The Tale of Sir Winter I

## Overview

This is the Tale of Sir Winter, Champion of The Realm, Vanquisher of Apollyon, and Savior of Paryllyx. Listen, as I tell you the tale of his upbringing in the town of Sidonia, his love for Sharie Ashaler, and the day their world changed as Apollyon entered and changed it forever...

## Objectives:

1. Report to Captain Rollins.
2. Investigate the disturbance in the townlands.
3. Speak to Nathaniel Brooker and find out what happened.
4. Investigate the mysterious ruin.
5. Flee the ruin and return to Sidonia.
6. Speak to Captain Rollins at the door to the town hall.
7. Survive the fight with Apollyon.
8. Speak with Lord Ashaler.
9. Escape Sidonia through the secret passage.
10. Let the bard finish his tale.
11. Quest complete!

## Journal

1. In the Swamp Slime Tavern in Alderley, I encountered a Bard who began to tell The Tale of Sir Winter - but as the story was being told, I began to feel funny and before I knew what was happening I suddenly found myself living through the story as if I was there! I do not know where the bard went, but I sense that he is in control of this, watching me from beyond the pages of the story.
2. After meeting the protagonist of the story, Lord Winter, I reported to Captain Rollins who set Lord Winter and myself on a mission to investigate a disturbance in the townlands. This sounds like a routine patrol of the countryside, but I have a feeling if the story warranted enough attention for a bard to tell it then something is surely amiss...
3. While on our way to complete our assigned task, we encountered a young woman named Sharie Ashaler who wished us luck on our mission. I can tell that Lord Winter is quite smitten with her. Once she was gone, we continued out the main gates and onward towards the townlands beyond.
4. We found Nathaniel Brooker at his farm, which had been ravaged by an unknown force. He was scared to his core, but eventually pointed us in the direction of the disturbance. Whatever it was took his wife and his children... we must be cautious as we continue forward.
5. We encountered a strange being calling itself "Apollyon", who claimed to be from another plane and had somehow found a way into The Realm. It was clear after our short interaction that his intent was pure malice. We were forced to flee as dark forces began to pout from some sort of doorway behind it. We must warn Sidonia immediately and ready its defenses!
6. We returned to Sidonia to find it under siege. Lord Winter insisted we find Guard Captain Vance immediately and try to organize the defenses through the chaos enveloping the town.
7. We found Guard Captain Vance guarding the door to the town hall. We was badly wounded and, once he had let us in and closed the door, ordered us to head to the throne to protect Lord Ashaler. As we continued down the hallway, littered with the bodies of the guards who had died in their futile defense of their lord, we found him - mortally injured - and Sharie next to him. Apollyon was looming near the throne, observing as the we arrived.
8. Apollyon, reveling in the carnage he had wrought, attacked. Though we fought valiantly, he proved to be too much for either of us to handle. Then, once satisfied with the damage he had done, left the throne room - but not before promising the complete destruction of The Realm and all its inhabitants. I'm not sure if there's a force in The Realm that can hope to stop him...
9. After Apollyon had departed for reasons unknown, we rushed to Lord Ashaler's side who, with his dying breath, knighted Lord Winter and proclaimed him "Sir Winter". With his last breath he gave his final order; flee Sidonia with his daughter Sharie.
10. We escaped the throne room through a secret passage in another part of the building. As the passage continued on, it became suddenly bright and I realized that I was back in the Swamp Slime Tavern where the Forlorn Bard finished the story. I'm not entirely sure how it happened or how much of it was true... but I'll never forget what I witnessed here as long as I live.
11. The Bard thanked me for my patronage and confirmed that the story was completely true, though he would not indulge how I was able to see it as though I was actually there. He then told me that there were other bards that told the other parts of the story. I should keep an eye out the next time I find myself in a tavern and perhaps I will get to hear the next part... if I'm feeling brave.