ToE Prologue 2

>Your eyes open slowly.

 

>You look up through the castle's collapsed roof. It's almost light outside. Dawn, by the looks of it.

>The rain has stopped.

>In fact, there's little to suggest it was pouring down only hours ago.

>No puddles, only a few damp spots on the ground.

>Your fire has burned out. But, it served it's purpose.

>After a couple of minutes, you sit up and get off the stone bench you were sleeping on. You don't feel tired, so you must have gotten your usual eight hours, at least.

>You decide to look around the castle before you leave.

>It must have been grand, centuries ago. The place is very well built, or, it was at least.

>Who lived here, anyway?

>Whoever it was, they must have liked horses. There are many horse statues like the ones you spotted last night. Some of the walls and archways have horses carved into the stonework, also.

>After looking around various rooms, you come across an old wooden door, which bares the image of two crossed swords.

>You approach the door, and push it gently. The door drifts open with ease.

>Through the door, is a small room. It's mostly empty, apart from some collapsed shelves and crates.

>You enter. The room isn't very bright, with only two small windows at the back to provide light.

>Your eye catches something in the corner, partially covered by a dusty, old cloth. What could it be?

 

>You move the cloth to reveal an old, wooden shield.

>It's quite dusty like everything else in the room, but it doesn't seem very worn.

>The front of the shield bares, what else, but the image of a horse's face. It's facing left, but it's eye seems to be looking right at you. It's mane is shaped in such a way that it creates a heart-like silhouette around the face.

>The horse also has a long, thin horn on it's head. Overall, the shield is quite pretty.

>And, from the feel of it, very durable.

>You decide to take it with you. It may or may not be worth money, but at the very least it would make a nice ornament.

>-Old Shield obtained!-

>You exit the room, and leave the castle.

 

>You decide to walk back to the bridge, and leave the forest the way you came in.

>This part of the forest is rather dull during the day. The tall trees blot out most of the sky.

>An hour or so later, you arrive back at the river bank. And then, you notice...

>...The bridge has collapsed.

>How on earth did that happen?

>There is barely anything left of it. Just a few broken wood planks remain on your side of the river.

>"Currrsesssss..." You mutter.

>You briefly consider swimming through the river, but decide against it when you notice the roaring current.

 

>You turn around, and begin walking back in the direction of the old castle. You'll just have to keep walking until you can find your way out of the forest.

>It's still early in the morning by the time you get back to the castle. You wander inside, and climb to the top of the castle's crumbling tower.

>You look around.

>Trees. Trees everywhere.

>In the distance, you see tall mountains.

>But there are no mountains in your country.

>You feel almost unsettled. Did they somehow appear overnight? Impossible.

>In any case, you can't just wait here forever.

>You can only just barely make out a village in the distance. You can also hear what must be a train's whistle.

>You decide to set off toward the distant village. Perhaps you can find help there...