The Warden and the Prisoners

Ryven Ash the High Elf Warden.

My name is Ryven Ash, and I am the warden of the Black Swamp or The Black Swamp Prison Facility.

It has been a hundred and eighty-five years since I became the warden. Technically, I am a prisoner of this place too.

After the creation of this facility, I was appointed as a jail guard by then my older brother and first warden Marcus Ash. Due to the harshness of the place teeming with monsters, I decided to abandon my post.

I ran away I escaped.

Abandoning your post in High Elven law warrants death by the higher Elder Elves.

After I was caught, the Elders decided that I was to be appointed warden after my brother Marcus appealed to them in exchange for stripping off his title as Warden and Elder and banishment from the continent of Elvenar.

With deep remorse and guilt, I accepted the decision. I will become the warden for 200 years, and Marcus my brother will be banished for a hundred years. I won't be allowed to leave even set foot on the nearest city.

It was hard at first, especially when the most hard core prisoners arrived. But in the end, I adapted and strategized on how to run the facility. I befriended all the prisoners, especially the high profile ones.

I rarely punish anyone, instead I rewarded them when they do their assigned tasks efficiently.

I improved myself, especially in magic, combat, hunting and strategizing. The monster in this swamp are my practice dummies.I even developed a skill in handling the bow. I can fire 5 arrows in quick succession and hit the target precisely. I displayed that skill today when we hunted the wolly boar( I used only three arrows). I am proud of it, the fruit of my practice and labor for the last hundred years. In terms of level against known adventurers in all the Elvenar Continent I can confidently say I am at the top five.

Due to my actions and help of the other prisoners, we managed keep in check of some dangerous monsters.

I am now on my 185th year of service, and this time I only have four prisoners. I can say, this is the hardest year for us. It's been months since we have fresh supplies especially food. If this goes on, we may starve on the coming winter.

Winter is the most brutal season on the swamp. You can't hunt or forage, all living things will go into deep slumber for 3 months. Without necessary supplies we will starve to death for sure. Well, technically, I will starve to death, me and my 4 guards, the prisoners will die and starve but will be resurrected again.

Why?

Because of the rings in their neck, it was their sentence. That for 200 years, they will not die, when they are inside the Black Swamp. Yes, they will feel agony, pain, sickness and die. But they will always be resurrected. It's like a loop. And yes, who wants to die over and over again?

For now, we had to stock up on food, ramp up in hunting and foraging.

Alda said we will go to the seashore tomorrow to catch fish and seashells. We'll dry and freeze them and stock them for winter.

Grande the Red fox.

My name is Grande, a beast man. I belong to the red fox clan. I am one of the longest staying prisoner on the Black Swamp. Along with the other three, we are now on the 185th year of serving our sentences.

Why I was imprisoned?

Well, I rebelled against the Moldo Empire.

Our own island was seized by a greedy noble and tried to exterminate my clan because we resisted.

I staged a revolt, we the beast man, the dwarven nation, and oriental pirates headed by Simon rallied together to fight the greedy noble.

I killed the noble.

But against the Coalition of Four Nations we did not stand a chance.

In the end, we lost, me and my men were dispersed.

We got caught and sent to this prison.

Thankfully, the Emperor and the Coalition pardoned the beast man nation in exchange for my imprisonment and banishment for 200 years. So here I am now, after fifteen more years and I will be free!

What will I do after my release?

I will take off this stupid ring on my neck of course! Ha ha ha ha!

Simon Phillo the Pirate.

I am Simon Phillo, formerly a pirate captain, a human. And I belong to the Oriental clans. I consider myself a freeman and not an imperial citizen During the Great Swarm, I aided Grande the Red Fox in his rebellion against the empire. I raided imperial barracks and stole from them.

Well, I am a pirate.

But due to the Coalition the revolt was soon quelled.

My men and I were caught, my ships seized and destroyed. I ought to be hanged but the Elder High Elf Marcus Ash a friend of my father, proposed that I will be imprisoned together with Grande, Pete and Alda for 200 years.

Thankfully, my men were spared.

I can't wait to go home and leave this place.

I hope my relatives will still remember after a long time. I missed my wife and children, but I guess they are all dead now.

Fifteen more years and we will be free at last!

*Raven the merciful be praised!

Pete the madman.

Hi there, name's Pete. I am a dwarf. My fellow prisoners called me the madman at one time ha ha ha ha!

Well, it is a fitting name for me at one time.

Because, out of madness, I blow up the mine and killed the greedy noble's sons!

They seized our mine, and made as slaves to work for them.

We revolted along with my clan and joined Grande with his cause!

A crime is a crime, so here we are paying.