It is in the thirtieth hour of your air voyage that the Skyrider’s eagle-eyed lookout catches his first glimpse of Vadera. Word spreads quickly and a hubbub of excitement grips the dwarven crew as the flying ship draws ever closer to the fortified walls and turrets of the great northern Lencian port.
Skilfully Bo’sun Nolrim lands the Skyrider on the paved courtyard in front of the Vadera Citadel, which has been cleared of crowds in expectation of your arrival. Awaiting you is a party of stern-faced Vadera officials who, with a minimum of fuss, escort you and Banedon directly to the court of King Sarnac.
‘We are honoured to welcome you once again to our city, Grand Master,’ says the silver-haired King. ‘My only regret is the reason for your visit. I’d have hoped our meeting would have been in less ominous circumstances.’
Formally you acknowledge the King’s greeting; then you turn to face the elderly man who is standing beside the King’s throne. You recognized him as soon as you entered the King’s chamber—he is Lord Ardan, an Elder Magi from Dessi, one of Lord Rimoah’s countrymen.
‘Well met, my Lord,’ you say, and Ardan returns your greeting with a smile. Sadly, his smile soon fades when he says: ‘No doubt your able companion, Guildmaster Banedon, has told you of the rise of evil in Ixia.
Dire news indeed, Grand Master, for it threatens our very existence, most especially the existence of our Lencian friends. If the Deathlord’s power is allowed to grow unchecked, Lencia will be the first Freeland state to suffer his wrath.’
‘I pledge to do all in my power to prevent such an outcome, my lord,’ you reply earnestly.
‘We have every faith in you, Lone Wolf,’ says King Sarnac, ‘and we shall help you accomplish your mission in whatever way we can.’ He signals to one of his silver-armoured bodyguards and the soldier leaves the chamber. He returns shortly in the company of another man, clad in the court uniform of a Guard Captain.
(Yes I served at Cetza)
You recognize the officer at once—it is your friend and former guide, Captain Prarg.
‘We meet again, Captain,’ you say, as you shake his hand gladly in friendship.
‘Aye, Grand Master. It is an honour to serve you once more.’
(Ah no. Prarg is like the one guide who hasn’t died….)
King Sarnac dismisses his guardsmen before ushering you, Banedon, Lord Ardan, and Captain Prarg, into an adjoining antechamber. An oaken table commands the centre of this opulent room, upon which is spread a detailed map of northwestern Magnamund.
‘In response to Lord Ardan’s request, I have made provision for your journey to Ixia, Grand Master,’ says the King, as the five of you gather around the map table. ‘As we speak, a man-o’-war is standing by in Vadera harbour, awaiting my order to set sail. Captain Prarg will accompany you during the first part of your sea voyage to our outpost, which is here on Azgad Island.’ King Sarnac points to the map, indicating a remote island near to the Gulf of Konkor.
‘The garrison on Azgad Island is commanded by Captain Lanza. Word has been sent of your coming, and Lanza has a crew and an ice-boat ready to place at your disposal. They will transport you across the stormy Tozaz Sea and land you on the southern coast of Ixia. From there you must make your way on foot to the city of Xaagon, where you will find the Deathlord and his accursed weapon—the Deathstaff.’
You study the map and, with growing dismay, you appreciate the difficult voyage which lies ahead. ‘Very well, sire,’ you reply. ‘I understand how I am to reach Ixia in order to find and defeat the Deathlord, but can you tell me how I am to return once my mission has been accomplished?’
Having heard your question, King Sarnac turns to Ardan and says: ‘My lord, perhaps you could say something to allay Grand Master Lone Wolf’s fears?’
‘Certainly, sire,’ replies Lord Ardan, turning to address you.
‘My lord, as Guildmaster Banedon may already have told you, the coast of Ixia is a hellish place. The ice-boat will be able to anchor in this region for seven days at most. If you do not return within this time, it will be forced to go back to Azgad Island. But do not let this cause you undue concern, my lord. At present there is a great imbalance between the forces of Good and Evil in our world, yet upon the instant that you defeat the Deathlord and destroy his staff of power, this balance will surely be resumed. I, like my kinsman Lord Rimoah, will know the moment that the balance has been righted. If your quest takes longer than one week to accomplish, the ice-boat will be sent out once more to collect you from Xaagon.’
With your briefing now concluded, King Sarnac ushers you all into his court chamber. There you bid him, Lord Ardan, and Guildmaster Banedon farewell, and they in turn wish you good luck and godspeed before Captain Prarg escorts you to the harbour. It is snowing heavily, and few of Vadera’s inhabitants notice as the two of you are welcomed aboard the Maycastle, the square-rigged man-o’-war which will carry you to Azgad Island.
You leave Vadera within the hour and begin the long, cold voyage northwards. During the voyage, Captain Prarg tells you about the raids which have destroyed several small Drakkarim settlements along the Gulf of Konkor and the coast of the Shakoz Bight. On the twelfth day of your two-week sea journey, you catch a glimpse of one such settlement, near to the mouth of the River Lenag. All that remains is a wispy pall of smoke which hangs above the burnt-out hovels, darkening an already stormy sky.