You stand atop the castle walls with your back to your home, the Kingdom of Tarth. You gaze through the battlements into the valley before you. A great mass of shining armor inches closer through it, bobbing up and down as it marches. Whoever they are, their forces are vast.
"My liege!" a familiar voice calls out behind you. You hear the clang of a suit of armor approaching.
You turn to see your loyal lieutenant and advisor, Karthan, jog up to you.
After regaining his breath, he says, "There are so many. What do we do?"
[[Do we know who they are or what they want?]]"No, sir," Karthan replies. "We haven't seen armor like theirs before. They must be from the uncharted northern realm. I took the liberty of dispatching a few scouts and a diplomatic envoy to investigate and greet them, good men all, and none have returned. I believe we can say with certainty that they are hostile and unwilling to negotiate."
[[What is the status of our siege defenses? Could we hold them long enough to contact an ally for aid?]]
"At our best, I doubt we'd last a full day," Karthan says. He looks down, his voice quivering. "The size of their army likely doubles ours, even if we were to enlist volunteers…"
[[Do not lose hope. We will stand our ground and fight for our home! If we fall, we fall as warriors for the honor of Tarth! Rally any who can fight at the front gate, I will join you shortly.]]
[[We cannot risk defeat. If our army falls, our women and children will be slaughtered or worse. We must attempt to flee to one of our allies in the south. Assist me in gathering everyone by the rear gate. Tell them to bring only what is necessary.]]
A short while later, your forces are assembled. You stand before them, Karthan by your side. The grand front gate of Castle Tarth towers over you and your men.
"We have 200 trained soldiers, and a surprising number of volunteers, around 150. We have equipped them as best as possible, though some are reduced to simple pitchforks and the like. Even so, with our estimation of the enemy forces at around 400, I say we have a real chance," Karthan says.
[[Open the gate! We meet them in the valley and defeat them on equal terms. Let all witness the might of Tarth!]]
[[Take up defensive positions! Archers to the battlements, swordsmen in formation behind the gate! We play to our advantage and hold the gate until it falls to pieces!]]
You stand in front of Tarth's rear gate. Your people stand before you, anxious to distance themselves from the approaching enemy.
"Sir," Karthan says, approaching you. He whispers so only you can hear. "If we simply flee, they will surely catch up to our stragglers. Even with assistance, the women, children, elderly, and sick cannot be expected to outpace a trained combat force forever. I overheard a few young men in our ranks worrying about their families. One even said he would stay behind and give his life to buy them more time and a greater chance at survival. I can't say I disagree... So, Sir, I am formally asking for your permission to lead a small team of volunteers to disrupt the enemy in an effort to ensure that you and the rest of our people can escape."
[[If that is truly your wish, how could I deny it? You are a hero, Karthan. I will personally ensure you are remembered as such.]]
[[No, Karthan. That would be suicide. Our people will need you long into the future. We can make it if we depart at once.]]You take one last look at the enemy army, now at least a quarter way through the valley, before climbing down from the castle walls. As you walk through the street, you're careful to take in the sights of Tarth, knowing that it may well be your last opportunity to do so. You marvel once more at the grand statues of Tarth's legendary warriors and leaders, many of whom were your ancestors. You look upon the homes of your people, quaint yet comfortable. Their inhabitants, once brimming with joy and life, now wear expressions of fear, panic, or eerie nothingness.
It has taken your people centuries to forge their place in the world. These unknown assailants won't take it away. For your people, you must prevail. As you near the northern gate, you assist Karthan in readying your forces.
[[Soldiers, any able-bodied men capable of swinging a blade, this way! To the front gate! We must defend our home!]]The gate slowly swings open. You see the enemy force, now more than halfway through the valley. Their march towards your kingdom is unyielding. You begin your march towards them.
"Forward!" Karthan shouts as he follows you, your army close behind.
Your blade meets the first of the enemy forces, cleaving down two in one blow. Karthan takes an enemy on your right and the rest of your men join the clash moments later.
Unfortunately, things quickly go awry. The enemy combatants are fierce and fight with a style you've never seen before, using strange weapons like claws and whips. Your soldiers, no matter how skilled or determined, are unable to defend themselves. They fall one by one.
[[Karthan?!]]Again, you stand atop the castle walls, this time beside a legion of your best archers. Karthan remained with the swordsmen waiting behind the gate. The enemy army marches through the valley towards Tarth and has entered firing range.
Your archers unload volley after volley, felling an impressive number of the enemy before they even reach the gate.
Once they do reach the gate and exhaust themselves forcing it open, your best warriors and a slew of volunteer fighters greet them. Some archers continue firing into the battle below, others pour vats of boiling oil onto the assailants.
[[The fools underestimated Tarth! Finish them!]]"As you wish, sir," Karthan replies, frowning. "We must depart immediately."
Your people begin their march. You, Karthan, and many of your best soldiers take up the rear. You keep an impressive pace, all things considered, but it's still not enough. The enemy forces have easily passed through the undefended Tarth in pursuit of your people. After only a few hours, they're already hot on your heels.
[[We must try to delay them somehow...]]
You descend from atop the castle walls in a hurry, informing those you pass of the imminent evacuation. As you run through the streets of Tarth, knocking on doors and ushering your citizens towards the southern gate, you don’t have much time to take in the sights of your kingdom. Perhaps it’s for the best, as Tarth will soon be overtaken. There’s no telling what the unknown assailants have in mind for your beloved home…
No matter. After all, Tarth is more than a name and a place on a map. The kingdom lives on as long as its people do.
[[Everyone! Gather what precious little you can carry and assemble by the rear gate! Assist the elderly and injured! This is a full-scale evacuation; we must seek aid from our allies in the south!]]"Thank you, sir," Karthan says, a fiery determination lighting his eyes. "You mustn't allow our sacrifice to be in vain."
You embrace Karthan, then he sets off towards the front gate. A handful of brave men follow him. Somehow you know you'll never see him again. The rest is up to you.
The rear gate opens, and your people begin their long march south.
After a few hours of marching at a steady pace, a deafening explosion roars behind you. Karthan must have detonated the boiling oil in a last-ditch effort to destroy the front gate and slow the enemy. It might just buy you the time you need to complete your journey.
[[Keep pace! We're nearly there, nearly safe!]]
You search the battlefield for Karthan, scanning the countless bodies that litter the ground and hoping none of them are his.
Finally, you spot him, but a moment too late. An axe, swung by a giant man adorned in shining, horned armor, cleaves into Karthan's chest. His body joins the masses on the ground, and the enemy begins towards you.
Blinded by rage and your ego, you charge the man. When you reach him, he swiftly disarms you and cuts you down. This is the end of the kingdom Tarth.
END
[[Start]]What's left of the enemy forces slowly advance into the kingdom where Karthan and your brave soldiers meet them. You decend from the battlements to join the clash on the ground.
Beside Karthan, your combined attack is relentless. With well-placed arrows still raining down from above and your men fighting valiently to defend their home, you leave no invaders left standing.
Tarth survives another day.
END
[[Start]]After days of marching at a steady pace and taking only the briefest respites, your people are exhausted. Fortunately, the allied kingdom of Newdonia is in view.
When you arrive they welcome your people with open arms as refugees. You have lost your home, but the people of Tarth live on. Perhaps, with assistance from your allies, your kingdom can be reclaimed someday.
END
[[Start]]Karthan takes a group of soldiers back toward the enemy to buy you and your people more time, but they don't last long. Eventually, the enemy catches up to you. You manage to hold off a handful of the enemy soldiers as your people flee, but they can't get far enough. Once you and the rest of your army fall, your people are left stranded and defenseless.
END
[[Start]]