The Admiral wrote:It was apparently inside the display case for the miniatures at the Spiel Essen Avalon Hill reveal.
HispaZargon wrote:Exactly. It is this two-sided parchment piece, supposely written in 6 languages, 3 per side
That explains why I couldn't find it anywhere--thanks for posting it.
I tend to agree with something Foilfodder alluded to, that New Dawn has something to do with First Light, and I think it'll probably be in the nature of a sequel (after all, a "new dawn" breaks immediately after the "first light" is glimpsed over the horizon).
If that's the case, this "prophesy" could be interpreted either as focusing on the heroes' side or on Zargon's side. They both start from the same point:
"The New Dawn is on the horizon and will be ushered in by flames."
If this is referring to First Light, "ushered in by flames" could indicate the role the dragon Aloutia will play in the coming conflicts.
From here the interpretations would diverge if it's intended to focus on the heroes or on Zargon.
First, thoughts of it focusing on the heroes:
"The chosen ones will emerge from their spirit slumber and assume their destinies once again."
This could refer to Rogar and company as wallydubbs suggests.
But, if this is intended to be a Quest Pack continuing events started in First Light, it sounds to me like it might be referencing the SeerScale Dragons. Once she's hatched at the end of First Light, Aloutia describes herself as being "born again." Could it be that the place where she goes "where none shall find [her] until [she is] meant to be found" is where the rest of the SeerScale are "slumbering" until they're also "born again?"
"Then guiding light will be extinguished for a time... but they can reignite it by holding fast to hope."
This could mean that Aloutia will be captured/fall in battle and the heroes will have to find a way to bring her back.
Now focusing on Zargon:
"The chosen ones will emerge from their spirit slumber and assume their destinies once again."
Perhaps the "chosen ones" are Zargon's picked leaders/allies/generals. It could refer to the return of foes already encountered and thought defeated/destroyed, like Grak, Abraxus, etc. This might even include old enemies from more ancient times, coming forth again in the present, like in the case of the Witch Lord and the Frozen Horror. (If Call of Dread is actually connected to the New Dawn in any way, this could explain why some of the figures don't seem to quite match up to any previously encountered foes.)
"Then guiding light will be extinguished for a time... but they can reignite it by holding fast to hope."
All will seem to be lost. Perhaps Aloutia is converted to Zargon's side just as Sir Ragnar was and now Zargon has his own ability to see the future, making him a match for Mentor and Loretome.
Admittedly, these may prove to be some wildly far off speculations.
Right now I'm inclined to think that the major reason why the Call of Dread figures are being produced is to provide more plastic and unique enemy figures for those people who only have First Light as their game system.
However, the fact that this pack is the first one made in Vietnam (or have I missed any others?) instead of China, makes me wonder if this is an indication of how Avalon Hill might be planning to move HeroQuest forward in the future.
Let's assume for a moment that the production of First Light was an attempt to make a less expensive version of the game not just for retail, but as an alternative for everyone. In order to prevent the line from becoming branded a "cheapo" version of its former glorious return, therefore, Avalon hill must provide versions for both hardcore gamers willing to pay the higher expenses (within limits) and newer, more casual players who aren't willing, or don't have the resources, to continue paying a hardcore gamer's prices. Also, with tariffs and other global economic pressures, Hasbro/Avalon Hill may have been struggling to find a cost effective way to produce the game and still make a profit. (This might partly explain the virtual stand still of production in 2026.)
Maybe the result is to produce new figure packs separate from the Quest Packs. The Quest Packs could still have new figures, but only cardboard stand up versions, like in First Light. To accommodate the hardcore gamer (or Ye Olde Inn members, if you prefer), the separate figure packs could come out first and act as teasers for the new Quest packs. It could be argued that this process has already been tested to a small degree with the Rogue Heir of Elethorn and Path of the Wandering Monk being teasers and add-ons to MotM and AtOH.
Like I said, at the moment I don't believe this is what's actually happening, but it is possible.
