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Archives: A New Balance

Prologue

    Lodoss had been left unchecked far too long, and Karla had been lost without a body for five years, ever since she was defeated by Parn and his allies in Castle Conquera’s Kardis Temple. The turmoil of Kardis’ resurrection had only served to further unite Lodoss’s nations against Marmo. And even in the end, Lord Ashram gave up the fight and escaped somewhere out to sea.

    Her circlet was found by the first treasure hunter to venture below Conquera’s ruins since the heroes left five years ago. He was a roguish young man, lean and strong, and nothing like what Karla would have preferred. Long blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes. He at least was more attractive than Woodchuck, but what did looks really matter? At heart, she was still a woman, and she would have preferred to chose a female’s body over a male’s given a choice. He was accompanied by two other men whom she had to slay to keep quiet. His name was Orath, but like that would matter. His body was hers now, and his consciousness was trapped within a cage within his mind while hers controlled his body and abilities. He would never be his own person again.

    With this new body, Karla investigated the nations of Lodoss. Marmo, always having been a suitable enemy, was now a duchy of Flaim, ruled by Spark and Neese. On the mainland, every nation was at peace, and every single ruler was close with the others. Parn and Deedlit ruled Alania and were close friends of King Kashue of Flaim, King Etoh and Queen Fianna of Valis, King Reona of Kanon, and Queen Shiris of Moss. The Academy of Sages was rebuilt. Kanon was rising from the ashes of Marmo’s destruction. Nothing was as she left it. Something had to be done.

    Karla began to scheme, she needed to start from scratch. If she outright led a new war against united Lodoss, the nations were so strongly allied, it would be a nearly assured loss. Parn and his allies all knew her weakness, yet their weakness was assuming she was completely defeated. She could use this to her advantage, they didn’t know her circlet had survived the fall of the castle. She would work from the inside, quietly.

    In the mean time, they would need a distraction, perhaps something that could be used to her advantage later. Karla returned to take up residence in the ruins of the Shardrune of Steel Towers in the Silent Swamp.

    The Grey Witch needed a worthy warrior who would sway to her cause, so she invited them to come to her. Karla wrote six identical requests that would bring mercenaries to the Silent Swamp. To make sure the best came to her, she enchanted the notes so that only people with enough courage would be able to read them. Though, there was still a chance of unworthy whelps coming, she would deal with them on their journeys. Even in this peaceful day and age, the roads of Lodoss were never safe.

    Sending out a flock of raven minions, six letters were posted across Lodoss. One for Alan, one for Shinning Hill, one for Blade, one for Roid, for Raiden, and for Dragon Breath.

    Each read the following to worthy eyes:

    “The old wizard Kaladron seeks stout hearted adventurers for an urgent mission. Though it be a difficult and dangerous journey, so only the bravest should apply! Be assured the reward offered is a vast fortune to most, but the risk could be fatal. All such interested parties should seek out Kaladron, in his stone tower, just north of the Forest of Mirrors, and east of the mountains. Apply soon, for wasted time will be an enemy to this quest.”

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Chapter List | A New Balance Storyline