“Welcome to Grenton,” A large man clad from head to toe in leather armor stated as he picked his nose, “please state yer names and reason for visitin’ our fair town.”  Zeke didn’t think the man could sound any more bored if he tried. Standing next to the guard was an elderly man holding a stack of papers atop a wooden slab as well as a quill and ink.

“I’m Gerald sir, this is Dawn and Frieda. We’re here to explore the-“

“Yes, yes. Explore the Garden, in you go then. Next!” The guard called, motioning for the three to enter the walled town through the gate. The old man glared at the guard but quickly jotted down the information. The boy, Gerald, looked dumbfounded at the guard’s rudeness. Before he could respond to the guard however he was quickly pushed onward by one of his companions.

Zeke eyed the group as they walked into the town. The trio looked to be close in age, he guessed that they were no older than sixteen. They all had brown hair, the boy and one of the girls wore theirs short while the other left hers long. They all wore the same well-worn clothing often found on the lower-class populace. But while the girls held strong-looking wooden staves, the boy had a sword sheathed at his side. “Poor bastards,” Zeke muttered to himself as they disappeared from view, ‘If they’re smart they’ll gather herbs for a few days for cash, then ditch the rags.’

Zeke knew better though, they’d rush headfirst into the forest and be dead by tomorrow, if not sooner. His gloved left hand clenched the hilt of his sword at his waist before quickly unclenching it and clenching once more. A habit of his he hadn’t been able to shake despite attempting to for years. He shook his head and stepped forward as the line to get into the town shortened.

As another group of people entered the town Zeke shuffled forth, noting these looked far better equipped than the last group. Two wore plated armor while the rest toted leather while equipped with swords, maces, bows and a magical staff ‘Decent.’ All men and women had the capability to use magic, but not all could channel it successfully. In those that could however, it manifested differently. Rare was the mage who could use magic to attack from afar, rarer still for one to be able to heal wounds.

Before long it was Zeke’s turn to stand before the bored guard.

“Well look what we got here, if’n it ain’t young Zeke!” The guard gave a grin, revealing more than a few missing teeth.

Zeke smirked, “Hrund’s balls. Donil, that you?” The guard and him clasped arms. Before Zeke could react however, Donil pulled him into a bear hug and ruffled his short black hair. Zeke laughed, “You’re missing a few teeth more than when I was here last. Been getting into many brawls while I’ve been away?”

Donil grinned and released Zeke, “Not my fault you ‘venturers get rowdy after a glass of wine. Bloody lightweights.” The two laughed, “My but it’s been a long time Zeke. Six years since you been here last? And lookit you now! Full blooded ‘venturer!” Donil lightly slapped Zeke’s armor.

Zeke grinned, if anything he felt underdressed. He wore leather boots well-worn from travel, padded leather leggings with flexible iron knee-guards. Softened leather armor covered his upper body and arms. Over the leather he wore an iron breastplate. As for weapons Zeke only had his sword buckled at his waist with a couple throwing knives sheathed at his legs and behind the buckler strapped to his left wrist. His helmet and the rest of his weapons were left in the pack he carried

“If you think I look like an adventurer now, you should see me at full kit. Grabbed more than a few Burners before leaving Bintil.”

“’Bout that,” Donil began in a hushed tone and leaned in close. “Man in the guard hears whispers. Rumors if’n ya like. But I’d like the scoop straight from the horse’s mouth. What happened in Bintil?”

“Tell ya later Donil. The Waning Storm still around?”

“Yeah, Ol’ Gretts still serving deer piss disguised as ale too.” Donil and Zeke shared a laugh.

“Alright, I’ll board there then. When you get off duty tonight you can find me there.”

“Right.” Donil nodded and clasped Zeke’s arm once more. “Have a care boy, forests been same as usual but that don’t mean it ain’t as deadly.”

Zeke nodded and walked past Donil. Moments later he stood within the walls of Grenton, where cobbled streets led deep into the human jungle of brick and stone. People walked to and fro as children ran through the streets, voices meshing together into a cacophony of chaos.

Zeke took a closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Seems like its been a lifetime since I've been here last. I’ll say hi to Gretts and take a room at the Storm. I’m done sleeping on the ground for a few days. But first...’ Zeke gazed towards the sky with a smile. The day was still young after all.

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Frieda shivered as she walked through the forest known as the Garden of Hrund, a labyrinth of trees and vines. Gerald and his sister Dawn marched ahead at a brisk pace, one that she had trouble keeping. She clenched her walking staff with both hands, using it to help keep from stumbling over the uneven footing of roots and vines.

“C’mon Frie,” Dawn called, waving her friend forward, “Just think of this like the fields at home!” Both Gerald and Dawn had been the outdoorsy type in their home town of Opal Creek. Frieda couldn’t begin to count the amount of times Dawn had come to her home and strong-armed her into coming along with them. But this time Frieda had no one to blame but herself.

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Back in Opal Creek Dawn had let slip that she and her brother were preparing to hunt in the Garden of Hrund; all in an effort to make enough money for their families. Frieda knew that her family was in the same situation as her friend’s so she had insisted on coming along. Now, days later, in the very forest she once read about she was regretting her impulse on joining the two.

Her thoughts quickly swam through stories she had read about adventurers and the beasts they hunted in the various labyrinths around the world; Bears with hides of steel, wolves with fangs able to bite through metal armor, even dragons that breathed fire. Frieda felt her stomach drop at the thought of coming eye to eye with any of those beasts. She took a deep breath and redoubled her efforts to keep up with the group.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have brought her.” Gerald whispered to his sister as they walked forward. “She’s jumping at every bird call and frog croak. We’d have gotten so much farther in if we didn’t bring her.”

“Shut it Gerald, we all need the coin hunting here can provide. At least together we should be able to handle whatever comes our way.” Dawn whispered harshly in response.

Gerald nodded, he knew his sister was right. But he knew that Frieda shouldn’t be here. The girl was more of a bookworm than an outdoors type. He glanced back at her, noting that her forehead was matted with sweat. “Let’s take a break here sis.” He suggested as he leaned against a nearby tree.

“Wait, look!” Dawn called out and pointed.

Two large mushrooms stood directly ahead in the shade of a tree. The cap of the mushroom was yellow with white spots, the body a sickly white looking color. “What the…” Dawn whispered as she observed the mushrooms. Both had two long, spindly “arms” and looked to be rooted to the ground. Frieda took deep breaths as she stared at the mushrooms as well.

“Our first quarry!” Gerald announced to the group as the girls stared. He drew his sword in a flourish. “They don’t look like they’ll pose much threat. Let’s take them down here and now.”

Dawn readied her staff and took a deep breath, “Ready when you are!” she called. Together Gerald and Dawn charged towards their foes, yelling aloud as they ran.

“W-wait!” Frieda called weakly as she took tired breaths. “Something is…amiss…” but her warning was drowned out by the shouts of her friends.

“Take this!” Gerald yelled, stabbing forward with his sword at the closest mushroom. With a sickening squish, the sword found its way home and sunk into the flesh of the beast. Gerald yanked back on the sword, only to find it stuck. “What?” He questioned before the mushroom spewed a large amount of yellow powder from the wound, hitting Gerald square in the face.

“Blech!” was all Gerald could utter before falling to the ground, unable to move.

“Gerald!” Dawn yelled as she dodged a strike from one of the mushroom’s arms. She raced towards the wounded mushroom and began a flurry of strikes with her staff. The wounded mushroom rose from the ground and began to turn towards Dawn, withdrawing its roots from the ground and using them as legs to maneuver.

Noticing her strikes having very little effect on her foe Dawn reached for the sword sticking out of the mushroom’s cap and yanked with all her might. ‘C’mon!’ she shouted in her mind, gripping the hilt with both hands and kicking the monster with a booted foot. ‘I should be able to do this…why do I feel so weak?’ She thought as she tugged the stuck sword and pushed the mushroom with her foot.

“Dawn…watch out!” Dawn heard Frieda yell. She turned her head in time to see the second mushroom swing an arm towards her. Her dodge came too slow and the arm slapped her across her torso, ripping her clothes and sending both her and some of her blood flying. Frieda saw her friend hit the ground and not move. “Dawn!” she gasped and glared at the mushrooms.

Taking deep breaths, Frieda extended her hand, more infuriated than she ever had been before her in her life. She felt a part of her snap when she saw her friend fall to the ground and now she would make those who hurt her friends pay. The energy within her burned for release and she knew what she must do.

“Darkbolt.” She whispered and a small ball of energy black as a midnight sky shot from her hand. In the blink of an eye the bolt collided with the nearest mushroom. Black flames burned through the mushroom and in seconds nothing remained of the creature. Frieda gasped for breath and fell to the ground unmoving. ‘No…I still have the energy…I can kill the other one…’ But she couldn’t move no matter how hard she tried.

‘Why…why can’t I move…I’m fine! There’s nothing wrong with me!’ Frieda screamed in her mind, but her body wouldn’t move no matter how much she willed it. She couldn’t even blink her eyes. Searching through her mind she could only come to a single conclusion, they had been paralyzed. ‘But how can that be? I never got hit by anything.’

Unable to do anything but stare, Frieda watched the mushroom with the blade still stuck in its cap move towards Dawn. Upon reaching her unmoving friend the mushroom took root in the ground and stabbed her friend with one of its arms. Frieda wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. What she saw next made her sick to her stomach.

The mushroom’s arm looked to be drawing something from inside her friend in gulps. It was absorbing Dawn’s insides.