Tyldith, Elven Veteran
By all the Sidhe, these are dark times! Have you come here to fight? Good! Go south, down the path, and look for the Runegate! The damned fiends have taken it, and if they open it, we are all doomed!
I have walked under sky and stars for two thousand winters, and never have I seen such folly. The pride of the damned Archmages, to think they could contain that thing! Now the Prisoner is free, and his pit-spawned lackeys will make a ruin of this place. Already the creatures of the wood are twisted into abominations, and the legions of footsoldiers from Maelstrom have come with a new army of demons. We had worked so hard to save these woods, and hide them from our foes ... but now all is for naught. The High Courts have rallied troops to aid us, but they are too few! We need every sword, even those of lesser breeds! Go quickly! You must retake the gate!
What is this place?
These woods are called Aeran Belendor in the High Speech, and we Elves have held them sacred since before the Sun was kindled. During the War of the Scourge a Banelord led a host of Demons to ravage this place, but our wisest and most powerful wizards stopped him. Enchantments of forgetfulness and misdirection were laid around the borders of the wood, and Aeran Belendor went unnoticed even through the Turning ... until the Rise of Chaos. Now all our works are made ruin by the fiends, and my kinsmen fight to hold the foe at bay. If the runegate south of here is opened, our enemies shall bring every demon on Maelstrom to this place, and we shall all be doomed! Hurry!
Who is the Prisoner?
Saedron's tears, the bloody hosts of Chaos poison the very ground beneath your feet, and we talk and talk and by Gilliandor do nothing! Very well, I'll tell thee ...
Vranaxxas, the Pale Slayer, Dark Lord of Chaos, led legions of demonspawn against Aeran Belendor thousands of years ago, during the War of the scourge. The Lords of Eglan Nanvirond were hard pressed to halt their onslaught. The greatest Archmages of the Empire wove mighty spells, enchantments that bound the Dark Lord, imprisoning him in a trap even the General of the Pit could not break. The demonic legions, dismayed at their master's defeat, withdrew. The archmages built a mighty fortress around Vranaxxas' prison, raising great spires to channel magical energies into the trap to keep it secure. They drew upon the dormant Banelord's strength, using it to power many mighty spells ... but it was not to last.
In the earthquakes the accompanied the rise of Maelstrom, one of the spires anchoring the magical web was broken, and the prison failed. Vranaxxas broke free and began summoned allies to his side, a cadre of demons who laid waste to the prison, the surrounding forests, and all nearby settlements. Since his release the woods have run with blood, and now the foul thing seeks to draw even more demons to his side! He must be stopped! Go quickly, if you doubt not your strength, and reclaim the Runegate!
