CampaignDialogue:L

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

Death Dialogue

Baldras

I'm coming... Erwen...

Harper

Harper: Unngh...

Baldras: Harper, no!

Relana

I'm finished...

Lord Maddock

How can this be?

Generic Defeat

Narrator:' They returned to their village to find it destroyed, with those who fought left dead and the few survivors born away to unguessable fates. It was a bitter doom, but as Asheviere's grip tightened they would live to see worse.

Miscelanious

Holy Ankh

Description: You find a hefty pendant on a strange and ominous looking altar. It glows brightly when you pick it up!

Description: There is a strange altar here and a pendant on it. I don't want to touch it.

Scenario 1: The Raid

Story Text

From the journal of Baldras, 21, Scatterseed, 501 YW.

Months... seven months it's been since the Crown did send a single guard here to help us. This Garard II be a pompous stinker, even worser than his pa! Us of these border towns Delwyn and Dallben already be poor and needy, yet alls 'His Majesty' can think of is tax, tax, tax, takin' all our hard earned gold from us. Then he uses our gold to provoke more wars with more orcs just for personal glory and more land for them grubby nobles to lord over.

To abbadon with the Crown! We got no armies and we don't even got real weapons, but we of the Western Marches make do just fine with our slings and clubs. In all Annuvin Province, there won't be nobody besting us in these swamps. We're self-reliant out here. We gots our own trade routes and pacts of mutual defence. No need for them Wesnothians. Not a single bit.

The sun were out today, but it were raining too. Weird mix of brightness and woe. Reminds me of the day Harper's pa died in that orc raid. Since my sis Erwen passed when he were young, poor lad had nobody but me. Never wanted no kid of my own but... he's mine to take care of now. Fine lad, that one, just a bit careless like his pa. I needs to keep a good eye on him now, with all them orcs running round here of late.

Introductory Dialogue

Fal Khag: I long to burn human cities, but that weaselly witch thinks we're only good enough for these puny villages. These hapless clods barely have anything, but at least the witch's gold is good.

Ride, you worms! Let's finish our raid before their hunters return.

Red: Look, goblin riders approach! You was right, they was going to raid Dallben while we was gone.

Baldras: We gots to stop them or they'll burn down the whole village. Damn these goblins and damn the Crown. We always be havin' to fight for ourselves.

Harper: Uncle, we got no time to talk! Them riders are heading full speed straight for Dallben. We'll need to chase them down through those woods, and fast, or we won't be able to catch up.

Baldras: Do it. Hold them beasts back till us old-timers get there to finish 'em off.

And Harper... don't be getting reckless on me today. Your old man died like that, changing into a pack of goblins by 'imself. I won't lose ya the same way.

Harper: I know, I know, no need to worry so much. All right, let's go!

Fal Khag is killed

Fal Khag: I was... too weak..?

Harper: Silly goblin.

Goblins near the Village

Harper: They're getting close to Dallben! What should we do?

Baldras: There be a couple guards in the village. Might be able to slow them wolves down if they get closer.

Wolmas: Look! Goblin riders be on the hunt, headed right for Dallben!

Remald: We gots to stop them!

Ally unit near the Village

Wolmas: What's happeninng here? Why be you running like mad, unit?

Unit: Goblin riders be on the hunt, headed right for Dallben. We gots to stop them!

Harper reaches the backpack

Harper: Hey, someone left their pack here. I could use it to carry some more rocks.

Victory

Harper: These orc raids keep getting harder and harder to hold off. Feels like every new day's just another chance for us to lose everything...

Baldras: That Garard II stopped sendin' patrols out here a while back. Stinker probably sent his troops on some new war against them orcs. Don't really matter. Technically Annuvin be under the charge of Elensefar, but you don't see 'em coming to help us either.

Harper: Then why do we got to pay taxes to the King? Maybe Elensefar doesn't help us, but at least they don't take our gold.

Baldras: We don't got no choice, lad. If I don't give them what they want, they'll make trouble for everyone in Dallben.

Harper: But we can't keep doing this forever, Uncle. If we stay like this, those orcs will eventually overrun us. What should we do?

Baldras: I don't know, Harper. I just don't know. Alls I can say is we're on our own out here.

Defeat

Harper: The goblins reached the village! Now there'll be nothing left after they raid our homes...

Scenario 2: Civil Disobedience

Story Text

Baldras' journal, 6 Deeproot, 501 YW:

Me and Harper visited Erwen's grave today. I helped tha lad pick her a bunch of flowers - we even found some of her favourite, blue lillies. Harper doesn't remember her much, but he still thinks lots about her. Lad reminds me so much of his ma often times, real bright and brassy, even if he doesn't got her sense or wits. I'm just hoping he be learning more with time.

Speaking of sense, I gots me a bad feelings in my gut about today. I'd better ready our hunting troop when I get back to the village, just in case...

Introductory Dialogue

Harper: Look, riders approach.

Baldras: Stand fast, nephew.

Tarwen: By order of the Queen, the magistrate of this town is to travel with us to Elensefar for vetting.

Baldras: The Crown did long since abandon our village. You Wesnothians be too busy countin' the gold from our taxes to be sending aid against them orcs. Nobody here be leaving to nowhere.

Tarwen: Insolent peasant. Try not my patience, else I shall be forced to drag thy deceased corpse back with me to the city.

Baldras: Try it then, stinker.

Tarwen: As you wish.

Guard the gate.

Harper: Uncle, since when did we have a queen?

Baldras: Since a few years back, I think, but weren't never her giving out no orders...

It doesn't really matter right now. Harper, get yerself out o'here. This be no kind of battle for you.

Harper: I can fight!

Baldras: Harper, do what I say to ya.

Harper: We're in this together. Death to the Wesnothians!

Baldras: Impulsive lad...

Enemy unit takes a village

Peasant: Help, help! I'm being repressed!

Ally unit is killed

Harper: They just killed an innocent man! Murderers!

Tarwen: Cry thine eyes out for me, peasant.

Enemy unit is killed

Harper: Take that, you bullies!

Baldras reaches the mace

Baldras: I oughta bring out the good mace to fight off these thugs.

Attack Tarwen

Tarwen: Back, back ye curs!

Tarwen Dies

Killer: Get out of my village!

Unit: We beat their leader, but a couple of them riders escaped. What should we do?

Baldras: Somethin' be very wrong here. That Garard weren't never no hero or nothing, but his men never would've attacked us. The Queen must've did something to him.

Harper: We've got to tell the people of Delwyn about this. Ol' magistrate Relana will have some ideas.

Unit: That's true. Whenever there's been troubles, we've always looked to her for help.

Baldras: Fine. We'll go to Delwyn, see what Relana gots to say. With them riders so eagerly attackin' us today, I'm thinking Delwyn will be under threat too.

Harper: So we'll have to fight them Wesnothians again?

Baldras: Alls I can say for certain is we've made ourselves enemies of the Crown. They'll be hunting us now.

Harper: Then we're outlaws.

Baldras: Aye, outlaws.

Time Runs Out

Baldras: Oh, no! We have run out of time, they have arrived with reinforcements...

Defeat

Narrator: They would be remembered only traitors rightly put down by the Queen's lances. And in the dark years to come, woe betide any who questioned it.

Scenario 3: A Strategy of Hope

Story Text

Baldras' journal, 10 Deeproot, 501 YW:

Been a strange few days. Had to leave Dallben real quick. We grabbed whatever we could in just a day, some food, some clothes, sis's lucky bracelet... and made off for Delwyn as quick as these old bones would let me. It be a three day journey there for me, but I sended Harper ahead for Relana first. Said we'd meet her in the usual hiding spot in the swamp.

This whole mess be utter stupidness. Of all the things to be driving us from our home, how did it ended up being those accursed Wesnothians? Blasted Crown. Doesn't matter whoever's the one giving out them orders, those stinkers in Weldyn always be making trouble for us country folk.

I'm too old for all this. Them orc raids already be plenty for me to deal with. I don't be keen on fighting no war with Wesnoth. But... I suppose, I don't reallu got no choice either. Harper's still too young to be leading anyone, and it doesn't seen like anyone else in the village be suitable.

In times like these... I still wish Erwen was here with us. Little sis were always the best of us two. She always knew how to keep her temper and her wits about her. What would she say to me now? Probably something like: "Quit yapping ya old dog and focus on what you're doing. We've got to be getting them people to safety." Cheeky kid, that one. But she'd be right, I has me a responsibility to our people. Got a lot of trouble ahead of us...

Introductory Dialogue

Relana: Baldras! Ya made it! Lil Harper here told me all about what happened.

Baldras: Aye, Relana. It were one o' the Queen's patrol, strange as it do sound. Turns out they was itchin' to attack us soon as I wasn't willing to leave with 'em.

Harper: But we fought those ugly scoundrels off!

Relana: Queen's patrol, ya say? They sent them a messenger our way a couple days ago, demanding our allegiance to some 'Asheviere'. Weren't that Garard's young bride or something? Why's she the one in charge now?

Baldras: I don't know, but some of them riders escaped us. Be they'll report back to their local garrison, tell them we're a bunch o' traitors.

Unit:Then they'll be comin' back in force.

Relana: We needs more information. We should consult ourselves with Elensefar. Lord Maddock surely gots to know more than us.

Baldras: Elensefar? Why him?

Relana: Well all Annuvin be ruled by Elensefar, right? We don't gots to heed anything Wesnoth says. Lord Maddock's technically the one we answer to.

Baldras: It don't matter. Weldyn be doing whatever it likes while Maddock says nothing. He knows, but he don't care.

Relana: But we still need that knowledge, Baldras. We can't be coming up with any great plan without no information. We both knows that if Weldyn brings one o' their armies here, there be no way we can fight them off.

Baldras: Perhaps, but - hold there. Did ya hear that? Sounded like some wolf howl.

Relana: Somethin' smells like lizard too. We're not alone here.

Harper: Finally, some action!

Urk Delek: Blasted humans and blasted Fal Khag! Stupid goblin was only supposed to scout that puny village, not fight it by himself. Then those damned humans rejected our help and look where that got them.

"Don't know why the Queen hired some stinkin' orcs, we don't need you here." Yeah, well now they're dead like a bunch of beasts.

Thhsthss: Your ordersss mean nothing to usss, orc. You promissed uss gold.

Urk Delek: Shut your trap, lizard. You'll get your gold as soon as my wolves get their meat.

Reaching the swamp

Baldras: I don't likes me the look of that water.

Killing Urk Delek

Urk Delek: Blasted pink-skins...

Harper reaches the bottle

Harper: That's some fresh tasty water. Mmm!

Killing Thhsthss

Thhsthss: Thisss was not part of the deal...

Victory

Baldras: Something be very wrong here. Those orcs has weapons with Army forge-markings.

Relana: Aye, and the gold in their pouches looks new from mint. Could just be plunder, but...

Baldras: Don't seem like it. I be thinking these orcs were hired to scout us. But for what? Of all the alliances to be making, why would Weldyn be hiring orcs?

Relana: I thinks your mission to Lord Maddock just became even more urgent. We needs to know the Queen's motives.

Baldras: I don't like leaving our people here alone, but I sees your point. If we wait, more will be coming.

Relana: For now, I can stay here and perhaps talk them Wesnothians out of attacking us directly, but I don't think s it will work forever. To survive this, we needs to act quick, Baldras.

Baldras: Then we'll go to Elensefar as fast as we can. Lucky be with ya, Relana.

Time Runs Out

Baldras: We have tarried here for far too long... there is no way we can reach Elensefar and return with help before the Wesnoth army destroys our homes. Retreat!!

Defeat

Narrator: Baldras and Relana returned to their villages to find them destroyed, with those who fought left dead and the few survivors born away to unguessable fates. It was a bitter doom, and as Wesnoth descended into darkness they would live to see worse.

Scenario 4: Valley of Trolls

Introductory Dialogue

Lord Maddock: Baldras, your trip here was not wise. The Queen's patrols have been visiting the local villages and bringing the elders here. Those that swear allegiance to the Queen are allowed to return home. Those that do not...

Baldras: ...are dispatched on the spot. I know the price of dissent. But what of you?

Lord Maddock: Well, they do not come within the walls of my city. They are actually camped nearby, and the main garrison is further south at Halstead. I know my time will soon come to swear allegiance, but they do not press me. They are afraid I will refuse.

Baldras: Will you?

Lord Maddock: Yes. The Queen ascended to the throne through the vilest of treachery. However, while most of my forces were sent with the King to fight the orcs, we have a strong enough contingent here to make the Queen's forces think twice about attacking Elensefar outright.

We have an uneasy peace until they are done with the smaller villages and finally come around to obtaining my oath. The treaty between Elensefar and Wesnoth is ancient, but I am not so naive as to place my full trust in it. Not in these wicked times.

Harper: What can we do then? We have brought with us many from Annuvin province who are willing to fight, but our families are still at home. They will not last long if the Queen's patrols return.

Lord Maddock: I am unwilling to start a civil war. I believe the Queen will remain preoccupied with order throughout the kingdom and, more importantly, with quelling the Northerner threat. We are a matter she will choose to deal with later rather than sooner, if she can.

Kestrel: A foolish miscalculation, Lord Maddock. These men with which you consort are outlaws and fugitives. They are a well-organized gang of criminals and murderers. We will kill them and then expect your oath of allegiance to Queen Asheviere.

Lord Maddock: Men, to arms! The defense of Elensefar has begun!

Enemies Become Undead at Night

Narrator: As the sun set, a horrific change began to take place to the human adversaries of Baldras and his allies...

Humans' Response

Harper: I cannot believe what my eyes are seeing! The flesh runs from their bones... these are not human warriors we fight. They are evil spirits masquerading as human!

Dawn Approaches

Lord Maddock: Their human aspect is returning! This is an evil manner of sorcery we face, but one that we may yet overcome. CHARGE!

Kestrel Undies

Unkiller: Who are you? What are you?

Kestrel: We are accursed. We were once under the command of Prince Eldred, the King's son and betrayer. The price for our treason is this hellish existence. We know not who or what inflicted this curse upon us, but our mortal deaths may be only the beginning of the penance we are doomed to pay.

Baldras: Lord Maddock, now that we are victorious, will you help us?

Lord Maddock: I will not. Unless you want me to round up the city's thieves to fight for you, I do not have the troops to spare. However, I am not the only one who commands men in this corner of Wesnoth.

Baldras: I don't understand. There are no other noble lords in this area.

Lord Maddock: Southeast of here there is a town, and there you may find assistance of the type I cannot give.

Baldras: Wish us well. If we are to resist the Wesnoth army a second time, we're going to need more than clubs and slings against steel.

Time Runs Out

Baldrass: Look, more riders come from the southeast. We cannot survive another assault. We are finished!

Defeat

Narrator: Indeed, Asheviere's armies had mustered and struck before the nascent rebellion could even be planned. Her power and ruthlessness - and their toll of death - would only grow greater with time.

Scenario 5: Hide and Seek

Introductory Dialogue

Narrator: Relentlessly pursued by riders patrolling the road to Elensefar, Baldras and his men traveled unseen along the swampy banks of the Great River to the city of Carcyn.

They hid until nightfall, then crept out to find the help Lord Maddock hinted was here.

Baldras: I'm not sure where we're supposed to go now. If we go into town we can start asking around for information.

Who are you?

Link: I have come to find you. You must make it through the city without being seen. The soldiers are normally out hunting for my kind, but a company of heavy infantry arrived three days ago and took over the patrols.

Harper: They're looking for us.

Link: Well, good thing I found you first. Now hurry, you must make it past the city into the Grey Woods. There is a small path in the southeast that leads into the forest; look for the signpost. My brother Hans is waiting for you there and will take you to our master. Try to avoid the soldiers if you can.

See the Town Guards

Unit: Looks like these guards hold stationary posts, so if we're careful enough we should be able to slip our way around them unnoticed.

Baldras: Harper, you younger and faster folks need to be our eyes now. Scout ahead and try to find a way for us to get past the guards, but make sure to not stay where they can see you or we're all in big trouble...

Town Guards Start Chasing

Harper: They've seen us, RUN!

Town Guards Attack

Baldras: Fall back, quickly! Maybe we can yet lose them!

Baldras Finds Hans

Hans: Gentlemen, please come this way and follow the path into the forest. Our leader is anxious to meet you.

Unit: As soon as we escape the Wesnoth death squad, we will be happy to oblige.

Baldras: I haven't run this much in years. If you were to ask me to infiltrate a heavily guarded city relying on nothing but the cover of darkness and my wits, I would say you were crazy.

As it turns out, I'm the crazy one. Let's finish this folly.

Someone Else Finds Hans

Hans: You can come if you wish, but the leader is only interested in speaking to Baldras.

Victory

Hans: Fly, and we may yet evade them in the Grey Woods.

Baldras: Lead the way...

Time Runs Out

Baldras: We have spent too much time here. Surely the Queen's forces have returned to Dallben. Our mission is unfinished, but we must return to fight a suicide battle.

Scenario 6: A Detour through the Swamp

Introductory Dialogue

Baldras: The leader, I presume.

Helicrom: I am Helicrom, and you should not be so glib. I control dangerous men. My henchmen can slip unseen through any city, rob a man while he sleeps, or attack a caravan head-on. It's not noble work, but our pursuits require plenty of gold.

Baldras: Your pursuits?

Helicrom: The former King's magic ministry kept a tight control on the training and employment of mages in Wesnoth. Those of us who dared to... depart from the curriculum, you might say, were dealt with harshly. We are outcasts because we seek to master shadow magic. Our secrecy and security are not cheap.

Baldras: I have heard of you. Necromancers. Barely-human scum, I say.

Helicrom: Wrong. Necromancers become slaves to their lich masters and eventually lose their humanity. We have proven that practicing the dark arts need not lead down that path to damnation. We remain human, and seek the mystical secret of balance between the ways of light and darkness. We dance between both ways, adhering to neither.

Baldras: I...see, I think. Why do you want to help us?

Helicrom: We don't. You have sought us out. But, I do know of your situation and am willing to help. Any weakening of the Throne of Wesnoth, whether it be occupied by King or Queen, aids us.

Carcyn is always foggy as of late because these woods have recently become home to a lich and two of its underling necromancers. Our experiments may have actually aroused it from sleep... we're not exactly sure.

Baldras: So now you need to defend your rear as well as your front... I see your predicament. My men will wipe this land clean if you can help us defend our homeland.

Sel-Mang Undies

An Enemy Remains

Helicrom: Finally that creature is dead, yet its foolish minions resist.

No More Enemies

Baldras: The lich is destroyed and its minions dead.

Victory Dialogue

Helicrom is Dead

Narrator: The defeat of the evil lich infesting the Grey Woods was a bittersweet victory. With Helicrom dead, the guild of shadow magic was thrown into disarray.

The remaining members were very grateful and offered Baldras a sizable sum of gold for his help. It was not the help he was hoping for, but he knew it would have to be enough for the coming conflict.

Helicrom is Alive

Helicrom: With the undead driven out, we may live here in relative peace and pursue our studies. For this, Baldras, I am grateful.

Baldras: Studies? Peace? You mean to continue feeding on the lawful citizens of Wesnoth. There will be no peace for them.

Helicrom: No one here is in a position to be dispensing moral judgments. Regardless, you have done great service to us today, and we owe you a debt. I will help you to the utmost of my ability.

I was planning on giving you gold. Any good army is well financed, and with the lich gone we can now spare it.

But, I think it would help you more if I lent you some of my men to join you on your adventures. The Queen has been sending mages out here, and my men are itching for some payback.

On the other hand, if I keep the full force of my organization here, we might be able to regroup and join you on the battlefield when the time comes.

I leave it to you to decide.

Gold

Option: I will take the gold. How does 500 sound?

Helicrom: Agreed. Good luck and farewell to you, Master Baldras.

Men

Option: Send your men with us. They will be valuable help as we prepare for the assault from the Wesnoth army garrison.

Helicrom: Done. My finest mages and thieves are at your disposal. Use them well.

Join in Battle

Option: I wish you to join us in battle against the Queen's forces.

Helicrom: Alright. I need time to clean up this forest and recall my men from the countryside. We will be ready to march in 7 days. All now hinges on you! Until then...

Time Runs Out

Baldras: We have spent too much time here. Surely the Queen's forces have returned to Dallben. Our mission is unfinished, but we must return to fight a suicide battle.

Helicrom Dies

Helicrom: My men... have failed to protect me! I perish...

Scenario 7: The Hunters

Story Text

Baldras and his men quickly left the Grey Woods, not entirely convinced of their safety even after eradicating the lich.

As they marched, many men and women from the small hamlets peppering the area around Carcyn and the Grey Woods approached the group, asking to join them. The ascent of the Queen had cast an uneasy pall over the citizens of Wesnoth, and some of them were willing to resist it.

Knowing they too would be labeled criminals, he reluctantly accepted their help. (Baldras is now able to recruit outlaws.)

Camped at the edge of the forest, they quietly observed substantial troop movements coming from the direction of Aldril, a nearby city, and marching to the northwest. Unsure what to make of it, they debated their next course of action...

Introductory Dialogue

Baldras: The words of Lord Maddock have weighed heavy on me these past few days. It has dawned on me that we can never win. We will never defeat the entire army of Wesnoth. Idiocy! If the noble lord of Elensefar is unwilling to resist the Queen, how should I ever expect to?

Harper: What's worse is that she appears to have taken notice. We have counted five platoons of heavy infantry marching towards the garrison in just the last 2 hours.

Baldras: The garrison. The towers of Halstead are more than a garrison, nephew, they are a fortress. They used to protect this area from the enemies of Wesnoth; I never imagined they would house its enemies.

Pitcher: (Baldras!)

Harper: Uncle, he wears the crest of the Elense. We should answer.

Baldras: Rider, hush before we are discovered! Come to us, but quietly!

Pitcher: Master Baldras, I bring news from the north. During the past week, several patrols have again ventured across the Great River into Annuvin. A woman named Relana opposed them with a small militia. She was victorious.

Majel: This is surely good news!

Pitcher: I am afraid it is not. The Queen is sending a branch of her main field army directly from Weldyn. As soon as they arrive, they will burn every village to the ground. No one will live.

Baldras: The troop movements all make sense now. We must stop this army from reaching the garrison. We cannot swallow them whole, but we can gnaw away at them. They mustn't take one step without us being there to harass and delay them. When they reach Halstead they must be exhausted or dying.

Harper: You just said we can't beat their entire army!

Baldras: Do you propose surrender? It's this or nothing. All we can do is see it through to the end.

Pitcher: May you prevail in peace and war. I must depart before I am seen so far from my Lord's borders.

Jingo: Another platoon approaches...

Baldras: When we are done, no one will fear the open roads and night sky more than the army of the usurper. Strike fast, strike silently... and leave no one alive.

Attack the Enemy

Linneus: It's an ambush! Hold your ground!

Outpost Detachment Returns

Narrator: The next morning, the local night patrol returned to the nearby outpost. They were surprised to see their fellow soldiers engaged in combat with the band of thugs of which they had heard so much.

Archarel: Troops, to arms! These peasant scum think they are above the law. We will show them the law!

Step into the Fire

Unit: Ow! Fire hot! No step in fire!

Victory

Baldras: What a bloody mess. We must attack Halstead next. If we wait, they will become invincible. If we can burn it to the ground before that happens, our people may have a chance. Rest well tonight, because tomorrow's battle will decide the fate of our homes, our families, and our freedom.

Helicrom is to Join the Battle

'Baldras: Send word to Helicrom that we are ready. It is time for him to repay his debt.

Time Runs Out

Baldras: We have spent too much time here. Surely the entire Wesnoth army marches on our position. We are done for!

Scenario 8: Glory

Story Text

In the Year of Wesnoth 161, 338 years before Asheviere's betrayal, the newly crowned king sought to make safe once and for all the wildlands that separated the human cities surrounding Weldyn and the coastal regions of Elensefar.

The grand army of Wesnoth, personally led by the High Council of Archmagi, scoured the plains of all manner of hostile creature, be it beast, orc, or elf. The city-state of Elensefar was formally united to the kingdom and settlements rapidly spread. The country of Wesnoth had been carved in deed as well as in name.

A monument to this achievement was erected in the very heart of the wildlands. In a twelve-year ritual, the High Council demonstrated the height to which human magic had grown over the years by drawing the monument directly from the earth's living rock.

Hundreds of feet tall, the mountain towered high above the plains, its sheer walls both inspiring and terrifying. Men from all over the countryside labored there, building the most formidable fortress ever conceived. It became the Stronghold of Halstead.

This sentinel of the western plains stood watch as Wesnoth prospered for many centuries under the protection it provided. No war has overcome it, and its walls have never been overrun. The blood of invaders stains its parapets and the bones of the defeated crumble at the base of Halstead's frozen waves of stone.

Introductory Dialogue

Baldras: There it is. The stronghold of Halstead.

Harper: Look at how tall it is! Those towers rise sheer out of the ground, as if called forth out of the earth.

Baldras: That may not be too far from the truth. During the time of the Great Kings of Wesnoth, this land was tamed with powerful magic. Wizards of an ancient era forged the walls of Halstead from the rock below.

Harper: I don't see how we can bring it down. They are already invincible in there!

Helicrom is Present

Helicrom: No, my young friend. Halstead indeed has a weakness. Among my many assets is access to a wealth of secrets few in Wesnoth are privy to.

You see, the mountain on which the fort was built is solid, but the castle on top has been built and rebuilt many times over the ages. It is not as indestructible as you might think.

Beneath the structure is a system of catacombs that connects all four towers to the central keep. Over time, after many wars, supports were required to hold up the middle.

Harper: So… we can knock out the supports and bring down the stronghold of Halstead. Would it really work?

Baldras: I believe it will. Each tower has a passage down to the catacombs. If we can reach the center of each tower, one of our men can escape down to the bowels of the mountain and destroy its support. I am sure we will need to demolish no less than all four supports to raze the fortress.

Else

Baldras: No, young one. Halstead indeed has a weakness.

Harper: How do you know?

Baldras: When I was a boy, my father - your grandfather - brought your dad and me to live in Aldril after orcs massacred many in our village. We grew up around here, and we learned many things.

Beneath the structure is a system of catacombs that connects all four towers to the central keep. The catacombs growing over time, combined with centuries of war, made it necessary to install supports to hold up the middle.

Harper: So... we can knock out the supports and bring down the stronghold of Halstead. Would it really work?

Baldras: I believe it will. Each tower has a passage down to the catacombs. If we can reach the center of each tower, one of our men can escape down to the bowels of the mountain and destroy its support. I am sure we will need to demolish no less than all four supports to raze the fortress.

Dialogue Continues

Harper: I hope you're right. In a few hours, night will fall, and we will find out.

Baldras: We must be cautious. Look there, a substantial orc force is also advancing on Halstead. They must think Wesnoth's army is spread out right now.

Harper: Heh. They're in for a surprise. This may work to our advantage.

Cavalry Arrives to Help You

Farseer: Look in the distance... riders approach!

Baldras: Who is it?

Farseer: Help, I hope. Circumstances cannot afford to get much more dire.

Baldras: Riders approach from the northwest! Stand fast, men.

Lancer: Sound the advance!

Sir Gwydion: Knights of Elensefar, behold: the battle has already begun! Make camp here. Then, we CHARGE!

Baldras: Amazing. Lord Maddock sent his house guards... his finest troops! Elensefar must be defenseless now. More hinges on this battle than I thought.

Farseer: Baldras, Gwydion is Lord Maddock's son. This battle isn't just about Annuvin anymore.

Troops Comes to Help Enemy

Narrator: That afternoon, another advance element of the main Wesnoth army arrived...

Attack Halstead

Dommel: I think... I think they're trying to storm Halstead itself... the fools!

Enter Halstead

Dommel: They have breached the fortress gate! Repulse them!

Move a Unit to a Tower Centre

Unit: I'm inside the tower! I'm going down to the catacombs - cover me.

Narrator: After about an hour…

Unit: It's done.

Destroy All Four Supports

Baldras: I think it's working! Everybody get clear NOW!

Halstead Starts to Collapse

Narrator: The stronghold of Halstead began to shake...

Unit: We cannot stay here. The fortress has started to collapse!

Halstead Collapses

Narrator: With a thunderous earthquake and a vast billowing of dust, thousands of tons of stone and wood crashed in on itself. Some of it tumbled down the steep sides, while the remainder came to rest several hundred feet below ground, in the bowels of the hollowed-out mountain.

No one inside the fortress would make it out alive.

Time Runs Out

Narrator: After more than a week of fierce fighting, the main body of Asheviere's host arrived from Weldyn. The battle was soon finished. Every last man from the province of Annuvin was executed.

Baldras Dies

As Halstead Collpases

Baldras: Men, help me out of here! I am trapped under this rubble.

Narrator: No one was able to get to Baldras in time. He and many of his companions died that day beneath the stronghold of Halstead.

Baldras: I hope this sacrifice is not in vain... but we will never know.

Else

Baldras: Our dream of freedom... gone... Unngh.

Dialogue Continues

Narrator: The rebellion had stakes its all on victory at Halstead, but win or lose, there would be no help for the villagers, ground beneath the wheels of Asheviere's wrath.

Harper Dies

Harper: Uncle!

Baldras: NO!

I promised your father I would watch after you... and I failed.

But we are so close to the end. We must finish this. I am sorry you will not be able to enjoy our freedom. Goodbye, Harper.

Helicrom Dies

Helicrom: Carry on, my friends. Fighting by your side is the most honorable thing I have done...

Dommel Dies

Killer: Your reign of terror is over, General.

Dommel: You will never successfully oppose Asheviere. Her power is too great... This small victory today is but a reprieve from the unimaginable pain you will suffer when the full force of her wrath descends upon you.

Supports Destroyed

Baldras: This was no small victory. You underestimate the power of love for freedom.

Dommel: You... underestimate the... cruelty and ambition of your Queen... unngh..

Else

Baldras: Small victory? Bah! Now we will raze this fortress and bury it in the earth from whence it came.

Scenario 9: Liberty - Epilogue

The rest of the battle was a blur. The shock of what had happened stunned everybody.

Baldras and his men fled the plains of western Wesnoth under the cover of night. The spectacle of Halstead's destruction stunned them into a daze that only slowly wore off as they made their way north to and past Elensefar.

The Elense riders routed the orcish army, small as it was, and sent them back across the Great River. They then scattered to the countryside and were not heard from again. Baldras thought this odd behavior when he heard about it.

As the main body of Asheviere's army neared the ruins of Halstead, strange things began to happen. Every night, men would disappear. Others were found hacked to bloody pieces. Unexplained misfortune plagued the marching columns. Soldiers dropped dead where they stood, slain by unseen assassins. Fear of an undead menace spread through the ranks.

When the army of Wesnoth found the ruins of the mighty fortress Halstead, it was too much. Their shock that such a thing could happen combined with the invisible terror stalking them convinced Asheviere's second in command the entire countryside was cursed. He quickly retreated to the traditional border and set up strong defenses against the west.

Baldras had just crossed the Great River when rumors of night-stalkers filtered through his ranks. With bitter humor he realized that Lord Maddock's men were successfully using tactics Baldras had mastered and used during his resistance.

The peasants-turned-outlaws finally reached Dallben. It was burnt to the ground. In a panic, they raced through the forest to Delwyn. It was likewise devastated. However, they did find one clue as to what happened...

...a grimy note nailed to a charred post that read, 'Baldras, You would have been proud. We gave 'em hell. But in the end, it wasn't enough.'

'We fled like criminals in the night, but we made sure that no one would harass us anymore.'

'If you wish to find us, head southwest. When you reach the land's end, just keep going. See you in the Three Sisters, old friend. - Relana'

L: Specified Unit Names

Humans

• Baldras (Village Elder)
• Jalak (Peasant Youth)
• Delurin (Peasant Youth)
• Red (Peasant Youth)
• Ordo (Village Elder)
• Novus (Village Elder)
• Teneor (Villager)
• Kembe (Peasant Hunter)
• Treagh (Peasant Hunter)
• Harper (Peasant Youth)
• Remald (Villager)
• Womas (Villager)
• Jasken (Villager)
• Tarwen (Cavalier)
• Relana (Senior Village Elder)
• Lord Maddock (General)
• Kestrel (General)
• Rothel (Lieutenant)
• Quentin (Master Bowman)
• Hans (Rogue)
• Link (Thief)
• Helicrom (Shadow Lord)
• Archarel (Royal Guard)
• Linneus (Iron Mauler)
• Jingo (Outlaw)
• Majel (Outlaw)
• Pitcher (Dragoon)
• Dommel (General)
• Sir Gwydion (Paladin)

Orcs

• Fal Khag (Goblin Pillager)
• Gatrakh (Goblin Pillager)
• Thurg (Goblin Pillager)
• Krung (Wolf Rider, Goblin Pillager)
• Gorokh (Wolf Rider, Goblin Pillager)
• Urk Delek (Orcish Warrior)
• Vashna (Orcish Warlord)

Saurians

• Thhsthss (Saurian Oracle)

Undead

• Mal-Jarrof (Necromancer)
• Mal-Jerod (Necromancer)
• Lich (Sel-Mang)

Labels

• Dallben
• Elensefar
• Port of Elensefar