[b][u][center][color=forestgreen]Galen Derricson[/color][/center][/u][/b]

Gale's eyebrows rose in surprise, disappearing beneath his hair. This was [color=forestgreen]"Treason."[/color] he finished the thought aloud, answering Gren's question. [color=forestgreen]"Harboring information, plotting against the King, consorting with the [i]Elves[/i]."[/color] This was big, much bigger than their small village, and it was dangerous. In the village of Ferris, a slightly larger settlement to the north of Mashal, the king's agents accused the villagers of working for the Varden, no less than ten people were executed. That was over seven years ago now, but the event served as a perfect example of what could happen to them.

They should leave.

But Gale didn't want to.

Alph found something in the wall, or about the wall- didn't matter, Gale's curiosity wouldn't let him ignore it. He swung his axe after the others made room and promptly smashed through, as if the wood was made of paper. Which it was.

Frowning, Gale gripped the edges of the hole and pulled the paper away. The material had been changed, altered by magic to appear like wood, and stretch across a doorway, but it felt and acted like paper. It was masterful work, there were even real gaps between the plank-like sheets, but in seconds he had tore it all away to reveal a dingy stairway carved from stone leading deep into the hill.

There was a torch on the floor, and a small pile of flint beside it on the first step. Using his axe and a share of flint he lit the torch in only a few quick strikes. The dark of the room beyond abated slightly and he lifted the torch from the floor before it could scorch the stone, he then promptly handed it off to the nearest set of hands and raising his axe nervously. [color=forestgreen]"The letter said there was treasure."[/color] He admitted uncertainly, unsure what that information would do or mean, but it was the only explanation he had as to why there might be a secret passage in a strange but in the middle of the woods.