// ***THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR DM POSTS***


The young ranger crouched behind the stone rubble, and silently knocked an arrow, slowly raising the bow to take aim at the wolf.

The thing must be half-mad, the ranger thought, slowly drawing the string back. After all, it had been acting quite strangely, more agressive than usual, and yet, skittish at the same time. He had seen the wolf bravely confront a rather large bear - which was foolish at best - though the bear simply roared once, and the wolf bolted...yet shortly thereafter, the same wolf, preparing to make a kill of a wounded deer, lowered it's tail between it's legs, urinated where it stood, and meekly skittered off into the brush whining like a pup.

Very odd.

The druids would be able to examine the beast though. They'd be able to tell if it was ill. The ranger truly hoped there was no disease or plague spreading through the woods.

As he breathed in slowly to steady himself for the shot, suddenly the wolf again became skittish, tail between it's legs, and started backing away whining again.

I've been completely silent, the ranger thought, and I've been still, and I'm downwind, not up. That wolf can't know I'm here. Definitely must be mad.

Just as he was about to release, the wolf again skittered off into the brush - though that wasn't what prevented it's death at the Ranger's hand.

The skeleton hobbled off through the bush, mindlessly following the wolf which had so far eluded death. It was heedless of the blood covering it's hand, or the bits of bone that were not it's own, sticking out of a knuckle joint.

// And thus it begins. What is "IT"? Well, you'll have to figure that out all on your own. Something is happening. But it's not an overnight thing. Stay tuned here, and see the "The Rising - Player's Posts" thread which is Stickied as well, for posts from players relating to "IT". Oh - might throw some hints or puzzles in here too. Keep on the lookout, in game and out.

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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!

Just last evening, the Grove of Amia Forest was beset by massive numbers of skeletal creatures, far more than has ever been seen at one time, since the undead were first sighted. Though the Grove beat back the skeletal invasion, evidence of the combat was seen all over the forest. Dead animals, slain Rangers and young Druids,, and many, many bones littered the normally safe, pristine grounds of the land near the Grove.


Truly, nothing is sacred anymore, as far as the undead are concerned. Bolder they become, and farther from the Western half of the forest do they stray, in larger numbers, and stronger than ever, slaying all who are foolish enough to step in their way and prove unable to fend them off.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

The druids heard footsteps. Lots of footsteps. Rangers went out to investigate... and didn't come back. Three mangled ranger bodies were found the next day, filled with arrows, one with a longsword buried in his chest up to the hilt, pinning his limp corpse to the ground. A wolf howled mournfully over the trio... However, the source of the footsteps was nowhere to be found... But they'd discover it soon enough.

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An Undead assault on the Salandran Temple occured just last tenday, and only with the aid of a few adventurers around were the Templars able to beat back the invasion and prevent potential disaster at the hands of the namelessly lead rabble of shambling death. The Salandran Temple has enacted a temporary lockdown measure, in which the gates are always locked. Travellers are still welcome, but warned to enter the premises quickly so that the gates may remain barred for the safety of the temple and the patients inside. Occasionally, standard guardsmen from Kohlingen can be seen patrolling the grounds, and fighting the occasional risen undead from the graveyard, alongside the Templars. The Justicar has gladly offered what aid he can to the Salandrans in their time of need.

The Salandrans were noted as saying that it was lucky that the army only consists of skeletons for now, as they're some of the easiest undead to beat back, provided the correct weaponry is held. Certainly there was no shortage of hammers and morningstars at the Salandran Temple that day, and the battlecries rang out to the heavens as the Templars did battle alongside the adventurers against their hated foe.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Alitha goes around making sure that all of the Grove and it's allies are put on high alert for there might be trouble this night. All druids are told to be ready to come when she calls, for this night the Druids of Amia hope to put an end to the rising in the forest.


//Tonight 8pm EST

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