After four days of tracking, Nestor’s trail turns cold and Soveliss knows that he is alone.
Soveliss is unsure if he can make it to Providence alone and if he could what if the Elohorn elves ambush Krimp, Nibell, Wronski and Malachi too. He decides his best course of action is to turn back down the same route they came; the others should only be a month behind him. He can meet with them and steer them clear of the Elohorn elves.
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