Chapter 1: Now Hiring
1:1 In the beginning, there was One. And from One Many were spun. 2 Chaos was born First of Three, Born to Chaos, Eternity. 3 Second Born came The Order touching Chaos along the Border. Bore The Order, The Last Breath, Eternities kinsman, known as Death. 4 Balance, Last Elder, Youngest Born, born to weather Brothers' Scorn, gave birth to Nature, First of Life, bound in Eternity and Deaths Strife. 5 In the Balance, between the Strife, constant friction sparked new life. The earliest, powerful Holds, bastions of life, Nature used as molds. 6 From these ancients, all life descends. In each, Order and Chaos blends.
passage from The Book of One, The Book of Many
Book of Balance, Book of Strife, Book of Nature, Book of Life: 1:1-6
The sun was just peeking over the tops of the thatched and shingled buildings of the little town of Deep Well as Payte stepped out of the apartment he shared with several others and walked down the empty alley to the main street. The early morning chill had not yet departed to be replaced by the muggy heat of late summer. The main street in town was already a bustle. Harvest would be soon upon the people of Deep Well and they were preparing for its abundant bounty. Payte walked to the town's center square, Bigspot's Plaza, where the townsfolk and the nearby farmers posted all sorts of happenings, local news, official notices, as well as help wanted.
Work! Payte had made his way to the announcement board at the crack of dawn for the last two weeks looking for work. Those late to rise would be stuck with one of the more unsavory jobs, or worse, with nothing at all. Weaving his way through the carts and horses of the morning to the center of Bigspot's Plaza his heart sank. There was already a large crowd around the announcement board. He sighed, looks like he'd be shoveling shit at the stables again...if he was lucky.
As he came closer he noticed the excitement in the air and could just make out a voice shouting over the chatter and hubbub of the town center.
"The Freehold is two days journey from here, about half that for those of you on horseback. Take the western road. "
Payte could not see yet who was talking and continued his way forward, pushing to get any closer.
"We have stables for your horses, food for your stomachs and ale for a good time. Our apartments are the best you'll ever come across."
There! Payte was finally able to glimpse the man speaking. He was medium height and as stout as a plow ox. His hair was short. It looked as if it saw a razor every fortnight. His voice bellowed over the noise of the square effortlessly. He stood atop a cart that sat next to the announcement board. In his hand, he waved what looked like a post.
"Come for dinner, stay the night, or however long you like. And for those who are interested,"
And just at that moment, over the tops of the other onlookers, Payte thought his eyes locked with the big bellowing man,
"Blurgkhart's Freehold is now hiring."