the story of the honest woodcutter

you know the story of the woodcutter, who got a golden axe and a silver axe for being honest about his original axe?

well, that's not the end of the story, because the man didn't sell the axes.

for those axes are magical since they're golden and such, being gifts from fairies wanting to get rid of the odds and ends in their overstuffed maic vaults. the golden can actually return to the axe-wielder's hands after being thrown and slicing clean through whatever that stands in its trajectory.

the silver axe, on the other hand, grants the axe-wielder longetivity and health. that's why it's the size of a small pendant and can be worn around the neck - so it won't have to be lugged around like an extra ball and chain. thus the effect is: as long as the bearer of the silver axe has the artifact about the person, he is prevented from ageing.

so you see, with the two axes, the bearer of the axes is practically unkillable, even if he were peaceful.

but in times of war, the honest woodcutter's hand is forced, for the duke - not knowing the full story behind his prowess and longetivity - has heard of this curious man's "abilities" and had his family kidnapped and had the man fight in the war.

and so begins londis's tale...