You have done well. And yet it seems your task has hardly begun. Dark clouds gather at the Empire’s borders…
The Emperor rode with his army towards Black Fire Pass, that perilous mountain route linking the Empire and the Borderlands. No such army has ever been raised in living memory. They drew up their battle lines on the grassy plains at the foot of the mountain road and waited. ‘Ere nightfall, the sky darkened and a great wind arose. Spine-chilling shrieks and howls echoed from the mountain tops, terrifying the horses and filling man and elf alike with fear.
Then came the first assault. Pouring down the mountainside as though it was a gentle slope rather than an almost vertical cliff, the hordes of Zargon fell upon the Empire’s Defenders. Like a black wave they came; but the line held and it seemed we should win the day.
But I had not reckoned with Zargon’s magic. He stood high on a ridge overlooking the battlefield and unleashed his terrible magic. Lighting flashed form his fingertips and exploded among the defenders. Our lines were breached in a dozen places at once and the enemy howled in delight.
The came the Doomguard—Zargon’s elite force of Chaos Knights. Our army broke and ran. Only the Emperor’s personal guard held their ground and many sacrificed themselves to ensure his safe retreat.
The remnants of the Emperor’s army are now holed up in Karak Varn—the ancient dwarven stronghold. They do not have provisions for a long siege, however, so we must act swiftly if we are to save the Emperor and his army.
Yet there is another evil to be confronted. The Witch Lord Lives. He too had magic I had not foreseen and was protected from the Spirit Blade. He was sorely wounded, however, and fled to his ancient retreat in the Black Mountains. But soon he will have recovered enough to lead the Legion of the Damned once more.
Prepare for future quests, my friends. The Empire has great need of you. I myself cannot act against these dangers, for I must move against Zargon and strive to weaken his power. Until we meet again, take care my friends. Farewell…
