Hark!

1

Hark! Those that read this note must adhere to its contents, lest they come to the same end as its unfortunate author!

I thought I was secure. No doubt you too believe this, even upon seeing my very skeleton, here against this tree. What fear is there of a skeleton in a wood such as this? Foolish reader!

Look upon my crooked corpse and weep! This shall verily be your own neglected form!

Read now, with great care. Twelve and six paces from this tree, there lies a trap. Of what nature? A horrid and most devious nature! Do not think that you could escape it, not even I could release myself from its dreaded maw. It was in its foul clutches that I did meet my fate and leave this mortal realm. Drat. I have run out of space, turn now to the next note, it lies just behind this tree upon which I have died.

2

You have secured this second note? Good. Read here my history.

I, as unfortunate as I may now appear, was once a great adventurer. I knew the land like my own mother’s kitchen. What land? Why, all of it! And yet, here I lie before you. It is an accursed place!

Oh, my life. To think it has come to this. I was well respected, you know. I dined with three of the Kings in my time. Yes, in their glorious courts the name Futch Clutt would resound with such applause as would make thunder blush! For that is I! Lord Futch Clutt!

Aay, how much I do weep to think of those bereaved hearts in such regal places. They will mourn for me for a great many moons. Such an insidious trap, it has robbed this world.

Turn away from your sorrow. Mourn not for me now, it is imperative that you find the third note!

3

Read on good sirs, if that you be. I do not waste words (wise words) on curs. So unhand this paper if you be an ass, blackguard, churl or dingbat! And if you are keen for violence and quick to the sword then away! Away, I say! And excuse yourself if you do not have at least two or three coins about you.

Right, if that’s the ne’er-do-wells done away with, then we must proceed. The trap ahead is a clever design. Do not think some cheap trick could have had me down. I am well versed in such mechanicals. Indeed, I arrived in this forest on an expedition for the Royal Engineer’s guild. See here, on my skeleton, is there not a rich bracelet? Check now, hurry. Is it not there? My word! Curs! Curs have been about! They must have passed through this way. Well, never mind that, the bracelet I did wear was the fashion of identification for the Engineers guild.

The guild had faith in my abilities and hereto sent me to this wood. It was not something they could ask of just anybody. You good sirs, must know the treachery of the path that winds here to this very spot. Yet, never did I falter! Not until this infernal trap. It is cunning indeed. But should you overcome it and preserve where I have perished, you will be rewarded with fine trinkets. I have confirmed them myself, but I am not in want of such things. You can be sure that my coffers are full and that I am known to spend as freely as the wind. Nay, I am not in need of such things but you perhaps? Good sirs, mayhaps you lay your hands on these treasures, would you not be glad of it? I’ll say this too, that Royal Engineers bracelet I wore, that’s in the stash too.

Drat, paper has run out go to the nex. . .

4

Clever, gracious travellers, you have found the fourth note. And I shall reward you by telling you how to retrieve the treasure trove and how you shall avoid such a fate as mine.

Go now, three paces to the North, where you will find a stick. It has red paint on its tip. You have this? Good. Five more paces North now, and then there is a Large. Wooden. Frame. Do you see it? This part is crucial to your very survival! Heed my instructions!

You must climb inside. WAIT! Before you do so you MUST leave any and all weapons OUTSIDE the cage. When you have done this and are securely inside, draw the stick with the red tip through the loops in front of the door. Then turn over this note.

O joy! How you have now been saved! Such vile, ugly deaths, writhing, screeching, sickness, plague, coughing, handkerchiefs… All would have befallen you! But now you are saved! Here I will clean and skin your holy bodies, I will make of you immaculate deaths!

Trust unto me your trinkets and goods, pass along your gold without cause. Trust that I will banish these vanities from the world. Indeed, I will throw them into chests, may they never see any hands but my own! Trapped away in my mountain cave! For here, you have indeed been wholly and thoroughly caught by the Great mountain man; a-lord Futch Clutt~ You are in the cage, aren’t you?