The Lost Rune is the prologue Quest given to the player as part of the tutorial in SpellForce: The Order of Dawn.
Description
Tahira, an Rune Warrior is visited at her home in the outskirts of Ankbrand by Caele, an old friend, who asks her for help regarding the retrieval of a special rune on behest of Rohen Tahir.
Tahira agrees to help, starting with finding Lev and Joshua who accompanied Caele on this mission. She finds and heals Lev who was wounded in battle, and eventually reaches Joshua who briefs her on the situation. The Rune they are after is in possession of the Orc chieftain Krong who has set up camp inside the ruins of the old city.
Tahira uses her rune powers to summon an army powerful enough to break through to him, dispatching orcs and Goblins along the way, until finally slaying Krong and taking the rune from him. The rune is brought to Joshua, who then gives it to Rohen.
Walkthrough
Search for Lev and heal him
“ Lev got left behind on the way. He badly needs healing. ”
— Quest log
After the opening cut scene, follow the last to the east, complying with the tasks the tutorial gives you. After passing a bridge, you will find Lev next to a lake. Use your healing spell on him.
Search for Joshua and talk to him
“ Joshua is hiding somewhere further south, near the ruins of Ankbrand. He should have more information on the Rune's whereabouts. ”
— Quest log
Continue along the path until reaching an old graveyard. Defeat the Undead in it and head south into a small human village. Purchase the required worker rune for a merchant and head through the south gate until you see Joshua next to the monument. Talk to him.
Destroy the first Orc camp
“ The ruins are occupied by Orcs. Their first camp should be easy to take. ”
— Quest log
Build up a base an summon a sizable army. Once you feel ready, head through the eastern gate from your monument and attack the orc camp on the hill behind it. Destroy all units and buildings in it for the quest to continue.
Destroy the second Orc camp
“ The second camp seems to be better defended than the first; it will be harder to take. ”
— Quest log
Recruit some more units and continue eastward. Once you are nearing the second camp, a small group of Orcs will attack you. Push through them, enter the camp and kill Krong. Once all the enemies are dead, loot the rune from his corpse.
Take the rune to Joshua
“ The rune has been found! Now you need to take it to Joshua, so that he can give it to Rohen, the Circle Mage. ”
— Quest log
Return to the monument and talk to Joshua. A small cut scene will play after which you can proceed to the main campaign.
After this quest, the player has the option to continue south instead of exiting right away. This can be useful as there are tips for the various mechanics in the game there. They can be obtained by getting close to statues scattered around that area.