The Goldcroft Connection
As Scribed by Scotty
The tale starts at the Gates of Goldcroft. The mighty and rich barony of Goldcroft, now a thriving centre of commerce, with many homes to the land's adventurers and the richest telescope seller, well ever since the Household of Sisters lodge moved in. However, it hasn't been all roses for the citizens here. Many, many moons ago a mortal name Roachmill, a brave and fine warrior, was given a task by the almighty Creator, and occasional question master, Deori.
"Go forth into the lands, travel the wastes, discover lands beyond our borders. When you reach such lands, settle there, create civilisation. And for your work, you will rule over as the baron," he told Roachmill. Roachmill, having a brain inside his head, unlike most warriors, decided to use it. Instead of wandering out into the wilds on his own, he decided to muster an army to help him through. The call to arms went out throughout the lands. It was at this point, a man named Croft heard of Roachmill's plans.
Croft was a member of a well thought of family, a family of craftsmen, with close links to Devardec's Sun Child. See, he was even about back then. He's doing pretty well for a couple of hundred years old that kid.
Croft was banished from Devardec by the Sun child, after killing his own brother for a powerful ring. It was said that with such a ring you could return to your home city from anywhere in the lands; it was a mighty treasure. Croft, banished from Devardec, traveled to Tranos, peddled copies of the ring to all he could. The rings, still used today, rings of recall, sold very well and soon Croft amassed a small fortune. Croft, seeing Roachmill as a man in with a good chance of success, approached Roachmill and offered him gold and a small number of his rings to aid them in their journey. Roachmill, taking the gift as the fine actions of a gentleman, accepted and set out.
Many moons did the small army travel. Setting camp one night, the normal sentries posted, they slept soundly, the days travel resting on their shoulders. Suddenly the alarm went up, cries of pain and anger swept through the camp. Alerted instantly, Roachmill and his troops grabbed their weapons. Rushing forward into battle, to face an enemy they had faced many times before, and would again- the Trolls. In a horrific rage over the slaying of their King, they wished revenge on the mighty Roachmill. Now awake, and with their steel in their hands, they beat the trolls back, who faded back into the forest.
The next day they came upon the River Derrilan, a natural border. Beyond it, fine fertile land. It was perfect for the settlement and Roachmill set upon his task straight away. Slowly the land was tilled, and huts and houses built. The surrounding forest was cleared of wood, to be used in the building of structures. At this time, the Rangers were no more than a group of forest dwellers, no guild house as such. The trolls were also their enemy, the forest keeping them at bay, for a truly skilled ranger would never be caught in the forest. Seeing their homes, their defenses destroyed by this group of interlopers they realised something must be done. They realised that these men were trained fighters, no match were they for the army of Roachmill. Then the mighty battle, spoken of always happened, the coming together of the Rangers and Roachmills army. The woods alive with the battle, many slain, that is when the rangers became linked with Goldcroft.
We all remember Croft? Dodgy bloke, killed his brother? Well after Roachmill and the rangers kicked some troll butt, they started to get on rather nicely, exploring the lands around the barony, and lo and behold they found out there's gold in them there hills. Happy with that thought, Roachmill settling himself down, made sure everyone got a bit. Everyone was happy, a new town, lots of gold, the rangers right next door keeping trouble away from them. Well Croft, remembering his little gift of gold and rings decided he wanted some payback.
Raising his own army, and marching to Goldcroft in broad daylight, happy as you like before the guards knew what was happening, Croft was chanting away from a spell book he'd bought from a warlock. Gotta watch out for them warlocks, dodgy lot ya know. The guards, mutated into hideous demons, totally loyal to Croft. Each soldier they came across suffered the same fate.
Roachmill setting a warrior precedent, used his head twice in one lifetime, and retreated out of the city. Retreating back into the forest, trying to work out how to stop this menace. Meanwhile Croft was keeping busy, taking over Roachmills castle, he closed the city gates making the citizens prisoners to his rule. The gold that was mined was all crofts, the people living in the town saw none of it. For many many years, Croft kept the people in fear, summoning foul creatures to attack and maim. All this took its toll on the evil Croft, now demanding to be addressed as Lord Croft. He noticed changes. His voice grew deeper, hair started growing in strange places. Before he realised, he was becoming one of the beasts himself. Withdrawing back into the castle, his minions still controlled the populace. That was the last time any mortal saw Croft, and lived to tell the tale.
Not so many years ago, Turgon, with a band of adventurers finally broke the seal on the city. Breaking Croft's spells, Turgon was appointed Baron, freeing the citizens, and shortly after freeing the dwarves Croft kept as slaves to mine the gold. However, Crofts legacy lives on. His creatures still roam the streets. They attack on sight, giving no room for maneuver. You see his guards, attack first. For surely, Croft's curse will be upon you one day.