kingdomvale

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Sister Lucretia, unexpectedly kind and caring. Sister Lucretia combines compassion with piety. She quickly became a favourite of the peasants at Crystal Lake.

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Ian's most recent concert in honor of the heros

Oooh wa oooh wa oooh....

When criminals in this world appear

And break the laws that they should fear

And frighten all who see or hear

The cry goes out both far and near

For Timothy, Sir Timothy yes Timothy

Speed of lightning roar of thunder!

Fighting all who rob or plunder!

Timothy, Sir Timothy!

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Brother Maynard. He is brave,honest,loyal...but not too bright.

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Ian the minstrel

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Ballek of Hobb’s End

The tale of Ballek of Hobbs end.  

Ballek was a gambler and down on his luck.  After being involved in several strange and wonderful adventures he found himself on the wrong end of the King’s good justice and also deeply in debt to a local usurer of some power within the money lenders guild.  More importantly, Ballek had run a-foul  of Harbis Klormin, a half elf and the leader of the thieves guild of Dunwich.  Needless to say, Ballek found himself in need of a vacation as quickly as possible and fled from the temperate south to the highlands on the borders of the old forest.

It did not take long before Ballek found himself following a large winding river into the unknown hills.  After a brief encounter with a young hill giantess named Gressa(to whom he professed his undying love and promised to wed).  Gressa had agreed that Ballek could leave for a year and a day so that he  could gather sufficient wealth to keep her in grand fashion (and provide her all the mutton she could eat).  As Ballek made his way up the river he was surprised one morning to find the sun reflecting off a beautiful lake of enormous size.  Though he could see the far bank well enough the end of the lake disappeared across the horizon and appeared to be swallowing the sun.  

Ballek blessed his luck and journeyed along the lake until he found a large tree that hung over the water.  He could see from the branches of the tree and abundance of fish glistening like silver in the water.  With little effort he caught several fish using his cloak like a net to scoop them from the lake.  Ballek sat down to a grand breakfast which he ate as if he were starving (which technically he was having not eaten in almost a week).  Having his fill of fish and clear water, Ballek wished only that he may have a little wine, some cheese and perhaps toasted bread.  You see, Ballek was the kind of man who is never satisfied even when he has a good thing he wishes for more or better.

As Ballek wandered along the western bank of the lake he wished that he had a place to rest.  He also wished for a fire to warm himself or better a soft bed and a roof over his head so that need not sleep out under the stars.  No sooner than he wished this a voice came from near the edge of the water.

“there is a fine camp only a few miles ahead” said the voice.

Ballek was taken aback for he had believed himself alone on the shore of the lake.  

“Thank you kindly” he replied.  

Ballek looked up and down the shore searching for the source of the voice. Seeing no one he cast his gaze inland to the forest and again could see no other person.  Shrugging he began walking again and whistling to keep his courage up.  Before long, Ballek had all but forgotten the voice.  He sang and laughed and tossed stones into the lake as he wandered further north.  Eventually he became hungry again and said aloud.

“If only I had something to eat on this lovely day”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he saw ahead a small table and chair sitting on a large rock that jutted out into the lake.  The table was covered with a fine red cloth and on it was spread a meal of bread with butter and honey, roasted chicken, and a silver goblet full of golden mead.  

Ballek stared in amazement, but remembered his manners.  He had heard tales of the fey folk who would entertain lonely wanderers only to turn on them when offended by the slightest word or misdeed of their guest.  

“This is indeed a fine table and fare suitable for a king.  I give my heartiest thanks to you and yours”  He said politely as he approached the table. “There is but one thing that could make this feast better.”  Bellek mused.

At this the same voice as before was heard  “what is  it that could improve the meal I have provided?”

Though the words rang clear and sweet as a bell, Ballek felt he could sense that he may have insulted his host.  “Why nothing could improve this fine meal, but I have wandered long and lonely and would love some company as I eat.  I hate to ask but I would be most deeply honored if you would join me that I may share your company and thank you personally for your generosity”

With that, Ballek glanced out the corner of his eyes toward the forest. Ballek knew that you could not see faerie folk if you looked directly at them unless they wished to be seen. Looking away he did not see the beautiful maiden as she emerged from the water and was shocked and flustered to see her standing beside the table when he looked back to his meal.

“Do I frighten you?” she asked.

“No, not at all sweet maiden.  I was merely stunned for a moment by your beauty.”  Ballek was used to uttering such pleasantries in order to charm his way into the hearts of women, but rarely had he been so honest.  The maiden was gorgeous long of limb with hair the color of flax and brilliant eyes that shimmered blue like the sky.  

I need not go further into the details of that meal on the rock, but the two were great company for hours and hours until the sun began to sink behind the mountains to the west.  Ballek offered to build a fire and stay with the maiden through the night, but she insisted that she must be away.  

“No, I insist.” Ballek exclaimed and quickly began gathering wood and building a pile of sticks for a fire on the rocky shore.  The maiden watched bemused as Ballek tried his hand at starting a fire with the damp wood.  He had just given up when of its own accord the fire sprang to life.  He stared at the burning wood wondering how it had suddenly caught light when he heard a small splash in the water.  The maiden was gone.

Ballek was no fool and prided himself on his memory of tales of wonder told by grandmothers around evening fires.  He knew of selkies and the mischief that they could bring to men who were foolish enough to fall in love with them.  But this night he did not care, he sat with his back to the fire and watched the waters until sleep took him.

The next morning beside the cold ashes of the fire he cursed his stupidity, but only quietly so that no one could hear him.  He was sore and stiff from sleeping on the stony shore.  What was worse, the table and food from yesterday were gone and there were no fish to be found in the water.  Everything was oddly silent and a thick fog hung over the lake.  

Resigning himself to no breakfast and a dreary day, Ballek continued north toward where the maiden had told him a hunting camp could be found.  He wished for sun, for the fog to lift, and for something to eat.  It was at this last wish that he noticed a change in the sound of the waves lapping against the shore.  He looked to the loch but could see no more than a few yards due to the fog.  A chill that was more than the bleak cold of morning grew in him.  There was something in the lake and it was close and large.  

Ballek thought to head further into land when he noticed that the banks of the loch had grown into steep cliffs.  The climb would be perilous and returning south pointless.  Ballek had no choice but to continue north along the shore. The beach grew more and more narrow, until he found himself walking in shallow water with one hand braced on the cliff wall.  The water made strange sucking sounds as the gentle waves lapped at his ankles.  He had almost resigned himself to death when he saw a group of men far ahead on the shore.  They were casting nets into the water and he cried out to them.  As he did, there was a mighty splash behind him. Without thought, Ballek raced ahead as if pursued by a demon.

The men were nobles from the hunting camp.  The welcomed the lost wanderer and offered him food and drink. It was only after he was safe and warm that they mentioned the giant shadowy shape that had loomed behind him in the fog. He had been within striking distance of a beastie that they called Cryssy after the name of the loch. Ballek thanked the gods for their blessings as he sat warm, happy and well fed for the first time in months.  That is until the Usurer from Hobbs End joined him at the meal.  Later that day he danced on air watching the sun dip low beyond the mountains, as he was hung to death for his indiscretions.  Some say that they heard a woman crying somewhere off shore as his body hung limp in the breeze.

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Percy, the bastard. Some say his father is a noble from the south of Vale.

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Once there was a grand magician, and he could do the greatest tricks. Peyo was a half-elven wizard. He built the great tower on a small island in Crystal Lake. It can easily be seen from both the town and the camp. He is rumored to have summoned tiny blue imps to serve him.

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THE SAD TALE OF SIR JACOB

Sir Jacob was a great knight and one of the greatest allies to King Stephen's father the good King Phillip. Jacob was the Lord of Voorhies, a village far to the North on the border of the lands of the giants. Though Jacob was a great tournament knight what he enjoyed most of all was hunting, fishing and spending time in nature. To this end he frequented the camp at Crystal Lake and spent all of his idle summer days there hunting rare game and spending his time on the lake with his young bride.

Eventually, it came to pass that Jacob's wife became pregnant and grew heavy with child.  No one was a prouder or happier father than sir Jacob. Upon finding that his wife was pregnant he immediately set to work on having a fine house built for her in the city of Crystal Lake so that she could always be near and he could be there when she bore his child. While hunting on a fine spring  Sir Jacob came across  a giant stag with a pure white coat. Thought he had the creature within range of his bow he did not fire. Sir Jacob was thrilled with the chance to see the hart and that was enough for him. However, another member of Jacob’s hunting party did take the shot and the Stag fell. Sir Jacob was infuriated. He had called this hunt and it was his place to decide what game would be taken.  Jacob challenged the offending noble on the spot and would likely have killed him had not cooler heads prevailed.  The party returned to Crystal Lake in mournful silence.

Upon arriving at the hunting lodge, Sir Jacob was met by a messenger.  While he had been hunting his wife had gone into labor.  Jacob raced to the town cursing his fate that he had missed the birth of his first child.  Once there Sir Jacob found how dark the day had been.  His child had been born, but was large and strong like his father. His wife was a tiny thing and the delivery had been hard.  By the time Sir Jacob arrived in the town, his wife had passed. His wife dead and his son motherless, Sir Jacob was overwhelmed.  He knew that this was punishment for the death of the Hart.  There on that very spot, Sir Jacob offered his own life in exchange for the life of his beloved wife.  No sooner than the words had passed his lips than his wife groaned and drew a ragged breath.  There are few who speculate what entity accepted Sir Jacobs offer.  It must have been a vengeful entity, for the very night Lady Voorhies was returned to life lightning struck a giant oak and it fell against the house and crushed Sir Jacob. The curse followed Jacob’s son. At the age of 11 Jason was nearly six feet tall and as strong as any man.  While swimming in the loch he was overcome with a cramp. Others were that the lake and were charged with Jason’s safety but he had swim out too far and was not watched closely. The water drug him down and Jason’s body was recovered a day later. Lady Voorhies was overwhelmed, both her husband and her son dead at Crystal Lake.  She blamed the Nobles for the death of her family.  Her accusations and insults were only tolerated because of the love the Nobility had for her husband and the tragic loss of her son.   Lady Voorhies never returned to her ancestral Village and was last heard of living in a small Hut behind the camp at Crystal Lake.

It is rumored that a large and powerful being now stalks the shores of the lake and the town of Crystal Lake.

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Molly, an inexpensive prostitute

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Baldrick, a local oaf

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The blackness would hit me...The void would be calling....

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Crystal Lake... a 25 mile long bottomless loch in the highlands of Vale.

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Gwen, an attractive local fishmonger.

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Lady Erin, Sheriff of Crystal Lake

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Sir Timothy acting Regent of Crystal Lake. One of King Stephen's closest friends was entrusted with ruling Crystal Lake in the King's stead. Sir Timothy has not been heard from in almost two years.

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Beware the Groves at night. Something dark and vengeful stalks the rows of the orchards.

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Regent's Hill mansion