The Mines of Isenhall - PNM/Pleasenotme

A long time ago, there lived an adventurer in a small village on the coast of Cobblethorn.

The village was small, but far from quiet. Heroes and traders from afar would cross the Hewbrim Ocean on their travels, and they would take refuge in the village of Gladham.

The adventurer often went hunting in the woods, which were dangerous, stocked with massive boars, but he ever craved for a greater adventure, something worth telling in songs and stories.

So one day he packed his rations, sharpened his sword, slung his bow on his shoulder, and made way to the Whittop Mountains.

A great mine lay there once, deep underground, and from there the Gold Seekers unearthed great treasures. But he mines were abandoned after they delved too deep. Rumour has it they woke a great beast. And then dark creatures began to roam the darkened depths, as many say.

Through green meadows the adventurer followed the road, with settlements of simple farmers scattered here and there. But as he went on, the houses grew sparse, the path faded into the surroundings, and the grass seemed colder, as he walked into a vale between the mountains.

At last, he reached a great stone arch that led into the mountain-face. He entered the stone hallway, which led to a spiral stairway. He followed the steps down into the cold and lifeless air below.

At last, the stairs ended in a narrow corridor, with more ways branching out. He stood in almost complete darkness now, the only light coming from a room ahead. The adventurer walked through the doorway.

A desk lay against the wall, and on it, the source of the light - a large oil lamp with a dim flame, the fuel nearly spent. Cobwebs arched between the walls. A dusty chest on the floor lay open, with some old cloth, ruined beyond recognition over the years. But next to it lay another chest. This chest was closed, but not locked. Lifting the lid, the adventurer found a pickaxe and an unlit lamp, along with some clothes, bread and some other supplies.

The lamp on the desk could not have been there for more than a month, and the second chest was newer than the first. Somebody had come here not a month ago, but hadn't left with their supplies - They were probably still here. Dead.

The adventurer lit the second map and began to explore the rest of the labyrinth. There were abandoned forges, storage rooms, and housing units. In one room, he found a blade made of solid gold No, not pure gold, the blade was alloyed with iron. The handle was of leather, and runes were inscribed on the blade.

He hung the sword on his belt and continued exploring. After a while, he came to a staircase leading down. Below, he heard the sound of flowing water. He descended into the moist air below.

The labyrinth continued. Water dropped from the ceiling in some spots, the sound echoing through the halls, making an eerie hum. Sometimes it sounded almost like footsteps, but there was no living creature in sight.

As the adventurer explored, the sounds grew ever more ominous. At one point it sounded like there were voices, deep, harsh voices. Occasionally a great clattering sound would fill the air, like a bundle of sticks falling to the ground. He kept moving.

In time, he found another stairway leading down. As he descended, and follow the widening corridor, he found himself in a grand throne room - or so it might have been once. Now cobwebs ran between the pillars and walls, and the stone bricks lay cracked and crumbling.

He exited the throne room through one of the corridors, and continued walking. Now the dripping sounds had faded away, but the footsteps grew louder. He could hear moans, echoing through the wide corridors, but he saw nothing. He thought to himself, no living creature lives in these mines.

And he was right.

Now the very air seemed to be darkening, his lamp seemed dimmer than it had been before. Then he stepped on something, which gave out a large cracking sound. He looked down, and to his horror found a skeleton.

There had been stories of people who had entered the mines, but few believed them because here was nobody who had been down there who could tell those stories.

Now the adventurer was terrified. He stumbled through the corridors, only to find that he was lost. He could not even find the throne room. And all the while, the sound of footsteps grew louder.

It was not long until he came to a great hall, with a pool of lava around the statue of an anvil. And in that hall, he found out the truth about the rumours.