The table is prepared, and the documents are in order, but before beginning their journey, the heroes must determine the road's direction. When Mabtik opens the map and points to his village, Roland and his companions face two choices.
"I see, it's closer to the Forest of Absent." Roland contemplates, intently studying the map.
"Stone! I choose the stone." Riza announced.
"Stop with your exclaiming? Were you always this lazy?" Lady Irish retort.
"You want to walk from here to Dolvadish?! I know your knightly legs are tough, but the more we consume time, the more the village stays in peril."
"Did I ever speak about walking? I'm shocked that the thief still has some honour left. What food did you eat today?" Irish replied.
"Hah, says the knight who—"
"Stop it, you two." Ulgar interrupts, and the paladin's voice quickly silences the two's bickering.
"So, we'll be taking nine, no, thirteen transfers before reaching Dolvadish," Roland said. "The question is, how long will it take for us to reach Rivelwolf—unless?"
Roland looks at Mabtik, "You are familiar with some parts of Dolvadish, aren't you?"
"Yes, I know a route that will lead us faster to my village. If we start at dawn, we can reach there before nighttime." Mabtik replied, as his fingers glide through the map
"So, it's a day walk for a mountain pass." Ulgar ponders.
Roland nods, and the group is quickly set to go—before that, they look at Mabtik in his tattered clothes.
"Is there something the matter?" Mabtik ask.
"You'll be needing some clothes and boots", Ulgar implores. "We don't want other people to look at us like what those people did to you."
"You don't have to worry about money." Roland follows.
Once all is set and done, the group now enters the guild's private teleportation stone. Showing their receipt and the location to their destination, the man who controls the teleportation destination, a Helmsman.
Huddle together; the Helmsman nods in approval once he has finished looking at the adventurer's documents. A twist of his hand opens an eye-like cartridge no more than the size of a fist. Inside reveals a gleaming emerald vial, and once the cartridge is fully open, the blue stone imprinted on the floor of the peculiar stone glows. Blink, and a white flash enters their sight.
Regaining their vision, the group was now in a different teleportation terminal. Moving to another teleportation area— the adventurers were teleported again, and again thirteen times, until they arrived.
Paying before they exited the terminal, Rein was curious how much the bill cost.
"What fifteen silver Shar! Last time it was seventy coppers for one teleportation." Riza blurts in disbelief. I bet those dwarves are turning more avaricious as days pass."
"Or maybe you humans are multiplying every day." Falnia blurts.
"A high elf, taking the sides of the dwarves? Now that's terrific." Riza replied.
"Did that hurt you, oh pesky human thief?"
"You guys, enough with the tantrum." Rein intrudes
While Roland's companions are busy squabbling with words. The three men were thinking of a better, faster route.
"Since there are no teleportation stones placed near Rivelwolf. A carriage would be quite welcome." Irish said.
"I think a wagon should suffice," Roland suggests.
Agreed—journeying on the road, not with magic but a simple wagon. The ride was sometimes bumpy and sometimes smooth, but it was enough to let their legs rest. During which, Ulgar and Roland were enquiring about Rivelwolf.
"It's an isolated village, but it has some great scenery. You'll soon see."
"Yes… But I'm more curious about what Rivelwolf is dealing with."
"I don't have any knowledge; it was too abrupt. You see, I'm just a merchant's labourer. I haul merchant goods to nearby roads for wagons to pick up. It was sudden—the moment I got home, the mayor's servants asked me to deliver the letter and the money to the adventurer's guild. I was the best runner, good enough to outrun monsters and wolves. Though my journey was short and unfortunate."
"You're a brave man, Mabtik. Unfortunate, maybe it might be Shar's gift that led you to us." Roland implores.
"I think so too, I'm more worried… It's been past three months since my departure, and I don't know if my village is still unscathed." Mabtik looks up towards his village.
"I hope so too." Roland follows.
"But I have to ask, Mabtik. Can you tell us how you escaped the monster's ambush?" Ulgar persuade.
Mabtik hesitated, but ultimately, he spoke. "I guess it's better to tell it than to keep it like a glum man. There were dozens of us in that cage, and the guards couldn't keep up with the monster's numbers—some of us managed to escape, while others were unfortunate. I couldn't bear to watch those poor people being eaten, so I used myself as a distraction. I pray to the gods that they are safe and sound."
For the paladin, there were no lies from his revelation, nor exaggerated fabrications. The wagon continues for about two hours, then stops.
"This is as far as I can go." The driver implies.
Disembark, the group had to walk, for the path cannot be crossed by wagons or horses, a footpath. As they head deeper into the mountain pass, the group can tell the forest is filled with watchful predators. Even Mabtik himself sense it.
"Does this footpath give the same atmosphere as the last time you passed?" Falnia implores, priming her bows and arrows.
"No, this path isn't used to be like this."
"Rein, a barrier would be great." Ulgar proposes.
Rein nods, inserting a gleaming brown, vile-like gem, and the staff erupts into a powerful transparent barrier. Quickly, then the sense of being watched fades after Rein cast her magic.
"This should keep those hindrances away from reaching the village," Rein announced.
Reaching the village of Rivelwolf, oddly, the village seems to be intact.
Situated in an isolated, clear landscape with a few trees sitting right beside some of the dwellings. A narrow creek, about two meters wide, winds gently through the centre of the village. The water was clear as the open sky, flowing over smooth and rough stones, catching sunlight in small, shifting glimmers. Low grassy banks edged with moss and wildflowers frame the stream, and a simple wooden footbridge was built to cross the stream to other buildings.
The walls were tall, conceivably four meters in height. Wet moss-covered parts of the walls, giving them an aged appearance. Runes that gleam when sunlight gazes, it reeks of magic so to say, a ward to the monsters from TheVeil. It had a few watchtowers made of timber and stone, and it held a few guards. The group marched forward, and a village guard greeted them.
"Mabtik?! Is that you?" The guard expressed.
"Yes, it's me. Moreover, what's the village's situation?"
"The village is safe thanks to the ward stones. And where have you been all this past three months?"
"It's a complicated story, but we need to see the mayor."
The guard glanced at Roland's party and understood the assignment.
Taken to the mayor's house, and upon Roland's introduction, the mayor's eyes broaden in awe.
"C-could it be?! Do my eyes deceive me?!" The mayor stammers.
Roland nods and follows a shush gesture.
Delighted upon the arrival of the famous hero, the mayor gave a warm welcome. A small feast was held in welcome for the adventurers. And while they are in the middle of the banquet—
"It's good that you came, I've feared that this place would be swallowed by the evil lurking within the forest. I think it may have had some connection with the long-forgotten temple." The mayor spoke
"Care to tell me about the problem you've been facing here?" Ask Ulgar.
"I don't know much about what's happening. All I know is, somehow, the men who venture to the woods to hunt or gather some provisions vanished."
"Have you found anybody or anything?" Ulgar implores.
A sorrowful face, the mayor shakes his head. "We tried, but nobody, not even a piece of cloth, can be found or a track. Even our best ranger didn't come back when he was investigating within the woods. When Mabtik didn't return, we sent another one to deliver the message to the adventurers. It was successful, but they didn't return on this day."
"I understand." Ulgar nods.
It was getting late, and with little information to gather, the party went to their respective rooms.
Moments later, inside Roland's room, his sleep was disturbed by a knock on the door. Assuming that it may be Falnia or his other companions. Mistakenly, when he opened the door, Roland was facing a woman.
"Forgive me for waking you up in the middle of your sleep." The lady spoke in dilemma.
Out of pity, he let her enter his room, but kept his guard up.
"I'm sorry for my intrusion, my name's Anna, the daughter of the mayor. I've heard that you've come to save us from the evil within this place, and I would ask a request." The lady spoke after she sat in the chair near the window.
"What would that be, madam?" Roland calmly said.
"Roy, our ranger, was asked to investigate, but he didn't come back. It might be selfish of me, but I'd like you to look up his whereabouts." Anna's voice hints at a tone of desperation.
As for Roland, from her worried voice, and the way she talks about the ranger named Roy. He already understood the relationship between the two.
"I don't know if he is still alive, but if he is… I'll promise to bring him back. Though if very much, is there a portrait of Roy or any description? It would be a great help in finding him."
"I do…" Anna replied, fishing out a drawing of the ranger.
From the sketches and the fine details of Roy's face. Roland can tell that Anna has a master's degree.
"Yes, this will serve." Roland gave a warm nod.
"Thank you, Sir Roland, and I apologise for my troublesomeness," Anna said.
"No need to apologise, I just want you to have faith."
Anna nodded before she closed the door.
When the sun begins to set, the heroes have gathered enough information. The adventurers begin their preparation. Before commencing their travel, Falnia first tries to communicate with the forest.
As an elf, they have a special ability to connect themselves with the forest. Unexpectedly, Falnia notices that something is disrupting her senses through the forest. And with that, they embark deeper into the woods, hoping to locate the sign of disruption.
Upon entering the place, one is enveloped by a thick forest that blocks the sunlight. But with Reins' magic that gives light, they could see their path as clear as day. As one walks deeper into the flat forest, one of the trees begins to move, revealing a beautiful lady emerging from its trunk.
"A traveller, I must insist that you better go back. This forest is no longer safe." A soft word, the woman said.
"A dryad?" Irish announces, quickly grasping the handle of her sword.
Beautiful to the eye, its figure isn't flesh but full of the earth's nature. However, some of her parts were made of human skin, such as her upper body, which was smooth to the touch. Hairs dripping in water, and glowing emerald eyes that resemble the forest green.
"Yes, I am one of the keepers of this forest, though I beg you to go back whence you came from."
"Care to give us the reason?" Ulgar said.
"My sisters… they'd been possessed, corrupted by the dark evil that lingers at the temple." The dryad replies.
"My name is Roland Selevan, an adventurer. I came here to help the villagers who had been suffering the same fate as yours."
Receiving his full name, the dryad was somehow relieved.
"Ah, Selevan's descendants." The dryad whispered. "I can guide you to where my sisters are, but please, you mustn't kill them; the forest needs them."
Roland looks at Ulgar for any signs of tall tales coming from the dryad.
"She's right." Ulgar nods.
"You have my word, my lady. And if I may, what must we call you?"
"Niphalan."
"If perhaps, Lady Niphalan. Would you be willing to help us confront your sisters?"
"I'll give you my aid, Roland Selevan. However, you must promise me what I told you before." The dryad answered.
"I assure you, Lady Niphalan, by my oath and my ancestors, I'll see to it that we'll settle this matter without any bloodshed."
"Then—"
A single wave of his hand reveals a hidden path; roots begin to move, trees move sideways, ploughing the soil and the rocks without effort.
"So, you're the reason why my connections are getting disrupted." Falnia utters.
"Yes, forgive me, descendants of the stars, but it's the only thing I can do. Too many mortals have perished—I've tried to warn them, but they tried to attack me, and some ignore my advice."
"Forgive me on behalf of my guild members' stubborn address, if they strike you. But we must know what your sisters' specialities are, that way we might bring balance to this forest." Gallantly, Roland implies.
The dryad nods, and upon glancing at Roland's sword. She can already tell he is a genuine one.
Once the details were given, the solutions were decided. Now aided by one of the dryads, the party prepares for the worst. Confronting—it is easy to distinguish that the three sisters of dryads were possessed, or rather a puppet by some other entities.
"Sisters, if you can hear my voice. You must stop this at once!" Exclaimed Niphalan.
But they didn't listen; instead, they drew upon the chaos of nature. The air blew in havoc, leaves, rocks, and branches twisting like a tornado. Engage—the opposing party, followed by Niphalan, cast their magic, protecting them from the wrath of the three dryads.
Niphalan—calling upon the trees to cover them from the mayhem. Insequent, Rein cast her abjuration spell, doubling their defences.
Outnumbered, the dryads call upon the aid of the forest. Giant wolves rush towards the battle… bodies leaking florid essence, showing they are not a simple enemy to be facing. Moreover, they raised a golem made of rocks. Dark, transparent shadows emerge; it walks on four limbs, like a wolf, but its form is serrated.
The ground trembles, rupturing the soil, and five golems crawl their way out from the earth. Massive and intimidating, different forms and sizes, it's no more than rocks being glued together of different forms.
Towards the opposing adventurers, Niphalan summons two rock golems of her own.