A Dish Best Served Cold

A Dish Best Served Cold is a quest in Second Orc Book.

## Background

Rath Wolfscar, obsessed with hunting and killing Blen Greymoore, Imperial Army general, and Kasrkin/Grey Guard leader, not satisfied with killing Selior Cleavehand, he cut through the Human Kingdom of Kerrel with the slain Imperial general's head to taunt Blen. And alongside Darkmind Clan, wreaked havoc on the Kingdom of Kerrel in their vengeful quest on the person who destroyed their clan. Along with Ironthunder Clan who they assisted during their attack on a Royal Army, and Redfist held village, assisting them.

## Opening

Commander Sejaz briefed Blen that the Orcs are going to attack them. Blen declared that only one of them will be dead after this battle. Aedale assisted him with her Aedale's Servants, Demons under her, but Blen told her to guard the gates, as he feared betrayal from the Demons. Harmos chastised the Orcs for being simple-minded primitives. He regretted not destroying them when he has the chance, then asked both Aedale and Harmos to leave once their bases are destroyed and he will deal with the problem himself.

Rath Wolfscar made a speech in front of his men, that after the battle, they have avenged their clan's destruction by killing Blen. After that speech, Lokar the Crusher asks him that is it worth it, losing many men, just for one general. Rath says that Rangul was probably dead, the invasion is lost, and the only way to avenge them is to take out Blen. He also rebuffed Lokar, then commanded him to guard their rear. He agreed hesitatingly, but he must repay the Darkmind of what they did to them. He goes away, then Argath gave the signal for the Darkmind to attack.

### True Story

Several Golden Guard Captains and led by Sir Gregorius the Stalwart guards the area where Blen was.

## Quest

### Main Quest:

* Kill General Blen Greymoore.
* Kill Rath Wolfscar (choice).

Description:

(True Story)

* Destroy the Golden Guard forces.

Description:

* Reach Blen's prison cell.
* Defeat Zoia Blackwolf.
* Rath must survive.

Description:

#### Cutscene:

Lord Brian the Fallen stopped the vision when you charge in the area where Blen is, he knew the outcome two hours ago, revealing that he knew the outcome of the story as he tells his student that the student saw the Darkmind butcher all allies and men of Blen, and also saw the determination and capability of Blen's soldiers. Then asked his student who wins that fight, Blen or Rath, at least one of them will die. But is there a winner between them, as Lokar knew the betrayal Rath has made on them and already left the position, leaving the rear vulnerable.

Then a choice was shown. Should you chose Blen, you control Blen Greymoore, controlling the survivors alongside Aedale and Harmos and countering the Orc threat, and killed Rath in a duel. Should you chose Rath, the battle continues until Blen dies.

In the True Story, after they defeated the Golden Guard forces, Rath commanded Inara to assist Ironthunder Clan chief Lokar the Crusher to hold the line against the Wolf Regiment forces under Zoia Blackwolf, while he and Argath entered the cells where Blen was held.

## The Battle

The battle between the Darkmind vanguard and Kasrkin, is bloody, but the Darkmind, with superior forces, prevailed. Then, with the force he got, he held the line, until he get his defensive position finished, then continue on pushing.

Then, with his forces, he fought against the Aedale's Servants and built up a base on the ruins. Then, he rebuilt his force, then attack the path, towards Order of the Flame next. Then, despite casualties, Rath eliminated the Order too, along with Kasrkin forces on guard.

Then, after further rebuilding, they faced separate Kasrkin, but instead of attacking the base, they follow the path to where Blen Greymoore is.

After watching the cutscene, should you choose Rath, they continue pushing on, and Rath dueled and killed Blen.

Should you choose Blen, he commands his force to rebuild and order a counterattack. He pushed on, despite casualties, up to where Rath is. He battled and killed Rath. Then commanded his forces to chase the Ironthunder Clan.

### True Story

In the True Story, however, things were different. In there, the Golden Guard replaced Blen's, Aedale's, and Lord Harmos's respective forces. Many Golden Guard Captains were in task of defending the castle, while waiting for any reinforcements to come and they plan a pincer to destroy the Darkmind and Ironthunder Clans once and for all.

Rath and Inara prepared their forces and proper defense on the base to ward off any Imperial attacks. They pushed on the castle, destroying both the Golden Guard forces and the resurgent Wolf Regiment forces led by Commander Darkfang.

A couple of back and forth battles and refurbishment ends in them destroying the last Golden Guard base and killing Sir Gregorius the Stalwart. Rath then commands Inara to regroup with Lokar the Crusher and hold off any Wolf Regiment forces attacking in the area.

Both Rath and Zoia arrived in the path towards the prison cells, both Rath and Zoia wanted Blen dead, but cannot stand themselves, they made a deal whoever arrives to the cell, can kill Blen. A race towards the cell happens, both the Darkmind and Wolves killed the Golden Guard jailors and ended up in the crossroads. A fight between the two happens, and whoever wins, arrove in Blen's cell.

## Aftermath

Depending on your choice, endings happen differently.

Should you chose Rath, he celebrated his completed vengeance against Blen, but an explosion and flames cover Blen's castle, killing him, while Lokar looks on, blaming the Darkmind chief that he wasted his men for his vengeance.

Should you chose Blen, he commands the survivors to pursue the Ironthunder Clan.

In the True Story, the endings differ. After crushing the Golden Guard guarding the prison, Rath and a handful of his force race against Zoia and her handful of followers to reach Blen's cell. After the duel, whoever wins, puts Blen out of his misery.

If Zoia wins, she kills Blen while Aedale was too late in saving him.

If Rath wins, he kills Blen. After pondering his next step, he was killed by Aedale and Zoia arrived. Zoia revealed to Aedale why did she wants vengeance upon Blen, which was because of her sister being fooled by him. Then, Zoia offered Aedale to join her to Salria, but she declined, not before she was done in her personal quest.

The ending was also different. Inara informed Lokar the Crusher about Rath's plans. The Ironthunder knew it all along, and regrouped all those remains to follow his plans to reorganize and rendezvous with Rangul.

## Note

Should you spare Xxingraal the Great Brood Mother, Spiders will come attack the castle, but they are not allied with the Darkmind. If you killed the spider, no spider attacks.

Should you chose Rath, Blen will not reappear on Amari and Gardon's deal. Should you chose Blen, he reappears in Lord Brian the Fallen's cavern, guarding and witnessing King Gardon Bloodclaw and Amari sign the non-aggression pact between Zyainor and Tribal Dominion. Later on, Kasrkin assisted Tribal Dominion against Golden Guard/Hammerfall/Followers of the Holy Bastion.

## True Story

* Darkmind Clan's Wallcrushers and Darkmind Avengers are removed.
* Blen's Kasrkin, Aedale's Servants and Harmos' Order of the Flame in the fortress are replaced by the Golden Guard, with 4 Golden Guard Captains and its Commander, Sir Gregorius the Stalwart.
* Leadership Boni mechanics for Rath and Inara are added.
* Fanarts for Rath appear during his appearance.
* Spiders' reinforcements are updated to be Inara's own instead.
* Wolf Regiments' forces under Commander Darkfang, which is hostile to both Darkmind Clan and Golden Guard, appear after a certain amount of time.
* There's the choice between Rath and Zoia Blackwolf, the victor getting the chance to kill Blen first. The former will still die, while the latter survives.
* Part of Second Human Book's Death of a Legend cinematic is added here, but was centered on giving the coup de grace to Blen, who was nearly dead nonetheless.
* Blen, Harmos, and Aedale was replaced by Sir Gregorius the Stalwart, and Captains Osra, Karnor, Eldona and Ralke.
* Blen was tortured by the Royal Army, as opposed by the Golden Guard themselves.
* A race to the finish replaced the cutscene, and ended in a battle between Rath and Zoia and their respective forces.
* On the Blen's scene two different scenarios were spawned:
	+ Should Zoia Blackwolf wins, she would confront the mortally wounded Blen. She just gives the Imperial general the coup de grace after a lengthy talk. Aedale arrives too late. She confronted Zoia about it, but she was just finished giving the fatal blow, as he was already dying nonetheless, fulfilling her vengeance.
	+ Should Rath wins, he would confront the Imperial general that was the target of his obsession and vengeance, near death. Blen just asked the Orc to finish the job. He did, and pondered about his worth now that his vengeance was now done. Aedale struck him, killing him. She tried in vain to revive Blen. Zoia appears, and Aedale confronted her. She just regrets the fact that Rath beat her to Blen.
	+ Zoia then offered Aedale to come with her towards Salria, where they were tasked to deal with the Orc problem. Aedale respectfully declined, rather she goes finish her personal agenda, which was to finish off Duke Redfist, then they meet again to do whatever she wants. And before she offered Aedale, she told her about what REALLY Zoia wanted and why did she do want vengeance against Blen.
* Zoia's reason for Blen's downfall and death was revealed: It was because her younger sister was played upon by Blen. He played her sibling's heart. Zoia wanted vengeance for that.
* The ending was quite tweaked: it is Inara telling Lokar about Rath's plan. But the latter knew it all along. He plans to reorganize the remnants of the Darkmind and his forces to rendezvous with Rangul.