Climbing the third hill since you left your home town, you hear a familiar roar and even more familiar shouts of panic. Speeding up your pace, you reach the top of the hill and see a village strewn before you, and a dragon spewing flames- though it doesn't look like any you've seen before.
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The dragon isn't all you notice: near one corner of the village, two dark elves and a mysterious man are locked in combat. One of them is frozen, wrapped in smoke from the man-who must be a wizard-, but the other is slowly approaching. As you close in, it turns towards you- just in time for you to attack!
You've made it to the castle, though something seems... off, and you talk to your halfling friend. "Of course it's creepy", he says. "This is the main headquarters of the elves." You agree but as you approach the drawbridge, still feeling wary, you realize what's been bothering you: If there are so many elves inside, why aren't there any guards?
If I were continuing this story, I would most likely have there be an ambusn after they cross the drawbridge, explaining why there were no guards: it was a trap!