hwango

Desmond Clift led an exceptional life, died a spectacular death, and left an eclectic inheritance. His carefully itemized will distributed his many possessions to his family, friends, and even a few choice enemies. He left his famous airship to his brother and his castle to his sister. Various more mundane homes and automobiles were bestowed upon nephews and nieces. To his ex-wife, he left a pre-arranged pardon for his murder in the event that she was the cause of his death, just to show that there were no hard feelings. It turned out not to be necessary, but she was deeply moved by the gesture.

To Herbert Quivel, he left a magical sword, a large ruby, a tattered map, and an ornate brass key.

The family and Herbert appeared to be equally surprised by this particular bequest, since none of them knew Herbert, and he claimed never to have met the deceased.

Everyone wondered what the map led to, what the key opened, and what lay inside whatever the key opened. The general assumptions were that the map led to some sort of treasure chest which could be opened with the key, and that the location must feature horrible monsters that could only be overcome using the sword. The significance of the ruby was only puzzled out after the fact - it was the bait.

Perhaps Herbert would have been tempted enough by the mysterious map and key, but it seemed Desmond had not wanted to take any chances. The ruby said to Herbert that whatever it was at the end of the map in the predicted locked box, it must be even better than this giant ruby. And it said it loud enough for Herbert to sell the ruby and use the resulting money to fund his quest to follow the map.

He did not come back.

No one ever managed to figure out how Desmond knew Herbert, or why the former hated the latter enough to concoct such an elaborate scheme for destroying the man. But further investigation left little doubt that Herbert's doom had been Desmond's goal the whole time. The sword was cursed. The map omitted several significant hazards. The key...well, the next people to make it to the end of the route indicated on the map found the key in the lock of a huge, black wooden chest. And they found Herbert. Some of him, anyway.

So, what's inside? People are curious, certainly. Many have been tempted to turn the key and find out. But then they consider the curse on the sword, the traps and pitfalls absent from the map, the cunning malice that went into the entire plan, and the the fact that the last thing Herbert apparently did was to open the lid of the chest. And then they decide that maybe they aren't that curious after all.

Whatever it is, it might still be hungry.