The Stags' Quest Begins Raven

Many moons ago, with the forging of six golden symbols, magic returned

to this land, but with it came the evil sorcerer Nevar,

intent on taking this power for himself.

I stood against Nevar as the land's protector,

training the ultimate champions.

When the day came,

together we defeated Nevar in the ultimate battle,

but, knowing my power, Nevar had forged golden symbols of his own,

and the spell that was cast to banish him reflected back,

sending us both to a far-off desolate realm.

With the battle fought,

only one champion feared the return of Nevar and his demons.

This warrior sought out the golden symbols lost in the battle,

and, finding them, discovered my staff of power.

Its magic transformed her into the new protector of this land.

Now, it is her task to find the true warriors to defeat Nevar,

and save us from his evil.

HORN BLASTS

My name is Raven, and I seek the true warriors.

16 of the bravest and most worthy have answered my call.

Which of them will conquer the challenges?

Who will reach the Grand Tournament and be named as a true warrior?

Nevar's evil sorcery has allowed his demons through into our land.

It will take a true warrior to rid us of the scourge,

and free this land once more.

There, out across the loch, four brave challengers,

but Nevar's demons are already pursuing them.

They must dig deep, and beat these cursed creatures

across the deep loch to their warriors' banners.

Only then can their quest truly begin.

Quickly, now, the demons are drawing close.

Dig deep. You can do this.

Four challengers have joined the quest to become a true warrior.

This group will compete beneath the Banner of the Stag.

Wise and strong, this Monarch of the Glen leads by example.

I hope our challengers draw inspiration from it.

Let us meet them.

My name is Sharow,

and I am here to prove I'm strong enough to become the true warrior.

I'm Cersage. Although I am small, I'm a mighty warrior.

I'm Kaichir. I love the water,

so I know I will smash the water challenges.

My name is Scona.

I'm a warrior, and I will conquer my fears to scale great heights.

These four warriors will face many challenges,

but only three can make it through to the Last Stand.

Here, whoever overcomes Nevar's cursed obstacles to reach the portal

first will join Larsai, Nantin and Janra in the Grand Tournament.

Welcome, brave warriors.

Scona, Cersage, Sharow, Kaichir,

you have shown commendable courage in making the journey here,

but though you braved and banished those demons,

this is only the start of your quest.

From now on, you compete for a chance to become a true warrior.

For some, the journey will end soon, and you will return home.

For others, this road will lead to the Last Stand,

the legendary trials that crown this heat's challenges.

But it is only the warrior who conquers that challenge

who will go through to the Grand Tournament.

Your fate, whatever it may be, shall be determined by these.

Golden treasure rings.

For arriving here now, I give you each six rings.

Succeed in the challenges, and you will add more rings to your hoard.

Suffer defeat, and you will surrender your treasure.

When the time comes, the warrior with the lowest number of rings

will leave this quest first.

The warrior with the most has the greatest chance

of reaching the Grand Tournament.

For all my magic, I cannot see who amongst you will triumph.

Only the challenges will tell us that.

Now, come. Nevar and his demons are never far behind,

and we have delayed long enough.

The quest to become a true warrior begins.

Are you ready to face it?

-ALL:

-Yes, Raven.

Then follow me, my young friends,

and we shall see what fate has in store.

Warriors, the ground we stand on is the site of an ancient battle.

The warriors who came before you battled to keep this land free

from demons. Now, Nevar's creatures watch over this land once more.

If we are to pass by them,

we must call upon the spirits of the ancient warriors.

To do this, you must reassemble their petrified remains.

Once complete, the warrior spirit will shine forth,

and destroy the demons before you.

But beware, for only one statue is needed to complete this task.

Once the warrior is activated, the demon will awake,

and their foul gaze will fall upon the remaining warrior,

at the cost of a ring.

Warriors, do you stand ready to face the challenge to defeat the demons?

-ALL:

-Yes, Raven.

Then let the challenge begin.

This challenge tests speed and agility in a race to rebuild

the Stone Soldiers.

It seems the warriors have selected the wrong pieces,

a neglectful mistake.

These warriors are finding this challenge difficult.

Are they resourceful enough to complete it in time?

Scona and Kaichir must make haste,

for whoever comes last will face the demons' terrible glare.

Can't seem to get it on.

Scona has taken the lead.

Kaichir must stay calm and keep focus.

Scona has almost completed her Stone Soldier,

but one piece isn't in place.

Now is Kaichir's chance.

As soon as one statue is complete, the demons will awake,

and the warrior is doomed.

And Scona is victorious.

It felt really good to win my first ring,

and I was actually quite surprised, because Kaichir's a really good

warrior, and I never thought I'd beat him.

In the next challenge, I think I'm going to try and keep this up,

and try and get even more rings.

Kaichir, at the cost of a ring,

I bring you back from Nevar's desolate realm.

Losing my first ring was really annoying, because I was so close,

cos I had my staff in my hand,

but then the demon vanquished me just before I managed to get it in.

In the next challenge, I'm going to try even better,

and hopefully overcome the rest of the warriors.

So, the demon's glare defeated Kaichir.

Will Cersage or Sharow share the same fate?

The warriors must complete their Stone Soldier

to be rid of these demons and continue on their quest.

These young warriors are neck and neck.

Who will win the golden treasure ring?

Sharow claims victory by the finest of margins.

To gain my first ring was quite amazing.

The game was quite hard in some parts, because you had to make sure

the exact piece got in the right position,

and sometimes it was the right piece,

but you needed to put it in different order.

Cersage was really, really good,

because she pushed me all the way through the challenge,

and it was quite hard to defeat her.

Cersage, I return you to the quest,

but this will cost you a treasure ring.

Losing a ring felt really bad.

I was only a tiny bit behind Sharow.

We both got our staffs in, it's just his hit the ground first.

The next challenge, I'm going to give it my all,

and I'm going to win back some rings.

Kaichir, Cersage, you worked with dedication, but not enough speed,

so Nevar's demons has claimed one of your precious rings.

Sharow, Scona, you woke the warrior's spirit within the statue,

and there are now fewer of Nevar's demons to trouble this land.

For defeating the demons, you both win golden treasure rings.

Sharow and Scona's triumphs sees their hoard grow to seven,

while Cersage and Kaichir's defeat

means their hoards now total only five.

I left the warriors to seek a path onwards.

There's too many of them.

There must be another way.

With the way forward patrolled by Nevar's demons,

I called upon Raven of Old. Once guardian of this land,

he is now trapped in Nevar's cursed realm.

Wise one, I summon you.

I seek a path to the next challenge,

but Nevar's demons are waiting in ambush.

And your path will grow more dangerous still,

for Nevar knows you are close to finding the fourth warrior for the

Grand Tournament, while he has found a new source for treasure rings,

and drains their magic to send yet more demons against you.

And I came to you for good news.

Then think to your past, and the challenges you have faced.

There are some roads that even Nevar cannot block.

The Riddle Rocks.

If they answer their questions, then the demons must let them by.

You answer well, young Raven.

The land is safe in your hands.

Thank you.

Nevar's demons do not rest.

The warriors are approaching a riddle which blocks their path.

Many are the twist and turns on the road that stretches ahead of you,

and the path we must walk now is protected by magic.

If we are to cross this point without cost, you must solve

the riddle and see the answer to it hidden in the rocks before you.

Kaichir, Cersage, for this challenge,

you shall work as a team.

For safe passage, it is your task to solve this riddle.

Tease out the answer from this riddle...

..and you can pass onwards, each adding one more ring to your hoard.

But fail to answer in time, or place your foot on the wrong letter,

and you shall both lose a ring.

Are you ready to answer the Riddle of the Rock?

-BOTH:

-Yes, Raven.

Your time begins as soon as I turn this sand.

"The world needs it.

"They generously give it, but rarely take it.

"What is it?" So, the world needs it, and they generously give it,

but they rarely take it.

Erm, but they do take it sometimes.

Time is running out.

-Oh, I think I know.

-What?

Advice.

Advice. So, it goes...

A-D-V-I-C-E.

Yeah.

Is there anything else that comes to mind when you read that riddle?

I really can't see any other words.

So, everybody in the world needs it, they need advice.

And advice can be really generously given,

but they rarely take it.

-But the people that give it...

-I can't...

I can't really think of anything else. Try that, try an A...

..D...

..V...

..I...

..C...

..E.

Yes!

The hardest part of the challenge that I found was the time pressure.

It was really nerve-racking knowing that, just a few seconds away,

we could have lost another precious ring.

I feel delighted that I managed to win a ring.

I didn't think I'd be very good at riddles, but when he said, "Advice,"

and I saw the letters, I had a boost of confidence,

and I think I'm really lucky to be put with Kaichir

as a partner for this challenge.

Sharow, Scona,

you must follow the same rules if you are to continue on this path.

Tease out the answer from this riddle...

..and you can pass onwards, each adding one more ring to your hoard.

Are you ready to answer the Riddle of the Rocks?

-ALL:

-Yes, Raven.

Your time begins as soon as I turn this sand.

-BOTH:

-"I am the only thing that always tells the truth.

"I show off everything I see.

"I come in all shapes and sizes, so tell me what I must be."

-OK.

-Comes in all shapes and sizes.

-Always tells the truth.

-Always...

-Show off everything I see...

-Let me reread it.

"I'm the only thing that always tells the truth.

-No matter what, you can't change...

-"I show off everything I see."

Everything it sees, it shows.

Is it M-I-R-R-O-R, mirror, maybe?

-Mirror.

-Time runs short.

"I come in all shapes and sizes, whatever it sees..."

-Yeah, it must be.

-So,

M-I...

..R-R...

..O-R.

It felt really great to have Sharow along with me to do the riddle.

I think we make a great team together,

because we worked really well.

All warriors successfully solved the Riddle Path,

meaning each gain a treasure ring to add to their hoard.

Sharow and Scona now lead the way with eight rings apiece.

Cersage and Kaichir trail with six.

One challenge remains before today's end.

Who will claim the treasure it offers?

Now, follow me, warriors.

With the dangers of the Riddle Rocks behind them,

the warriors must find a way to evade Nevar's demons.

They must brave the peril that is Dead Man's Gorge.

Nevar's demons travel all across this land,

seeking unwary travellers.

Here at Dead Man's Gorge,

demons await us at the bottom of these rapids.

They block our way forward, but yet forward we must go.

Each of you must jump down, plunging into the icy flow below.

Swept along by the currents, you will be carried downstream

to the pool, where the demons stand guard.

Golden rings hang above the rapids.

Grasp at least one of them, and you may pass the demons unharmed.

Fail to do so, and you will pay the price.

Are you ready to take on this journey?

-ALL:

-Yes, Raven.

-Then let the challenge begin.

Sharow leaps fearlessly into the rapids,

but bravery alone does not earn treasure.

Sharow is fighting these powerful waters with all his might,

and has claimed a golden treasure ring.

Five precious rings can be collected from the perilous course,

if the warriors have the strength.

Swept away, Sharow risked failure in this challenge,

but with one ring taken, he passes the demon unharmed.

On the first one, I tried to reach it, but I was just a little bit off.

I nearly grasped it.

I got hold of this ring, and it was quite easy to catch them.

The next three were quite a lot higher,

so I'm happy with myself that I at least got one.

Cersage leaps like a stag,

but her reach is still short of the ring.

Cersage gains a treasure ring.

These ice-cold waters can overwhelm all but the most resilient warriors.

Before I jumped in, I felt really nervous,

and I didn't know what would happen.

It was brilliant.

I just, like, really couldn't reach them.

Scona achieves what her fellow warriors could not,

leaping to reach the first ring.

After a strong start,

these cursed waters make things difficult for Scona.

The easiest ring was the one I jumped up for, definitely.

I only got two rings.

I think that I went under for way too long,

so my strength wouldn't let me get back up to catch the next ring.

The hardest one was the second one,

because the tide was pulling me out to the other side. I couldn't reach.

A mighty leap from Kaichir sees this brave warrior claim the first ring.

An interesting technique.

By back paddling against the current,

Kaichir is able to steer himself to the next ring.

A near-perfect performance from Kaichir.

Four rings are added to his hoard.

I really enjoyed that. I only missed one ring.

Because I was an underdog,

to get four rings in this challenge is great.

Yeah, I was really happy with that.

My last challenge, I was really confident that I would do well

in this challenge, and I was right,

and I'm hopefully going to keep up this good streak,

and it's got me in a better mood.

The warriors showed skill and courage to survive the demons' trap.

Kaichir sees his hoard increase by four.

Scona claims two rings. They now share the lead with ten.

Sharow and Cersage each claim one ring,

meaning Sharow is just behind our leaders,

while Cersage has some catching up to do in tomorrow's challenges.

Now, come forth, warriors. We have escaped the demons,

and must find somewhere to camp for the night.

Warriors, we have reached the end of today's journey.

The four of you have proven yourself valiant and true of purpose,

and have earned your rest, but take heed, for on the sun's next setting,

all things will change.

For tomorrow, the warrior with the least number of rings will leave,

and return home. Nevar hunts for you yet,

so stay this night under my protection.

I will hold back his demons until the sun rises.

Then your quest begins again.

And soon, we will discover who will become a true warrior.

Next time - these four warriors continue on their quest,

facing four more challenges,

but at the end of the day, the warrior with the least

number of rings will have to return to their homeland.