He was planning to take to the seas for his own. "Master of the Blue" they'd call him, but he had to start somewhere. So he spent the last of his inheritance, a mere fortythree crowns, hired a ship and some ruffians and set off to adventure. The riches and fame would come later.

Now he stared at an uncharted island located south of Laodicea and he saw treasure beyond his wildest dreams. His crew merely saw an empty rock with a few patches of stunted trees. He heard their grumbling and lack of faith. They were worried that he had led them astray. And had wasted their time with fanciful tales and worthless dreams. He didn't let it bother him.

This is where the old man in the alley told him to go. The old man who after giving him this information, vanished into thin air like a wizard. "If a wizard doesn't know where to find treasure, then no one does." he thought.

"Abe are you sure 'tis the one?" the ship's captain asked. "Aye, it is. H Abe returned. "I can feel it me bones. This is the place the old wizard showed me in me head. " "Tell ye crew to drop anchor. " Abe said.

Soon they were trudging over wind swept sand and hard shale. The island only seemed a few miles long from out at sea but from this vantage point it was all the more daunting. Abe and his four hired thugs spread out amongst the brush sticking their pins in the wiry undergrowth. They were looking for some rune-writ rocks that supposedly held the secret to unknown riches.

After several hours of hot, sweaty work and constant complaining, even Abe's enthusiasm ran out. Just when he was about to call a halt, a man's scream rang out like a calith being speared for supper. Suddenly alert, Abe sprinted toward the sound order his men to following, only one did.

Crashing through the thickets Abe and his companion arrived on a grisly scene. A three-foot tall lizard-like creature with razor like teeth was feasting on one of his crew. It had torn the man's throat out killing him instantly.

"NO!" screamed Abe. He drew his sword and charged the creature. The scaly humanoid hissed and leaped back twenty paces into the brush, disappearing from view. Abe ran right in, swinging his sword wildly and cutting leaves and vmes out of his way. Finally exhausted, he stopped to catch his breath and let his shoulders sag in frustration.

A sudden rush of motion parted the leaves and sharp teeth bared down on him, ready to tear into his soft flesh. Another flash of movement and the creature landed on top of hirn, dead, an arrow protruding out of it's eye. "N-N-Nice shot sailor, " Abe thanked his companion. "Could ye help me get this offa me? I've got me a rock stickin in me back." Abe rose and began dusting off when he noticed his hireling looking at the spot where he had been laying.

"I believe there's ye rune." Abe unraveled the scroll the old wizard gave him and read its contents. When he was done the scroll disappeared in a flash of blue light. He looked down to find that he could read the ancient runes on the rock slabs. "By Aether! What's this?" Tracing the runes on the rocks Abe released the magic that allowed a secret tunnel to open into the very depths of the earth. Like heroes out of legend, Abe and his mate descended into earthly ruins to find treasure unheard of.

After traversing long lengths with lit torches, Abe asked his mate, "By the way, what happened to your bow?" "I guessed I dropped it when I went to help ye up. No matter, it wouldn't be much use down here anyway."

"I suppose ye' re right at that." Abe agreed.

Seemingly hours later, they came across a small stone slab supported by two rotten wooded legs. On top of the slab was a large chest. Its sturdy wood construction now weakened by the tests of time. The heavy iron lock was nearly rusted right off, as well as the once strong iron band supports. Abe started forward, ready to break the lock open wrth the hilt of his dagger. "Be careful Abe. Ye don't know what that thing could hold."

Abe waved off his hirelings' warning. This was it. This is the treasure he had been seeking all his life. This was going to bring him fame and make him a favorite of the Mage- Lords.

Abe broke the lock and easily avoided the rusty needle that shot half way out with dried poison on it. Laughing his fear away he opened the lid. Blinding light shot through his head and his limbs turned to ice. He was lifted off his feet and suspended in the air. He could feel the magic searing his skin and crushing his dreams to dust.

"Interesting. I wonder how long that magic will hold you there, Abe." Right before his streaming, watery eyes his 'hireling' began to change form. When the transformation was complete, Abe was beholden to the form of the old wizard who first led him on the fateful expedition. The wizard reached down mto the chest and pulled out an ancient, dusty tattered old book. Through blurring eyes Abe was able to make out the runic lettering on the cover: The Prophecies of Malith.

"Ancient indeed, wouldn't you say Abe?" the wizard spoke as if to an apt pupil, which Abe could not help being at the moment. "This piece of work ought bring a buz of comment in all the philosophers' circles. I thank you, Abe for leading me here. I imagine the enchantment will wear off once the book is gone. I hope you don't hold this little escapade against me. Just trying to get ahead you know. This little piece of work will bring me wealth enough to bury me in research and materials for as lone as I wish."

"I leave you now." The wizard turned to walk away and Abe heard him mutter just as he was turning the corner. "I never had a bow, you dolt."

Abe swallowed the last gulp of his mead after relating the last of his tale. Wiping his chin clean and ordered a tenth one. In a slurred voice he told how the enchantment finely let go and he made his way back to the boat. His surviving hirelings demanded to know where the great treasure was that they were promised. He pulled out a shiny emerald lens and beamed with pleasure at their shocked looks. It sold for a good amount of crowns and he gave most of it to his crew and rufflans.

"What about the wizard?" inquired one patron. "Oh him. Well it seems that one of his apprentices went to check on him one night and found nothing but ashes, and no book."

"I asked around about that and found out ye needed the gem in order to read the book properly or some such." The men at his table let out a bellowing laugh and patted Abe on the back for a job well done. Abe promptly fell forward and passed out.

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