Balandor walked along the battlements at a moderate pace. Neither with haste nor dawdling. His gaze wandered from the walls down to the vast plains. As he looked around, the many metal ornaments crafted into his deep brown braided beard clattered against his shining plate armor, under which was also chain mail. Polished was the armor, but still one could see many small scratches and nicks, indicating the many years of front line combat. His weather-beaten face twisted into a scowl of frustration as he surveyed the many hordes and monstrosities outside the walls. There are more and more of them, he thought. No matter how many smashed against his walls, more kept coming. Each attack increases in intensity and the pauses between attacks have shrunk from what used to be several lunar cycles to a few daily cycles. How many more times will he and his fighters be able to withstand these onslaughts? Balandor shook his head and with it the dark thoughts. The typical stubbornness of the dwarves spread through him again. He is like the stone from which the mighty walls of the East Gate are made. Insurmountable. His gaze now slid into the inner courtyard of the fortifications built to defend the portal, guarding one of the three great entrances to the protected valley. A motley assortment of new recruits stood almost motionless in line in the courtyard. They were fresh from the inner lands and not yet familiar with the permanent struggle for survival at one of the great passages. Although they tried to look disciplined, he saw uneasiness and sometimes even fear in many faces, whether human, high elf or dwarf. But doubt leads to hesitation and hesitation is the first step on the road to defeat!
"For 150 years!" raised Balandor his voice over the courtyard, focusing his steel-gray eyes on the young warriors in the courtyard. "For 150 years I have been captain of the Eastern Passage! For 150 years I have been responsible for the defense of this place! For 150 years it has been my duty, as Constable of the Eastern Wall, to protect the valley! For 250 years I have always been in the front line of defenders here! And as long as I breathe, as long as even a drop of blood flows through my veins, and as long as even a last spark of life lights the hearth of my heart, as long as, Palandria be my witness, I will hold the Eastern Gate and protect the Valley!" He took a deep breath and once again let his eyes roam over the ranks of recruits. "And now it is up to you, my brothers and sisters, to support me in my task. Fight with me side by side! Together, let us not retreat one step! We are the Alliance of Light! We are the triumvirate of dwarves, high elves and humans. We are blessed with the light of Palandria! Let the enemy hordes feel it!" He took the great horn at his belt in his left hand and at the same time stretched the perfectly forged and gold inlaid double-headed axe aloft with his right! "For Palandria! For the protected valley!" he shouted with full fervor and then blew the horn with all his might. The sound bounced off the slopes of the mountains and echoed across the vast plains. The recruits in turn responded with "For Palandria! For the protected valley!" and pounded their fists on their armor. The fear had gone from their faces and courage and pride were now evident in their countenances. Balandor walked back to the battlements with a smile and looked into the gathering ranks of enemies launching another assault on the wall. He just knew it... today the wall will not fall!