What are you thinking?  Of course you're going along with them!  This rebellion kidnaps children, for crying out loud!  There's no way they'd make good rulers.  You finger the note in your pocket, your resolve slowly growing.  Tomorrow, you get to leave this place forever.  With that thought in mind, sleep comes easy...


 

The next day, you begin the journey to the fortress, escorted by a few rebels, and Bolard himself.  It takes several days to get there, and you get to pass by Arrorn on the way, so that's fun.  (Though, you don't get to actually enter the village.  Too much risk of being recognized or something).  


Finally, you spot it, sitting on a hilltop just on the horizon.  The King's fortress.


"Alright," Bolard says, "I didn't have much to do last night, so I thought a lot about the plan.  We've got an informant inside the fortress who can let you in so you can carry out the mission.  Just do what we discussed and we'll be fine."  He thinks for a moment, then says,  "Also, I brought something in case the king doesn't fall so easy.  He's got this enchanted armor, and I'm not quite sure you'll be able to break through it. So, I procured a bottle of water."  He pulls a glass bottle out of his bag and hands it to you carefully.


"What's this for?"  You ask.


"What do you think?  It'll get through the cracks in his armor, and kill him!"


"It's water."


"Exactly!  Water kills people!"


"I don't follow."


"Didn't anyone ever tell you that water disintegrates people?  The skin soaks up too much and it just falls apart."


"That's not how it works for Humans," you say,  "We can touch water, no problem."


"Really?  Well, that sure makes things easier.  This way you can cross the moat, no problem!  I was wondering how we'd do that."


"Yeah... Okay."  You roll your eyes.  "Just give me the bottle.  I'll smash it over his head or something."


As you get closer to the fortress, you start to make out more detail.  It looks like it mainly consists of a bunch of towers, surrounded by a wooden wall.  By the time the sun sets, you're within a hundred yards of the walls. 


"Alright,"  Bolard says,  "Good luck monster!"  He gives you a shove towards the moat.  You jump right in and swim across, making it to the other side in less than a minute.  You head around the back of the castle, where you find door carved into the wall.  As you're contemplating how to get inside, it swings open and a female Oalkwardner beckons you inside.  


That's when you realize you'll have to kill her so she doesn't reveal that you're a traitor once you escape.  As soon as she shuts the door, you bash her over the head with your fist, taking her out instantly.  You feel a little guilty about it, because after all, she did let you in.  But then, the king is probably gonna execute all of the rebels anyway, right?


You're in a little alcove in the great hall, unseen by the group of people at the table, talking and laughing.  There's another door nearby, presumably to the courtyard.  You'll head out there in a moment, but first you've gotta figure out the best way to deal with the note...

You leave it stuck between the door and the wall on your way out

You slip out the door before anyone notices you, leaving the note behind.  Now, you're in the fortress courtyard.  Luckily, it's deserted, probably thanks to the banquet.  Even more lucky, you spy another exit door just across the courtyard.  You head straight for it and try to open it.  To your immense surprise, it swings right open.  Are they really this under prepared?  What if someone broke into the fortress through that?


You step outside the walls, and realize that there's no handle on the other side.  Closed, the door blends seamlessly with the wall, making it completely invisible.  How interesting, looks like they had an escape route planned in case of an attack.  So smart of them.


You cross the moat and hurry back into the forest, hoping against hope that Bolard doesn't see you.  Once you're a good hundred feet in, a voice from besides you nearly makes you jump out of your skin.


"Did you do it?"


You turn to see the masked Oalkwardner and a few others looking at you, waiting for an answer.


"Yeah," you say,  "It's done."


"Perfect!"  The Oalkwardner pulls off his mask, revealing his face.  "Now that I know I can trust you, I can take this stupid thing off.  I was just wearing it in case you betrayed us or something.  My name is Culmad, by the way.  Now what do you say we get the heck out of here?"


"Yeah,"  you say, "Why don't we?"


And you set off into the forest, together.  


When word gets out about what you did, you will be hailed as a hero, the savior of the kingdom.  But for now, perhaps you ought to just try your best to make a life for yourself in this place.  It seems like you've already got yourself a few friends to start your new life with.  Best of luck...