Trudging The CessPonds

Within the kingdom of Gradaroff, there is a great disconnect between the cost of living for its common folk and it's high society. Where most other kingdoms have begun to transition into societies with far greater wealth for its people, Gradaroff has vehemently resisted such change in favor of dumping every ounce of coin it can back into its nobility. Peasantry here is delegated to the lowest of sections, poor houses are made into the norm for living space, and anyone with even a hint of a royal lineage stands over all others they consider to be below them with the lawmeister and guards turn a blind eye to nearly all of their activities.

You yourself have been part of the lower class for all of your life and have made ends meet by taking any odd jobs you can find from the farms and plantations outside the kingdom's walls. You have always wanted to be an adventurer, but understood that such a profession just isn't feasible for you. Gear and weaponry in Gradaroff are as expensive as silverware with even basic armor being far outside your budget. Even then, to go out and find such places that could house untapped riches are bound to be far from the kingdom. If the cost of transportation doesn't drain you dry, then the taxation of the Relics Guild most certainly will with any meager fortune you've found being ripped from your hands in the name of "historical research". Such an occurrence is unfortunately common place here, ensuring any riches claimed from ruins or dungeons is deposited straight into the pockets of its guild members. Unable to get around these restrictions, you are stuck living with five other people in cramped dirty room in Lucy's Home for the Poor, saving as much gold as you can and hoping that some day you may have enough to make your way from the walls of the kingdom to find your own wealth.

However, that chance comes far sooner than you think. One particular misty day in the kingdom saw many of its people a buzz with local gossip pertaining to one of the local nobleman, Daxter Fincharus. Upon further inquiry, you learned that Mr. Fincharus was apparently in the process of "disciplining" his personal guard as their most recent trip to the local gold keeper was met with unintended loss of loot. On their way to deposit the heavy chest of gold in the Lord's name, they stopped for but a moment to rest, placing the weighted box down utop an old rusty sewer grate. With two of them leaning on the box and unintentionally adding to its weight, the old grating gave way to the pressure, allowing the chest to fall into the sewers. Irrigation specialist have discovered that the particular sewer tunnel that carried the chest away most likely dumped the chest straight into the area behind the northern walls of the kingdom called the CessPonds. The sickly eyesore of a swamp is where all of the kingdom's sewage is diverted along with any other unwanted junk it's nobility may be too lazy to dispose of properly. The place is so foul and putrid that it's outskirts were surrounded by a massive stone wall to keep all of its filth inside with only a few small openings for sewer maintenance.

Mr. Fincharus has apparently given up on retrieving the chest, declared it lost. As per the law of Gradaroff, an item declared lost is made fair game for anyone else to claim so long as they can procure it first. This news had you grin ing from ear to ear in your bunk. This very well could be the golden opportunity you've been waiting for. The ideal form of treasure that isn't beyond your means of reach and can't be claimed by any guild or lord. That said, to attempt to find it would not be without its dangers. The swamp is avoided for more than just the smell. There are old ruins, witches, slimes, leeches, hostile plant life, natives, and other creatures that rome the rancid waters and mud patches. It will be a journey ripe with risks, but to let something like this pass you by would be foolish. You are done living a life of constant work and can no longer toil in field after field for a few copper a day. You'd rather risk your life out there in that swamp than spend another day in this mediocre hell.

With the little gold you've saved up, you managed to purchase on a suit of leather armor, a hide shield, and a one handed copper sword. It cost you more than you thought but this quest was one you would not walk away from. To afford it in full, all other possessions you had to your name had to be sold, and you did so with a smile for this was a trip you knew you needed to take seriously. A small price compared to the fortune that awaits you in that marshland. Determination guided your step forward as you made your way from the gates of the kingdom. Guard gave half glances or chuckled as the face they saw behind the simple gear came to view. You ignored it and continued your march, making your way down to the dirt path and away from this wretched place for the entrance of the CessPonds.

It is only an hour of walking before you catch the stink from a mile away. The oppressive shadow of the Kingdom's highest district Baths the area in a pervasive half dark. Though harder to see through, it is not impossible and only further motivates you to be free of this place sooner. Arrive at the large stone gates, the Kingdom's seal is emblazoned on the front, a circle with two proud hawks soring away from lit torch in the middle though currently split down the middle by the might door being left ajar. About two feet of open space is all that you have to slip through before going past the point of no return. Despite a few seconds of hesitation, you break past the seal and suck in your gut to slide through the gat. Upon emerging to the other side, you are hit with an unexpected surge in humidity. The air is thick and hazy with clouds of yellow to match the brown bubbling waters. Mirk and mud are everywhere here with any visible land masses slowly being disintegrated by continuous saturation. Some would probably turn into sink traps with the wrong amount of weight. Large blackened lily pads, thick tangling weeds, and decaying slimy willow trees are the few forms of life you can make out from the dense soupy air limiting your field of view. Croaks from various frogs and toads can be heard along with insect buzzing and a few random noises (some even human-like) echoing from deeper within. This will probably be just as difficult as it is disgusting.