1.06G - Faering Woods

Gwenllian traveled west to Hammerlord Post.  As she approached the watch tower, she was disappointed to see its beautiful sky reaching tower had been crushed to half its height.  “Who would have the power to do this?” she wondered as she climbed the steps to the observation platform.

“Thomas Penthas?”  She inquired of a man who stood watch.  “Brother Jebiah has sent me from Three Springs to help you in any way that I can.”

“It’s disturbing how quickly the Abyssal cult infiltrated Moonshade Highlands.   I am glad you could come at once.  The Guardians should have set up an outpost here long ago; I only hope it is not too late.”

Gwenllian introduced herself.  “And what has brought you here, Penthas, so far from your home?”

“For several weeks, I had been having dreams about Moonshade Highlands.  I could see the deathtouched lands and the looming Abyssal presence.  Finally I journey from Silverwood to Three Springs and met with Brother Jebiah.  He told me that the plight of this land runs deeper than we know.  That same night I had another dream about this very tower and the Terrace to the north.  Do you think the Vigil was sending me a sign?”

Gwenllian gave a nervous laugh.  She was not a believer in superstition or future-casting.  “It is .... possible.” She said at last, not wishing to offend the man. 

They both looked towards Hammerknell Fortress for a time before they were joined by a dwarf Gwenllian recognized as Joseph Holden.

“Don’t think for a second that the Abyssal are our only adversaries here in Moonshade, or even our most dangerous ones.”  Holden said as he joined their party, looking towards the fortress.

Gwenllian looked to him.  “The fact is, Holden, they are the ones who show themselves, so they are the ones we can fight.  When the others come knocking at our door, we will be ready for them as well, but for the time being. ... “she trailed off, noticing the frown on his face.

“If we wait for them to come to us, Moonshade Highlands will be lost.”

Gwenllian shrugged and turned back to Penthas.  “What can I do to help.”

“I think it’s time we sought guidance from the Vigil.  There is an Altar of Bahralt within the Faering Woods.  Perhaps the might patron of your people will offer some advice.   It would also help to know what magic the fae have been tampering with.”

Gwenllian began to explain about the deathtouched satyrs she has already encountered, but Penthas looked over her head, not focusing on what she was saying, then continued as if he had not heard a word she said.

“There are three faeries that seem to be in charge in the wood.  Perhaps their possessions would provide clues on what the fae are doing.”

Defeated, and knowing that aside her prayers to the Alter this trip to the woods is pointless, Gwenllian turned, but was interrupted by Holden.

“Maybe I can give you a better reason to risk your neck, Linny.  There have been reports of a spirit wandering within the Faering Woods that isn’t like the others.  Some think that it’s the ghost of a Dwarven hero from the days before the Shade.  You should speak with this ghost.  If it is truly an ancient fallen hero, we might learn from him.

Gwenllian left the tower and made her way cautiously into the wood.  All at once the light of midday was pulled from the sky and the area became as dark as midnight.  Gwenllian looked up to see the treetop canopy, but knew that this cover alone was not responsible for the sudden darkness.

Being sure to watch her surroundings, Gwenllian made her way to the Altar first.  It sat at the very center of the wood, on an island that had since become overrun with mushroom and greenery.  In the times before the area became home to fae creatures, this wood had been a holy place for many Dwarves, a pilgrimage destination for many who wished to seek the wisdom of their patrion.

Gwenllian prayed at the Altar, but was started when moments later a portal materialized where she knelt.  From the portal walked an Abyssal.

“If you’ve come seeking Bahralt’s Messenger, then you will be sadly disappointed.” taunted the cultist.  “He is now our prisoner.”

With shock and anger, as well as slight disbelieve that any cultist could capture a messenger, Gwenllian rose to her full height.  She drew back the knife given to her by Brother Jebiah and threw it at the cultist, hearing the satisfying sound of blade against bone that she was not fully accustomed too.

When she was sure the cultist was dead, Gwenllian pulled the blade from his chest and left the pool in search of the ghost Holden had sent her to find.  She paced the pathways, pearing through the trees and was started to see him walking along the path; His pearly gray-white silhouette shining like moonlight on the trail around him.  She watched him for a moment before realising his uniform, and his face, looked familiar to her.

“General Stanig?”  Gwenllian said as she approached him.

“You.... can see me?” Stanig said cautiously?  “I have not spoken to anyone in so long...”

“I can see you, yes.”  Gwenllian said.  “Can you tell me why you are here?  Maybe your insight can help us now.”

General Stanig looked grave.  “We of the Runeguard were defenders of Hammerknell Fortress.  When the power of Regulos enveloped this land, we shut the fortress doors from the outside.   I was slain like so many others, but I cannot rest Hammerknell is cleansed.”  He smiled at her.  “But enough of my story.  We old folk tend to prattle on, eh?” 

Gwenllian laughed, in spite of herself.  “I’m assisting Three Springs in cleansing Moonshade of whatever horror has it tied down.  Do you know what happened here in Faering Wood?”

“It’s that Deathtouched Satyr, Gorvaht.  We must purge his corruption.  My forefathers used Runecrated Stones to protect Moonshade, but they’ve grown weak.  Retrieve them and bring them to an old friend of mine.  He’ll get a shock when you mention me!”  Stanig laughed again and then faded out into the darkness.

WRITERS NOTE: April 28, 2013

One of the pitfalls of writing this story so many months after doing the quests is I find I'm not always able to remember facts about individual characters.  Today, in writing 1.10G - The Runeguard, I discovered I had made an error in the assumption I made about General Stanig.

I originally had believed Stanig died in the shade wars.   He can be seen walking in Mathosia during the Guardian tutorial.  However, he remarks that he is not Ascended.

This fits with seeing him as a ghost in Moonshade.  However, I made that leap before coming to a point where the current leader of the Runeguard explains the General's story.

I have removed the offending line of text.  "Many of us traveled to Mathosia to assist in any way we could. I was slain like so many others.... " because it is now clear that the events of the Shade took place before the events that closed Hammerknell.  Stanig returned, as a mortal Runeguard, and closed the door on Hammerknell.

Continue reading to learn what really happened.