The Malifestro Quest


"We'll never catch those elves," says Bivotar. "Let's go outside. Maybe we'll find out what's going on."

They cross the creaking drawbridge over the castle moat and start down the wide dirt road across the grassy plain.

About half a mile from the castle, the road forks. One branch of the road leads down into a valley several miles away. They can see a number of small villages in the valley, surrounded by farmlands and sparse forests.

The other branch heads toward the distant mountains. The mountains are at least a day's journey away, and are so tall that their peaks are lost among the clouds.

"We're more likely to find people if we head toward the valley," says Juranda. Bivotar agrees.

They descend into the valley. At first it seems to be a cheery place, full of sparkling streams and abundant wildlife. However, as they get closer to the villages, the people they pass on the road are silent and glance distrustfully at the adventurers. Many of the farms are overgrown, and the farm buildings are gutted by fire.

When they reach the nearest village, they head for the marketplace. It is deserted, except for an old misshapen woman, who is peeling a basketful of potatoes, and a hunchbacked man with an eyepatch. He is smoking a twisted pipe.

"Ho! What have we here?" asks the old woman.

"We've just come from the castle," Juranda tells her. "We're looking for someone who can tell us where Syovar is."

"Alas," says the old woman. "He has been captured by Malifestro, an evil wizard from a neighboring land. Malifestro demands a mighty ransom for his return. Why do you seek Syovar?"

"Um, well, he's sort of our uncle," explains Bivotar, "and we heard he was in trouble."

The one-eyed man speaks for the first time. "You'd best forget your uncle if you know what's good for you. These are rough times even for them what minds their own business."

"Will the ransom be paid?" asks Juranda.

"Hard to say," says the old woman. "The kingdom isn't as wealthy as it used to be, what with all the thieves robbing people in the towns and burning the farms. And Malifestro also wants ten thousand men for slaves. There's certainly no one volunteering for that job."

"Why don't you two be gone?" says the one-eyed man. "There's nothing for you here."

Before they can answer, ten armed men ride into the marketplace, and one begins to bellow out a decree from the Mayor of the largest town in the kingdom. The Mayor is rounding up an army to attack Malifestro. Every able-bodied man in the village above the age of twelve is forced to enlist, including Bivotar. He and Juranda are terrified about being separated, but are powerless to prevent it.

That night, however, before Bivotar is hauled away to join the new army, the village is attacked by a large band of thieves. The village is burned to the ground, and everyone is killed.

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