This is an excerpt from the Introduction chapter of Health Quest.
Introduction
“What did you mean in there, when you were talking about that stone?”, you ask, looking back and forth for any
of his friends who might be trying to get the jump on you.
“T’was called the Healthstone, and who wants to know?”
“I’m just an adventurer, always on the lookout for more gold. You say that the stone is worth a fortune and you have a map to get to it?”
“T’is not just a map, but directions just the same. If you want to know more you’ll have to pay for it.”
“How much?”
“Hmm, 5 gold pieces.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.” You turn and start to walk up the street. The thief makes a grab
for your arm and you begin to draw your sword. He backs up hastily.
“Beggin’ you pardon m’lord / m’lady. But the knight who gave me the scroll said that the stone had more
to it than just coin. He said it was magical.”
“Uh-huh. Go on.”
“He said, that the stone had the power to give good health to you.”
“Oh really.”
“Shure. An he also said there was more magic than that but he could’na tell me more since t’was more than he twigged.
But it was shurely magical.”
“Right, except when you followed the directions in the scroll, you ran into bad luck. Seems to me like the scroll is cursed.”
“Not bad luck m’lord / m’lady, bad creatures. They attacked me ev’ry time I tried to follow that damn scroll.
Maybe t’is cursed, but maybe t’is the price you must pay to get to the stone. Me, I don’t need that there kind of trouble.
But you m’lord / m’lady, you look like you could deal with the likes of what I found, or found me as it were.”
Sensing that the thief was trying to flatter you to make a sale, you nevertheless are intrigued by the story. You have
just one more question. “So why did the knight give it to you?”
“He said he had to pass on the scroll as the last part of his quest. Right strange he was in jus’ giving it
to me but he said he had to. An’ when I asked if he got the Healthstone he just smiled an’ rode on. Shure and that’s the honest truth.”
You ponder the story for a while and don’t really believe most of it. But you’ve got nothing better to do for the next
while and a little distraction might be just the thing between jobs. You decide to make an offer. “Two gold pieces for your scroll.”
...
Now that you have the scroll you open it to read it in the light spilling out of the tavern windows. It is hard to make out,
but the top part of the scroll reads as follows:
“Be these directions to the Healthstone, a gem of immense power, yet one that anyone can attain should they have the will
to do so. The Healthstone will confer great health to any who should touch it and many other powers in addition, yet the way is
difficult and laden with challenge. If ye be of courage and a stout will, then follow the directions herein.
If ye truly believe, then go north out of the city on the Silver Mountain trail. If ye believe not, then pass me to a more worthy possessor”
If you decide to take the quest, turn to Chapter One. If not, then give this book to a more worthy possessor.
