The Hidden Hand

The Hidden Hand
Scenario information
Size	Medium
Difficulty	Advanced
Type	Campaign
Level cap	25th level
Campaign	A Matter of Life and Death
Initial heroes	Alita Eventide, Allenvale Ebis High Hand
Objectives	Retrieve the Ring of Light.
Loss condition	Lose all towns and armies.
Lore
Factions	Alita Eventide Hand of Light Barbarians
Player identity	Alita Eventide
Previous scenario	First Contact
Next scenario	The Dark Path
Maps
Surface map

"Having met up with her childhood friend Allenvale who has helped Alita get by some of the Hand of Light's defenses, both heroes now travel to the stronghold of the Hand using the informant's directions. The Ring of Light is said to be heavily guarded by the Cult in their mountain fortress, finding a way might not be so simple."

The Hidden Hand is the second scenario in the A Matter of Life and Death campaign in The Gathering Storm.

Information

"Having met up with an old friend and secured the general location of the two artifacts, Alita travels to the main headquarters of the Hand of Light where the Ring of Light is located. She must secure it at all costs."

Alita Eventide and Allenvale defeated the Hand of Light's barbarian allies, and with the help of the local Dwarves, they managed to enter the Cult's fortress and aquire the Ring of Light.

Strategy

Allenvale and Alita start outside a Preserve that will join them when they move close enough. Right next to it is a quest hut, promising 6000 gold and the Death Shield if they defeat Ungadin the Barbarian. The Barbarian player must be defeated to enter the Hand of Light's fortress anyway, and the Life Ward will be very useful when fighting the Hand of Light.

From the Preserve, the heroes can travel north and east, both paths taking them to a red Stronghold. On the way to the eastern Stronghold, an Armor of Death can be found near the southern edge of the map.

There are two paths into the orange player's fortress, both blocked by red gates, and the only red Keymaster's Tent is inside the Fortress. Luckily, a quest hut east of the eastern Stronghold will open a third path, if Alita defeats the red player and brings 70 Berserkers. The heroes can then enter the fortress, taking out the two orange Havens.

The last obstacle between Alita and the Ring is a Paladin known as Ebis High Hand. With Grandmaster Life Magic, an Armor of Life, a Saint Ranan's Staff, and a large force of Haven creatures, he can be challenging. When he is defeated, Alita can pick up the Ring of Light.