A Missive from Aldalonde

[Voronwe Eldalom]

While gazing at a board full of missives at the center of a Thestran town, your eye is caught by a strange blackened parchment, partially obscured by the many other postings that clutter the space. Digging it out, you find the black page covered in a fine silver script, which reads:

The tides of chaos pull strong in this land, and the world is in much pain. The board in front of you is covered with evidence of this. Just look at the written pleas of help from the townsfolk; the promises of security and support from the legions of guild houses; the spatters of blood upon the papers from those who were cut down ruthlessly right where you now stand – all of these are signs of the time we now live in: a time of great unbalance.

Our world is threatened both from without and from within. Even as the corruption of undeath creeps across the land, indiscriminately claiming more life with each passing day, still do your fellow citizens turn their blades upon each other’s backs in the constant squabbling full of petty and selfish interests. Death seeks dominance over life in this world, chaos seeks dominance over order, and both are well on their way towards victory. The Balance is broken, and it can only be restored through the blood and shattered bones of its enemies.

To those pained by the truths of this land, we offer sanctuary and hope. To those inspired to fight for what’s right, we offer a weapon and a path. The road we walk is a difficult one, but it is the only one we know. If you wish to walk it with us, simply put down this page and follow the way towards Aldalonde.

We are Nature’s Sword, the People’s Shield

Putting down the black parchment, your eye is then caught by a small stack of black stones you did not notice before, lying just on the edge of town. After moving closer to investigate, you can see a small shape carved into the largest stone on the bottom: a shield with two crossed swords. Looking up, you notice another stack of stones off in the distance, leading away from the town and away from the road - and you know that this is the path to Aldalonde.