Meanwhile, Drake and the other members of The Source had come to the conclusion that Lugwig was far craftier than they gave any Lugian credit for - They had been fighting the Giga’s for days on end with no keys to be found. The constant battles had left them weary and frustrated.

Drake decided it was time to explore the one option he had left. He had heard that there was a witch who lived near the town of Holtburg far to the North. The witch was supposed to have great powers in the way of curses, or so said the drunken farmer at the inn in Yanshi. It was time to try to enlist her help.

The trip to Holtburg was very easy compared to his last week in the Citadel. The lugians there had been exceptionally aggressive and he felt as if his body was one swollen bruise. Today the sun was shinning, a gentle breeze had made traveling relatively comfortable, and he hadn’t seen another soul the entire trip there.

Drake skipped going to town and made his way into the woods in the general direction that the farmer had given him. The forest was alive with drudges, but he managed to slip by most without incident. Those who wandered too near were no match for someone of Drake’s skill.

After what seemed like 9 hours, but was closer to 3, Drake caught the sent of something familiar: wood burning. As he surveyed the area, he could see smoke in the distance. It was a faint wisp drifting from a chimney.

He made his way to the small, run down cabin quietly. The place was in shambles. Growth covering the outside made it difficult to see anything beyond the forest. Scattered about the area, amid climbing vines and clinging brambles, were broken clay pots, glass vials, and decayed structures which once may have been furniture.

As he approached the door, or what looked like it might be the door, a crackly voice shocked him. She told him that she could feel his presence and knew why he was there. The witch had been keeping an eye on Drake ever since the curse started. She hated the lugians, especially their magic users. The door opened and Drake stepped inside.

The place was small. So small he had to bend low to keep his head from removing spider webs from the ceiling. There were tables and shelves full of oddities. Some of these things he had seen before, like hides and various monster parts. Others were very different to him. He saw a buglike head, a
huge red furry hand, a rib bone the size of his SoCS, and other things that he didn’t have the stomach to examine closely.

The witch was not one for pleasantries and started questioning him before he was seated in the rickety chair she pointed to. She had been in many battles with the lugians and knew who their king was. She mentioned the mages by name and spit on the floor after saying each one.

It turned out that she was actually waiting for Drake to show for some time and was somewhat annoyed that he hadn’t arrived sooner. She told him that there was no way to break the curse beyond getting a key from the Gigas. Drake slumped in his chair at this news and she raised an eyebrow in
his direction, recognizing his frustration.

She turned to him then and inquired about the spell he had found. Drake told her that it let him resist the curse, but only for a brief period of time, and that that amulets were hard to find. Her response was, “It doesn’t have to be for a brief period of time”.

She then went on to explain that there was an enchantment that she knew, and with the right components, she could cast it on a quality amulet. The enchantment permanently remains.

Drake was more than pleased with this news and asked her what she needed and wanted. He would do just about anything to have relief from the lugians and their curse. She then listed the components of her enchantment.

“I will need one Bandy Scalp, Grommie Tooth, Golem Heart, Armodillo Spine, Mote, Healing Elixer, and a Large Lugian Sinew”, she crackled. “Then I will need to have a Reedshark Hide to lie the amulet on, and a Skeleton Skull to mix everything in. I will also need a Pyreal Dagger to stir it with and it will need to be heated with the Quarter Staff of Fire.

Drake was a bit overwhelmed, but full of hope again. He knows that he belongs to the best Monarchy in the land and that the components will be collected. When he inquired about what she wanted in return, she waved him away and said that she was more than pleased with what The Source had
been doing to the lugians and that way payment enough.

She then turned to one of her workbenches and started reading something on an old parchment. She lifted one hand behind her and motioned for Drake to leave. He hurried out the door happier than he had been in many weeks. He had hope again.