choose your own adventure, episode 1

You are Ridmark Arban, eighteen years old and the youngest son of Leogrance Arban, Dux of Taliand. On the day of your eighteenth birthday, you took vows as a Knight of the Soulblade before the Well in the High King’s seat of Tarlion, and received the soulblade Heartwarden, which has been borne by seventeen Swordbearers before you.

As a new-sworn Swordbearer, the Master of your Order bestowed your first task. You are to travel to the seat of the Dux of the Northerland at Castra Marcaine and obey him in all things. For the Northerland is the northernmost march of the High King’s realm of Andomhaim, and in the wastes beyond the borders of Northerland wait tribes of pagan orcs, petty kingdoms of dark elves, holds of arrogant giants…and, perhaps, worse things yet.

But while you have just entered the Northerland, you are still a week’s ride away from Castra Marcaine. Currently you are riding on the narrow road that marks the border between the Northerland and Khaluusk, a small orcish kingdom that accepted both the High King and baptism after the defeat of the dread Frostborn. The thick forest crowds around you, and utter silence reigns over the trees.

Until you hear the shouting.

Through the trees you hear what sounds like a man frantically pleading his case, while several other men try to shout him down.

The first man sounds is speaking Latin…but the others, you think, are speaking orcish.

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