You suddenly find yourself on a narrow trail in the forest where crushed leaves and grass cover the ground. Tall willow trees cast shadows over the ground, and the scents of freshness and growing plants mingle on the evening air. Spiralling vines wind their way through the branches, and the gnarled roots from the trees lie half-hidden by the foliage. The sound of a distant owl echoes. You turn around, realizing that you have lost your way.

You begin to run down the path, not sure what direction you came from. As you venture deeper into the forest, the scene changes. The freshness of the night is replaced with decay and rot and the gnarled roots seem to rip at your ankles. Frightened, you push further into the forest and ahead of you, you see a faint light. Not knowing what else to do you race towards it. As if on command the forest stops and you find yourself standing in front of a huge wall with an old iron gate. Now knowing you are completely lost you reach out and as if pushed by an unseen hand the gate opens and you step into the town of Ravenholdt.

You pass through the gate into a gloomy covered walkway. Moss clings to the dank, wet stones of the walls, faintly glowing a sickly green colour, and cobwebs hang from overhead. You hear something scuttling in the darkness over your head, but can't see it. The narrow path twists and turns a few times, then suddenly you see light ahead.

After one last turn, you emerge into a lit area. It looks like it was once a bright bustling town square, but time and apathy have broken it down. What was once a clean, clear fountain in the middle of the square is now cracked and broken, filled with brackish, algae covered water.

You look around at the buildings. You can see one that you think might have been the bakery, if that really is a loaf of bread on the broken sign, and another that must have been the blacksmiths shop, but the anvil now lays on the ground, halfway out the broken down front door, slowly rusting away. An eerie howl pierces the night, coming from the forest near by. You quickly hurry on further into the town. You see light coming from one of the windows up the street, and move towards it. As you get close, you see someone look out the window and spot you. He quickly slams closed the shutters, and shuts the window.

As you continue on, you look down an alleyway, and see a few people dressed in rags huddled around a fire, trying to ward off the chill air of night. They look at you, and you see desperation in their eyes. They haven't given up on life yet, but you wouldn't place any bets on what tomorrow will bring. Further on, you see some buildings that look occupied; with low voices, and faint light leaking out from behind closed shutters. Hurrying on, you approach one that has a sign out front that says "The Broken Sword". There is more noise coming from here than any of the other buildings. You hope this is the tavern.