"I need to go home..." Saldrin thought to himself. He missed the woods and trees of Surefall Glade. He had spent many months among the northmen of Halas - hunting the great Mammoths there. He'd learned to speak their language and had come to feel a great sense of kinship with them. "They are a people much like the land they inhabit", he once told a friend, "they can be cold, harsh and unforgiving, but - they have a majesty and unique beauty as well. Aye, and they can be very deadly - as can Everfrost."

He was snapped out of his reminisces by a gust of cold wind. He shivered and pulled his cloak tightly around his shoulders. "I'll go back to Halas, bid my farewells and then I'm going home. Its been too long", he thought. As he made his way back to Halas, he noted an odd track in the snow. Closer inspection revealed its nature. "Snow Trooper" he said to himself. He had fought them before and felt a burning loathing for the vile Orcs. He took up the track. The Orcs were not subtle creatures, easy to track - but they were strong, tough adversaries. He caught up with the beast very near a place the Barbarian hunters frequented. Undoubtedly this Orc had in mind to harass the hunters, or find a lone traveller to waylay. Unfortunately, this Orc "hunter" did not realise that he was now the hunted.

Saldrin readied his longsword and parrying dagger and began the incantation for the spell "Flame Lick". He felt the magic well up and flow through him as he completed his casting and felt a grim satisfaction as the flames lept up around the vile creature. The orc charged. Saldrin was taken somewhat by surprise by the speed at which the orc moved through the snow. His sword had barely cleared its scabbard when the orc was upon him. He avoided the beast's first blow, easily ducking under the arc of the rusty broadsword the orc caried. The Snow Trooper quickly followed with a hard punch that stunned Saldrin momentarily. "Tough one", he thought. Saldrin again attempted to cast the Flame Lick on the Orc, but was struck by the orc's blade and he lost his concentration. "Enough of that", he thought. He set his feet and went to work with the fine steel longsword he carried. They traded blows for several minutes and Saldrin slowly gained the upper hand. The orc attempted to break and run. Saldrin quickly cast an ensnaring spell. The orc, too injured to move in the spell's grasp, was easily dispatched. A rusty broadsword and a few silver were all that the Orc had carried.

Saldrin took these, then kicked the orc's body down the slope of the hill upon which they had fought. Saldrin then healed himself as best he could with the minor healing spells he had learned during his training at the guild hall in Surefall Glade. He was hurt worse than he realised. He again pulled his cloak around him. Then set out through the mist and snow for Halas - then home.