You are sitting in The Bawdy Wench Tavern in Tantras known for its variety of wine and busty young barmaids when a traveler enters through the front door. The traveler looks around with weary eyes. Dark circles from days without rest ring those eyes. He removes a dark brown hooded cloak to reveal worn leathers. His knee high riding boots are caked with mud.

"An ale and some stew please barkeep," asks the man relaxing slightly.

The tavern is near empty, only a handful of customers are left after a night of revelry and several games of darts. One young barmaid saunters over to the traveler and slides a mug of dark ale across the table and a bowl of luke warm stew. She sets a cold loaf of wheat bread onto the center of the table.

You approach the traveler, curious and ask to share his table.

He looks up and nods to the open chair as he stuffs his mouth with stew and a thick piece of bread. Minutes pass and he finally pushes away an empty bowl to drink from his mug.

"Tell me friend, do you have a sword to lift or spell to cast, or a swift and tireless horse?"

You look at him with questioning eyes, "If I did?"

"Then if you have either sword or spell or faith in your god then go with all haste to Damara for it needs brave men and women. And if you lack the courage then find the swiftest horse you can and ride as far away to the west as you can. Spread the word that heroes are needed in the land once called Damara."

"Once called? Is it known by another name now?"

"The Bloodstone Kingdom it’s called now, though who knows now," the traveler takes another long drink from his recently refilled mug.

"What has happened, tell me for you have piqued my interest."

"Six days before I left I was standing on the wall at dawn with a few friends as we watched the king, his lady and the heroes of the Bloodstone Wars ride from the gate and north. They stopped and spoke out of earshot, but still close enough for me to see the worry in their eyes."

The traveler continued after rubbing his eyes, "I stood there as the minutes passed with my two companions wondering what the king was about when we saw him spur his mount and ride north. The others followed in close pursuit of the king – they were all there just like when they went to face the witch king in his castle all those years ago."

"This in itself was not strange mind you; it was the king’s mount that returned to us two days later, wide-eyed and panicked. A search party was sent out and easily followed the trail made by the king and his party. They returned later and described a scene of carnage and destruction about a day’s ride north of the gate. Hundreds of orcs and goblins, ogres and giants all were slain and ground into the bloody turf. No sign of the king or the party was found though and no trail from the scene of the battle, it’s like they disappeared."

"One, two, three days passed and still the king did not return, nor did any of the members of his party that rode with him."

The traveler seemed to look less tired after speaking of the news, "If you wish to help the Kingdom then go with all haste to Damara and Bloodstone Gate. Seek out Sir Kalsinar at the King’s Keep. He is the one who is leading the search for the king."

"What will you do," you ask.

"I will ride from city to town, from village to hamlet and seek out those who are brave enough to help my country in this dire time. Heroes are needed and I will spread the word."

Hours after the traveler left you sat at the table until the rays of the morning sun broke through the shuttered windows. You left a few gold coins on the table with a destination before you - The Bloodstone Lands.