The Mysterious Beast, take 2

The thunder continued to rumble across the skies, while the rain poured down on the workers returning to their homes from their field work. During the middle of the night, Adam Tolomane walked alongside his compatriots and discussed the going-ons of their village and the surrounding towns. After spending almost the entire day working around the village to safeguard it from the seasonal floods, the farmers fields still needed to be taken care of. The village had to rely mainly on their farmers ever since the High King's traders had mysteriously discontinued their trade routes to the southern province of Sequestered Valley.


Adam Tolomane; a strong, proud man, was respected by his fellow peers, neighbors, and workers. The villagers of the small community of Malenor differed to him with all issues that affected the low, working class. They gave him the attention one would expect for a governor, or a high-ranking nobleman; someone who had earned the title by the high king of Balashar himself. The same respect that should have been given to the ruling nobleman, Count Menneken Duball, provincial overseer of Sequestered Valley.

A man like him, with the gift of using his silver tongue to get just about anything he wanted, who had quietly and smoothly transitioned to the ruling count - replacing his own father, Regent Lord Bartholomew Duball - should be given the proper respect. Many of the villagers around the province had come to him for aid, but instead were turned away, paying more taxes, doubling the hours they had to work to make ends meet. People would whisper about the corruption that had befell their villages. Their concerns fell on deaf ears from the visiting nobleman from other parts of Balashar.

Things had gotten worse when Count Menneken had hired an outside military presence to help police the nearby towns. Police Chief Lord Victor Carlsburg urged Menneken to cancel the contract he had made with the mercenary guild known as the Ravenous Redeemers; a collection of vile, ruthless warriors, yearning for more gold in their pocket, and disposing anyone that would trouble them and their financial affairs in such a horrific way, that the villagers were all but afraid to step out of line.

No one would dare confront Count Menneken and his cronies. No one except Adam Tolomane. But Adam Tolomane is a family man, and that's what the townsfolk want. Someone who listens, and understands their issues.

As the workers continued their path toward their homes, the sound of hissing could be heard in the shadows across the fields. Something followed nearby, stalking the group of men in the thunderous night. The unsuspecting villagers were unaware of the threat lurking beyond the trees.