// This thread is here for players to post your stories about the new plot, "The Rising". Use this to post general IC thoughts, stories about your encounters, and IC info gained from any DM events or quests you happen to be involved in, relating to this plot.

How do you tell if it's related to the plot? Well, you can randomly guess, based on what you've seen already in this thread or the "DM Posts" thread. Or (in a DM event or quest) you can always ask. Whichever DM is doing it will usually tell you, though there might be some events where we don't, just to keep things mysterious. Just keep in mind, some aspects of this plot will be noticeable with no DM interaction.

This thread is NOT for ooc. No questions here please, and no comments on other player's posts. This thread will have unnecessary ooc cleaned out without notice. Keep things IC as much as possible, and the DM Team looks forward to reading your stories, once they start being posted.

This thread is now yours!

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Role with the Punches...
Elan: A 10% chance is pretty unlikely, but everyone knows that a one-in-a-million chance is a sure thing!

Ailahra Farr Mann stood with her back against the tree as she listened to the battling groups behind her. Ghastly Undead monsters fighting with the beasts of the forest. She could hide from them, luckily, as long as those pixies or grigs didn't catch sight of her. She had been battling the monstrosities to no end in her search for some sign of a source, but had come up with nothing. Her only hunch now was that it had something to do with the walled-off area to the south of her current location.

She slowly pulled out one of her divine arrows and drew a quiet breath, sensing the stillness behind her. The forest beasts had been killed. She cursed lightly under her breath and turned to look at the skeletons. What in all the hells is bringing them here? And why only this area? She had no answer for her silent questions, of course, but that did not mean she would give up. As she shouted a cry and loosed her arrow, the imbued spell ripping through the Undead bones, she strengthened her determination that she would not stop until she had seen the end of this.

Undead... In her forest. She gritted her teeth, loosing her arrows quicker. It was abominable, and that much worse was the fact that she could not end their existence entirely. Something was drawing them to the area and she wanted to know what it was. Immediately.

The skeletons were no match for her arrows or her bow and she peered around slowly as silence fell again. She checked her supply of arrows, decided there were more than enough, and set out for the Grove again.

Siveyn had given her a job and she was going to do it to the best of her ability. She certainly was not going to start by trying to take care of the problem alone. Surely others of the Grove had noticed the Undead, despite the lack of a report on the patrol board. It was time to do something.

Bloody Undead have walked in this forest long enough.

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Corbis was trying to hide in the deep bushes trying his best to keep himself hidden from the undead and other creatures, but they always managed to find him because of that damned Full Plate armor. How am I supposed to find clues as to what is wrong if they keep finding me. He thought that he could leave his armor at home but was to attached to the comforts of safety that it brought.

As always, they all spoted him. As they came rushing to him he stood from the bushes and unsheathed his firey sword, slashing down the spider that had reached him. The pixie knocked hme down, but that didnt stop him from slaughtering all of the threat.

I am no forest man .... I dont even know why I am here .... Corbis continued on searching for clues but this time, with a grin a and an idea .... He pulled out an invisibility potion he got from the hag....Well, its about time i started using these ... Drank it and contiued on passed the confused creatures that could hear ... but not see....

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Greenleaf Deathwillow - Deathwillow Brother
Corbis Terra "Body of Earth" - Talented Mercenary
Orin WillowTree - Conniving Faerie

Note posted in the temple of Lathander

I have seen undeads spreading trough Amia Forest. The abominations were attacking the forest´s monsters. I have made a brief investigation and haven´t found the source of the corruption yet. I would appreciate any help in this matter.

Danniel Athelios

after hearing many odd reports of undead and fighting going on in the amia forest, stoneyface decides on a course of action and dispatches a note to lord frey majere in tarkuul...

written in a fine elvish script on expensive vellum, sealed with the wax seal of a dragon over a music note...

"my dear lord frey,

it has been circulating around the various pubs, bars and other rumor mills of some mysterious activity in the amia forest. there have been reports of very hostile undead and their attacks upon the orcs there, and also upon various wildlife and any unfortunate adventerers who happen to have the bad luck of coming upon them.

as the pre-eminent master of the undead and resident of, and speaker for the council of the living city, i suggest that we team up and work on an investigation of these incidents. we should reconnoiter the area immediatly and try to determine the cause and purpose of these rouge undead. i shall await your response to this letter and i shall make plans to gather a scouting group for this purpose."

humbly yours,

stoneyface na'majere

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I reject your reality, and substitute my own...

DMT = aim universe at brain, fire

*Frey reads the note, then goes to his quarters and begins to gather some of his tools, and a small, leather-bound notepad. He then goes to the Master ShadowMage in Tarkuul*

"Master Shadowmage, dispatch a Wraith messenger with the following message:

Stoneyface - I hath received thy message, and am departing to Cordor, then to Mystra's for supplies. Meet me in Cordor and we shall commence our expedition."

*Frey then turns, and walks outside Castle Tarkuul towards Cordor.*

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"Come under the flag of truce, and brook no treason... for mineself is Death, and care not whom knows mine touch."
- Frey Asaid'De Majere

* a report to mystra's tower written in elvish and addressed to the assembled staff and members alike*

learnéd members and resident staff of mystra's tower,

i present a scouting report on behalf of lord frey majere, galduil thielle, and myself stoneyface na'majere on the recent unusual activity in the amia forest. yesterday last, the three of us made a thorough and detailed scout of the amia forest in search of the cause of the recent sightings of hostile rogue undead. rumors of hostile undead attacking mosters, wildlife, and random adventures have been trickling down to the usual rumor mills, bars, and inns around amia. we formed this group to investigate the matter and we have found some hints as to the cause of the undead.

we started in the eastern part of the amia forest and went so far as to investigate the lost temple of malar with no definative evidence out of the normal for that area. we proceeded to the western amia forest and there things began getting interesting. to start, the number of undead, did in fact, increase in number and ferocity. in the eastern amia forest, skeletons could be seen in groups of one or two attacking anything around them. the western forest however, was much different. groups as large as five or more were not uncommon and large groups of up to a dozen were encountered.

proceeding to the southern part of the western amia forest we came upon an area entirely new and foreign to the area. my previous experience of that area of the forest was of large and old oak tress in a grove. this grove is gone and in it's stead was a inpenetrateble wall that ran from east to west blocking off the southern tip of the forest in that area. using my ability to fly i was able to leap over the wall after an extensive search revealed no discernable way through the wall. beyond the wall was what appeared to be the ruins of a a castle and a tower that seemed filled with debris and boulders and rocks of variable sizes. the number of undead in this area was immense and several small skirimishes ensued. after clearing the area of any resistance we began a very detailed investigation to determine what exactly was going on in this area.

as stated there were the ruins of what appeared to be a fairly large castle or keep with many gnarled and twisted trees surrounding it. to the west of this keep was a tower also in ruins. what was very strange about these buildings was the fact that they appeared to have been pushed up from below the ground and very recently as well. it also appeared that the upheaval was also very rapid, rapid enough to possibly take only a day or so to raise the entire structure. there were boulders and dirt strewn all around these structures and the trees themselves also appeared to have been pushed up through the soil as well. two trees in particular were noteworthy. these two trees were to the north of the main keep and one west of that but north of the ruined tower. these trees seemed to eminate a strange reddish glow about them, visible to the magically unaided eye. my ultravision did not reveal any other noteworthy details of this glow.

to the southwest of the ruins was a ravine of sorts with a small patch of ground across from it approximately ten feet across the ravine. a flight to this patch of land revealed more skeletons that were quickly dispatched. a brief investigation of this area revealed only a small alcove into the cliff-face at the southern border.

the tower to the southwest of the main keep was in disrepair and appeared to be full of boulders, soil and the entrance was entirely blocked off. there were no other ways in discovered. it is my thought that if a way into the tower were to be discovered, more information may be obtained... the apparent age of this tower is incongruent with the apparent lack of time it has been above ground. it is indeed, very strange...

the main keep also appeared to be very old and in greater disrepair than the tower. the roof was gone and most of the walls were a crumbled mess. there were boulders inside the walls with much dirt and soil disturbed and also appeared to have been very recently upheaved to the surface. a complete and thorough search of the area around and inside the walls of this keep revealed no additional doors, or any other levels below what was above ground. no stairs down were found. in short, it appeared to only be one level. if there was a second story, it has long ago collapsed and become part of the rubble... as with the tower and the trees, the age of the ruins was in conflict with it's newly upheaved appearance. in essance, a paradox.

it is the humble opinion of this bard that we assign lore masters and historians to investigate if there ever was any kind of keep or castle in this area of the amia forest. i would urge the tower to have those specialized in investigation, forensics and magical divination be sent to scrutinize the area immediately. i would caution against opening the wall to allow passage however, as i believe this is keeping the undead from thorougly over taking the rest of the amia forest. it may be acting as a barrier to protect us even a little. it is my opinion that this southern area is the definitive cause of the recent surge in rogue undead in the amia forest but i believe it will take more investigation to determine why it is the cause.

i present myself open for questions from anyone in the tower for clarification and i believe my companions are also willing to answer any questions arising.

your humble servent,
stoneyface na'majere
bard of amia

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I reject your reality, and substitute my own...

DMT = aim universe at brain, fire

A note from the patrol report boards in the grove:

On one of my strolls though the Amian forest, I came across a strange life form. It was in the river that flows though the forest. Its body was made up of a liquid substance and it resembled a puddle of water. I believe it was poisonous, as contacting it weakened me severely. The thing attacked me at first, then stunned me and tried to get away. Luckily a fellow ranger was able to take it down before it got away. No more creatures of its kind were found that day, but more could make it into the forest though the river, so be on your guard.

signed, Valas.

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Maeraes' Wiki.
Gaelle's Wiki.
In-active player. Active Lurker.

Alitha sat quietly on the cushions by the fire, her eyes fixed on the dancing flames. It had been quite some time since she had been invited to the shrine. She glanced up the hill looking and waiting for Wiggan to return. Just why did Wiggan offer to give that Llothit a tour… it made no sense what so ever to her… to give a tour to an enemy, to some one that could very well kill you one day.

Her eyes once more were drawn back to the dancing flames. This place felt so vulnerable now without….

A twig snapped behind her and she felt a slight breeze of a small object coming towards her neck followed by a large crunching noise. Alitha turned wide eyed seeing Sheara standing on top of an undead skeleton behind her. Sheara detached the skeleton’s head tossing it aside and then looked to Alitha and nodded.

A shiver moved down her back as she stood up, now she could feel more of them near by, a sickening feeling in her stomach. Alitha’s hand grasped the staff tightly as she heard someone else approaching from behind her. One of the male drows that made his home here at the shrine came to help.

“Keep an eye out to see where they seem to be coming from; we need to find who ever is calling them forth.” After giving the drow that instruction Alitha prayed to Ehlonna asking her to protect them both and help them lay these tortured souls back to rest.

After clearing out the shrine area they moved to search the Benwick’s cemetery. Undead skeletons were every where in sight. Alitha kept her wits about her and focused on removing them one small group at a time calling upon Ehlonna’s magic to do so.

Two more came to their aid and helped them lay the undead to rest. One being the tailor woman, Tia, that Alitha had just hired to make a few outfits for her.

“This is the last time I deliver you a dress Alitha,” Tia called to Alitha as they continued laying the undead to rest.

Alitha blinked a bit confused, “Sorry?” Really it had been quite some time since trouble followed her around. The clockwork assassins had all disappeared, the Horde seemed to be lying low again, the dark alliance had left her alone ever since they had found and took the soul binder. Perhaps though, trouble was back to following her again; or perhaps she was becoming paranoid again.

Another shiver ran down her back and the fight continued until all the undead were laid to rest. No clues were found to why this had happened, nor was there any sign of who ever had been calling the undead forth.

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Patrol LoggedBy Tard Fetter

As is part of my normal routine to start off in the forest and head to the Benwick Graveyard on the first leg of my patrol i noticed nothing peculiar as i entered the Graveyard.

Since the Shrine had been added to the route i headed there first. I was happy to report that the shrine was as serene as it should be. Little did i know this serenity did not will its way outward to the Benwick Graveyard. After exiting the graveyard i stayed along the cliffs edge ...i noticed some scattered corpses of skeletons.

It seemed to be a swath of them heading towards the Temple of Salandra. To my recollection it looked like a delaying action was being fought. I immediately with all haste came to the edge of the thicket that the Salandran gate is to be found.

There raging in full fury were the Gate guardians a Defender and the one named Krin. I immediately entered the fray. My friend Whisper as well as an Elemental assisted in the turning of the tide of the battle. At one point i swore i saw a Frost Giant but perhaps my eyes were tricking me.

During the onslaught Krin was muttering to himself that he really shouldnt be doing this nor be anywhere near such as this....I come to later find out that the reason for this was the news of an impending birth and a promise made to his wife for staying out of harm;s way. As i will say now ...i am glad he stuck around or all would have been lost.

Once the battle seemed to be over the Guard captain asked if we would run a quick patrol in the graveyard, the shrine, and the cliffs edge near the road that leads to Guldorland. It was at about this time or maybe a little before another joined the group.

He had apperently come from the shrine and was on his way to visit a friend in the temple. I later found out this man to be ( at thsi point you notice an attempt to spell the mans name properly but after a few attempts and scribble marks it just reads) Yuri.

The four of us agreed immediately. For me it was after all nice to have company along my normal patrol route.

We set out into the graveyard, as we did a few straggling skeletons crossed our path. After we dispatched these i noticed along the ridge line skeleton archers ....i called upon the powers that Silvanus and Chauntea had blessed upon me and rained upon them a storm of lightning that quickly cracked their bones. Upon seeing the force along the ridgeline we headed in that direction.

The battle grew more fierce. waves upon waves of these vile bones were upon us. We followed the path of the well worn wagon ruts to the cliffs edges there we were met with a throng of undead. Walking corpses, skeletons, cursed undead they were bet with teeth blade and fist.

As we had dispatched what had seemed to be the last in this tight confine of a cliff edge the one named Yuri wanted to check the house on the ridge. We found the cattle gutted and eviscerated. The carnage quite devastating to the mind. As he approached the house ... a great beacon of light shone in the sky coming in the direction of the temple.

With all lhaste we headed back to the temple. The vile undead had slipped in behind us whilst we were banishing the ones on the cliffside.
Many more were here scores flailing at the guards ...the guards in full defensive were being overwhelmed to the gate ...they were starting to look as if all were lost.

Luckily for them we responded as qickly as we did. the four of us attacked in almost perfect line formation....it was as if we had drilled together for years. Krin unleashing a maelstrom of fire pinpointed a large group of them. The Defender , whom i later found out to be Sharina, Cleaving mightily into another group as Yuri, with lightning speed crunched many bones upon his fist and feet. I myself with the elemental and my friend whisper clearing my way started to cast healing spells upon the undead.

As we started to turn the battle and the last few skeletons started to fall. A sight appeared ..it was an undead glowing red sword. This Sword startedto devastate us ....Sharina bravely stood its path with the captain of the Salandran guard ...not sure which fell first but shortly after the other fell ...this wretched blade would not be denied. Whisper and the elemental were next as i started to cast spells upon it.

At this time the rest of the guard and Yuri made for the gate and closed the gate to guard inside the temple grounds if we were to fall. Whisper screamed in my mind as a vile pain struck him ..the elemental responded to the pain in Whisper by dubling its efforts....the BLade seemed to sense that i was about to unleash a torrent upon it. It dodged the blows and teeth of my companiions and headed straight for me.

AS i fell i could see Krin starting to cast some spells. The blade started towards the gate hacking at the wooden obstacle as chips and chunks began flying everywhere. i might have been seeing double, for i think i saw another sword come to the aid of Krin. This is the last image i saw. What was recounted to me later was that Krin had a fierce battle on his hands....he cast many spells and in the end was finally victorious. i have not more detail on his battle i was unfortunately unconscious and quite shredded.

I was healed, as well as Sharina...unfortunately there was nope hope for the Captain of the Guard. He was too far gone .

At this point Krin recused himself to go see if he could gain any help for the temple as well try to keep the remaining promise he had made to his wife. Yuri wanted to go back and check the house near the cliffside. he did. I remained behind with Sharina.

He was gone for quite sometime Sharina and I decided to go look for him.
We approached the house. The door was covered in blood and ajar. No sign of Yuri anywhere. Sharina Kicked the door wide...myself and the my companiions entered swiftly but cautiously after. Inside Yuri had found two farmers a man and a woman. It was agreed that they should stay at the temple for the time being to be safe.

As we headed back to the temple a few straggling undead were encountered as well as quite a few of the hill giants.
We safely delivered the farmers to the temple.

The rest of my patrols after this were much more quiet by comparison

The dark elf shifted the grip on her staff as she watched the pair of dire wolves tear through the skeletons in front of her. Nearby, her fey companion, Amanae, released a spell that killed several of the other enemies and the ranger Kalliniel shot into the small group to aid them.

"These Undead trouble me," Kalliniel murmured as he shot.

Jrrip nodded grimly. "They've been here for a while. We're trying to figure it out, though," she answered him. Kalliniel simply nodded and continued attacking.

The ambush of fighting monsters was quickly dispatched and she took off again, the wolves on her heels, followed by the others. She was to lead them to the quagmire swamps, where she would usually patrol. As they stepped into the northwestern part of the forest, where the Undead ambushes had ceased previously, Jrrip skirted to the east side of the group of black wolves, ettins, and other such creatures typical to the northwestern section. As she stood there, watching as her companions entered the battle, her eyes moved off slightly to the north as the ground opened up and a handful of skeletons climbed out of the hole.

Jrrip's eyes grew wide. "No!" she shouted, immediately redirecting the attack from her wolves to the Undead. Hearing her cry, her startled companions also changed their attack. Jrrip gripped her staff tighter and moved closer. "Not here!"

When the skeletons were released from their Undead existence, the other wild creatures of the forest followed suit. Amanae and Kalliniel proceeded immediately, but Jrrip hesitated with Gaery and her other wolf for a moment to look around the area, feeling very uncomfortable. At the sounds of battle, though, she and her wolves raced forward to join their companions. As she had feared, more Undead rose from the earth. Jrrip gritted her teeth and ran for a better position, ignoring the spider and black wolf that came after her. She lifted her hands and called forth lightning, sending it down onto the skeletons. They were not destroyed, but she had not expected that. The spell harmed them enough that the wolves could rip them apart much easier.

When the battle was finished, Jrrip instantly turned and to the east, terribly worried for a specific place. She stopped dead in her tracks however when she saw the gaping hole at the same time Amanae spoke.

"This didn't used to be here, did it?"

"I've been gone too long," the ranger said simply.

Amanae flew over to Jrrip. "This wasn't here."

Jrrip shook her head. "N-No…it wasn't."

The small group looked across the hole and spotted a couple dozen more skeletons lurking within the trees, their hideous boney bodies scraping across the bark. Jrrip ran forward again, calling more lightning down upon them as the wolves growled ferociously and attacked from separate direction. A bright flash nearby alerted her to the powerful firebrand spells Amanae cast at the skeletons, sending a large number of the trapped souls back to their resting places. Jrrip looked around once the skeletons were gone, and then took off as fast as she could to the area with the Vibrant Tree. The fey was much faster than her, of course, so he flew nonstop ahead of them. Jrrip downed a Potion of Speed and hurried across the bridge.

"I know this place," she heard Kalliniel say. She paid it no heed and hurried along, soon coming into the clearing to find that the Vibrant Tree was surrounded by Undead. Jrrip raced forward, her protective instinct overwhelming her. She attacked the skeletons with her staff with a cry, not doing much damage at all, but she didn't really mind. All she wanted was to see these miserable souls laid to rest…and for them to do it as far away from the Vibrant Tree as possible.

Most of the skeletons turned their attention on her and she fled, running around a few trees. They followed her away from the tree and then she turned to attack again, at the same time trying to heal herself magically so Gaery wouldn't panic at her death.

"C'mere!" Amanae shouted, but Jrrip didn't hear him well enough. She avoided the last skeleton, which Gaery quickly ended while the other wolf bounded off in some direction, his task complete. Jrrip looked around, finished healing her wounds, and then raced over to the Vibrant Tree. She placed her hand on its smooth surface.

"Does Theos know that the Undead are this far?" Kalliniel asked quickly. "Surely the Archdruid should do something about this."

"They've…never been this far…" Jrrip whispered quietly, watching the tree, at the same time that Anamae spoke.

"Theos isn't the Archdruid anymore." The words earned him an odd look from Kalliniel, but Amanae shook his head. "Now's not the time."

After a short time, she closed her eyes and stepped into the tree, followed quickly by Amanae.

Amanae flew ahead quickly to the fey Sunshine and spoke in Sylvan about the Undead and Amanae relayed the information to the waiting dark elf. When she heard the news, she let out a relieved breath and turned back.

"I…need to tell the others," she said wearily.

"Nico and 'Litha protect us, yes," Sunshine called after them. Jrrip smiled at that, and then headed back to the place where they could get down from the shrine. As soon as they stepped out of the tree again, though, let out a quick warning for quiet.

"This isn't good, fey," he muttered.

Jrrip turned to look across the area to the opening in the cliff walls and drew in a quick breath. A massive swarm of Undead had gathered, blocking their route. Jrrip crept closer to the other two and lowered her voice even as the fey settled down to think hard on what to do.

"I…don't have any more spells, either…" she whispered.

Kalliniel looked at her and replied in another whisper, "Just do what you can."

Jrrip nodded, but then they both looked at the fey when he hopped up. "Let's try to talk to them." He started forward and Jrrip took a step forward, worried, but Amanae turned back. "Stay." The dark elf and the ranger stayed where they were, Jrrip standing directly in front of the Vibrant Tree protectively. She couldn't see for the world how or why he was going to try to talk to mindless skeletons, but she let him approach them, and then winced slightly when they immediately attacked. Gaery raced forward and Jrrip took a few steps, eyes locked on the swarm of undead. Killiniel didn't seem to like the look of things at all as the Undead skeletons began to attack in a wave.

"Perhaps we should run," he suggested.

Jrrip firmly gripped her staff, but did not move. "No," she said.

"Nope," Amanae said quickly, flying around as he tried to get a better vantage point. Jrrip stepped forward again and readied her staff, ready to back up Gaery if he needed it. Kalliniel shot his arrows quickly, skillfully, and the wolf grasped bones in his jaws and jerked with practiced skill. Jrrip moved closer and intercepted one of the nearly destroyed skeletons, ending its vile existence with two blows from her staff. She blinked at it, and then looked over at the many skeletons left standing.

Amanae then began to cast his spells like there would be no other chance in his life to do so. Firebrands left his tiny fey fingers as quickly as possible, tearing through the Undead and leaving them in heaps of bone. Jrrip let out another relieved breath, slumping against Gaery as he returned to her side, the Undead threat gone for now.

"That's a big pile of bones," Kalliniel muttered. "Who's to say they won't just rise again?"

Jrrip shuddered and Amanae cringed. "M-Maybe…we need to have rangers here, too…" she said softly. Kalliniel shrugged and Amanae proceeded to look around a little more. Jrrip turned back to look at the Vibrant Tree and smiled faintly, bowing her head slightly as she whispered a prayer to Mielikki, and then hurried away to return to the Grove.

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Peering silently from her hiding spot she briefly wandered if the young group of two Rangers and the Druid would fall for the traps she had set...

A screech of skeleton bones was the only noise Julia Moonshade heard before the Grove members she was tracking were quickly overwhelmed by undead... safe in the underbrush of the forest she watched as they were torn apart limb from limb in a reckless rage...

The Rangers were the first to fall, Bows and Bones do not mix.
The Druid had no chance, not against a company of undead... she turned and fled, the *chink* of spikes was the last thing she heard, blood spurted from her torso... the human collapsed in a pool of her own blood mixed in with the soil of the forest.
The mass of Bones quickly moved off, looking for more sport... An immediate check of the area followed... silence... it was safe for now..

Getting up she scrambled wryly to the mutilated corpses... taking what loot she could from the bodies she moved on.

What she found most fascinating was how the skeletons seemingly had no real goal to the destruction of the forest... Driven on by nothing...

and where did they come from? some mad necromancer bent on revenge? And what did they have against the Grove? Assuming the destruction of this forest was aimed at the Grove... or Silvanus, Mielikki.
An enemy of the Grove is a potential ally of the Beastlord...
These wild theories gave no answer to which she sought,

"The hunt is over, leave it at that" She mumbled to herself..

Mers Larin and Ke'yo Yuantyrr emerge from another glorious slaughter at the temple of Malar to find many a skeleton milling about outside the temple with dead wildlife around. Mers had personally slain the chosen of Malar with glee below, and now dead were rampaging through the forest.

Still, this meant less for *him* and the monk to kill...and would have to be...remedied. With a call to his god he sent the undead fleeing in all directions, so much the easier for him to deal with them at his leisure. Afterall, the Malarite temple needed more...cleansing fire. The undead would undoubtably keep outsiders preoccupied...

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Working on tastey new adventures!
Playing: Theos Gend, Perry Sawmir, Mers Larin
Good? Bad? I'm the guy with the two giant wolves.

Ailahra stood leaning against the tree, smiling faintly as she watched Narathiir in front of her. They were both tired, and the forest was peaceful, but they both took notice as a white stag suddenly ran past from the west. The ranger captain stood silent for a moment, more startled than anything, and then she and Narathiir followed it quickly into the trummels near Shadowscape.

It stood near the gate, just watching Ailahra as she slipped her bow away and slowly approached. It took a few steps toward her and then let out a soft call before it turned away and approached the doors of the gate, gently knocking one hoof against it. Ailahra moved to the doors, Narathiir close behind her, and opened them for the majestic creature.

Immediately, of course, they were ambushed by the giants and other creatures of the pass. Ailahra and Narathiir fought them off quickly, eager to see where the white stag was leading them. Not far in, however, instead of mountain giants, they were attacked by a group of Undead. Quickly switching her arrows, Ailahra shot the foul skeletons into nonexistence. When only piles of bones remained behind, the white stag trotted over to them, and then clopped its hoof on a skull, driving it into the ground and making it clear to the two observers just why the stag had brought them here.

Further in, the Undead that ambushed them became more fierce, and the stag fled in terror. Vampires and ghastly Undead beasts chased it, and though Ailahra shot as quickly as she could, and Narathiir worked his spells, the Undead were too many, and they slew the great white stag where it stood. Ailahra let out a rather unladylike string of curses and shot the Undead that now turned their sights on her with renewed vigor.

Narathiir then began to cast spells on her, protective spells with a haste spell tacked on the end. The Undead did not last long. As a holy arrow embedded itself in the final Undead beast, she went still, her heavy breathing more a result of anger and despair than of exhaustion.

Ailahra and Narathiir turned to one another, a look of pure understanding passing between them. Then they both turned to the body of the white stag even as a group of butterflies gathered around it. Ailahra stood silent, sadness gripping her heart as Narathiir knelt before the fallen creature and looked upon it with eyes speaking his apology. A serene calm settled over the area of the fallen white stag, but even that did not last as the evil of the trummels drew in yet again, claiming the silence.

As even the butterflies dispersed, Narathiir stood and turned aside. Before he walked away, though, he murmured a soft, "I am so tired, love." Ailahra watched him for a short time, her sadness and her heart reaching out to him. And then she followed, catching up with him in the forest. Together, they returned to the Grove for much-needed peace, quiet, and rest.

_________________

Whew, helping these forest creatures is difficult. The skeletons appear, and I have to take care to kill them and not hurt the poor Fairies, and Dogs, and Medusas. They don't seem to notice I'm helping them.

Well, at least they cannot keep me from healing them up after the fight.

... several weeks later ...

Oh my, no more forest creatures, just more undead skeletons. Well, the job is easier now. I hope the forest creatures have only run, and not been completely killed off...

I wonder if the grove knows of this ...

Wandering the Western forest, breaking skeletons, with the help of a wood wight and one of the many fairies I uncursed long ago. At least there are still friendly creatures here, even if they must be coaxed out of hiding.

Catch sight of a group of adventurers, escorting someone. About to say "hi", when dozens of skeletons spring from the earth and attack.

Hands full trying to heal the escorts and destroy the skeletons. So many skeletons! Just couldn't help but hit! Missing one, the mace swings right into the next one.

Indeed, not long and the skeletons are just piles of bones.

The escorts continue north, talking of the battle, me healing remaining wounds. No time for introductions as dozens more skeletons spring from the earth! This time with several giant ones, looking like the raised remains of ettins that had died here.

A tough battle. We rest afterwards. Julie, Bruppi, and Ashe introduce themselves. We continue north.

Alas, the forest creatures are angered at the escort's presence. The escort defend themselves with their swords. I only manage to save a single fairy.

We make it to Nexus, the goal of the escort.

Suddenly an undead skeleton runs from the the forest, past the elven guards, and attacks us!

We break it up and disperse its bones, a rather easy task after the practice in the forest. But I worry, finally deciding to leave the others to go back into the forest.

Through the dark passage into the forest, dozens of skeletons are upon me! I run back to the falls, calling for the escort's help. We charge back, destroying the skeletons.

We thoroughly search the for more skeletons, breaking up any we find. Where are they coming from? Who is sending them? Why?

A dark-robed woman, cloaked in an invisibility spell, slowly walked the road in the Western Amia Forest. A high-ranking guard outside the grove had said that undead still haunted this forest, and the dark-robed woman had come to investigate the situation. Unlike previous investigators who questioned where the undead were coming from and why, she came to find out why the undead had stopped multiplying.

She found the place described. A long, impenetrable wall separated what looked like a fortress of evil from the rest of the forest. Skulls displayed on pikes discouraged visitors. Skeletons wandered aimlessly about the area.

“This is as good a place as any,” she thought, and began setting glyphs of warding nearby to alert her of intruders. Once the wards were set, she cast a sphere of invisibility upon her proceedings, and placed five black ritual candles in a circle around her.

Her focus object for this undertaking was Pestilence, an ancient, gnarled staff that could channel considerable negative energy. She stabbed its tip deep into the earth, then knelt and leaned upon the staff for support. Pestilence hummed with power. In hushed whisperings, she began casting spells, probing the area for any information it could give her.

Detect evil – Her attention drew to the skeletons nearby, but their presence was not the source of powerful energy she sought. She snorted in frustration, and refocused.

Speak with Dead – The targeted skeleton simply stood there and rattled its bones at her. It knew nothing. She cursed at it, but managed to compose herself and continue.

Find the Path – The path to where? Her eyes focused on the door of a tower leading into the fortress, but boulders blocked any passage. Realizing the futility of this endeavor, she flung her hands in the air and stood as if to leave.

She stopped abruptly, and moments passed while she stood there considering… finally she spoke into the darkness of the hollow woods, “You won’t help me, but whoever you are, I will help you.”

Kneeling back down, she clutched Pestilence and focused her energies on the ground around her. Minutes passed. The woods went silent. A breeze arose as she intoned an ancient incantation, and the light from the candles flickered. The skeletons rattled and paced about. Pestilence glowed eerily as negative energies began to funnel into the ground. Beads of sweat formed on her brow as the incantation reached full force, and dark light poured into the ground using Pestilence as a channel. Then all went silent again.

When she at last looked up, six skeletons stood staring at her. A chill ran down her spine. She knew they could not see through her invisibility circle, but perhaps they were aware of the energy nearby.

She yanked Pestilence free from the earth, blew out the candles, removed the wards, and quickly collected her ritual objects. She looked around suspiciously, and then trudged off grinning. As the circle of invisibility lifted from the site, all that remained to tell the tale of her Desecration ritual was a small hole dug in the ground and the faint scent of melted wax.

Llewyn recounted a tale long-forgotten, which of course got fragmented and twisted as it spread across the island. As bards and storytellers told the tale, people clamoured to hear the story, craving for answers to the strangeness besetting the Forest. Some thought it but the ramblings of a madman; yet don't all tales of folklore have some grounding in truth?
The following is one version, heard in The Temple Square of Cordor, of all places...

~~~

Many here know with painful intimacy the horror of the Horde. Yet how many have heard of the heart of the Horde, the burning hatred that drove the strange alliances to rise against the people of the island? How many know of the fear and the pain, as the Horde watched the waning of their ways? As beasts were tamed, and forests were cleared, as mountains were mined and rivers ran with the refuse of the intruders?

It was Intellia who told of the conviction of the Horde, that they ran as one, as a Pack, to fight against the clash of cultures. Almost forgotten in her cant was reference to the deal made with the first settlers from the mainland.

Long ago, when Amia was covered in forest, when settlers first arrived by ship from the mainland, they encountered the wild people already living in harmony on this island. The natives were in tune with the island, slaying beasts only to survive, living only as far as the land could support. Nothing was wasted, and all fed back into the great closed circle of life. They were as one. They were Pack.

The settlers managed to meet, and to communicate after a fashion, with the Pack nobility. They sought to make a deal with the natives, to buy the land. Such a foreign concept this was to the Pack. How could one “own” land? And yet the newcomers were insistent. So the Pack made a deal. The newcomers may live upon the island, but were bound to maintain the balance, and not to upset the way of the world.

Not trusting the outsiders, the Pack called in secret upon ancient powers to bind them to their vow: to ever maintain the balance, and if this harmony was broken, if the land cried out in agony, then their souls would never rest, and would rise in retribution against those who had brought destruction, who had abused and misused the land they were given!

The tale was passed through the generations, but had lost favour as the Pack's culture waned against the culture of the mainlanders, until the Prophecy was known only to few:

The Ancients watch the balance tip,
Through rashness brought by seaward ship.
'Ere all is lost and comes to worst,
They actuate the age-old curse,
And from the bones of sailors sons,
An army spawns to right the wrongs.
The eight step up and purge the land,
So life may live now hand in hand.