The Quest

Invasion From the North

The snow fell heavily around the sentries. They stood on top of the wall looking into the darkness beyond them. Past the wall they guarded was the frozen wastes of the Lavender Mountains. The wall they stood upon was the northern most wall of the kingdom of Sahala. Many of the sentries were asleep or playing cards because no one in their right mind would attack this position of the wall around Sahala. If retreat was needed the fleeing army would need to climb the frozen peaks , all the while being shot at by the defenders arrows.
The cold nights silence was broken by an explosion at the very center of the wall. Soldiers ran towards the sound only to stop in thier tracks at the what they saw. Climbing over the walls were rotting corpses of soldiers, those who had died fighting the Sahalan Civil War over 10 years ago. Thier flesh was rotten and in some places completely gone. Many had chunks of ice growing from thier gaping wounds, providing some kind of armor. After the initial shock the soldiers ran forward to engage the enemy. The fighting continued but was frozen by a scream that froze the men more than the cold night. They looked over the wall at an army of demons. All were grotesque, like a child had picked thier body parts and just randomly placed them on. Some were able to fly up and over the wall others started climbing. The soldiers started to fall back.
Two towers down the Captain in charge of this section of the wall looked out the window. He could see the carnage before him and the men getting slaughtered. Behind the demons and undead was a bearded man floating on a black cloud. He wore the robes of a wizard but they were a deep purple color, the color of a warlock. The Captain turned to the royal courier beside him and said, "You must run to the palace and tell them that Zhen Su has returned." As he finished an arrow flew through the window and pierced his neck.
The courier ran for the door but before he could get out the tower was destroyed throwing him away from where the tower once stood. He laid in the snow for a second but started running the well-worn path used by all couriers. An arrow flew from the battle line and struck him in the back. He stumbled but continued running down away from the mountains. He made it to a small village a few miles away from the castle.

Millers was a small village a few miles from the castle of Sahala. It had a small general store, a few windmills and outside of town, a blacksmith. The blacksmith was a master of his craft and nobles came for miles to have swords made by him. With his failing health he needed to pass his mastery down and that is where Timothy came in. The blacksmith was a good friend of Timothy's late father and after his death the blacksmith took him in. Timothy had been an apprentice for five years now and did most of the orders because of his masters health. He would wake up early to get the forges up to temperature. He was the first to see the courier. Timothy brought him in and the courier started to tell his long story. He told of the attack on the northern wall and his hurried adventure back to the castle. Timothy after hearing this ran into town to get the doctor. With the doctors help the courier was in stable condition.
"I want to deliver his message." Timothy said.
"Don't be ridiculous," said the old doctor "we have our own runners that can carry the message."
"Look I have a delivery to make to the castle anyway so two birds with one stone."
The doctor shook his head "It isn't up to me but your master." Timothy shook his head. His master was like a father to him and he knew the master thought of him as his son, there was no way he would let Timothy go. Especially with the recent increased monster activity. He would make the excuse of the runner could make the delivery for him. Timothy would have to sneak out.

This wasn't the first time Timothy had snuck out, but usually it was something harmless like to see a meteor shower or to go for a walk in the forest after being cooped up in the forges all day. He took the sword to be delivered and the note the courier had given him and locked the door behind him. On the door he left a note for his master telling him where he had went. He sighed at the thought of the earful he would get when he got back. Timothy started walking on the path that led to the castle. With the speed and time he left he should arrive at the castle by surise. As long as nothing attacked him along the way. The path itself passed through a forest where a band of goblin thieves were hold up a d they liked to harass travellers. But they tended to stay away if you had a torch with you or a weapon, so Timothy would be fine. He started his walk into the forest.