Protecting the Freehold from the Controllers
From Zed's Journal
Zed rode east through the Spritwood toward Skara Hollow cursing Minax's name as a leafless branch caught his cloak. Hearing the ring of swords to the south he reigned his ethereal steed toward the din. As he neared the Spiritual Path, Zed saw a flash of blue through the trees. Remembering that he was to meet the Lady Sam at Joh's Creb Shek in a few minutes he surmised that she had ventured out on her own. He rode on. Lady Sam was on the road fighting a Controller and a clockwork golem. The melee was fast. Lady Sam quickly dispatched the Controller and went to work on the golem. Although the golem was slow it managed to lay a staggering blow upon the lady. Zed quickly healed Lady Sam and joined the fray.
There were Controllers
and golems all about the road and nearby woods. With a nod to each other
the duo 
moved
further south cutting a path through the invaders. Sam felt the hair
on the back of her neck rise as she came upon a black and evil looking
obelisk. She called out to Zed who cast a killing energy bolt at the
red robed Controller he was fighting. As they neared the strange construct
the smell of ozone filled the air. The obelisk crackled with energy.
An unsettling mechanical sound emanated from the object. Lady Sam bravely
reached out and touched a metal plate on the side of the device. She
pointed... On the face of the plate was a grid with a blue jewel in
the top left corner.
“Zed, I have heard tell that the key to destroying these generators lies in solving this puzzle.” Sam fingered the blue jewel as she spoke. The jewel moved to an adjacent point on the grid.
“It looks like fun!” Zed said with a grin that belied the sense of danger that hung in the air. “I will stand guard whilst ye attempts to learn the key” he said, the mirth disappearing from his face.
Sam moved the jewel again. An ear splitting crack and a blinding flash of light filled the night air. A massive blue flash of energy ripped into Lady Sam. Stunned, Zed spat the words of healing “In Vas Mani.” Another flash flew from the generator. Zed healed Sam as fast as he could say the words of power. Another flash. Another healing spell. The light of Zed's magic faded from around Sam.
Zed considered telling Sam that the danger was too great to continue but the determined look in her eyes told him that it would be a waste of breath. Instead, he removed his staff of great healing from his pack. Clutching the staff he nodded to Sam to continue.
Ignoring the danger to herself Lady Sam continued to work on the key. It took some time to complete, and each time she made a misstep the generator would show it's malice by raining down lightning.
Sam moved the jewel one last time. A rumbling sound came from the ground under the device. Cracks began to form on the it's surface. Within seconds the generator lay in a heap of debris in front of the weary duo.
“Well done.” Zed said as a satisfied Sam dusted off her blue armor. Both smiled at their success.
The smile quickly
faded from Lady Sam's face. Zed turned in his saddle to see two Controllers
and a golem
closing
in from the north east. Without hesitation Sam summoned a Blade Sprit
a few paces in front of the golem. Zed attacked the Controller. Another
golem appeared through the trees. Again the duo was on the offensive
heading north and east towards Skara Hollow. The two fought each attacker
as they came. Sam pointed through the trees and Zed saw another of the
black generators. It took some time for the two to reach the device.
Zed cursed under his breath as he realized that there were more golems
protecting this generator than the last.
When at last the fighting had ended and the last of the golems had been dispatched, Lady Sam said “We must destroy this generator as well.” With a grin she looked at Zed and said “it's your turn now.”
Zed was already
examining the metal plate. He moved the jewel. The generator erupted
in a fury of lighting. 
Zed
bit his tongue, energy paralyzing his body. Sam quickly cast a
spell of great healing. The pain subsided for a second only to be renewed
by another bolt.
“This is fun” Zed said to Sam. She did not laugh. Zed continued his task. He worked at the puzzle-key while Sam healed.
Both heaved a sigh of relief as the second generator crumbled to the ground. Zed poked through the remains and found some diamonds and some arcane gems.
“I shall take these arcane gems to my laboratory. I wouldst like to understand their magic.” Sam nodded. Zed reigned his ethereal steed Wind towards the docks. Sam followed. The two rode in silence for a while. The wind gusted through the leafless boughs. The birds were beginning to stir from their hiding. A low cool fog was rolling in from the Misty Channel. The fog glowed with the unique light one sees when Trammel and Felucca are new moons.
The two friends
said their goodbyes at the docks. Each wondering at the meaning of the
Controllers.