Things Are Getting Rocky

***Event Quest:** Part 2 of the Festival of Ilenia 2022*

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## Quest Data

* Normal, from level 3

* Lesser Stone Golem - Level 4
* Lesser Stone Golem - Level 6
1.000 GUILD

## Story

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

Back at the campsite, you and Fredrick sit on some empty crates left by the miners.

"I don't know how much Master Byron told you, but there's an old folktale about a special magical gem that is said to rarely form in golems. The legend says that very rarely, around the time of Ilenia's festival, a single golem will grow a beautiful red gem in the shape of a heart. Blessed by Ilenia herself, this **Golem Heartstone** is said to carry strong protective magic." You ask him if this is what he came to Croft for, and Fredrick nods.

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

I know it's real. It's got to be!" His eyes burn with determination. "I want to find the Golem Heartstone when it forms this year and use it to make a special necklace!" You watch as Fredrick slumps where he's sitting with a sigh.

"I just didn't really think it through that well. It's not like I can actually defeat a golem to see if it has a Heartstone inside it. And legend says that if it isn't found within a Golem, the stone vanishes, reappearing somewhere else the next year." Curious about what the necklace is for, you ask him if he plans to use it for advancement in his apprenticeship. You see a subtle blush flare up on his fair skin.

"Well, I know Master Byron would be pretty impressed if I pulled it off, but no. I want to give it to someone as a gift. Y'know, for the festival?"

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

You inwardly sigh at the risk he's put himself in for a festival gift, but at the same time you've heard stories about adventurers doing dumber things in the name of love. You ask who the gift is for, and a smile breaks across Fredrick's face.

"A friend of mine, Alexis. We've known each other since we were kids. She's an adventurer so you might know her." You think for a moment and your memory pops a person into your mind: a young woman about the same age as Fredrick with a growing reputation as a talented archer. You'd once been on a quest with her a while back. As you describe her, the apprentice grins.

"Yeah. That's her. Anyway, she's always off on adventures and quests these days. You know how dangerous that can be, so if it exists, I want to find the Golem Heartstone for her. If she likes me back, that's great, but really, I just want her to stay safe."

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

As he says that, you hear a rustle, and the last of the wolves from before steps out from the tree line. Baring its fangs, it jumps at the pair of you, and you both roll out of the way. The wolf manages to grab onto your arm, and you wince, before it lets go as Fredrick picks up a nearby pickaxe and smacks it. You clamber to your feet, and attack back.

Fight a Wolf!

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

The wolf falls to the ground, and you both catch your breath. Fredrick looks conflicted. "I guess it's not going to happen though. I can't stay here with all these wolves around, and I don't want anyone getting hurt because I'm here." he sighs. "I understand why Master Byron didn't want me to go. Who knows if the story was even real to begin with?" He kicks at a rock, and it clatters into the dark tunnel that leads into the mines. By now, the sun is starting to set, and he begins to gather his things, while you wrap a bandage around your arm.

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

"Come on [Your Name]. I guess we'll go back to town and stay there for the night. Then head back to Guildtown in the morning." He starts to gather his things when you hear a dull thud. Fredrick seems to notice it too because he pauses and looks around.

"What was that?" Another slight tremor, this time with a thud accompanying it. The sound seems to be coming from inside the mines and you peer into the darkness but can't see anything. Fredrick lights a torch and steps forward and touches it to another that's placed in a wall sconce. The flickering fire light illuminates the tunnel a little, and from inside, you see a pair of stone golems moving towards the entrance. Both seem rather agitated for animated piles of stone, and you ready yourself for a fight and one heads towards you and the other towards Fredrick.

Fight a Lesser Stone Golem!

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

The first golem crumbles into dust, and you see Fredrick dive out of the way to avoid a heavy blow. You quickly engage the other golem before it can injure the young man.

Fight a Lesser Stone Golem!

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

"What's going on?" Fredrick asks as he surveys the rock piles that had previously been golems. "I haven't seen golems acting this aggressive or territorial before." You take a moment to glance at the two round mounds of rubble, just in case you see a heart shaped gem, but don't spot anything. Fredrick shakes his head and turns to leave.

"Come on, I don't think we should stick around here any longer. It's getting dark too." Quickly packing up his camp, the pair of you begin to travel back to Croft. As you walk, you can't shake the feeling that something's wrong. Occasionally, you hear distant noises, but they're too far away to identify.

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

About halfway back to the town, you hear the unsettling sound of goblins shrieking, and a group of five of the creatures burst from the undergrowth behind you onto the path. They seem to be in a frenzy, clambering over each other as they rush straight past you without stopping, back into the tree line on the other side of the road. With a crash, yet another golem erupts from the forest. It's bigger than the ones you've seen before, and it easily pushes over a tree as it continues to move on its way. Unfortunately, that leads it straight towards you, and then Croft.

"[Your Name], catch!" Fredrick tosses you a healing potion. Deftly snatching it out of the air, you down it, and prepare for another fight.

### ***Location: Croft Mines***

The golem finally notices you, and roars. Fredrick steps away, and you prepare for another fight.

Fight a Lesser Stone Golem!

### ***Location: Croft***

Growing even more concerned, you and Fredrick hurry as fast as you can back to Croft. Growing close, you're startled to see that the town is illuminated by magical light. You spot a couple of people dressed like adventurers amongst a crosd of townsfolk; one seems to have conjured several glowing orbs of light above what looks to be a pair of destroyed buildings. The two structures lie in ruins, smashed to pieces, and beside one, you see three now familiar grey piles that mark rubble of a destroyed golem. More adventurers appear to be forming a perimeter around the outside of town, and you spot a few familiar faces among them. You realise this must be the adventurers who were sent to help deal with the wolves in the area.

### ***Location: Croft***

"Please return to your houses for your own safety." A clear voice calls out from the other side of the crowd.

"We've sent for aid, and we will keep watch throughout the night." You see Fredrick suddenly go still beside you, before the young man begins to move through the crowd. Trying to keep up, you follow. Recognising your attire as an adventurer, people kindly move out of your way, and you manage to catch up with him just as he reaches the other side.

Addressing the crowd is an older teenage girl with brown hair that falls in a braid across one shoulder. Across the other shoulder, you see a strung bow, and a quiver full of arrows hangs at her waist. Whatever she was about to say is forgotten as her eyes widen as she sees the pair of you emerge from the crowd.

"Freddie?"

***Quest Complete! - Things Are Getting Rocky***

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