Blood and Iron

You wake in a cold damp cell upon a bed of rotting straw. A lantern bathes the tunnel beyond in a flickering orange glow, casting just enough light to see by. The dull, gloomy atmosphere is brought to life by two guards, sitting at a table gambling and drinking a dark viscous fluid from clay cups. You are suffering from amnesia and your thoughts are cloudy. The first stages of hypothermia are showing, and your stomach pangs in hunger. [[Walk to the cell bars]] [[Stuff your tattered clothes with straw]]

The glint of a gold coin catches your attention as one of the two guards rolls it across his fingers. The card game comes to an ubrupt end as the thinner of the two guards slams down a winning hand and snatches the coin from his partner's grasp. "Oi!" The burly man stands in anger and annoyance. "I won." Replies the thin one, "To the victor go the spoils." "You might prefer a knife between your ribs Garek." "Come now Hoss, don't be a poor loser." Hoss settles back into his seat with a harrumph as thin Garek stands and says, "Imma go feed the dogs." [[Talk to Hoss]]

A scant defence against the endless bone-deep chill, and unbearably itchy. But better than freezing to death in a dungeon. [[Search the cell]]

You find nothing but small pebbles, an empty bucket, and cockroaches skittering across the stone floor. [[Pick up a handful of pebbles]]

You wonder if they might be useful and drop them into your one unripped pocket. [[Walk to the front of your cell]]

You clear your throat and wet your parched lips before speaking. [[Ask why you're here]] [[Ask for food or water]] [[Tell Hoss you know a gambler's tricks]]

The pebbles hit Hoss and he freezes in his chair, then looks up slowly, glaring at you with murder in his bloodshot eyes. [[Ask what you're doing here]] [[Request food or water]] [[Reveal Garek's cheating]]

Hoss stands and walks to your cell. Then before you realise he's moving, a knife is pressed against your neck, his other hand holding the back of your head, stopping you from twisting away. "I'll cut out your tongue thief. So Shut. Up." [[Ask for food or water]] [[Tell Hoss you know a gambler's tricks]]

Hoss looks up "You fokin' what!?" "You don't need it where you're going prisoner." He finishes, resting his head against the tunnel wall. [[Tell Hoss you know a gambler's tricks]]

"Your friend is a cheat." You say around a mouth full of cotton. Hoss turns his head your way, "What?" "Check your friend's sleave." "Now why in the Gatekeeper's name would I do that?" "He swapped a losing card for a Purple Knight hidden in his shirt." Hoss narrowed his eyes in suspicion and distrust, not all of which is aimed at you. [[Garek reappears]]

A small spark flies from where you struck the pebble against the old steel bolt rusted with age. You strike it again and sparks fly off to hit the obsidian black fluid your captor's had been drinking, which ignited in an inferno of sudden heat, slowly condensing into a steady bright burn. Hoss was outraged at Garek's betrayal, and descended upon Garek in a flurry of blows, before wrapping his massive hands around his neck and squeezing. The hounds barked and growled, baring slavering canines while keeping distance from the fire burning next to the fight. Before the world went dark for Garek, he lifted his leg and pulled a shank from inside his boot, then rammed it into Hoss' side. Hoss doubled over, the wound bleeding black blood. [[Throw a pebble at the hounds]]

The hounds lose their fear of the fire when the pebble hits, the stench of burning Drake's Breath and oozing blood awakening their hunger. Hoss falls, several cell keys clattering to the floor within arm's reach of your prison. Garek is pounced upon by one of the two dogs which aims a bite at his jugular. [[Reach for the keys]]

You snap up the keys from outside your cell. [[Unlock cell]] [[Fashion makeshift torch using straw]]

The cell door swings outward before you, the fire has died down now, and the hounds sound a deafening howl before running toward you. You try to reach for the door to close it but you're not fast enough, a hound latches onto your forearm and you scream in pain. The other hound leaps up and bears you to the ground with it's weight then gorges into your neck. The world dissappears in blinding white hot agony. [[Awakening]]

After a moment the straw catches, and a dull flame burns. [[Exit the cell]]

Brandishing your makeshift torch proves to be an effective deterrent to the hounds. But the flames won't last forever. [[Take shank]] [[Follow the tunnel leading left]] [[Follow the tunnel leading right]]

A you reach out to take the fallen weapon the hounds raise their heads and growl, baring their fangs covered in human blood. [[Back away]]

You reach a staircase leading downward into darkness. [[Follow staircase]]

You reach a staircase which leads upward, presumably to freedom. As you reach the top you are exhausted, your body pangs in hunger and you nearly collapse. The smell and taste of cooking meat wafts toward you from somewhere ahead. The promise of food spurs you into action. [[Follow the scent]]

Your foot catches on the uneven ground and you fall backwards, hitting the stone hard and dropping your torch which rolls away. The dogs run for you but you manage to roll toward the torch and wave it before you, halting the hounds in their pursuit. You're exhausted and standing is an effort, with upmost trepidation you continue on. [[Follow the tunnel leading left]] [[Follow the tunnel leading right]]

After what feels like an eternity the steps end and a room opens before you. There is another room to your left, and a barely human sized crack in the wall ahead, the sound of trickling water coming from the gap. Suddenly the howls and cries of dogs echo down the hall, they must have finished with their feasting and wandered in pursuit of more challenging prey. Fear spurs you into action. [[Run into the second room]] [[Run and squeeze through the gap in the wall]]

Entering the room you quickly realise it to be a dead end. The hounds are gaining ground fast, it would take too long to leave and escape for the broken wall, your only option is to make a stand. Looking around you see there is a a wrought iron brazier in the centre of the room prepared for lighting. [[Light the brazier]]

The hounds bound down the last of the steps and into the room as you slip through the broken wall. Your feet splash in a gentle stream, one of the dogs hears your splashing and leaps at the crack. It's caught in the tight squeeze, but it won't be long before they manage to get through. [[Follow stream]]

As you press the straw torch against the brazier the flames wink out before the kindling could light and smoke fills your nostrils making you cough. Your only chance of defence, fire, has fled. In the suffocating blidness, and baying of viscious hounds you collapse in fear, your body paralysed, surrendering to death's swift approach. [[Awakening]]

You slip on the slick stone streambed as you reach a subterranean slope, the water suddenly rushes faster and faster as you slide uncontrollably down the slope in the pitch darkness. Any second you could hit your head against a low hanging rock. [[Keep your hands and arms up to protect your head]]

Your shivering violently and shards of rock cut at your skin making you cry out in pain. Before long you see a faint light, it grows and grows as you slide. Then suddenly you're falling into ice cold water. The immersion startles you. Breaking the surface of the water the sudden brilliant sunlight and glinting snow is all but blinding. [[Swim to shore]]

You stumble into a large oval shaped antechamber. In the centre is a long table laden with cooked meat, steeming vegetables, and fresh fruit. The feast before you looks almost too good to be real. At the other side of the chamber is a wooden door with a coat rack beside it. Light shines through the gap beneath along with small flakes of drifting snow. To the right of the oval an iron ladder leads upward, you realise the ceiling high above, this room obviously being the base of a tall watchtower. [[Gorge on the food]] [[Run for the door]] [[Climb ladder]]

Your body trembles in anticipation. You grab a large leg of ham along with mashed potato which you stuff unceremoniously into your mouth. At this moment the door swings open and a gust of cold air blows through. A score of tough looking men walk in, surprised at finding you eating their dinner. You stare wide eyed at their soiled armour and lethal looking swords. [[Run for the ladder]] [[Run back down the passage whence you came]] [[Put your hands up in surrender]]

You reach the door. [[Put on fur coat]] [[Run straight outside]]

The iron is cold in your grasp as you climb up the ladder, using the last of your dwindling strength to carry yourself to the top. Standing at the top landing, a mountainous region stretches out before you. A blanket of snow covers the rock strewn landscape. Looking over the edge a large camp of rough looking men and women move around a dozen campfires, sharpening swords and fletching arrows. Your captors, best avoided. A dark lake sits a hundred feet below you, a river running from one end, down a ravine. On the horizon you notice the river runs toward green hills, your escape. [[Climb down ladder]] [[Jump from tower aiming for the lake]]

The coat is heavy, you realise it's lined with hardened clay to create light armour which will protect you from bowshots and glancing sword strikes. [[Open door and walk outside]] [[Slowly open door & peak outside]]

You emerge into the epicentre of a sprawling camp, crawling with hard looking men layered in dirty armour, polishing swords and fletching arrows around a dozen campfires. A score of men had been walking toward the watchtower, presumably for their dinner, they notice you and recognise the ragged appearance of one of their prisoners. A bowman knocks arrow to string. [[Run back inside the tower]]

You are back inside the dinner chamber. [[Run for the door]] [[Gorge on the food]]

You step up upon the parapet, the wind threatens to knock you over, you take a deep breath, your heart beating frantically, adrenaline surging in exhultation as you bend you legs and leap forward into thin air. Cold wind whips upward as you fall, you hit the lake with your arms wrapped across your body. The impact jarring as cold water engulfs your body and senses, in the sudden overwhelming immersion. [[Swim to the shoreline]]

You climb up, the wrought iron rungs cold in your grip. The bandits laugh at your plight as one slowly knocks arrow to bow, aims, and looses. The arrow takes you in the spine killing you instantly. [[Awakening]]

You reach the cell room, the near-run back down the staircase excising you of all strength. Then the low growl of hounds sounds from deep within the shadows beside you. Your torch flickers and dies. The hounds attack, and you collapse in fear and weakness as your eaten alive in a flurry of blind ravaging. [[Awakening]]

You kneel on the floor beg for your life as the bandits recover from their surprise and walk around the table to sit down and feast. One, with a thick red beard, and startling blue eyes stands before you and helps you to your feet. He leads you outside toward a treeline, then turns and in one swift motion unsheathes a dagger and cuts your throat. You grasp at your throat as blood spurts in a fountain staining the brilliant white snow crimson. [[Awakening]]

You take off your coat and throw it over the edge aiming for the boulders edging the lake's shoreline, the wind whips it about and by pure luck it thankfully lands on the rocks below. You step up upon the parapet, the wind threatens to knock you over, you take a deep breath, your heart beating frantically, adrenaline surging in exhultation as you bend you legs and leap forward into thin air. Cold wind whips upward as you fall, you hit the lake with your arms wrapped across your body. The impact jarring as cold water engulfs your body and senses, in the sudden overwheliming immersion. You swim to shore and collect your coat. [[Walk with the river]]

[[Run for the ladder]] [[Run back down the passage whence you came]] [[Put your hands up in surrender]]

You stay low avoiding sight of the camp, making it into the forest where the cold abates to a near tolerable level. You take berries from a nearby tree which stave off your hunger, at least to keep you going for a little longer. You remove all your clothing holding it in one hand then running. Before long your skin is dry, and your flesh is steaming. You survive for hours like this, finally stumbling upon a convoy of travelling caravans. A fire is burning and stew is being prepared. You walk toward the friendly looking travellers, they're surprised by this half naked newcomer. When you ask for aid an elder leads you into a lovely hot tent, where you're provided with clothes and sustenance. You fall into a deep dreamless sleep. [[Awake]]

You stay hidden low in the river's shallow ravine. The relief of escaping the bandits is short lived as the conditions worsen, with no coat or fire for warmth you quickly succumb to hypothermia. Collapsing in the snow to freeze to death. [[Awakening]]

Before you've taken a dozen steps an arrow shaft pierces your chest, rupturing your heart. A sentry appears from a hidden position overlooking your direction. The light fades as you drift into oblivion. [[Awakening]]

You swim to shore and gasp for several moments before looking around. A mountainous region stretches out before you. A teeline is nearby which would offer respite from the freezing wind. A river runs from the lake into which you have fallen, heading parallel to the woods. Trails of smoke rise to your left, peaking over a boulder you see a camp of dangerous looking men and women, all armed with blades and sporting thick steel armour. Your captors no doubt. The smell of cooking meat entices you toward their campfires as your stomach pangs in near-debilitating hunger. [[Make for the woods]] [[Follow the river]] [[Head toward the camp and hope you're not recognised as a prisoner]]

You break the surface of the water and swim to the shore opposite the camp. Climbing out and hiding on the far side of the boulder lined shore you follow the river leading off from the lake. The relief of escaping the prison is short lived as the conditions worsen, with no coat or fire for warmth you quickly succumb to hypothermia. Collapsing in the snow to freeze to death. [[Awakening]]

You take off your wet clothes and run, the exhiliration of freedom lending you strength. Before long your flesh is steaming if not cold. You wrap yourself in the coat, warming you instantly. The conditions are forgiving and you walk for hours, finally stumbling upon a convoy of travelling caravans. A fire is burning and stew is being prepared. You walk toward the friendly looking travellers, they're surprised by this half naked newcomer. When you ask for aid an elder leads you into a lovely hot tent, where your provided with clothes and sustenance. You fall into a deep dreamless sleep. [[Awake]]

When you awaken all pain is gone. Your memory slowly returning as you lay in a bed of cushions. After a while an elder enters with more food and water, after devouring those you relay your incredible escape. And how you came to be captured, serving as a scout for the Imperial army, you happened across a raiding party of savages who hunted, beat, then improsened you. The word was quickly spread, as the barbarian threat lay only half a day away, the convoy quickly packed up, and was soon trailing away into the horizon.

Hoss looks up "You fokin' what!?" "You don't need it where you're going prisoner." He finishes, resting his head against the tunnel wall.

"Ay Hoss, still moping?" Thin Garek says as he enters the passage carrying a burning torch and returns to the table followed by two vicious looking hounds. "Thought I'd bring them here, they''ll scare the prisoner." Hoss stands, then pets the hounds, which accept the attention graciously in surprising contradiction to their hard appearance. In a sudden motion Hoss grabs Garek in a vice-like grip on the forearm. Feeling the hidden card. "You bastard!" Hoss roared, knocking the table aside, the clay cups shattering and spilling the fluid across the floor. Hoss was outraged at Garek's betrayal, and descended upon Garek in a flurry of blows, before wrapping his massive hands around his neck and squeezing. Garek dropped the torch which fell into the black fluid and caught, a wall of flame springing into existence and banishing all shadows. The hounds barked and growled, baring slavering canines while keeping distance from the fire. Before the world went dark for Garek, he lifted his leg and pulled a shank from inside his boot, then rammed it into Hoss' side. Hoss doubles over and collapses, the wound bleeding black blood. [[Tell Garek he's a worthless whoreson]]

Garek's eyes go wide from the insult, and bloodlust from killing Hoss. Then leaps at the bars, his foot slipping on stray Drake's Breath. He falls into the fire, as the slow burning liquid clings to his clothes and skin. Garek screams, the hounds pounce upon Garek, quickly quieting him with a bite to the jugular before retreating to safety. [[Reach for the keys]]