Map: Toran Rift (ToranTo.mx2 or ToranEx.Mx2)
As in the previous three installments, this map will 
have a supplimentary storyline carried out in text file.
(As a small map, this one only has two 'chapters', and
an intro./finale)

Author: Timothy Duncan (tduncan@haverford.edu)




INTRODUCTION - Toran Rift
	
	Perched upon a pedestal of bright orange rock,
Tar Voyl surveys the canyon below him.  He can see
the army approaching from the west, making its descent
into the almost lush valley known as Toran Rift.  
Rubbing his chin, he tries to make a judgement of the
size of the army that is quickly approaching.  From 
his best estimate, it numbers around five hundred 
men, many of which are highly trained knights.  Though
the army is strong, Tar Voyl knows that his is much
stronger.
	Standing up, the barbarian lord takes a minute
to stretch his arms and legs, when a scout clad entirely 
leather and animal skins comes running towards him.  The
scout jerks to a sudden halt, sending dust flying into 
the air.  After a quick salute and a moment to catch his
breath, he begins delivering his report. "Lord Voyl, 
it definitely is the army of Corribus.  He is well 
manned, sire, with some one hundred heavy cavalry and 
four hundred infantry, not to mention his sortie of 
knights and archers.  Perhaps it would be wise to hold
back and wait for.." he clears his throat, "HER to 
arive?" The man waits patiently, but Tar Voyl can tell 
he is hoping you will listen to his advice. After all, 
the scout will pay for it if a mistake is made.
	Tar Voyl chuckles.  "That witch woman doesn't 
scare me.  I lead my army the way I say it will be lead.
I'll have no woman barking orders at ME, let alone at
my army.  Besides, look at his forces.  Sure, he has lots
of men, but look what I have - creatures the size of trees.
They can crush ten swordsmen in one swipe of their huge
fists.  I have trolls who throw boulders, and ogres
with axes larger than a horse!  There's no way I can 
lose!"
	The scout looks nervously from side to side. 
"Beg your pardon, sire, but the wizardress says that we
are to wait until he is deep within the canyon, when all
the armies can converge at once.  It would not do to 
anger her, sire. She has..." he finishes with a whisper,
"..Magic.."
	Tar Voyl growls, "I know what she has.  I've 
seen jesters with more talent than that frail woman.
Magic is no comparison to a good sword and a clear head,
lad.  Remember that.  And how do we know he will go 
deeper into the rift?  If I attack him NOW, I know I 
can win, and we don't risk him going somewhere we don't
expect."
	The scout speaks in an exasperated, pleading 
tone, "Please my lord.  The wizardress has said that
he most certainly will venture into the rift, as he 
is looking for his finest general, Lord Bred of House 
Toran.  I-"
	Tar Voyl barely resists punching the scout in 
the mouth for his insolence.  "This is MY army.  I say 
when we attack and when we wait.  He is vulnerable now.
We attack now.  Tell my captains to prepare for battle."
	The scout bites his lip, trying to decide 
whether to argue the point further, but a quick angry 
glance from Tar Voyl reminds him of the consequences
of such an action.  With a quick salute, the scout turns
away and begins running towards camp.
	Tar Voyl turns and once again looks down across
the valley, where the armies of the knight called
Corribus march unknowingly into a certain death trap.
The barbarian smiles.  "Yes," he says aloud, "I shall
vanquish the knight, and Darrence's rewards will all go
to me..."  


Chapter1 (short) - Ambush???


	After surveying the results of the battle, you
can't help but wonder how you are still alive.  That
was quite a force raised against you.  But then again,
it could have been much worse.  Now that you think about
it, that was a terrible time for an ambush.  They should
certainly have waited until you were deep within the
Rift and then attacked you from several angles at once.
Either Darrence is very overconfident, or Tar Voyl, the
leader of the army which you just vanquished, wanted 
all the glory for himself.  Something tells you that
it was the later, and that there are other armies out 
there.  Better send a scout or two forward to scan the
area.





Chapter 2 - Unification of Friends.

	The prison cell is dank and dirty, as is Bred
when he emerges from it, but nevertheless he throws his
arms around you in happiness.  With teary eyes, he 
exclaims, "My Lord!  I thought I would never see thee 
again!  What happened?  Where did you go?"  Bred looks
around, "And Corribus, where is thy sister?  I'd love 
to see her again.  A face as beautiful as hers would 
help me to forget the last two months of darkness."  Bred
looks around as if expecting her to appear out of thin
air.
	With a voice filled with grief, you reply, "I'm
afraid that Catarina is... missing..."
	Bred stares at you in silence.  "What do you 
mean, she is missing?"
	Forcing back tears (no lord cries in front of his
men!), you croak, "We were separated.  I fear the worst,
but part of me believes she is still alive.  That is why
I must confront Darrence and Mok Choi at my beloved Castle
Holbark as soon as possible.  I know it is what Darrence
expects, but... I would never forgive myself if something
happened to her."
	Despite his filth, Bred seems to stand straighter.
"You will not be going anywhere.. alone, Corribus."  
You begin to interject, but he continues, "I'll not hear
it, sire.  I will be coming with you.  We shall retake
Holbark and put Darrence in a hole so deep and dark that
he won't be able to tell if he still lives.  But first,
we must retake Castle Toran.  Not only will it make a
perfect place to begin your plans, sire, but I have a 
personal obligation to slay General Taq.  He has been 
imposing harsh justice and taxes on my people, and for
that, I must see to it that he is made to pay.  This 
valley is not safe for us, now.  Darrence was planning
a major attack on your army, no doubt, and it is a wonder
you are still alive.  We must take Toran soon, for he
will not make the same mistakes twice.  Come, my Lord.
If Catarina is alive, we shall find her.  She is more
resourceful than you think."  Draping an arm around your
shoulder, he leads you back to your horses. 




FINALE - Desperate Measures

	It is dusk, and now another person stands on a
dusty cliff overlooking the valley of Toran Rift.  Clad
in a silver cloth that is a little too tight-fitting to
be considered decent, the Wizardress Mok Choi surveyed
the lands of her defeat.  This was supposed to be her
greatest victory; the knight Corribus walked right into
her trap, and then right back out again!  It was so 
infuriating how he managed to squeeze through all of her
carefully wrought plans.
	A hot wind blows past her, causing her to turn 
her head to the side.  In the distance, she can see the 
stately walls of Castle Toran.  That fool General Taq 
was too slack with his defenses.  Now Corribus will be
impossible to defeat until he makes his move toward 
Holbark.  And there is no guaruntee he'll do that for a
while.  After all, with his sister dead, he has no 
reason to move quickly.
	The shuffling of feet causes the Wizardress to 
turn around.  Two large soldiers were hauling a third, 
badly beaten barbarian.  One of the soldiers speaks up,
"Your Grace, we have found the man whom you requested.
He was hiding out in a seedy tavern in North Toran. Put
up quite a fight, he did, but he'll not be fighting back
for a long time, I would imaging.  He's had quite a 
beating."  
	Mok Choi's mouth turns up in a wicked grin.  At
least, she thinks to herself, she can punish those 
responsible for her misfortunes.  Aloud, she says to the
soldiers, "Bring him over here."  The soldiers comply
and drop him roughly on the ground.  The one on the left
kicks the barbarian in the stomach before pointing to 
his blackened eye and saying, "That's for me eye, you
filthy bastard!"  The soldiers turn and leave.
	The Wizardress kneels down to where the barbarian
groans on the dusty ground.  In a sugar coated voice, 
she whispers, "Well, well.  Tar Voyl.  How are you 
feeling?"
	The barbarian manages to pull himself together
and stand on shaky knees.  Recognition suddenly lights
his features, and Tar Voyl roars, "You?! What do you
want?"  He charges toward the Wizardress, but suddenly
doubles over in pain.
	"Now, now, my barbarian friend.  You wouldn't 
want to anger me more, would you?  No, I didn't think
so.  You have been very disobedient, my pet.  I told
you to wait, and your blundering has caused many problems
for me.  Now the knight is safe behind the walls of a
castle.  But you... oh Tar Voyl... you are anything but
safe."  With another wicked smile, Mok Choi, begins the
weaving of dark magic.
	For several hours, the screams of Tar Voyl 
ripped through the night and echoed off of the stone 
walls of Toran Rift, causing many of the peasants in the
towns below to look worriedly at the sky above them.  Of
course, the high pitched shreaks only lasted while Tar 
Voyl still had a throat with which to scream...

End, Last Hope, Part IV.  Please play the next map in 
the series, The Cave of Dreams.

Comments/Questions - tduncan@haverford.edu


