This tale begins at a remote Dwarf tavern in the Brimstone Mountain Range.

This was the last known whereabouts of a legendary Dwarf prospector who mysteriously disappeared.

He claimed with the coming of Spring he was heading out prospecting for salt, which was rare in the Brimstone Range. He mentioned some distant unexplored valleys far to the southeast of the home range.

He proclaimed he would return by the beginning of the next winter, which was his annual custom–returning with unbelievable stories, loot, and new maps that were quickly copied for the clan’s archives. But the following winter arrived, and there was no sign of him.

The local hero was sorely missed. Some of his young kindred vowed to go searching for him the following Spring.

After wandering around for weeks looking for clues, the Dwarfs happened upon a solitary Bretonnian hunter, who claimed he saw their uncle passing through his camp in the Spring of last year. He traded some of his venison for some of the prospector’s ale. He regretted the trade for the ale was extra strong, and it impaired his hunting for weeks. Yet, the young Dwarfs were encouraged with news that they were on the correct trail.

After a few more weeks of wandering through empty valleys, the Dwarfs happened upon a vagabond Dark Mage, who spoke little. He pointed them towards a high mountain pass. However, the motives for his directions were highly suspicious to the Dwarfs. But, they bravely decided to climb the pass, hoping it would lead them to their uncle.

When the Dwarfs ascended the pass, they were alarmed by a column of black smoke rising from far below in the dry desert valley bottom. They proceeded to investigate. As they approached, their minds were tormented by flash visions of burning doom. But they bravely continued to sneak toward the scene.

To their surprise they found a host of blood daemons gathered around a burning pit. The Dwarves quickly retreated, barely avoiding detection. They hastily returned to the Brimstone Clan to report what they found.

The War Council was called to an emergency meeting. They were concerned about hearing no further news about the missing prospector. But they were more alarmed upon hearing that a Daemon host was seen on the fringes of their range. They decided to send a war band to dismantle the Daemon uprising.

The prospector’s kin guided the army on the month-long march to the desert valley, where it appeared that the Daemon host was still gathered.

The Daemon host was expecting them, and ready to give them battle.