It was a cold blustery day in the northlands of Antonica. Phiona and Gillivray awoke and prepared for their day. It had all been planned out last night. They could barely contain the excitement of what lay ahead of them today. Just as the sun was going down last evening, Phiona had hurried home from the shaman guild to tell Gillivray the awesome news. Shamus Felligan, her guild master, had given her high marks on her latest accomplishments. He told her she was ready to venture further than the confines of the snowy peaks! She was free to travel further from home than she had ever been before.

Gillivray was just arriving home when she approached. His face was beaming. She knew he must have great news of his own to share. They hurried inside. Gillivray insisted she share her news first. So, she related how well Guildmaster Felligan thought she was doing and practically burst when she told him she had been given leave to travel beyond the snowy peaks of Everfrost!

Then it was Gillivray's turn to burst. He'd just returned from a visit at the beastlord guild. He had just received permission as well to leave the mountains and seek other places in the world to hone his skills. He was told that if he could prove himself outside the realm of the barbarians, he would be awarded his warder, every beastlord's first goal. His warder would accompany him for the rest of his life. Bred for pure loyalty and courage, a beastlord's warder was the main weapon of the beastlord himself.

They entered the mines only to find themselves completely blind. They could not see their hands in front of their faces. As if it weren't terrifying enough to venture into an unknown place, but now to find yourself unable to see what enemy lurked beyond! Finally, Phiona pulled out a torch she had brought along as a precaution, never thinking she'd actually need it. Then, there it was, the Blackburrow Mines. They found themselves in a large cavern with smooth walls and no visible exits, except to keep going straight through the hall. They had been told that the cavern would open up to a huge sky light and a passage to safety was located on the other side.

The tunnel to safety was located with little problem and the two emerged onto the sun splashed hills of Qeynos, aptly named Qeynos Hills. The soft rolling meadows and gently blowing breeze was in stark contrast to the bitter cold and icy winds of their home land. What sort of creatures lived in this idyllic setting, they wondered.

Then Gillivray spotted Alwynn. Phiona and Gillivray had heard of elves before, but never seen one. But this one didn't seem quite tall enough for an elf. Alwynn stood before them, a tad timid, and asked what business these two barbarians had in his homeland. Phiona replied that they had left Halas to seek adventure and perfect their skills.

Alwynn looked the two over carefully saying, "Alright, but I warn you, do not hunt the bears in these hills. They are sacred! Alwynn Thunderclap, At your service!"

"We've done enough bear hunting for a life time," replied Gillivray, "We're looking for more challenging adventure!"

"If it's a greater challenge you're looking for, barbarian", a leather clad dark haired human said, as he emerged from the shadows, "then you should return to the Mines of Blackburrow. There is much evil there and needs to be vanquished. The only path between our lands and yours is no longer even safe for travel."

Phiona glanced at Gillivray. They had seen the horrible dog-like creatures called gnolls when they had come through the mines earlier. They knew the mines had to hold much bigger dangers than those formidable gnolls they had quickly passed by to get to safety in Qeynos Hills. This was not a foe they could dispatch alone.

"And do you hunt there, ranger?" Phiona asked the leather clad human, wondering if he intended for her to risk her life for his homeland while he sat in the safety of the hills beyond.

"My apologies, my lady. Kilayl Freemantle is the name." The ranger replied. "I have not yet hunted in the tunnels of Blackburrow. Alwynn and I were just hoping to get a few brave souls together who would want to assist us in vanquishing this evil. It is far too strong for just the two of us alone. Would you care to join us?"

Gillivray, always ready for the next challenge, was quick to agree. Phiona was a little more cautious, but agreed to join these two strangers to overcome the evil of Blackburrow. Suddenly, Alwynn spoke up, "Would you all mind if a relative of mine joins us? He's a bard."

"What on earth is a bard?" Asked Phiona. "But if he's a friend of yours, I don't mind at all. The more the merrier, right?"

"WOOT!", hollered Alwynn. "He'll be here shortly!"

A few moments later, Phiona sat checking the contents of her pack, when the hair on the back of her neck stood up and she heard faintly heard the pounding of a drum. Looking up, she saw a half elf charging toward her faster than she thought was possible! Was this the relative of Alwynn's?

As the half elf with the drum approached, he downed a cold brew, bowed to Phiona, extended his hand to Gillivray and blurted out, "Elberath Gilthoniel is the name...Blues, beer and babes is my game!" He was positively the most lively person Phiona had seen to date. She giggled. This was going to be fun!