CampaignDialogue:TB

This is a transcription of all dialogue from The Tale of Two Brothers. It is meant as a resource for Wesnoth writers. If you don't want spoilers, leave this page now.

Possible Timeframe

This campaign, as originally written, had no definite time or place. There was a vague reference to "the eastern reaches of the kingdom of Wesnoth". In a later revision the epilog hint that Arne may have traveled with the elf-lord Kalenz, but this is not much of a constraint as Kalenz was around in 1YW and at least until the beginning of HttT in 517 YW.

Maghre has to be within reach of the orcs, but in a time and place where there haven't been orc raids for generations. This limits us to *western* Wesnoth, orc raids having been a chronic problem in the northeast even during the Kingdom's strongest periods. The logical time would be shortly after the death of Haldric IV in 350, the beginning of the First Dark Age. I'm arbitrarily setting it at 353; Kalenz began his wanderings ten years later, so the timing for Arne to meet him later in life isn't bad.

Placing the campaign is a little trickier. Our main textual clue is that there is a dense wood, said by legend to be haunted, a few days' ride north. Later, the boss's keep is said to be still further north. Neither of these directions has plot importance, but they do suggest a locale for Maghre - near the Gray Woods. The battle maps exclude it from being in a featureless plain, though; there are hills to the south and west.

Death Dialogue

Mordak

Mordak: Argh

Arne

Arne: All is lost now that I am dead...

Scenario 1: Rooting Out A Mage

Story text

The remote freehold of Maghre in the western reaches of the kingdom of Wesnoth was once a peaceful place, its inhabitants largely unaware of the comings and goings of the wider world. Wars and the rumor of wars touched them not, until the day a dark mage settled in the region and began seeking sacrifices for his evil summonings.

Skeletons and zombies killed cattle and fired fields. 'Fear and obey Mordak the Mage!' they cried in fell voices as they did their foul deeds. People vanished from isolated farmsteads.Men and women began to fear the night, and their children even the bright day. But the nearest lord was more than a day's ride distant, and messengers sent to seek his help did not return.

There was a man named Bjarn who had shown talent as a mage when he was young, gone to the great Academy on the Isle of Alduin, and returned to work his magic in the land where he was born. The people looked to him for help and leadership. He found weapons half-forgotten from the times of their sires and grandsires hanging in many houses, and bade the villagers to take them down and clean and oil them. He set the smiths of Maghre to making spearheads and ax-blades for the rest.

Now Bjarn had a brother named Arne who had also left Maghre to seek his fortune, and had become the leader of a small band of horsemen who hired out as guards to merchant caravans. Fortunate it was for all that when Bjarn was but an apprentice mage, he had made a pair of amulets for himself and his brother, with which they might call to each other when in dire need. Bjarn sent out that call.

Heeding the call of his amulet, Arne gathered such men as he could and hurried to Maghre to help Bjarn.

Introductory Dialogue

Arne: Greetings, my brother! How may my men and I be of aid?"

Bjarn: A dark mage has come upon us; his creatures call him Mordak. They have been terrorizing outlying farms, and we fear they may soon attack the village itself! The villagers of Maghre have taken up weapons but they are not trained fighters; but we need your men, and you to lead them.

Bjarn: I can feel Mordak's foul touch on the hidden currents of the earth and air. He is somewhere due north of here, I would say not more than two days' ride.

Arne: I will lead my men, and such villagers as can keep up with us, north to slay this Mordak! What will you do?

Bjarn: You shall be the right hand, I the left. I will go stealthily with a handful of our best scouts and woodsmen. While you demonstrate against him and kill his creatures, I will try to defeat Mordak himself with magic at an unguarded moment. Together we may accomplish what either alone may not.

Turn 6

Arne: Bjarn should be in position by now. Press them, distract the adept so Bjarn can spring his trap!

Turn 10

Arne: Bjarn has not made his attack! I begin to fear for him... and it means we must deal with this Mordak ourselves!

Wesfolk Leader: Last Breath

Mordak: Argh.

Arne: Good work, men! But what has become of my brother?

Mordak: Worried about him, are you? E-he-he..hergh...gaargh...

Arne: There's nothing more to be had from this one; we will have to search for Bjarn ourselves!

Unit: Sir, our scouts report that Bjarn was seen captured and carried away further north!

Arne: That they should dare this! We will give chase at once.

Time Over

Mordak: Your brother's plan to ambush me has failed. He is our prisoner now.

Arne: My brother, kidnapped? I have failed you, Bjarn! And even now Mordak's forces descend upon the village!

First Attack

Arne: I hear these creatures are nigh-immune to our weapons, let us see!

Player Kills First Enemy

Unit: That was not so hard!