The Wizard

Fool's Gold

Every major route through the mountains eventually met up at the old miner's camp called Fool's Gold. The town consisted of three main structures that jetted out from abandoned mine shafts; the bank, the forge, and the tavern. The latter being a tavern, a general store, a hotel, and a brothel.  It was the center of commerce in the otherwise sparsely populated region. 

Dusk faded into night as the road began to widen and the party was able to ride side by side. The clank of hammers falling on steel echoed in the distance.

"This is one of the few places a ten-foot ogre won't send everyone into a panic." Grimble was above eye level while riding Øregård's shoulder. 

They came to a sign carved in the walls that closed in on the road that read simply: The Stone Mountain Bank for Miners. 

Under the elaborately carved name of the institution was written the town's nickname is silver greasepaint: Fool's Gold.

They passed through two empty guard towers and torchlight replaced the setting sun. 

There were small wooden houses stacked two stories high along the walls that climbed out of the tiny town nestled between three mountains. Fool's forge was the biggest structure in town and was built into the base of the mountain where two additional roads out of town split off in opposite directions. It was the main employer in town and supplied raw materials to mints in seven different kingdoms. Fool's Gold revolved around the forge and the bank. 

The bank paid the prospectors and the bigger operations. It owned the forge and the town. It kept a small military force to keep the peace and discourage any bandits with ideas of grandeur.

The population was mostly male, old, bearded, almost picturesque in the stereotypical recluse treasure seeker department. Dusty and scruffy the town folk carried the rough edge of failure with them everywhere they went. The wealth of the successful few was downplayed and only revealed itself in the backrooms of the bank and the brothel. 

"With any luck, the sword that killed Melock will be at the forge. And be on the lookout for my lost spellbook and crossbow which could be here as well. I'm going to the bank."

"I'll go avec toi. William will watch the horses." Pathos was like a ghost upon a riderless horse.

Mevner and de Martín went into the bank while Øregård and Grimble went to the forge and Bill stayed with the horses. The sizable guard at the bank door gave Mevner the eye. He didn't appear to even notice Pathos, nor did anyone else in the bank; she wrapped herself in her cloak that shifted light. 

Beyond the stone facade, the bank interior was floor to ceiling marble. The floor's pattern was a polished quartz chessboard you could see your reflection in. The bars separating the teller from the customers were solid gold and behind them, a huge metal vault door led into a crystal lined cavern that sparkled in the torchlight. 

Tellson, an old bald man with a horn coming out of his ear was busy writing in a ledger. Mevner walked up to him. 

"I'd like to access the box of Melock the Wise."

The old man set his quill down and folded his arms. "The box is now the property of his son, Malum Mazlovado." He looked Mevner over.  "And though I know you, Master Ozgold, I cannot allow you access."

Two extremely large armored guards came out of the cavern and four more were now visible within. They carried swords and exotically designed lances. There were certainly additional defensive measures unseen by the casual eye. 

"My own box then?" 

"It has been sealed." 

"By who?"

"Your box was the property of Melock and you have been reported to be deceased as well. Obviously, the bank was misinformed on this point. None the less, the box in question goes to his heir and he has sealed it. Even if you have come back from the dead, we would need his authorization to grant you access. It is our policy, a policy both you and Melock agreed to."

Mevner focused. Any of the darts hidden behind the walls could easily strike him. Two stealthier guards stood tucked in the corners behind him. The trap door beneath his feet could drop in an instant and he had no desire to risk being impaled on the metal shards below. 

"I'll honor my agreement. In the meantime, may I borrow against my account?"

Tellson unfolded his arms. 

"Certainly, Master Ozgold. For a customer, now clearly in good standings again, we could advance you up to the sum of $5,000. With a 15% interest rate, of course, not refundable even if and when your account is unsealed. Do you agree to those terms?"

Tellson wore a gold chain, a gift from Melock himself, designed to defend him against just the kind of attack Mevner might have been contemplating. 

"I suppose I'll have to."

"Excellent. We'll subtract the first three months payment from your account directly. Under the assumption, it will be released in the near future, of course."

"Of course." 

Mevner walked out of the bank with a heavy stack of gold in his satchel and Pathos de Martín did not follow him. He last saw her flash for a moment heading down the back hallway into the cavern vault. He headed across the street to the forge.