Defense of Home

Defense of Home is the 5th chapter in the First Human Book.

## Background

After either assisting Gardon Bloodclaw in retaking Derryn Outpost or retreating, Salana Woodhunter opted to return to the capitol to send her report to Queen Renova.

## Opening

Salana and her escorts arrived, when an archer smelled something suspicious.

## Quest

### Main Quest:

* Return to the Capitol
* Salana must survive

Description: Salana has set foot upon the Elven Kingdom. She now has to reach the Elven Council to tell them of the unsuccessful diplomatic mission.

* Destroy Larantos's base (Yellow).

Description: Lord Larantos and his followers have betrayed the Queen and the Kingdom of the Elves and even invited Demons into the forests. They plan to kill the Queen and seize power over the Elven Kingdom. The Kingdom of the Elves and the forest must be purged of this plague.

### Side Quest:

* Eliminate the Forest Troll Warmaster.

Description: The population of Forest Trolls has increased dramatically, and they're becoming more and more aggressive. If Salana killed their leader, there would be nothing to worry about.

* Defeat Lera's Hunters (Green).

Description: Salana's former apprentice, Lera the Huntress works for Larantos and his Demon masters. It's unknown if she is doing this because she shares his opinions, or if she was enslaved by the Demons. It doesn't matter, she and her troops guard the way to Larantos and must be completely wiped out.

* Send the Emissary to call for reinforcements.

Description: Salana can use some help against the traitors. Both the Elven Council and the Imperials have the time for help nor they know enough about the situation to be willing to send help. However, a little message from Salana could change this...

## The Battle

Salana arrived at the outskirts of the capital with her guard. They followed the road. At the crossroad, however, a Demon patrol was spotted, Salana's thoughts they drove all demons back from their kingdom proven wrong. They fought and eliminated them. Then they did a detour, destroying a Troll village, getting a Tome. They then return to the path, fighting Demons, Spiders, Trolls and Ogres, getting an Ogre Magi with the Rune of Rebirth and securing a Gold Mine. They rested and healed then faced the Troll Warmaster and his men. They have a choice of fighting them or entering the base. Either way, the Warmaster was a strong enemy, but Salana took care of him and got a Tome for the effort. The offensive approach that many trolls began taking in the elven forests weeks ago was thus stopped.

After the Council's shocking outcome, she had to send an Emissary towards anybody who can assist her fighting the traitor Larantos and Lera the Huntress. She can send message to either the Council or Gardon Bloodclaw who was finishing his mission nearby. After sending the Emissary away, paying his transport fee, she prepared a defense to ward off the attacks. Then the help arrived. Gardon and the Ironfist took over the abandoned Human base nearby. She built forces to fight Larantos and his Demon masters. First, an Orange base with Demonic Pit Lords guarding them was on their path. Despite help from her ally, she suffered heavy losses. Nevertheless, she defeated them, then built a forward base on the ruins. She then had the option of either destroying or ignoring Lera's Hunter's base.

Finally, she built a strong defense so that they may ward off any attempt of attack and focus on Larantos. His base was on a mountain, with a strong offensive force. After both she and her ally amassed a large force, they launched an attack, which destroyed all Demon Gates and the traitor's production structure, defeating and killing him to end the battle.

### True Story

The gameplay is still the same, but with a little adjustments.

Now with 3 Ironfist elites named Sir Ferdal, Lieutenant Tormin and Captain Herdon, Salana moved towards the castle. Unlike in the original, the Troll Warlord will not appear early on.

After the meeting and the aftermath of it, she prepared her forces alongside the 3 Elites. Now, the Elites can be respawned on the Altar. Now, the Troll Warlord appeared at the end of the road. Killing him will allow Ironfist to supply weapons for the Elves, and empowered one of the Elites.

Instead of sending Envoys, you have to fight alone. The supposedly neutral Elves have taken Larantos's side after they refused to assist Salana. After crushing them, another Elite got powered up.

Also, Captain Herdon found out that there were a hidden but powerful spell, requiring only enough funds to enable it. After the funds was achieved, Salana started the spell, but Herdon tweaked it a little. The forest fought against Larantos and his allies.

## Aftermath

Salana defeated Larantos. She took his place in the Council, as the Queen (via hologram), says that she got the Emperor's approval.

She, later on represented the Elves in the War Council.

## Cutscene

Salana joined the Imperial War Council. The council was headed by Gardon, with several heroes, save for Genethas, Lerrig, and Blen and talking what they plan to achieve in the fight against the Demons. Then, he met up some of the closest allies, and revealing that there is a traitor in the midst.

## Outcome

Should you choose to help Gardon Bloodclaw, you will get Elites. And in Second Human Book, she will be placed as Queen of the Elves when Queen Renova was taken out. And Gardon was available in the Emissary choice, with Ironfist taking over a Human outpost nearby.

Should you retreat, Gardon will not help her. She openly opposed him and remained loyal to Renova. She dies after the coup, Larine the Exile became Queen, her corpse will be retrieved by Rahandir Drakeskull.

Should you defeat Lera, she will defect and the Red Guard faction under her will join the Golden Guard defectors and Ironfist and her teacher Salana against Lady Riana and Captain Pureheart's detachment.

Should you not defeat her and chose to retreat during Derryn Outpost attack, Lera will not defect and remained loyal to the end.

## True Story

The mission was revamped. The changes are:

* The Ironfist Elites were now named: they are Captain Herdon, Lieutenant Tormin and Sir Fedal. They can be respawned at the Altar should they die (if they arrive at the base). They improve their passives once they finished a side quest.
* The Troll Warmaster was on the crossroads. But the Warmaster did not appear, before Salana arrives at the base. Killing the Warmaster will open up the road for giving the Elves better equipment from the Ironfist.
* There are no Emissary choices. You will fight on your own.
* The Pink Human base nearby is replaced by an Elven detachment that deserted their post. Salana and the Elites decided to destroy that base.
* You have to pay off the required amount, just to activate an Elven magic that enabled to activate the ancient magical forest denizens, with a little tweak from Captain Herdon. That would also enable Salana to train Ironleaves, the Ironfist version of Forest Denizens.
* The Elves under Larantos and the Demons had different colors. Larantos is both Yellow and Peanut. Lera's Hunters is Orange. Deserters are Pink.
* Salana's brutality upon the losers was revealed. She ordered all those who side with Larantos beheaded, and heads displayed as warning and giving the task to the Ironfist, while the Ironfist elites requested the bodies as condition.
* The deserters supposed to be neutral, but when Salana approached them, they revealed their true allegiance, which they believed Larantos was right about Salana.
* The Forest Denizens summoned by the spell was friendly. They can be supported into attacking by their fellow Ironleaves.