text: [Themes: fantasy, war, fantasy, serious, drama]
  
  The messenger, a tall dwarf of about five feet, stumbles into King Hrongeir II's Throne Room, clasping tightly a piece of rolled up parchment in his left hand. There are three arrows, one in his stomach, one in his forearm, and one in his thigh. He does not seem to mind, and gives the parchment to your King.
  
  The Throne Room is the size of a large house in itself. It has dark brick walls, with fancy red curtains and banners depicting dragons, as are the symbol of Thragnazil. The Bladefury Throne is at the center of the room, on a large raised platform. There are entrances leading into the room from all directions. Ten heavily-armored guards protect this room alone. There is a fancy red carpet covering the floor.
  
  Standing beside him, you, the Royal General of Thragnazil, do not attempt to read the letter, as the penalty for that could be death. You instead wait until he finishes reading and ask if all is well.
  
  He shakes his head solemnly, resting his head on his hand like he always does when he is upset.
  
  "This is a letter from Lord Eofrain Northblade of Throfakin," Hrongeir sighs. "Throfakin was besieged by a powerful army, dressed in twisted black armor. Korling believes they were Witheron Knights, but that would be absurd. That would suggest... The end."
  
  You nod, worrying greatly about the situation. If there is a powerful army on the loose, especially if they are Witheron Knights, than you will have trouble dealing with them. Hrongeir will definitely want to defend his kingdom.
  
  You look to the messenger to ask for more information, but he see that he lays dead on the floor, the blood from his wounds pouring out onto the luxurious carpet of the room. The King hands you the letter.
  
  [Author's Note: The ancient dwarf stronghold of Thragnazil has existed as long as the race has lived on Bordevar. It has never been conquered, and the same line has ruled for all of the thousands of years it has existed. But a powerful force seeks to take over all of Bordevar, and Thragnazil is their target. Play as the Royal General of Thragnazil, and lead the army to victory and salvation.]
  
  > The Letter
  To King Hrongeir II,
  
  The situation in your city of Throfakin grows worse and worse as the days go by. I have been trapped in the walls for a week now, and have lost hundreds of men trying to drive the enemy back. If they haven't attacked your city yet, then consider this a warning. I beg of you, do not try to send aid to Throfakin. You need as many men as you can muster to protect the capital, and Throfakin is doomed anyways. It has been a pleasure serving you, my lord, but I fear that I will serve you for not much longer.
  
  With respects, Eofrain Northblade, Lord of Throfakin.
  
  > Continue
  You set the bloodstained note down and look back to the messenger. You wonder how he managed to get past the army at the gates, but you will probably never know.
  
  "What shall I do?" Hrongeir asks in despair. "Throfakin is a large city. Should I take his advice and let it fall? Or should I try to protect my kingdom?"
  
  You take a moment to think it over, then decide...
  
  > send a large force to help the city
  "We should send a large force to try to save Throfakin," you suggest. "This army is surely not as big as Eofrain claims. The rest of the army should be able to sufficiently protect Thragnazil while save the strategic city of Throfakin."
  
  "Good idea," agrees Hrongar. "Eofrain is too good of a man to abandon in his time of need, despite what he claims to want."
  
  The next day, you have readied a force of five-hundred dwarves, all with identical steel armor, great-shields, and war hammers, to march to Throfakin and attack the evil army therein. Your squire, Jorpangr, rides with you on a mammoth, holding a post with both the banner of Thragnazil and a banner bearing your coat-of-arms, a helmet that looks like yours.
  
  You march uneventfully for the whole day, stopping to rest at the village of Monon. The roads continues south and also branches west, to the direction of Throfakin. The inns at Monon are filled, and many soldiers sleep in tents and on the ground outside. Some even ask to stay in villagers' houses. You look in distaste as a soldier gets in an argument with a villager who will not allow them inside. He raises his war hammer threateningly, but the man still does not move. The soldier whacks the villager into the doorway, then steps over the likely-dead body and into the house.
  
  > go to the soldier and make an example of him
  You will not stand for soldiers terrorizing villagers, so you quickly walk to the house, your sword in hand. You see that the villager is dead, and all his ribs are broken. The soldier is in the man's bed, and gasps when he sees you. You point to the door angrily, and he walks in that direction.
  
  Out in the street, you tell Jorpangr to blow the Horn of Generals, bringing all of the soldiers outside. You have the cruel soldier whipped in front of the army to show what happens to those who are cruel to their kin. After he is whipped sufficiently, you turn him over to the village watch captain and tell him that he is in their custody. The commander of the watch thanks you and commands the town watch to march with you to Throfakin. The commander's deputy, Angroth, is in charge of the twelve men assigned to go with you. Angroth rides with you and Jorpangr on the mammoth the next day as you get closer to Throfakin.
  
  > Continue
  The next morning, you reach the smoking city of Throfakin. The walls are destroyed, and the small district on the surface seems deserted. As you get closer, you see that the entrance to the underground districts is open, and there are many dead soldiers laying about. You also notice piles of ash, and wonder if they are the remains of Witheron Knights.
  
  You search the city twice-over and find no sign of life. Eofrain is lying dead in his bedchamber, with his greatsword and many ash piles around him. You and Jorpangr bow your heads to honor him, and order the men to bury the dead.
  
  Early the next day, you wonder if the enemy would strike Thragnazil or Thoragrinn next, and ponder about what you should do.
  
  > hurry back to Thragnazil
  "We must return to Thragnazil immediately!" you tell Jorpangr, realizing that they might attack there while you are gone. Although you thought that Eofrain was exaggerating the size of the army earlier, you now realize that he may have been telling the truth. You have Jorpangr blow the Horn of Generals and set off towards your home at a fast pace.
  
  > Continue
  You march into the night and reach Thragnazil early the next morning. You are relieved to see that the city is fine. There are several mammoths outside the gate, with archers and spear-throwers on top. Thragnazil is readying for war, and it will not fall without a fight.
  
  As you enter the gates, you tell Jorpangr to organize the men for battle. You seek out the king.
  
  You find him in his bedchamber, drunk and with two barrels of expensive mead in the corner. He sees you and holds up his large tankard (large enough to empty a barrel in eight refills). He empties it without stopping, then tosses it to you.
  
  "More," he mutters. "I must drink it all or they will win!"
  
  You sigh, realizing that the King is in no position to lead the army to battle.
  
  "My lord, may you put me in charge for the course of the war, so that you will not be forced to make tough decisions?' you ask.
  
  "Ehh?" Hronheir grunts. "Sure, just get me another drink and leave me alone."
  
  Suddenly, a soldier runs into the King's Bedchamber.
  
  "My lord!" he yells. "The enemy is approaching!"
  
  "The general's in charge now," groans Hrongeir. "Now get out o' 'ere!"
  
  You get out on top of the wall, with Jorpangr by your side. The army is vast, larger than you ever imagined. A soldier throws a small object at the wall. It lands with amazing accuracy at your feet.
  
  It is a head.
  
  You recognize it, it is Groron, Lord of Thoragrinn! So they destroyed Thoragrinn, too.
  
  A strange, extremely deep instrument sounds and the black horde marches in unison towards the gates. The mammoths there charge, tossing enemies about.
  
  > go to battle in the gates
  You run down the stairs and through the gates. The dwarves and mammoths are holding most of the Witheron Knights back, but a few have managed to get through and are charging you! They have large battle-axes, far to large for a mortal to wield. Nearly twice as tall as them (and they aren't dwarves, like you), they look very deadly. From ten feet away, one of them swings. You barely manage to get out of the way, and the axe gets stuck in the wall.
  
  Seeing your oppurtunity, you rush forward and shove your sword into the Witheron Knight's chest. Your sword suddenly gets extremely hot and you are forced to drop it. As you watch, the knight turns to ash - but so does your sword! The other two knights swing their axes.
  
  > run back
  You rush backward, but their axes are longer than the distance you are able to run in that time. One cuts your throat open and the other gashes your forehead. You fall to the ground, dead. The forces of Withros overtake Thragnazil and the King is slain.