Defenders of Draulath

Chapter 1: The Man from The Mountains

Inside of Norlamin's home, a strong aroma of sizzling meat fills the air. Norlamin slowly opens his eyes which have a slight glaze over then after the excessive drinking that occurred the night prior. He groans and he slowly gets up out of his bed, he stumbles his way into his kitchen where he finds Eldak, preparing a delicious meal comprised of venison, beef, vegetable stew, warm bread and a delicious fruit basket.

"Ah, finally, good to see you're awake at last Norlamin. You have been asleep for quite a while, I was starting to worry." Eldak says with a slight smile on his face. "What time is it?" Norlamin grumbles while he sits down at a small wooden table where a plate set for him. "It's three o'clock in the evening sir, that is a new record for you." Norlamin is slightly alarmed by what he hears and he wipes his face to try and wake himself up just a little bit more. "Well then, Eldak, please remind me to never drink so much." Norlamin requests while taking a big gulp of water from a horn that Eldak poured. "I remind you every night sir, you just never listen." Eldak says and rolls his eyes "Now if you could please finish your meal, we have to make up for lost time." Eldak walks to the front door of the house grabbing his travel bag and a small list. "Make up for lost time? Where are we going? Do we have a quest?!" Norlamin says with a excitement in his voice and hope in his eyes. "No don't be ridiculous, we have errands to run. Cooking up such a big meal took quite the toll on your already low rations of food, we are going to run your errands my liege." Norlamin's slight joy goes away and he continues to eat his feast.

After Norlamin's meal, he and Eldak leave the house to walk through the town's market looking for items to purchase. The day has never felt longer to Norlamin, he trudges through the town behind Eldak who is quite eager to finally be out. "Do you think you will require more bread?" Eldak asks as they pass by a small bakery which has a strong scent of savory sweet breads and cake. Norlamin not listening to Eldak simply agrees "Huh? Uhhh.. yes." unaware of what he just agreed to. As they both walk towards the bakery, just before they open the door, an old man dressed in peasant garbs and rope runs into the heart of the town, he is terribley injured and he has several deep cuts on the back of his legs and one gash right along the left side of his face underneath his eye.

"PLEASE! PLEASE YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!" The man exclaimed to the townspeople "What is wrong?" A fellow town resident asked. "I was... I was walking through the mountains of Cekill when all of a sudden I was attacked by a horde of gargoyle's!" The town stands in silence for a few seconds, and then they all burst out into laughter because they cannot believe what they are hearing. "Good sir I'm sorry to disappoint, but the land of Draulath has not held gargoyle's in its midst for hundreds of years." The old man is persistent, he knew what he saw and he would not leave town until someone believed him. "But I saw them, there were so many, and they all had glowing red eyes, razor sharp claws, and wings larger than a giant! But what's worse than all of that is... I saw a demon, standing in front of me he lunged at me striking my legs causing me to fall to the floor." The man paused and took a deep breath, he could barley get the rest of his words out without breaking down into tears. "He kneeled down to the floor and whispered in my ear 'A dark force is coming, I am but the first of many' I'm not sure what that means but please... you must believe me."  The town laughs even harder because now it seems like the man is making things up.

The residents all dismiss what just occurred and go back to their daily routines. Eldak looks at Norlamin with slight confusion and says "What was that all about?" Norlamin glances at the man and thinks for a second "Let's go find out." Norlamin commands as he walks over towards the man. "I don't know if that's the best idea Norlamin!" Eldak yells, Norlamin ignores him and continues walking "What about your bread my liege! We still need the bread!"  Norlamin is too far gone to hear Eldak at this point anymore. Norlamin approaches the old man and slowly puts a hand on his shoulder in order to comfort him. "Sir, please if you could explain what all happened to me again." The old man looks at Norlamin with happiness filling his eyes "young man, you mean to tell me...you believe me?" Norlamin slightly chuckles "Although your story does seem quite odd, I have seen many strange things in my life so I believe a lot of things. Now what was this whole thing about a demon?" Norlamin and the old man walk side by side with Eldak behind both of them. "Well I'm not quite sure it was all so fast, I remember what I told the town and I remember his name" Norlamin takes real interest now "What was it?" Norlamin asks, the man replies "Xazumun" A cold chill runs down the old mans spine. "Please, do you think that you can help? I'm not sure what could happen but I believe that this could be the end of days... where the demons take over. You have to stop him!" Norlamin looks at Eldak with little assurance, Eldak is unsure of what to say, Norlamin looks back at the old man. "Very well, we shall help you. It would be our pleasure."
The old man becomes overwhelmed with glee "Oh thank you kind and noble gentlemen! Now I do not know much of Xazumun but I do know he resides on top of the mount Cekill, where I found him, he seemed to have conjured a fortress just before he banished me and threw me off the mountain."

"Very well, we shall go there posthaste!" Norlamin says arrogantly. The two heroes start off on the road to the mountains but are stopped by the old man with great force. "NO! You cannot face this foe just yet, he is too powerful for any normal man." Norlamin laughs and Eldak joins in "I am no normal man sir, I am a legend, known for facing enemies three times my size and more powerful than you can imagine." The old man scolds Norlamin for saying something so foolish "YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS CREATURES POWER! He can crumble this entire universe beneath our feet. Please you mustn't go alone, I know of a man who can aid you in your journey. He lives in a village not far from here, go speak with him and then you may continue on your quest." Norlamin is slightly agitated by this request, but since he has longed for an adventure for so long he complies and agrees to go find this man. "Very well, where does this man live?" Norlamin asks. "In the village of Shadowfen, you must go now to find him." The old man says.

"As you wish good sir, I'm sorry I don't believe I caught your name." Norlamin says with curiosity in his voice. The old man looks out and says "Mifrith... Mifrith Agraborne."