Our story begins in the ruins of a city called Ascore. Over recent months, an encampment has formed in this area. Travelers from nearby towns and villages have been disappearing, never to be heard of again. It seems that this encampment has become a hub for slave trade and shady magical research.

In this Ascore encampment, there are mines. Slaves work in these mines uncovering precious metals for use by their owners above. One such slave is Aeron Bending, a halfling. He has been working in the mines for a while now and has ended up in a troop of miners including a human by the name of Matthias L. Jackson and a strong, rugged human by the name of Nigel. This group is led by a slavedriver named Rurick Serdman.

Little do the Ascore leaders know, Rurick is none other than Matthias's old friend in disguise. Rurick has decided to trick the slave encampment's leaders into employing him as a slavedriver so that he can break Matthias out. So this little conspiracy has gone on for quite a while. These renegade slaves have already dug out an escape tunnel and are only waiting for their chance to make a move. Today, they believe, is the day.

The plan is set into motion. Nigel creates a diversion by knocking over the supports of the tunnel, causing a cave-in. With on trouble from the guards, the slaves casually climb one by one out of the mines and into an open field to the south of the Ascore camp.

Here they discuss their next course of action. Obviously, Matthias and Rurick have a bone to pick with this slave encampment. They aren't ones to stand back and have their lives ruined by some random guy. Aeron also falls into this category. Like most halflings, he is not one to forgive and forget all too quickly. Especially after being enslaved for months.

Midway through this conversation, a wagon pulls up behind the escaped slaves. One of the two travelers on this seemingly merchant wagon asks what business these men have hiding in the bushes south of the Ascore camp. Rurick quickly tries to bluff these travelers by saying that he has just brought his men out for a stroll. The traveler sees through this plan, he knows they are escaped slaves. Surpringly, however, this traveler offers transport to the escapees. Matthias, Aeron and Rurick board the wagon, while Nigel and the other slaves run off on their own. Apparently, they don't want to get involved. They have families and lives to get back to.

The traveler reveals himself to be Andrew, a merchant from the city of Lionel. He says that he has been bartering goods in Ascore recently and knows of the slave encampment. He also says that he definitely doesn't approve of this, but what is he to do? He's merely a merchant. But he offers whatever help he can to these slaves in their quest to avenge the wrongs of the Ascore leaders...