For the past two weeks you have pursued the notorious group of outlaws known as the Red Hand gang, led by their infamous leader, the black hearted Seth Denigan, long known for his acts of cruelty and callousness to all who have had the misfortune of crossing his path.

But now the reward promised to you by Lord Halford for his head lies tantalisingly close at hand, the outlaws are just hours ahead of you and unaware that you are hot on their heels.

The road you find yourselves on is a lonely back roads one, empty of travellers. A violent earth tremor shook these sparsely populated parts recently, and no doubt the outlaws have decided to take advantage of the chaos following the quake to loot the shattered towns and villages.

Dark sombre clouds scud overhead and a chilling wind picks out chinks in your armour. Behind you lies a lonely, empty village, mysteriously deserted. You didn’t stop for long there, something about the silence of that desolate place sent shivers down your spines.

Now as you urge your horses through a bank of tree’s you see the bulk of a mountain lying ahead and nearer at hand a solitary figure wearing grey robes, staff in hand hurries your way. He stops as if considering fleeing, but you see his shoulders slump as he realises flight is impossible, and then you are drawing abreast of him.

“A bleak day for travel” he greets you “and few there be that seek entry to these accursed lands”