Finally.
We’ve finally arrived to Freehold, I thought it would never happen after our travels from Port Dawson and our ‘adventures’ there. The trek was long and we didn’t lose anyone. Just outside the boundaries of Freehold we were met by a group called ‘The Brotherhood of the Sword and Cross’, where they searched us and questioned us. One of them stood out, I believe he goes by the name Bryant Blackfoot, he was either joking, betting or joking about betting. The search happened very quickly and before I knew it we were being led to the Inn called Annie’s Inn in the center of town. The town was nothing special; a smallish Inn, nondescript rooms and cabins, and nothing out of the ordinary. But I’m promised that this is the golden land, where I’ll have the chance to make a name for myself. Although I didn’t think chasing mice out of the pantry for Annie would make a name for myself…
The town was on the empty side before the group of caravans I was with arrived. Now, the numbers are increasing and we’re all finding that Freehold is a quiet and peaceful town. The Brotherhood are basically the law bringers but you can more often then not find them in the Inn drinking and laughing along with the rest of us. Seems there is no threat for my sword. Dinner tonight was filling and the Innkeeper Annie was nice enough, not only is she the Innkeeper but she is in charge of the bank, mail and components. A very valuable person to have around, although her pockets are temptingly full. During dinner I noticed numerous miners joining us and talking about a mine close by. Isn’t a mine worth unmentionable wealth and glory among the Kingdom who claims it? I seem to be missing something since no one is jumping up to ask more about it and claim it, I’ll play along and keep quiet myself.
Just as we were digesting our dinners a loud rumble was heard in town… the mine! As the thought crossed my mind a few dirty miners came running out of the woods screaming that their friends were trapped in the caved in mine. This is my chance! Every single soul in the Inn dropped what they were doing and headed toward this mine. When we arrived we heard screams under the rocks and we all got to work moving rocks out of the way and bracing the rest of the mine roof. We were able to pull the rest of the miners out of the mine but along with them we found a large wooden locked box. No one was able to pick the lock but we found a riddle on the box, we figured this was the ‘key’ we needed. Trying to move the box we realized that it wasn’t possible to move. Of course, why couldn’t things be easy? While we continued to brace the roof the rest of us worked on the riddle and quickly opened the trap box. Inside was a scroll with a language on no one could read. We quickly escaped and retreated back to the Inn.
We met another man that night, William Grafton, seems like a trusting fellow. He later gave Doran, a River Folk Merchant, a cipher to translate the scroll we found in the box. Doran quickly translated it and we quickly learned that this quiet town has much more to offer then we originally thought. And that offer comes in the pretty color of gold.
Our first morning here and we’re already battered and bruised although I’m proud that we saved the miners and found our first treasure. Hoping this breakfast would be a relaxing one I quickly learned that nothing in this town is going to be relaxing when a group of Jotunbrud slavers join us. Very interesting conversations followed along with Annie serving them with a distrusting look in her eye. Not long after the Jotunbrud took their leave but before we could all take a deep breath Annie begin to scream! The slavers kidnapped her young nephews that were sitting on the porch and began to run off with them! We quickly dropped everything we were doing and pursued them into the woods. After the attempt to barter a fight quickly ensued. The good news was we saved the nephews and were able to bring them back to Annie for a handsome reward.
Next, around lunch we were attacked by plants! Yes, plants!
Will we ever have a relaxing meal? These mutated plants came out of no where… I thought this was suppose to be a quiet town. There were druids from the Dusken Vale causing problems. We later learned that they were responsible for holding the Earth Elemental, Charn, captive and were poisoning the town’s water supply by draining Charn’s blood into the lake. This was causing several plants to mutate and attack the town. Some of us held off the plants while the rest of us searched for Charn by the lake. When we found Charn he was severely weakened and being held by the druids. We quickly freed him and in return we were granted an Earth Elemental essence.
Not much later a scouting party found another Elemental. A Storm Elemental called Aeol who was captured by a group of Jotunbrud slavers. Once again we quickly freed him and were rewarded with a Storm Elemental essence.
Before we could catch our breath the scent of burning wood could be smelled from across town. Running over we came upon the Fire Elemental, Vanix, who was furious and very distrusting. We handed over multiple fire components in hopes to calm him down and gain his trust. Slowly but surely we discussed that we’ve already freed his two brothers and before we knew it he was handing over his Fire Elemental essence.
As we brought back the three essences we learned that the scroll that we found needed these three essences along with some orb. Unsure where we were to find this orb we quickly began to search the area surrounding the town before the orb pretty much landed in our lap. A trader that went by the name of Jin had an orb for sale. The price…unmentionable. Luckily the gold and components in this town flow like water, so the townsfolk banded together and help come up with the amount needed. With the four pieces that the scroll required William Grafton informed us that a passage off of the collapsed mine had a table with four empty spots. After some research we learned this is what we needed.
Taking a break we all sat down for the feast. The feast was, well, quite a feast! I don’t think a single person walked away from the table without a full stomach. The feeling of excitement can be felt throughout the Inn as we anticipated placing the orb and essences on the table and opening a grand treasure. This was finally our moment! And only two days after arriving to Freehold! The unspeakable riches!
Without another thought we decide to pick up and head off to the mine with the pieces to the puzzle. The trip to the mine felt like a dream. Before I knew it we were standing before the collapsed mine. Working together we slowly removed hundreds of rocks making our way deeper and deeper into the mine. Once the dust settled before us was the very table that Grafton mentioned. The table held spaces for each of the essences and a holder for the orb in the middle. Surrounding these spaces were treasures I never would have though I would ever see! Not being able to help myself I lunged forward trying to grab a few gold pieces and goblets but I was thwarted! All of the pieces were frozen in place with some sort of magic. Curses! Once we all realized that the treasure before us wouldn’t be held in hand until the pieces were placed we quickly surrounded the table and readied ourselves. Three of us held the essences while the Innkeeper Annie held the orb over the holder. Three other townsfolk huddled close with the riddle between them. It was required that three of them raise their voices loud and clear when reading it. Chills ran down my spine as the men recited the verses. One verse, two verses, three verses, finally it was time for us to place the pieces in their spots.
As soon as the pieces were placed the table shook and an eerie howl filled the cavern. Before our very eyes the table sunk into the floor and was covered by a piece of the floor. The howl increased until we were reduced to falling to our knees and covering our ears!! This wasn’t the treasure we were promised! We didn’t release any treasure… we released a horror! As the table sunk the wall was raised next to us. Out came the most horrifying vision I’ve ever seen! A disfigured form covered in a tattered black robe. The parts of the face and hands that we could see only a mother could love… if she were blind. Without another chance for us to take a breath after our horrified screams he began screaming wicked painful spells in a blood curdling voice. Knowing we couldn’t handle this new threat we all ran for our lives. Although a life was lost at this point and will be remembered.
Most of us didn’t see what was behind this monstrosity. Minions of sorts. Covered head to toe in black armor that I believe looked like some sort of hardened skin, weapons as long as any man’s leg, and the face and hair… I only glanced at it for I can handle no more. Hair fried and standing on end, the face molten and grimacing in pain. The deformed man and his armored rejects weren’t the only thing chasing us now. They also had smaller and weaker shadow minions with them. Minions for minions, what is this world coming to?
The next few hours were all a blur of screaming, howling, and fighting. Blood and gore. Pain and sorrow. We lost another life at this point. The townsfolk banded together and fought this small force that was being thrown against us! We were destroying the shadows and Primus was no where to be seen, but it was the Hunters that we were having trouble with. We began calling them Hunters after watching their style of hunting us each down in the woods and attacking us like animals. We weren’t making a mark! It was then revealed to us that the very Elementals that we earlier met with would be able to help us. They didn’t want Primus running around any more then we wanted him running around. Quickly tracking down each of these Elementals, two people of each group were granted the use of Immortal Bane on their weapons… but it wasn’t for free. We either had to slay the Elementals or give up a piece of ourselves. I’m proud to say all of the Elementals lived. Rushing back to the Inn we were able to fortify it and hold our ground against the Hunters. The Immortal Bane seemed to be actually affecting them but not as much as we would have liked!
I would be happy to end my story there but it continues! We THEN learned that Primus was off busy trying to free another horror called Wrath… we have a feeling he’s not the only one of this disgusting party. Rumor has it there are other brothers and sisters of Wrath out there. Thank the Gods we were able to thwart Primus and chain up the door that was holding Wrath back, I’m just praying that the chain holds.
Whew! What a moon this was! Now that I read back on my entry I actually realized I’ve forgot to mention many ‘little’ fights we’ve had along the way. No less life threatening but our biggest problem right now would be Primus and his little friends. I can hear the screams now in the woods behind the Inn. Annie is a sweet girl and seems to have real power lurking behind her gentle smile, but I’m not sure she can handle this all by herself. Looks like I’ve found my calling after all.
-Recovered from a young warrior's notes