Twenty ninth day of eleventh month of forty third year after the foundation of the Union.

Bertram Hanlen Paladin for the order of Torm.

As a boy he had looked over the bay at the large trading ships that sailed into the docks of Greyhaven. Gisborne the city he had grown up in sat opposite the mighty elven city across the bay of plenty. He yearned to sail on the ships in search for adventure.

It was a small city more a fishing settlement though it was know for its wines and wheat fields. His family had a successful music shop. His father had made all sorts of musical instruments. Some had even been sold in Greyhaven to the elves.

Although Bertram had been taught to tune the different musical instruments. He did not have his father's calling for making the musical instruments. Instead he yearned for adventure and so he joined the local order of Torm.

He remembered the trip from Gisborne to the Capital on the way he had caught a small ship across the bay and entered the city of Greyhaven. He was impressed by the sights of the great city. His first taste of adventure.

Then they had then travelled to the capital of the Union. When he arrived at the capital he was disappointed in the rustic human city that failed to make an impression after seeing the great trading port of Greyhaven.

The monastery which the order of Torm made their headquarters was on the edge of city. His dreams of adventure did not aventuate at the monastery. As a novice palidin he given a routine of lessons about Torm and combat training.

The only hint of adventure was when they would enter the catacombs under the city and hunt undead as part of their combat training. Throughout all these excises Bertram did his best and he excelled in both the combat training and clerical lessons but he still yearned for an adventure.

When the war broke out between the Union and the Confederation he had hoped that he would he would be chosen to aid the army in war. The Granaster had chosen a lot of the older experienced members of the order which also included his best friend Waldrom.

Waldrom went off on the adventure. Leaving Bertram to continue with his madane lessons and training.

Finally he had been chosen by the Grandmaster to accompany him on his trip to the elven city of Dyffryn Dwfin he thought that he would experience the adventure he was yearning.

Instead they journed to the newly constructed union fort which lay outside of the city. He felt for certain that his dreams of adventure would be thwarted.

So when Grandmaster had decreed that he would accompany the union soldiers to the mine and join them as they fought the enemies of the union.

Finally he felt he would get the excitement and adventure which he had waited years. However it was a bitter sweet experience because they had confirmed that his best friend had been killed.

The journey to the mine was fairly uneventful. They passed a huge nest of giant spiders. But the elven scout that guided the company showed them how to safely avoid the webs of the giant spiders.

He saw one of the huge beasts sitting in the web up amongst the branches of the trees. The spider was the size of a small dog.

The elven scout had claimed that the spiders that grew much larger some he claimed were bigger then the horses.

Some of the soldiers laughed and claimed that elf was surely jesting. Though Bertram did note that those same soldiers edged away from the nest.

It was from these spiders that the elves from the confederacy made their famous spider silk clothing.

Silk clothing that were stronger then steel. The elves charged a fortune in producing the silk.

Some claimed it was one of the reasons the Union had invaded the confederacy was to get their hands on production of the silk.

Bertram had learnt from the sergeant that currently based at the mine were one Monster elimation squads.

Part of the reason he had yearned of adventure was that he had grown up on the stories of the monster elimation squads.

The squads were tasked with cleansing the union monsters. The squads were usually made up of four to six members. They were tasked with handling the monster threats

The successful squads were sought out to handle the most difficult monsters and dungeons.

The squad at the mine were not the most famous but they were still many stories of their exploits. Such as when they captured the feared bandit Mad Dog Simmons.

They were also known for clearing out the dungeon that rested near the city of Corrinton. The dungeon had been infested with all sorts of foul creatures.

The members of this squad included the wizard Manawydan fab Llŷr who had travelled near and far and was one of the greatest wizards produced by Greyhaven.

The warrior Mikula Selyaninovich who hailed from the frozen kingdom of Zkorolevstvo. He was almost seven foot tall and carried a huge axe.

Awewe Soldadu was a female warrior who came from the great northern continant. A warrior who had hunted jungles and savannah.

The final member of the squad was Charles Johnson a marksman of exceptional skill.

Bertram was excited to meet them. He hoped to hear of their latest exploits.

He was brought out of his thoughts by the scout returning from his reconancence ahead.

"There is something wrong at the mine"

The elf reported

"What do you mean there is something wrong at mine".

Captain Wayne responded

The elf continued

"When I approached the mine I could see no signs of the sentries and the gate is slightly ajar it feels wrong"

Bertram could see that the Captain was thinking.

"I'll go and check it out"

He volunteered

"Sgowt you go with Sir Hanlen and Sergeant choose two men and accompany them to the mine."

The sergeant taped two soldiers standing next to him and followed as Bertramn as he led them and the elf towards up the road that lead to the mine.

They quicklymquickly up the road and came into view of massive fortifications seemed to grow out of the mountain. It seemed like the were heading towards a castle rather than a mining operation.

A flock of large black ravens flew over the fortification. The large birds were at least twice the size of the ravens he was used to back home.

As they approached the fortification it did indeed look to be deserted. No guards stood on its walls and the gate was indeed slightly ajar.

He drew his twin swords and stepped through the gate then he was shocked by what he saw.