Saga of Contessa di Mare: Romancing the Stones

or,

Funny things that happened on the way to covenant

By Anonymous

The mighty Iron Mage himself spent long years in dusty libraries, deciphering ancient scrolls, and in doing so, he discovered accounts of this Faerie Lord. Verdenez was in love with a faerie princess known to Humanity as Contessa di Mare. Yet, there was a dark presence mentioned, one who wished to sow discord among them. He was a being known only as Epais. The account was narrated by someone close to Verdenez, maybe even a servant.

Faerie society seems to work like ours, with servants and nobility, but instead of King and Queen, Prince and Princess rule.

He also found mention of the Place known as Rocque Fort, where magi live in huts with villagers, or in fields with goats, and under the village, dark caverns filled with abominations to God are rumored to exist. The Mouton Rampant is the sign of Rocque Fort, cheese of horrible smell is its' main produce, and Rocs are know to fly there from Doissetep.

 Rocs of Doissetep are known to be five in number: Grandfather, Mother, Father and two chicks. They speak not, yet understand some people. They also sometimes take an intense dislike to people, or similarly intense liking, and those whom they like, they will carry upon their backs, but no more than two men on one Roc.

 And so, on the first day of the month of March, Our Brave Heroes left the wonder that is Doissetep and traveled bravely toward the forest of one Faerie Lord Verdenez, who was rumored to live near Ville Sur De Champs.

 The way was hard and perilous, yet they persevered, and, at long last, reached the dark forest, but not the village. Passing by the forest, from which many horrible sounds were heard, but nothing seen, they came upon a bridge. The resident troll was not in at the moment, so they helped themselves to shiny stones beneath the bridge, some of which were shown later to be more than they seemed…

 Therefore they passed to castle Gras, where the Lord Gras ruled. On the door there stood a Plaque commemorating the death of someone or other some 200 years ago. An old man showed them in, where several soldiers were practicing swordplay in the yard. The Lord Gras was old and fat, and liked to eat 8-9 times a day. All other inhabitants of the castle were forced to eat with him, all the time.

During the night, feeling some wrongness in the castle, our brave heroes stealthily moved to search the castle, and found huge stores of food, open for anyone to take. Searching on, they came to narrow staircase descending into the bowels of the Earth. Emanations of evil assaulted their senses, but they remained steadfast and continued on. Two forks there were in the cavernous passage, from right to left. First passage led them to a stone chamber wherein lay a demon in female form, yellow of skin and hair. Our heroes, judging the battle not necessary at the moment, noted the location and went on. The second passage ended underwater, leaving the last, which ended far away, in cave with a small pool untouched by human hand. That is, until Iron Mage dipped a finger in it.

 And so our heroes returned to the castle proper, and laid themselves to rest, ignoring the invitations to nightly meals. In the morning some inquiries had taken place, and Lord Du Bois found out about Lord’s wife who allegedly eloped from him some 20 years ago.

Thereafter they promptly left toward the forest of Prince Verdenez.

 On the way back to the bridge, they met two beautiful ladies, Alea and Iacta being their names, who were waiting for someone to accompany them to their home. Brave sir Simon volunteered to be their guard, for as he well knew, dangers abounded in the area. Iron Mage and his lowly servant Phillipe proceeded toward the forest, having agreed to meet sir Simon there when he completes his task.

As they left, sir Simon took his task to hand, and escorted the ladies. Along the way, they asked him about his intentions and companions, and truthful as he was, he spoke plainly and without embellishments. Suddenly, a disembodied voice cried out: “Alea, Iacta, leave the poor man alone!”, and our brave hero found himself suddenly under water. After a brief moment of confusion, he managed to swim up, and found himself some distance downriver from the troll bridge.

Wise as he was, he realized he was enchanted by faeries, and nearly drowned.

 Then he went to the forest edge, and called for his companions, thinking them near. Hearing what seemed to be their voices and following their tracks, he moved into the dark and deadly forest. His adventures there were many, as he fought the savage beasts, and resisted mighty glamour that was cast against him by the tenants of the faerie forest. He was even attacked by trees, but soon they fled in front of his righteous fury. As he raced through the forest after the fleeing trees, suddenly he found himself in the court of prince Verdenez. His companions were there, and he knew this time it was not glamour, but truth.

 The Iron Mage then presented the prince with the figure of Ardescus, bowing down to him. The prince was glad, yet he asked the companions to help him free the noble contessa di Mare, who was captured by the troll who lived under the bridge. The troll was put up to it by king Sous, who was king of the mountains to the west.

The companions naturally agreed, and so the party went forth. With them went Epais, who until then was kept in the cauldron, and mixed thoroughly by a gigantic man. Also with them went a broomstick-carrying boy (Broomy), who swept the floor constantly, a lady with a cup (Watergirl), several walking trees, and four weasels, one of them banging two stones together (Stonebanger), the huge man (Cauldroner), and small gnomelike creature whom our companions, for reasons unknown, called Gnoda..

The trip was strange, and sliced into pieces, as later they found out while discussing it. Iron Mage only remembered some parts, and Simon yet others. If Phillipe remembered anything, he didn’t mention it. At last the party came to foothills, and started the long and arduous climb. Creatures in Sous’s employ tried to cause avalanche, but Eagle-eyed Simon took 10 of them down with one well-placed shot, earning the gratitude of entire party. Up they went, and at last they came to a cave.

In the cave, behind a wall of rock, was a cauldron, similar to one in which Epais was kept. Brave Simon opened it, and out flowed contessa di Mare, and started screaming. The Watergirl sprinkled some water from the cup on her, and she stopped, and embraced Verdenez passionately.

Thus was contessa di Mare freed, yet Sous’s evil was still at large, for Stonebanger’s stones were stolen from him while all looked upon contessa. Then Verdenez shared a piece of Faerie wisdom with our heroes that they would not soon forget: The reason weasel needs the stones, was so it could bang them together. Then Verdenez gave the Iron Mage a reward for his troubles, and invited the companions to stay for the party. With heavy hearts, they had to refuse, for many more days of travel awaited them…